Effective Decision Making

The course “Effective Decision Making” is an ability enhancement elective course in B.A. Psychology under the Choice Based Credit System. The main objective of this course is to help the students to learn various strategies which will enable them to make good decisions in life, with a special emphasis on the decisions regarding career, discovering self, learning about conflict management; negotiation, handling difficult people and finding solutions to the problems. Apart from this the course will also focus on the decision making at the workplace and developing competencies and skills required for effective decision making.

COURSE LAYOUT

WEEK TITLE OF LECTURE/MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES CONTENTS DURATION GRADED ASSESSMENTUNIT I: BASICS OF DECISION MAKING & PROBLEM SOLVINGWEEK-1DAY-1 1.1 Decision making- an Introduction • To understand the concept of decision making.• To understand nature of decision making.• To understand characteristics of decision making.• To understand various types of decisions.• To understand the various factors affecting decision making.• To understand the various theories of decision making. • Background• Decision making• Nature or Characteristics of Decision Making• Types of decisions.• Factors affecting decision making• Biases in decision making• Theories of Decision making Quizzes/Assignments







WEEK-1DAY-2 1.2. Steps of Decision Making. • To know about historical background of decision making.• To highlight contribution of leading philosophers in relation to decision making.• To understand what is a decision making style.• To understand various types of decision making styles.• To know about the steps of decision making• To understand the various steps of decision making
• Background• History of Decision making• Decision making styles• Steps of decision making











Quizzes/Assignments





WEEK-1DAY-3 1.3. Importance of making good decisions. • Understanding the good decisions.• Understanding the importance of making good decisions.• Understanding the strategies of making good decisions.• How to make good decisions more likely.• Understanding the importance of making good decisions in management.• Understanding the process of teaching of making good decisions. • Background• Good Decisions• Strategies of making good decision making• Techniques/Tools Used in Good Decision Making• The Importance of making good decisions Quizzes/Assignments






WEEK-1DAY-4 1.4.Principles of Decision Making ,Quick Decision Making &Herbert Simon’s decision making model. • To understand the principles of Decision Making.• To understand Quick Decision Making.• To know about rules of quick decision making.• To understand theoretical background regarding Herbert Simon’s Model.• To know about steps of Simon’s Model of Decision Making.• To elaborate Simon’s Model of Decision Making. • Background• Principles of Decision Making• Quick Decision Making• Herbert Simon’s decision making model Quizzes/Assignments



WEEK-1DAY-5 1.5. Decision making in relation to problem solving • Understanding what are problems.• Explaining the various types of problems.• Understanding the problem solving cycle.• Linking Decision making to problem solving.• Understanding the differences between decision making & problem solving. • Problem solving• Types of Problems• Problem solving cycle• Decision making related to Problem Solving• Unified model for decision making and problem solving• Problem Solving v/s Decision Making Quizzes/Assignments



WEEK-2DAY-1 1.6 Decision making in relation to creativity. • To understand decision making in relation to creativity.• To understand what is creativity.• To know about creative decision making.• To understand the characteristics of a creative decision.• To highlight the characteristics of creative decision makers. • Decision making in relation to creativity.• Process of creative decision making• Characteristics of a creative solution.• Decision making aspects of creativity• Characteristics of creative decision makers• Creative decision making in groups• Creating a climate for creative decision making. Quizzes/Assignments



WEEK-2DAY-2 1.7. Blocks in Problem solving. • Understanding the concept of Problem solving• Understanding the Gestalt Approach to problem solving.• Understanding the Neo Gestalt Approach to problem solving.• Understanding Blocks to problem solving and• Knowing aids to problem solving. • Problem solving• Gestaltists view on problem solving• Neo Gestalt view on problem solving.• Obstacles to problem solving• Aids in problem solving Quizzes/Assignments







WEEK-2DAY-3 1.8. Problems in Decision Making • Understanding problems in decision making.• Understanding problems of decision making in organisations.• Understanding Data Related Problems.• Understanding common decision making problems by Goldman.• Understanding threats in decision making.

