Knowledge Sharing in Decision-Making Essay

Decision-making is the process of making a choice out of various other suitable alternatives. Decision-making is a paramount process for all organizations. This is because it ensures the enterprise appropriately utilize its resources. It prevents the escalation of the problems and challenges that the business faces (Goodwin & Wright, 2014) The process also makes sure that the firm attains it set objectives since it ensures the selected options in dealing with the problem at hand are the most suitable once thus preventing the re-occurrence of the issue. Because decision-making is essential to any organization, it is necessary for the different stakeholders to work together as a team in determining how they are going to combat the various problems faced by the firm.

Organizations apply different tactics in conducting their decision-making process. However, the six common steps that most managers employ in their decision-making processes are; definition of the problem they are facing. The identification of the intended goal in relation to the issue experienced. Gathering of information highlighting the various options that one may apply in solving the problem. The consideration of the possible consequences of implementing the options. The selection of the most suitable option. Evaluation of the decision and the implementation of the selected option (Bazerman & Moore, 2008). In the different groups, I have worked under at work communication has been a critical instrument in ensuring that all the activities in relation to the decision-making process of the projects we undertook were appropriately executed. A great example of a group I have recently worked under was the marketing group which was tasked in identifying the new channels that our organization would utilize in marketing their products thus increasing its product awareness. The group was dynamic since it composed of various individuals who possessed different skills, for instance, project management, trends forecasting, market analysis, data analysis, and interrogation skills.

However, despite the dynamic nature of the group we managed to set effective channels of sharing information, processing information, and generating ideas. The group mainly utilized two information sharing methods depending on the type of information. Information such as the programs to be followed and the strategies to be implemented was relayed from the leaders of the group to the rest of the group members. Information such as findings from the field analysis conducted on the other hand was conveyed from the individuals who researched to the group leaders. Some of the tools used in relaying the information were such a e-mails, face to face meetings, forums, and via telephone calls. The information obtained was processed to ensure that the different stakeholders understood it. Before the various sub-groups shared information in the group, it was first re-examined and compiled by those tasked with dealing with the particular issue. The individuals involved in data collection, for example, had to categorize the information they obtained while gathering data into most straightforward terms. This process eliminated all forms of confusions since it ensured all the group members understood their findings. It thus provided that the group unanimously made decisions that were most suitable for the organization.

The process of generating ideas was extensive since the group used various means to come up with ideas. Some of the techniques commonly used by the group were such as; brainstorming, visualization, mind mapping, and the listing of attributes. According to Pettigrew (2014), brainstorming is a group idea-generating technique which involves group members' spontaneous presentation of ideas which are then discussed by the members to access their effectiveness. This technique was beneficial to the group since it enabled us to come up with quick solutions for urgent problems that rose while we worked on the project. Visualization is the utilization of images in creating ideas. The group mostly utilized this method in generating insights from the data we collected since it made the analysis of the findings easier. Mind mapping like visualization technique is also the utilization of diagrams to come up with ideas. However, mind mapping involves the use of chained diagrams. This process was helpful especially in the enumeration of various ideas that may solve a problem from different angles.

Listing of attributes is an analytical idea-generating technique. It involves the examination of both positive and negative qualities of different ideas before selecting the most suitable approach (Haimes, 2015). This technique was paramount to our idea-generating process since it enabled us to make informed choices since we were more knowledgeable in regards to the available options. The group use of different methods in generating ideas was quite helpful since it enabled us to come up with ideas that were adequately analyzed. Working in the team significantly benefited the team members and the organization. This is because it enabled members to learn a lot from each other since teamwork promoted information sharing. The decisions made by the team were quite productive since the team members extensively analyzed them. The support that the team members got from each other significantly motivated the members to work hard since they knew the success of the team depended on the effort they put on their work.

The interactions between the employees enabled the members of the group to understand each other better thus allowing them to find ways to work together easily. The understanding created between the team members enabled the workers to make the company more productive. Working as a team also enabled the organization to come up with decisions that were accepted by a majority of the population thus making the firm a democratic firm. However, despite the numerous positive attributes that the business and its employees obtained from working as a team. It also faced various negative traits. Some of them were such as, the slowing down of the decision-making process since most of the decisions made had to be analyzed by numerous people before they were implemented. Some of the team members became lazy since they assumed that others would do the work they were meant to do thus creating conflicts between the employees. The enterprise also wasted a lot of its resources since it was difficult for the business to account how the different members of the team utilized its resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, knowledge sharing is vital in the decision-making process. It is thus essential for businesses to invest in ensuring their different employees can work together despite their dynamic nature. The presentation of individuals in the group is also necessary since it would provide all the members participate in the decision-making process and ensure ease in accountability of how the firm uses its resources.

References

Bazerman, M. H., & Moore, D. A. (2008). Judgment in managerial decision making.

Goodwin, P., & Wright, G. (2014). Decision Analysis for Management Judgment 5th ed. JohnWiley and sons.

Haimes, Y. Y. (2015). Risk modeling, assessment, and management. John Wiley & Sons.

Pettigrew, A. M. (2014). The politics of organizational decision-making. Routledge.