London Metropolitan University

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London Metropolitan University

• Lecture
• by
• Timothy Cleary

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Information on the existence of the need to make
decision
Cognitive Filter
Intelligence
Cognitive Filter
Design
Information on alternatives
Cognitive Filter
Choice
Information on choice criteria
Stages in making a decision
Implementation of Decision
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The process of taking a decision can, according
to Simon(The Shape of Automation for Men and
Management - New York 1965) be described as
falling into several stages
1) Intelligence The decision maker needs to be
made aware of the existence of a problem that
requires some sort of decision. Information needs
to be presented in a manner conducive to this
recognition.
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2) Design Alternative solutions to the problem
must be considered. This involves the recognition
of the range of acceptable decisions and the
implications of each.
3) Choice This involves the choice between the
various alternatives investigated in the previous
stage. If there has been a full analysis of the
options this should be a straightforward stage.
Otherwise the decision maker may have to choose
between incomplete and perhaps incomparable
alternatives
4) Implementation The chosen decision is carried
out.
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Information Characteristics
Infrequent
Summarized
Long Term
Uncertain
Strategic
Tactical
Certain
Immediate
Operational
Detailed
Frequent
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Formal and Informal Information
Formal Information
The World
(usually quantitative, produced by known rules,
objective, suitable for an MIS)
Informal Information
The Decision Maker
(qualitative, subjective, not processed by known
rules, not suitable for MIS)