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Palgrave Macmillan
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Smart Decisions

The Art of Strategic Thinking for the Decision Making Process

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

  • The author has developed his own approach to systematic decision making which includes:
  • Five Decision Making Process Steps
  • First Process Step: ChangeNeeding Situational Analysis
  • Second Process Step: Challenge Framing and Causal Analysis
  • Third Process Step: Generating Solution Ideas
  • Fourth Process Step: Choosing a Solution Set
  • Fifth Process Step: Implementation and Aftermath Planning
  • In addition he has created a cycle in which these steps should be implemented
  • Seven Thinking Framework Elements
  • Thinking Element 1: Preloaded or End State Outcome Expectations
  • Thinking Element 2: Creative Thinking Divergent List
  • Thinking Element 3: Inclusionary and Reduction Evaluation Criteria

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

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About this book

Today's world is complex and getting more so each day. Huge multinational corporations, international crisis and fast breaking events require most people to make decisions on a daily basis without the tools to understand the long term impact that today's decision might create. Because most people have never really been trained in how to make important complex decisions most people rely on experience, and 'gut reaction' which is okay for many decisions, but not okay for decision that will have meaningful impact on organizations and individual. Decision makers need to develop the art and science of strategic decision making. Here, Professor Thomas Martin explains the need for decision makers to modify their thinking about how they deal with acquiring and analyzing information in each of the decision-making process steps. This approach requiring thinking modification will lengthen the process, make it more complex, and to some more arduous, but the comprehensiveness of the new thinking approach should lead to improved and more effective decision making.

In this book, Dr. Martin presents a thinking modification framework that asserts that in the decision-making process, there are three situational states — a current state, future state, and a transitional state that one must deliberate in finding a solution. For each of these situational states, Martin develops an identical five-step process to determine the best decision to make. The steps of this process include:

• Change-Needing Situational Analysis
• Challenge Framing & Causal Analysis
• Generating Solution Ideas
• Choosing a Solution Set
• Implementation and Aftermath Planning

This book will appeal to decision makers, leaders, and students of management who want a specific framework that details the process behind making strategic, well-informed decisions.

Reviews

“Smart Decisions is a must read and can serve as a primary or supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate strategy, analytics, decision science, and quality/organizational improvement courses. Instructors will find this book of value and interest. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.” (M. J. Safferstone, Choice, Vol. 54 (4), December, 2016)



Dr. Martin's Smart Decisions: The Art of Strategic Thinking for the Decision Making Process is a resource that can be used by academics and consultants. This theory-driven guide provides practical methods for making decisions that will endure the ever-changing business landscape. To find substantive research combined effectively with practical advice makes this book a must-read for all business students and professionals.' —Danielle Crough, Senior Consultant, Human Capital

'Today's leaders are challenged with operating businesses and institutions in an environment of accelerating change resulting from powerful technological, economic, social, political, and competitive forces. As such, decision-making is becoming increasingly complex and difficult. Dr. Martin's brilliant, comprehensive decision-making process employing strategic thinking and critical analysis offers readers and students a disciplined and scholarly approach to making practical, smart decisions.' —Howard Harris, Retired Corporate Executive and CPA

About the author

Dr. Thomas N. Martin, PhD is a Professor of Marketing and Management at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His research interests include decision making, turnover and retention, and organizational management. He has been published in several publications, including Academy of Management Review, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Personnel Psychology, Human Relations, Organizational Dynamics, Business Process Management Journal, and Journal of Change Management.

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