Effective Decisionmaking

A Guide to Thinking for Management Success

John Adair

Publisher: Pan, 1985

ISBN: 0-330-28748-6

Synopsis:

Toggle Synopsis

Table of Contents:

Toggle Table of Contents

1. The Management Context
• The Crucial Competence
• The Rational Manager
• The Five Point Plan
• Some Factors Which Affect Decison Making
• How Managers Spend Their Time
• Chief resource or Bloody Nuisance?
• People are Wholes, Not Spare Parts
• Involving Work People in Decisions
2. Know Your Mind
• Brain Power
• Three Families of Abilities
• Using Your Depth Mind
• Managing Emotion
• Roadblocks to Learning
• Conclusion
3. Analysing
• Identifying the Hallmarks of a Good Analytical Mind
• Analytical Ability in Management
• The Skills of Asking Yourself Questions
• The Analytical Methods of Logicians
• Think Backwards
• Organise the Facts
• The Logic of the Situation
• The Missing Missile
4. Holistic Thinking
• The Holistic Vision
• Some Holistic Approaches
• Thinking Holistically About Problems
• Nature and Growth
• Holistic Numeracy
• Signpost
5. Thinking in Concepts
• Concepts
• Conceptual Thinking and Decision Making
• Reflective Thinking
• Conclusion
6. Imaginative Thinking
• Thinking in Pictures
• Thinking and Imagination
• Imaginative Thinking in Action
• Yes, But Can You Develop Imaginative Thinking?
• Imagination in Perspective
7. Valuing
• The Autonomy of Valuing
• A Policy for Thinkers
• Consulting Specialists
• Valuing in Perspective
8. Your Sixth Sense – Intuition
• Trusting Your Intuition
• Emotion and Intuition
• Business Flair
• Conclusion
9. Your Depth Mind
• Using the Principle
• Some Guidelines
10. Options
• Developing a Range of Options
• False Assumptions: Some Examples from History
• Some Limitations Affecting Management Choices
• Generating More Options
• Assessing the Consequences
• The Importance of Probability
• Summary
11. Arguing
• How To Get It Wrong
• Conclusion
12. Useful Originality
• What is Creativity?
• Necessity is the Mother of Invention
• Widen Your Span of Analogy
• The Depth Mind Dimension
• Idea Banks
• Innovation
• Management Actions
13. Developing Your Thinking Skills
• What is an Effective Decision?
• The Goal of Consensus
• What is an Effective Thinker?
• Making an Inventory of Your Skills
• Learning on the Job
• Keep Mentally Fit
• How To Avoid Stimulus Deficiency
• Conclusion