Harvard Business Essentials, Decision Making

Step 1: Establish a Context for Success

The first step is to create an environment in which effective deci-

sions are possible. If this task doesn’t seem necessary, take a look

around you. If your company is like many others, you’ll find that

choices are often influenced by factors that are antithetical to sound

decision making. For example, bickering between individuals elim-

inates rational discussion; management cannot maintain a healthy

level of differences of opinion. A command-and-control culture

tends to make decisions in line with the preferences of powerful in-

dividuals. No matter how well informed they may be, in these cir-

cumstances every decision ...