CIVIL SERVICES ACADEMY

46th Common Training Programme

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Assignment No. 1

Course: Evidence Based Decision Making

Mode Home Assignment

Date: 10-5-2018

Topic: Evidence based decision making, examples from your life?

Submitted by: Syed Ammar Akhtar CSID: 4602095

Evidence based decision making is one of the types of choosing alternatives for

solving a problem by using the empirically found data or anything of indicative

nature. In this approach of reaching the solution of the problem in hand, a decision

maker defines the problem i.e. a discrepancy between a desirable state and the

actual state. The second step followed is the research for the collection of empirical

evidence. This collection of evidence i.e. any information that can corroborate

either in the favor or against of the alternative shall be contextually conceived and

shall be collected using sophisticated research tools. Lastly, after applying relevant

parameters, an alternative is chosen.

Evidence based decision making is a three-tier approach, in which evidence is of

primary importance. The three steps in decision making are as follows

 Using the
analysis to
Gathering Analysing make choice
the Evidence the Evidence among the
options
available

Evidence-based decision is making is taken in contrast with Conventional decision

making in which a conformist approach is followed, using the collective wisdom of

the past, or believing on the hunch or sixth sense or relying on the gut feeling etc.

It is also an approach which is more circumstantial and critical in nature, as in

incorporates all the recent phenomena in the form of evidence gathered. Hence, for

a decision that is needed to be up-to date in nature shall be made using the

aforementioned approach.

Example of an evidence-based decision making

A lot of evidence based decision making is practiced, intentionally or

unintentionally. Perhaps the most important decision one has to make is that of a

career. But mine was somewhat different. One of the most important decision

made by myself was the selection of the academy for the preparation of civil

services exam. A lot of speculations, a lot of experiences, a lot of perspectives

were presented in this regard. As the saying goes, “The devil lies the detail”, my
position was not different. Hence, a state of self-perpetuating confusion and

misunderstanding existed, with my future at stake in this muddle.

To clear the air, I first tried to have a clarity of thought about the problem and the

stakes associated with it. I was clear that this will be once in a life time decision,

with the importance of being my career-defining moment.

For gathering evidence, I went to all the 5 academies available, in their orientation

sessions, asking relevant decisions and going through the content of the notes of

the academy. This was a first hand evidence. I also gathered circumstantial

evidence by asking questions from the fellows enrolled in the academy, getting the

tinge and taste of the resources academies had to offer.

After gathering of the evidence comes the phase of analysis. For analysis, a robust,

comprehensive approach had to be followed. Although I had the first-hand

evidence gathered, analysis called for looking for the meanings with-in. As I was

juvenile in this regard, I consulted my seniors and teachers who changed my

perspective for quite a bit. For example, my seniors not only advised for getting

individual tuitions for particular subjects but also guided me to do a swot analysis

of my learning abilities, so that a perfectly fit academy can be advised.

Lastly, once I analyzed by approach aforementioned, I came to result and joined

the academy for preparations. And got succeeded. Had I been involved on my sixth

sense etc, I would retained in the same state of confusion