Question

Describe a time when you fell into one of the decision-making traps. How did you come to realize that you had made a poor decision, or at least not an optimal decision? In writing your main response, describe which decision-making trap is involved in your example, and write a definition in your own words of what that trap consists of. Add a final reflection in your main response to address which of the traps seems the most dangerous for decision makers, and why.

Answer 1

This was the time when I was graduating from college. I was the Executive Head of the operational department of my commerce society. As I was leaving the college, there is a process in which we have to select one of our capable junior to perform the duties in our place. I was so confused and wasn't able to decide whom should I make the head. After some time I realized that I should go with the person who has performed very well in the last year. At the event, I announced his name and made him the head of the operational head of my society. After graduating, I met some of my juniors and asked how everything is going. They said that society is not doing well as the operational head is not cooperating with everyone and also he is not coming up with unique ideas to make our event successful.

Then I realized that I selected him on the basis of how his work is. I should have selected someone by analyzing his performance, creativity, socialization, and leadership quality. Because in that position your work doesn't matter a lot. What matters the most is leadership quality.

In my answer Estimating and Forecasting trap is there as I haven't estimated every individual quality. I didn't measure whose quality will be the best for that position. Estimating gives you a lot of choices to select a best alternative.

According to me, Information Overdose Trap is the most dangerous decision trap for decision makes. Because to make a decision everyone collects a lot of information to get to a point. When the information collected becomes large in the amount it confuses the other person to make a decision. If he doesn't collect information it can lead to a problem again. With lack of information and knowledge a person should not make any decision.