BENITEZ, Jewel Ann Q.

Block 6 B.S. Accountancy

BME 12: Human Behavior in Organizations

Discussion Questions in Chapter 8

1. Some have argued that people, not organizations, make decisions and that the study of
“organizational” decision making is therefore pointless. Do you agree with this argument?
Why or why not?
I think studying organizational decision making does not make sense now to individuals
but later on in life, it’s very significant. A good decision making in organization is a product of
a good decision as an independent. Therefore I disagree that studying decision in
organization is pointless, it is actually applicative. We individuals must be notified that we
can commit mistakes, studying thoroughly however may avoid it.

2. What information did you use in deciding to enter the school you now attend?
It is my mum who have suggested Kingfisher school. Before I enter to college, I have
used the Internet as a medium of deciding to pursue my career at Kingfisher. I have
observed that the school garnered praise from different people. This engaged me to enrol
and might as well as check what is true about Kingfisher.

3. When your alarm goes off each morning, you have a decision to make: whether to get up
and go to school or work, or to stay in bed and sleep longer. Is this a programmed or
nonprogrammed decision. Why?
I think it is a Programmed decision. Programmed decisions are repetitive and automatic.
When you wake up each morning, you are not fully awake, that explains why you tend to
turn off your alarm without having a second thought. It is also a routinal situation, so your
decisions tend to be based on the first made ones.

4. Describe at least three points in the decision-making process at which information plays an
important role.
Basically without information, there is no decision to make. (1) Information is the reason
for the existence of decision. Information is also vital for avoiding mistakes and seeing
obstacles in the way, like a SWOT analysis, therefore making the second point: (2)
Information helps to avoids risks. Lastly, Information most likely helps on how to achieve a
certain goal setted by the organization or might as well as a person. Therefore, (3)
Information shows a clear-cut way, rational decision making towards the goal.

5. How does the role of information in the rational model of decision making differ from the role
of information in the behavioral model?
I think in rational model of decision making, it is a step-by-step decision making and
information are based on facts and merely facts alone. Say for example in Research, self
interests must not go along the way because it passes by the Ethics. Meanwhile in
Behavioural model, the person making decision itself plays a role in deciding. Say for
example is rules of thumbs. We often use rules of thumbs based on experience rather than
theories made by the world.

6. Why does it make sense to discuss several different models of decision making?
It is important to discuss what model to be used in decision making because it defines
the method to be followed and how it will be excercised. In addition, not every model is
appropriate to a situation therefore choosing the best one will make easier consequences.
7. Can you think of a time when you satisficed when making a decision? Have you ever
suboptimized?
I think I often satisfice when time is limited. For example, when I have no time revising
an important research paper. I know I should’ve done better, but limited time makes me
feel like a prisoner. I wanted to be better but somehow something hinders me. I have
suboptimized surely. For example, I tend to focus on the deadline rather than the quality of
the output, which is I am trying to improve by now because I know I am not that kind of a
person.

8. Describe a situation in which you experienced escalation of commitment to an ineffective

course of action. What did you do about it? Do you wish you had handled it differently? Why
or why not.
I think one situation in my life where I should’ve done the opposite is pursuing my career
in Arts. Being an Accountancy student is far from Art student. And since I have invested my
time in Accounting, I tend to continue it even if I know I should’ve stopped it or not started it
in the first place. But all in all, I think I do not regret anything. This is where I am proudest of
myself. This is where I think I can brag myself. Fighting in a battle far from unknown.

9. How comfortable or uncomfortable are you in making risky decision?

When I make risky decision, I tend to lose my focus in everything. Doubting myself if this
is the right thing to do, if I am matured enough to handle this and that on my own. In
situation like this, I am always thinking that maybe it will be a success or a lesson learned.

10. Do you consider yourself to be relatively more or less creative? Recall an instance in which
you made a discovery using the four phases of the creative process.
More creative I guess. I recall this situation in my life where I really want to understand
people. I want to understand why they act like that way. I know its beyond my control but
sometimes, I like trying even if I know there’s no sense on it. So when I was in seventh
grade, there I first discovered the Carl Jung’s 16 personality types. I think this stage is
Insight. It helped a lot, understanding others and most especially, understanding myself.
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