Harvard Business Essentials, Decision Making

Contents

Introduction xi

1The Decision Process 1

Five Key Steps

Step 1: Establish a Context for Success 6

Step 2: Frame the Issue Properly 6

Step 3: Generate Alternatives 6

Step 4: Evaluate the Alternatives 6

Step 5: Choose the Best Alternative 7

Summing Up 7

2The Context for Success 9

Setting the Stage

Get the Right People to Participate 13

Give Some Thought to the Setting 15

Agree on How the Decision Will Be Made 16

From Advocacy to Dialogue 18

A Hybrid Approach 21

Summing Up 22

3The Framing Challenge 23

What Is the Real Problem?

Perils and Promise 25

Don’t Impose Your Frame on Others 28

Apply Creative Thinking 29

Summing Up 31

4 Alternatives ...