Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Decision-Making: Skills

Discuss these questions in pairs:

1. Is decision-making only about sensible, rational choices? Should emotion play a part? What about when choosing the following?

  • a wife or husband
  • a present for someone
  • a new company logo
  • a holiday decision
  • a new product to develop
  • someone for a job

2. Think of an important decision that you have made. How did you decide?
3. Do men and women have different ways of making decisions?
4. Who makes the big decisions in your household? Why?

Which ideas below do you agree with? Which do you disagree with? Why?

1. Before making a decision:

  • writing down the pros and cons
  • try to reduce stress
  • take a long time
  • have a sleep or a rest
  • consult a horoscope
  • ask as many people as possible

2. If a choice has cost you a lot of time and money, stick to it.
3. Rely on the past to help you make a decision.
4. Reduce all decisions to a question of money.
5. Be totally democratic in group decision-making.

Listen to the management of a retail group discussion problems at their store in Paris. Mark the expressions that you hear.

(download)

Useful Language

Asking for facts:
Can you bring us up to date?
Can you give us the background?
Where do we stand with...?

Making a suggestion:
We should sell out as soon as possible.
Why don't we sell out?

Disagreeing:
I don't agree with that at all.
I totally disagree.

Identifying needs:
We've got to get more information.
We need more information about where we're going wrong.

Agreeing:
You're absolutely right.
I totally agree with you.

Expressing doubt:
I am worried about the store's location
I'm not sure about it.

Making a decision:
The solution, then, is to keep the store going.
I think on balance we feel we should keep the store going.

Stating future action:
So, the next thing to do is...
What we've got to do now is...

In groups, discuss this situation.

You are board members in a manufacturing firm which employs 500 people. As your company is making a loss, you must cut costs. Hold a meeting to choose one of the following options. State what actions you intend to take.

  • Cut factory workers' wages by 10%
  • Reduce everyone's salary by 8%
  • Lay off 50 employees
  • Pay no year-end bonuses