Seeing the cup as half empty reflects a focus on what's missing, on limitations and challenges.

This
perspective can lead to a pessimistic outlook, focusing on problems and potential failures. In decision-
making, this might lead to hesitation, fear of taking risks, and a tendency to avoid making choices.

On the other hand, seeing the cup as half full emphasizes the positive, the opportunities, and the
potential for growth. This perspective fosters optimism, a belief in possibilities, and a willingness to
embrace challenges. In decision-making, this can lead to a more proactive approach, a willingness to
explore new options, and a greater likelihood of finding solutions.

The key takeaway is that our perspective shapes our decisions. Just like the half-filled cup, the same
situation can be viewed in different ways, leading to different actions and outcomes. By embracing a
hopeful and solution-oriented perspective, we can unlock opportunities and make more effective
decisions.

Decision Making is an integral part of the group process. Rational or sound decision making is one of the
primary function of groups. The following are several definition of terms:

-DECISION. A course of action purposely chosen from a set of alternatives to achieve organizational
objectives.

Think of a decision as a choice you make. When you pick your favorite ice cream flavor, that's a
decision! A decision is a conscious choice made from a set of options. It's not just any choice, but one
that is deliberate and aimed at achieving a specific goal. In our trip example, the goal is to have a fun
weekend.

-DECISION MAKING. The process of deciding about something important. It involves the selection of a
course of action from among two or more possible alternatives in order to arrive at a solution for a given
problem (Trewatha & Newport).

Decision-making is the process of figuring out what to choose. It's like weighing the pros and cons of
different options. Decision-making is a process of evaluating alternatives and selecting the best course of
action to solve a problem. It involves gathering information, considering different perspectives, and
ultimately making a choice. In our trip example, the problem is planning a weekend trip. The process
involves researching destinations, considering budgets, and discussing preferences.

-DECISION MAKING PROCESS. Continuous and indispensable component of managing any organization
or group activities. Check and balance system that keeps the organization growing both in linear and
vertical directions.

Think of the decision-making process as a set of steps you take to make a good decision. It's like
following a recipe to bake a cake. The decision-making process is a structured approach to making
decisions. It involves a series of steps of process that ensures that decisions are well-informed and lead
to positive outcomes. In our trip example, the process might involve brainstorming destinations,
researching travel options, creating a budget, and voting on the final plan.
 Decision Making Techniques

1.INTERACTING GROUPS – typical groups, in which the members interact with each other fate-to-face.

This is like having a regular group discussion where everyone shares their ideas and talks it out. You all
work together to come up with the best theme. Interacting groups are the most common type of
decision-making. Members meet face-to-face, discuss ideas, and collaboratively reach a decision. This
technique is effective for fostering teamwork, brainstorming, and building consensus.

2.BRAINSTORMING – an idea-generation process that specifically encourages any and all alternatives,
while withholding any criticism of those alternatives.

It is where everyone throws out as many themes or ideas as they can think of, no matter how silly they
seem. You don't judge any ideas at first, just let them all flow!

Brainstorming is a technique for generating a wide range of ideas by encouraging free and uninhibited
thinking. The focus is on quantity over quality, and all ideas are welcomed without criticism. This helps
overcome groupthink and generate creative solutions.

3.NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE – a group decision-making method in which individual members meet
face-to-face to pool their judgements in a systematic but independent fashion.

Imagine writing down your favorite themes on secret pieces of paper. Then, everyone shares their ideas
one at a time, and you write them on a big list. Finally, you vote on the themes you like the best.

The nominal group technique combines individual brainstorming with group discussion. Members
silently generate ideas, then share them one at a time. These ideas are then discussed and prioritized,
leading to a structured and balanced decision. This technique is useful for ensuring everyone's voice is
heard and preventing dominant personalities from influencing the outcome.

4.ELECTRONIC MEETING – a meeting in which members interact on computers, allowing for anonymity
of comments and aggregation of votes.

Electronic meetings are a modern approach to decision-making, often used in virtual teams or for large
groups. Members interact through computers, allowing for anonymous contributions and quick voting.
This technique is efficient for geographically dispersed groups but can lack the personal interactions of
face-to-face meetings.

In summary, each decision-making technique has its own strengths and weaknesses. The best approach
depends on the specific situation, the group's size, and the type of decision being made.

Steps in Decision Making Process

This is the first and most important step. You need to clearly define what problem or opportunity you
are trying to address. It is about knowing the purpose of why you're making that decision. For example,
the problem is that your team needs new uniforms. This is the problem or opportunity that needs
addressing. You decide to organize a fundraiser to buy new uniforms then you emphasizes the reasons
why providing new uniform for your group matters.

2.Gather information – Next, its time to gather information so that you can make a decision based on
facts and data. This requires making a value judgment, determining what information is relevant to the
decision at hand, along with how you can get it. Ask yourself what you need to know in order to make
the right decision, then actively seek out anyone who needs to be involved.

Think of this as doing your research. You need to gather all the relevant facts and data to make an
informed decision. This involves asking questions, researching, and talking to people who can help. It's
like a detective gathering clues but you have to consider all perspectives of your teammates.

Example: You need to find out:

- How much do new uniforms cost?

- What kind of fundraising events are successful?

- What are the rules and guidelines for school fundraisers?

Value judgment: You decide that cost, feasibility, and school approval are the most important factors.

3.Identify Alternatives – once you have a clear understanding of the issue, it’s time to identify the
various solutions at your disposal. It’s likely that you have many different options when its comes to
making your decisions, so it is important to come up with a range of options. This helps you determine
which course of actions is the best way to achieve your objective.

This is where you brainstorm different solutions to your problem. You need to come up with a range of
options to choose from.

4.Weigh the evidence – In this step, you’ll need to evaluate for feasibility, acceptability and desirability
to know which alternative is best. Leaders need to be able to weigh pros and cons, then select the
option that has the highest chances of success. It may be helpful to seek out a trusted second opinion to
gain a new perspective on the issue at hand.

Now it's time to carefully consider each option and evaluate its pros and cons. You need to decide which
option is the most feasible, acceptable, and desirable.
 5.Choose among alternatives – when it’s time to make your decision, be sure that you understand the
risks involved with your chosen route. You may also choose a combination of alternatives now that you
fully grasp all relevant information and potential risks.

This is the moment of truth! You need to make a decision based on the information you've gathered
and the evaluation you've done. You might choose one option, combine several options, or even come
up with a completely new option.

Decision-making isn't just about choosing the best option; it's about understanding the impact of that
choice on everyone involved. A thoughtful process, one that considers all perspectives and weighs the
evidence carefully, fosters collaboration, builds trust, and ultimately leads to decisions that benefit the
whole group.