Handbook of Organizations (RLE: Organizations)

CHAPTER 2	Decision Making and Problem Solving1
	DONALD W. TAYLOR

Reference is often made to “the problem-solving process,” “the decision-making process,” or “the creative process.” These terms would appear to suggest that problem solving, decision making, and creative thinking each involve a single process. They may also be taken to imply that problem solving can be clearly distinguished from decision making, or creative thinking from either of the former, in terms of the processes involved. Indeed, the view is sometimes taken explicitly that, for example, creativity should be defined in terms of some unique process (Stein, 1956). Present evidence would appear to suggest that, on the contrary, each involves a variety of processes. ...