Show Books Book's Aim Decisions The number of bad decisions made in the world is far outweighed outweighed outweighed out out- weighed by the number of decisions which never get made at all writes Dr George S. S Odiorne dean of the University University University Uni Uni- of Utah College of Business in a newly published book by Prentice Hall Inc TilE THE page work Management Management Management Man Man- Decisions by hy Objectives Objectives Ob Oh- explains sophisticated making decision-making techniques in layman's language It is in intended intended intended in- in tended for beginners in business business business bus bus- iness managers without training training training train train- ing in mathematics or psychology psychology psychology and ordinary people who would like to make up their minds faster and better and be right more often in inthe inthe inthe the process IIAn II An imaginary Utopia in which people could make up their minds would not have as many businesses going broke parents divided from children homes broken or opportunities opportunities opportunities op op- lost writes the Utah dean TO HELP reach that Utopia Dr Odiorne outlines a method for cultivating decisiveness He stresses that his mak decision ing system doesn't totally eliminate eliminate eliminate elim elim- the place of hunch and intuition But it does reduce the need for reliance upon them he states Being systematic systematic c in those things which lend themselves to system can help people proceed with greater confidence in unknown unknown unknown un un- known areas The first step in decision- decision making is defining your goals according to Dr Odiorne Fixing a goal and making a commitment to somebody whose opinion is important important- such as your boss a colleague your wife or a will friend fri nd iU improve making decision immensely im- im Immensely l' l he says I AFTER GOALS have been identified and the situation clarified tools and analytical instruments can be of great help in making decisions says the Utah author The basic ideas behind computers computers computers com com- and higher mathematics employed by systems experts are not beyond the scope of the average person he suggests suggests suggests sug sug- and can be applied to the problems of ordinary business business bus bus- iness mess and personal decision- decision I makin making TO MAKE the best decisions the business educator says it itis itis itis is advisable to develop several several sev sev- eral options and choose among them rather than fastening j emotionally to a single one too soon It is s at this point point- choosing among that options many people get hung lung up j writes Dr Odiorne mainly because they haven't clarified j their objectives to begin with If you have your objectives i tightly defined they help j screen the options and you youcan youcan can pick the one which carries carries car car- ries you farthest fastest 1 j Without such an objective indecision indecision indecision in in- in- in decision is an almost inevitable outcome Management 1 Decisions by j Objectives is Dr Odiorne's fifth book It also contains sections on advanced decision theory explaining such modem modern modern mod mod- ern em tools as linear programming program program- mine ming operations research Critical Path decision trees and logic THE UTAH business dean has previously published volumes volumes vol vol- umes on management and 4 personnel administration and has co-authored co five add additional t onal I works |