Decision making is defined as the selection from among alternatives of a course of action; it is at the core of planning. A plan cannot be said to exist unless a decision – a commitment of resources, direction, or reputation – has been made. Managers sometimes see decision making as their central job because they must constantly choose what is to be done, who is to do it, and when, where, and occasionally even how it will be done. Decision making is, however, only a step in planning, even when done quickly and with little thought or when it influences action for only a few minutes. It is also part of everyone’s daily living.
Finally, we can say that decision making is the process of identifying and selecting a course of action to deal with a specific problem or take advantage of an opportunity. It is an important part of every manager’s job.
