Three Styles of Decision-making

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I summarized three models and includes the source for further details of each. Let's take a closer look.

RESPONSE:

1. Consensus Decision Making

There are many consensus decision-making models. One example is the Quaker consensus model (see steps at the end of this response) Generally, once an agenda for discussion has been set and, optionally, the ground rules for the meeting have been agreed upon, each item of the agenda is addressed in turn. Typically, each decision arising from an agenda item follows through a simple structure. First, the item is discussed with the goal of identifying opinions and information about the topic at hand. The general direction of the group and potential proposals for action are often identified during the discussion. Based on the discussion, a formal decision proposal on the issue is presented to the group. There is usually a leader or facilitator of the decision-making body who then calls for consensus on the proposal e.g. all in favor raise your hands. That is, each member of the group usually must actively state their agreement with the proposal, often by using a hand gesture or raising a colored card, to avoid the group interpreting silence or inaction as agreement. Sometimes consensus is not achieved, and in this case, each dissenter presents his or her concerns on the proposal, potentially starting another round of discussion to address or clarify the concern. Then, there might be a modification of the proposal, meaning that it is amended or re-phrased in attempt to address the concerns of the decision-makers. The process then returns to the call for consensus and the cycle is repeated until a satisfactory decision is made e.g., everyone agrees so there is a consensus on what to do (http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/Consensus.html).

2. Rational decision making model

Rational decision making models often employ six or seven steps in the decision-making process. One six-step decision making models includes the following steps: define the situation/decision to be made, identify the important criteria for the process and the result, consider all possible solutions, calculate the consequences of these solutions versus the likelihood of satisfying the criteria and choose the best option. One example is the Vroom-Jago decision model, which was originally created by Vroom and Yetton in 1973 and later modified by Vroom and Jago. This model proposes that there are basically ...