• Problems in decision making• Problems of decision making in organisations• Common problems in decision making• Threats in decision making









Quizzes/Assignments




WEEK-2DAY-4 1.9. Decision making at the workplace & Workplace Problems. • Understanding Decision making at workplace.• Understanding the importance of decision making and assertiveness in the workplace.• To understand the decision making process• To learn about some tips of decision making in the workplace.• To understand Workplace problems and the causes of workplace problems. • Importance of Decision Making & Assertiveness in the Workplace• The decision making Process• Common workplace problems• Causes of workplace problems Quizzes/Assignments




WEEK-2DAY-5 1.10. Strategies for dealing with workplace problems. • To understand Concept of workplace problems.• To understand some practical strategies one can use to handle conflict in the workplace.• To understand strategies to resolve conflicts at workplace• To understand how psychotherapy can help with workplace issues• To understand the workplace challenges and the ideas to deal with them . • Defining workplace problems• Some practical strategies one can use to handle conflict in the workplace.• Strategies to resolve conflicts at work:• How psychotherapy can help with workplace issues• Workplace challenges and the ideas to deal with them:• Problems at the Workplace and the solutions: Quizzes/AssignmentsUnit II: Decision Making & Psychology of Self.WEEK-3DAY-1 2.1. Developing competencies and skills required for effective decision making. • To understand what are decision making skills.• To understand what are decision making competencies.• To understand various types of decision making skills.• To understand various types of decision making competencies.• To understand decision making techniques. • Meaning of decision making competencies and skills• Difference between skill and competency• Types of decision making skills• Decision making techniques by Paul Newton Quizzes/Assignments






WEEK-3DAY-2 2.2. Decisions regarding the career. • To understand the concept of career decision making.• To analyse the steps involved in career decision making.• To gain the knowledge about the theoretical approach to career decision making.• To analyse the Factors influencing career choices.• To gain the knowledge about career decision making styles.• To understand four ways to help you make a tough career decision.• To gain the knowledge about how to make a career choice when you are undecided. • Concept of career decision making• Steps involved in career decision making• Theoretical Approaches of Career Decision-Making• Factors influencing career choice:• Career decision making styles:• How to make a career choice when you are undecided Quizzes/AssignmentsWEEK-3DAY-3 2.3 Discovering the self.( Real Self v/s Ideal Self; Self Esteem & Self Actualisation) • To understand the nature of self• To understand the aspects of self• To understand the nature of discovery of self• To understand the elements of self-discovery• To understand the Socrates principles of self-discovery• To understand the theories of self-discovery • Self• Nature of the self• Aspects of the self• Self-discovery• Elements of self-discovery• Principles of self-discovery• Theories of self-discovery Quizzes/Assignments






WEEK-3DAY-4 2.4Psychological explanation of self – Carl Roger’s Theory & Abraham Maslow’s Theory. • To understand the nature of Rogerian self• To understand conditional and unconditional self• To understand Congruence and incongruence• To understand the concept of a Fully Functioning Person• To understand Abraham Maslow’s self actualization• To understand Hierarchy of needs• Characteristics of self actualized person • Carl Rogers Self Theory of Personality Development• Maslow's Theory of Self-Actualization Quizzes/Assignments



WEEK-3DAY-5 2.5.Psychological explanation of self – Alfred Adler’s Theory & Sigmund Freud’s layers of self • To understand self in light of Adler’s theory.• To understand the various aspects of Adler’s theory.• To understand self in light of Freud’s theory.• To understand the various aspects of Freud’s theory.• To understand personality development in light of Freud’s theory. • Alfred Adler’s theory of self• Freud’s layers of self• Dynamics of personality Quizzes/AssignmentsWEEK-4DAY-1 2.6. Creating a healthy acceptance of self. • To understand the concept of self-acceptance.• To know about the importance of self-acceptance.• To know about ways for healthy acceptance of self.• To understand how to balance the desire for self-acceptance vs. self-improvement.• To understand self-acceptance from a positive psychological perspective. • Self Acceptance• The Importance of Self Acceptance• The emotional and physical consequences of low self-acceptance• Ways to increase self-acceptance• Balancing the Desire for Self-Acceptance vs. Self-Improvement• Self acceptance in relation to positive psychology Quizzes/Assignments



WEEK-4DAY-2 2.7. Learning to connect the self with vocational choices/career. • To understand what is career.• To understand how to connect self with career.• To gain an understanding into the theoretical background regarding connecting self with career.• To know the strategies one can use to connect self with career.• To describe the strategies one can use to connect self with career. • Career.• Holland Theory of Vocational Types• Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory• Super’s theory of Career Development.• Learning to connect the self with vocational choices/career Quizzes/