Question 1

When faced with making a decision, considering different perspectives by running your reasoning by people who are unlikely to agree with you and then examining both contradictory and supporting evidence with equal rigour can help you to avoid falling into the:

Accepted Answer

Considering different perspectives and examining evidence with equal rigour helps to avoid confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them.

Question 2

Once the goal to be achieved has been determined, the next step in the problem-solving and decision-making process is to:

Accepted Answer

After determining the goal, the next step is to analyze the problem to understand its cause, which helps in generating effective solutions.

Question 3

The three components of implementing a decision are:

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

Asking, 'How regularly has the equipment been serviced?' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Asking how regularly the equipment has been serviced is seeking clarification on the situation, rather than identifying, describing, analyzing, or solving a problem.

Question 5

Making assumptions based on prior experiences and judgements which may turn out to be inaccurate or false is an example of falling into the:

Accepted Answer

The pattern recognition trap involves making assumptions based on prior experiences and judgments, which can lead to inaccurate or false conclusions.

Question 6

Which of the following shows the order in which we mentally process a decision or solution to a problem?

Accepted Answer

The correct order in which we mentally process a decision or solution to a problem typically starts with analyzing the situation to understand it better, then imagining or considering various solutions or outcomes, and finally evaluating these options to make a decision.

Question 7

In which types of situations would it be appropriate to apply a programmed decision?

Accepted Answer

Programmed decisions are best suited for simple, routine situations where the same decision can be made every time. These decisions can be automated and do not require much analysis or judgment.

Question 8

In what type of situations are unknowables most likely to be present?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what type of situations are unknowables...

Question 9

A manager orders a large quantity of stock at a discounted price from their supplier. Sales over the following period are poor, but the supplier offers the same deal three months later. The manager purchases another large quantity of the same item, but sales remain poor. The manager has fallen into the:

Accepted Answer

The manager is in the trap of not cutting their losses, as they continue to purchase a large quantity of stock even though sales have been poor. They are holding onto the belief that the discounted price will eventually lead to profits, instead of realizing that it may not be a wise investment to continue purchasing this item.

Question 10

To drill down to the root cause of a problem, you should ask, 'Why?':

Accepted Answer

The "5 Whys" technique is a problem-solving method that involves asking "Why?" five times to drill down to the root cause of a problem. This technique helps identify the underlying issue by repeatedly questioning the cause of a problem.

Question 11

When brainstorming, you should:

Accepted Answer

During brainstorming sessions, it's important to generate as many ideas as possible without criticism or evaluation. Allowing all suggestions to be made and recorded without evaluation promotes an open and non-judgmental environment, which can encourage creativity and the development of original ideas. Evaluation and criticism of suggestions come later in the process.

Question 12

At what stage does problem solving become decision making?

Accepted Answer

Decision making occurs when evaluating alternatives and selecting the most suitable one. This is the point where a choice is made and a solution is selected to solve the problem. The other options listed are all parts of the problem-solving process, but they do not necessarily involve making a final decision.

Question 13

The more complex a problem, the more important it is to intervene at:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The more complex a problem, the more...

Question 14

Which of the following is not a benefit of a programmed decision or an automatic response?

Accepted Answer

Programmed decisions or automatic responses are typically used for routine and repetitive situations. They save time and provide consistency and reliability in decision-making. However, they are not suitable for complex issues that require careful consideration and analysis. Therefore, option E is not a benefit of programmed decision-making.

Question 15

When generating solutions, it is important to:

Accepted Answer

It is important to generate all possible solutions before evaluating them, as this allows for a wider range of options and more creative thinking. Separating the generation and evaluation steps also prevents prematurely discounting potentially useful ideas.

Question 16

To prioritise a range of decisions, each decision should be assessed according to:

Accepted Answer

Decisions should be assessed based on both their urgency and importance. This will help prioritize which decisions need to be made first, as urgent decisions may not necessarily be the most important ones.

Question 17

The only way to actually fix a problem is to:

Accepted Answer

To actually fix a problem, it is necessary to find its cause and then remove it. Identifying and treating symptoms or minimizing their impact may provide temporary relief, but the problem will persist unless the underlying cause is addressed. Finding a solution that minimizes the cause of the problem may be helpful, but it still ignores the root issue. Therefore, option E is the best choice for fixing a problem.

Question 18

The benefit of using a diagram such as a cause-and-effect or a fishbone diagram to analyse a problem is that:

Accepted Answer

All of these benefits are provided when using a cause-and-effect or fishbone diagram to analyze a problem.

Question 19

When choosing between alternatives, it may be desirable to conduct a risk analysis, especially where rapid change can occur. If this is the case, which of the following factors may need to be taken into account?

Accepted Answer

All of these factors may have an impact on the level of risk associated with each alternative. Changes in society can impact consumer preferences, while changes in the economy can affect demand and pricing. Changes in technology may provide new opportunities or disrupt existing industries, while changes in the workplace can impact productivity and employee retention. Conducting a risk analysis that takes into account all of these factors can help to identify the most viable and sustainable option.

Question 20

The trap of not making decisions due to people having come to accept problems as normal is known as:

Accepted Answer

The trap of not making decisions due to people having come to accept problems as normal is known as normalization bias of deviance. This occurs when people perceive a problem as commonplace or normal, leading to an acceptance of the problem rather than taking action to address it.

Quiz 18: Solving Problems and Making Decisions