As seen in the case, Alex is the general manager of a huge software development organization for the defence department. Various issues that are seen in the case have their origin from Dave’s IT department, and involve smaller issues which many organizations have to develop in a better way with their managers and junior employees. All these are done as actions that promote trust. It is important, however, to note recognise the root causes of the issues in the case study. The main issue revolving around the case is the matter of taking the computers off from the financial department. On a wider note, the team required more computing power to respond to their customer’s request on a timely manner. Secondly, the project was virtually late from the schedule, based on the fact that there were other batch programs in progress and being attended to. Similarly, the team discovered unanticipated software bugs, which need to be fixed. All this happened in the process if integrated system performance testing and valuation. As observed, Dave decided to undertake these actions without notice. The situation was an emergency and therefore was forced to so.
Overall, Alex is the decision-maker about whatever happened. In order to solve the problem, effective decision making will be crucial in running the businesses which face considerably large issues.
The first step in this in the decision-making process is establishing the objective of the company (Christensen, 2012). Notably, the important objective of Alex business is to develop large software systems for the defence department in the Allied Software Corporation, in Virginia office. In this sense, establishing such objectives will also help design appropriate policies and framework through which the company will accomplish its aims. Dave’s team, therefore have to follow the guidelines and policies to meet the objectives.
Defining the problem
This is the second and an important step in the process of decision-making (Christensen, 2012). When Alex has defined the nature of this problem, then the solution to the problem involved will be attained. Alex need to investigate the causes of the problem as in seen in the case, which are characterised by the overtime work hours increased by the project staffs. In the same way, the symptoms discovered in the process of testing the units. The case also depicts various problems, such as poor relationships between the old staffs, particularly regarding to Dave’s decisions. This involved encountering some resistance among the older members of the team.
Identifying the possible alternatives solutions or course of actions
Griffin (2012) asserts that the identification of a problem is often followed by finding the alternative solutions to a problem. Ideally, Alex will be required to subject different variables into consideration, and which have significant impacts. In this way, the linkages between the variables and the problem will easily be established. On a wider note, Alex further needs to develop a hypothesis, which will further provide a guideline for finding the solution. Pertaining to the case, there are there alternatives. This include:
In relation to transferring the computers to the financial office, he should give penalty to Dave and his team for such disruption.
Provide penalty to Dave for disrupting the office
Incorporating the other teams into the decision statement or keep it limited to Dave with an aim of eliminating the problem.
Evaluating the course of actions
The evaluation of alterative courses of actions is another fundamental step in decision-making process that Alex should emulate. According to Dubois et al. (2013), it basically require collection and analysis of the relevant data. It is true that all these alternatives have their consequences. For instance, if Alex opts for the first alternative, then Dave and his software development team will lose their hope and motivation for having attempted to achieve their mission. Regarding to the question whether to incorporate other teams into the decision statement or keeping it limited to Dave, and recruiting new members, significant consequences are involved. Firstly, it may costs him much compared to if he keeps the information limited to John. Secondly, he would be forced to launch an educational training program, which will cost him kore than $25000.
Implementing the decisions
This is the last stage of the decision-making process that Alex should emulate regarding the issue at hand. The implementation of the decision needs constant monitoring with an aim of achieving the anticipated results. In this case, the implementation of the best alternative is meant to achieve the established objectives.
Alternative course of actions Matrix
Implications of using critical thinking in decision-making
Truss, Mankin & Kelliher (2012) be defined critical thinking as the ability to remove all emotions from an issues or situation, and make logical decisions after observing the available facts. In this case, critical thinking will help Alex gather necessary information required to analyse the situation. As the case depicts, Alex occasionally applied various aspects of critical thinking in finding solutions to a number of issues that affected the department and the company as a whole. For instance, having a dinner with Dave helped him obtain several personal information that affected the capacity of Dave to deliver effectively.
References
Christensen, C. (2012). Solving organizational problems: A proven method for groups to permanently resolve difficult. Place of publication not identified: Authorhouse.
Dubois, D., Prade, H., Pirlot, M., & Bouyysou. (2013). Decision Making Process: Concepts and Methods. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Griffin, R. W. (2012). Fundamentals of management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Truss, C., Mankin, D., & Kelliher, C. (2012). Strategic human resource management. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
