Learning Activity 2: Every good decision starts with a good process. Review the reading and supply a description of the five steps that are common to most models:
Framing the decision;
Setting objectives;
Defining alternatives and reviewing for bias, risk, uncertainty, and consequences;
Weight, rank, and evaluate alternatives: Make decision;
Implement, review change, monitor for results.
Explain, what each step means and how the five steps interface with one another.
Learning Activity 3: Using the fact pattern below and one of the processes from your reading create the decision statement and objectives that will begin the decision process. Post your ideas and be sure to explain how you arrived at your decision statement and objectives. Cite the week's reading in your explanations of the various steps.
You are the vice-president of a growing candy company located in an area of town which is home to many Hindu and Muslim people. There are a growing number of local women being employed on the manufacturing floor of the business. Recently health and safety concerns have been raised by the company health and safety committee. They are asking the women wearing bangle bracelets, Sari's, long veils or long covering clothes to remove them and change into "safety attire" when entering the floor. The Hindu women do not want to remove their bangles as it is a mark of their marriage and the esteem to which their husbands hold them, the greater the value and quantity of the bangle the greater the esteem. The bangles however, can easily get caught in mixing machines causing injury to the wearer as evidenced by a recent accident. Veils and long clothing have similar problems with getting caught in the machines, as well as carrying dirt and food particles around the floor.
In the case of clothing however, there are religious reasons for their being worn. You are concerned that any decision that you make will affect the morale of the employees and may even cause some to quit. In addition it may create problems with the community as well. Regardless health and safety concerns are critical to the business and the prospect of being shut down for health and safety reasons is out of the question. It is your decision to make.