Research indicates that we make between 30,000 and 35,000 decisions daily. While most of these are minor and inconsequential, some hold significant importance. Effective decision-making is crucial for every company, yet 80% of businesses admit to struggling with it.

This course delves into the complexities of decision-making within a business context, exploring why making sound decisions can be so challenging. Using a hypothetical marketing career path in a large organization as a framework, we will analyze decision-making processes at four key levels of an organization:

• Professional/ Individual Contributor
• Manager of People
• Director (Manager of Managers)
• CEO/ Senior Executive

During this journey, we will discuss

• what high-quality decisions are, and how we can make them even under uncertainty and tight timelines;
• decision-making styles, and how emotions and biases impact decision-making;
• practical decision-making tools;
• ethics, difficult decisions, and how goals and targets impact decision-making;
• how decision-making impacts the overall organization and culture

After completing the course, students will have

• a deeper understanding of decision-making processes and their application in business
• developed a toolkit of decision-making strategies, enhancing their ability to make sound and rational choices more efficiently in various settings
• built their confidence in making decisions as young leaders

80% attendance is required.

The course offers a blend of real-life case studies, theory, in-class discussion, and practical exercises. With its highly interactive format, students are expected to actively participate and contribute throughout the course.

Grading will be based on the following criteria:

• in-class participation (20%)
• in-class exercises (20%)
• an individual assignment (20%)
• a group project (40%)

Grades are as follows:

90 pts or more: 1 (= excellent), 80 pts or more: 2 (= good), 70 pts or more: 3 (=satisfactory), 60 pts or more: 4 (= sufficient), 59 pts or less: 5 (= fail).  

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Recommended Readings:

• Harvard Business Review: HBR Guide to Making Better Decisions
• Annie Duke, Quit: The power of when to walk away