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Expert System

Back, Introduction, Situation Analysis, Instructions, Technical Background

Decision Significance

Definition

This situational factor is similar to what Professor Norman Maier referred to as the quality requirement of the decision. In thinking about your answer, you should focus on the magnitude of the external consequences of the decision rather than its impact on the group that you have identified as a potential participant. In other words, assume their support and enthusiastic cooperation then ask how much difference the chosen course of action is likely to make to the organization.

Highly significant decisions frequently have technical aspects. There may be a right answer or at least a set of answers that vary markedly in their consequences. You may not know the right course of action, but it is clear that the path chosen is likely to make a big difference. It is important to not make a mistake since doing so would lose money, alienate customers, and/or jeopardize the success of the project or organization.

This situational factor is one of the four which determine the amount of weight assigned to the outcomes of decision making. (The other three are Importance of Commitment, Value of Time, and Value of Development.) It is the relative judgments of the importance of these situational factors that will govern the recommendations provided to you, not the absolute values.

Nonetheless, we recommend that you reserve Critical Importance for one of the most important decisions that you are likely to make in a three-month period. High Importance and Average Importance alternatives would be chosen for those decisions where the decision has clear but not momentous cost and revenue implications. For those decision problems in which the external consequences are unclear or uncertain, select Low Importance; and select No Importance for those which you should clearly be indifferent, even though group members might feel strongly about them.

Examples

Critical or High Importance
  1. You are captain of an airliner who is advised by your first officer that you have insufficient fuel to reach your intended destination.
  2. As CEO, you must decide whether and to what degree your firm will extend their operations to China.
  3. How should we reengineer our operations?
  4. You are captain of a Coast Guard cutter deciding whether to terminate a search and rescue effort due to an oncoming storm.
No or Low Importance
  1. Which caterer should we use at the office Christmas party?
  2. What color should we paint the walls?
  3. To whom should we give the vacant corner office?
  4. What games should we play at the department picnic?
  5. What should we do about the fact that there are not enough reserved parking spaces?