SkillSoft Glossary

A

accountability: A type of motivational bias involving overemphasizing the interests of those to whom you are accountable or for whom you're responsible.
action plan: A problem-solving tool used to list the actions or tasks involved in a chosen solution. It includes such information as who will carry out the task, how much it will cost, and when it should be completed by.
advocacy: The act of vehemently defending or advocating a particular viewpoint.
analytical problem-solving skills: Skills associated with the use of logic, reasoning, and abstract thinking to solve problems.
anchoring: A type of cognitive bias. It involves holding onto initial ideas, even when updated information or options become available.
authoritative decision-making style: Similar to the authority or expert style, a decision-making style in which one person makes decisions independently and then informs others.
availability: A type of cognitive bias, arising from people's tendency to remember and prioritize information that's readily available and vividly presented, and to overlook other information.

B

bias: A distortion of reality caused by cognitive or motivational factors.
brainstorming: A problem-solving tool used to come up with as many creative solutions to a problem as possible, while withholding criticism or analysis of the ideas generated.

C

cause: Something that produces an effect, result, or consequence.
cause-and-effect diagram: A problem-solving tool used to map out the complex, underlying causes of a problem. Also called a fishbone diagram due to its appearance.
cognitive bias: A type of bias caused by faulty methods of information processing.
competency: A set of success factors required for achieving results. It includes a combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities.
consensus decision-making style: A decision-making style similar to a "we all decide" approach, in which individuals participate equally in reaching a decision. The final decision chosen is the one that everyone in the group can accept and support.
consequence matrix: A table that lists decision alternatives as column headings and decision objectives as row headings, with each cell containing a rating or ranking indicating the consequence an alternative will have on a particular objective. It's a useful tool for making decisions in which alternatives must be evaluated in terms of multiple objectives.
consultative decision-making style: A style of decision making in which the decision maker incorporates input from others but retains responsibility for making a final decision. It can be likened to an "I decide with your input" approach.
contingency plan: A plan of action created for the use in the case of an unforeseen event.
cooperation: A type of motivational bias involving selecting solutions that please others, rather than those that are the best.
cost-benefit-analysis: A process to determine the financial payback of a potential solution.
creative problem-solving skills: Skills associated with finding original and innovative solutions to problems.
critical thinking: Any form of analytical thinking, involving the systematic use of logic.

D

democratic decision-making style: A decision-making approach in which the opinions or views of others are considered. It's a broader categorization of the four decision-making styles, encompassing the consultative, traditional majority or voting, and consensus styles.
devil's advocate technique: A decision-making tool that helps you to evaluate, revise, or reject alternatives through the use of repeated criticism of a given alternative by a formally appointed devil's advocate.

E

ease-and-effect matrix: A decision-making tool used in evaluating alternatives based on their effectiveness in achieving the desired result and their ease of implementation.

F

five-why analysis: A problem-solving tool used to get beyond the symptoms of a problem to the root cause itself. It involves asking 'Why?' as many times as necessary.
force-field analysis: A process of analyzing and displaying factors that work for and against a potential solution.
framing: A type of cognitive bias that involves presenting or perceiving the world in a particular way, which is often dictated by one's own expectations, biases, presumptions, and experiences.

G

gap analysis: A problem-solving tool used to compare one's current state with the state one wants to be in.

I

interpersonal problem-solving style: An approach to problems characterized by a focus on values, this style prizes relationships and loyalty, and favours introspection, empathy, and spontaneity. The ineffective qualities of this style include impulsivity, procrastination, subjectivity, and a tendency to overpersonalize issues.

L

low-hanging fruit matrix: A problem-solving tool used to map the effectiveness of possible solutions against how difficult or demanding they are.

M

motivational bias: A type of bias caused by people's underlying motives and needs.
Mr/Mrs Perfect Problem Solver composite: A list or table containing the names of individuals you deem to be good problem solvers and the skills these individuals exhibit.
multi-attribute analysis: A process to compare different potential solutions, under weighted criteria, to determine the best one.

N

need for closure: A type of motivational bias involving cutting the problem-solving process short to meet the desire to solve a problem quickly.
nominal group technique: An alternative generating and decision-making tool that includes individual brainstorming and ranking of ideas within a group of 8 to 10 people.
nonlinear problem-solving style: An approach to problem solving that's original, creative, and imaginative. This style can, however, also be idealistic, naïve, unrealistic, impractical, and disorganized.

O

overconfidence: A type of cognitive bias that involves overestimating your chances of success.

P

payback period: The period of time that it takes for an investment to pay for itself.
Plus/Minus/Interesting analysis: See PMI analysis.
PMI analysis: The abbreviation for Plus/Minus/Interesting analysis which is an evaluation and selection tool used in decision making. This tool involves listing positive and negative outcomes as well as the extended implications of taking action, whether positive or negative.
practical problem-solving skills: Skills applied to solve common, situational problems, using experience and intuition.
pragmatic problem-solving style: A problem-solving style that focuses on practical solutions and is goal-oriented and assertive. Negative characteristics associated with this style can include being short-sighted, selfish, controlling, overbearing, or arrogant.
problem solving: The mental process followed when one has a goal but can't immediately see how to achieve it.

Q

quantify: To express the quantity, percentage, or numeric value of an entity.

R

range: All values between a specified lower and upper value. Ranges are useful for expressing possible values of uncertain variables when evaluating decision alternatives.
rational problem-solving style: A problem-solving style applied by those who favor a systematic and logical approach. Negative characteristics that can be associated with this style include being indecisive, overcautious, unemotional, or rigid.
Return on Investment: See ROI.
ROI: The abbreviation for Return on Investment, which is a decision-making technique that acts as financial measure of the merit of a decision alternative.

S

self-enhancement: A type of motivational bias involving the selection of solutions that enhance your image or well-being.
skill: An ability to use knowledge to accomplish a task. Skills can be inherited, or acquired through training and conscious effort.
sunk costs: Funds that are currently being spent on existing resources such as staff and facilities.

T

traditional majority or voting decision-making style: A decision-making style in which decisions are based on what the majority feels. It can be likened to a "majority rules" approach.

U

uncertainty: An unknown or unpredictable variable. One, many, or even all variables in a decision may be uncertain.

W

weighted criteria: A set of criteria that are assigned relative values within the set, i.e. within a certain set, the cost criterion could be worth three times as much as the ease of installation criterion.

Decision Making: The FundamentalsGlossary

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Decision Making: The Fundamentals
Glossary