Harvard Business Review on Decision Making

by John S. Hammond

This collection will help people at all levels understand the fundamental theories and practices of effective decision making so that they can make better decisions in their personal and professional lives. Articles include: The Effective Decision by Peter F. Drucker; Even Swaps: A Rational Method for Making Trade-offs by John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa; Humble Decision Making by Amitai Etzioni; Interpersonal Barriers to Decision Making by Chris Argyris; Can You Analyze This Problem? by Perrin Stryker; How to Analyze That Problem by Perrin Stryker; The Hidden Traps in Decision Making by John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa; and When Should You Trust Your Gut? by Alden M. Hayashi.

Genres: Management, Business, Nonfiction, Research, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2001

Reviews

[Martin Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harvard Business Review publishes some eminently readable and thought-provoking articles - managing to get the right mix between academic depth and popular readability. HBR have now published many collections of articles, which in the the typical way of compilations contain a mixed bag: some gems, some not so. This particular compilation is now rather dated, with articles from 1965 to 2001.

[Poonam Rai · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an excellent book for top notch executives and anyone who wants to start a business based on calculated decisions . The book sails you through lot of case studies which helps you apply the fundamentals of decision making to your everyday life and career. Best learnings were that of 'Consequence table making ' and 'The hidden aspects of decision making ' .
Very crisp and to the point book .

[Jorge Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where should I live? Is it time to get a new job? Which job candidate should I hire? What business strategy should I pursue? We spend the majority of our lives making decisions, both big and small. Yet, even though our success is largely determined by the choices that we make, very few of us are equipped with useful decision-making skills. Because of this, we often approach our choices tentatively, or even fearfully, and avoid giving them the time and thought required to put our best foot forward. In "Smart Choices," John Hammond, Ralph Keeney, and Howard Raiffa--experts with over 100 years of experience resolving complex decision problems--offer a proven, straightforward, and flexible roadmap for making better and more impactful decisions, and offer the tools to achieve your goals in every aspect of your life. Their step-by-step, divide-and conquer approach will teach you how to: Evaluate your plans; Break your potential decision into its key elements; Identify the key drivers that are most relevant to your goals; Apply systematic thinking; Use the right information to make the smartest choice. "Smart Choices" doesn't tell you what to decide; it tells you how. As you routinely use the process, you'll become more confident in your ability to make decisions at work and at home. And, more importantly, by applying its time-tested methods, you'll make better decisions going forward. Be proactive. Don't wait until a decision is forced on you--or made for you. Seek out decisions that advance your long-term goals, values, and beliefs. Take charge of your life by making "Smart Choices" a lifetime habit.
https://hbr.org/product/smart-choices...

[Maximiliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about decision making techniques. Granted, each chapter is from a different author and independent subject, most of them are great, but some of the chapters are not very good (or relatable to me), that's the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Great chapters:
1. The Effective Decision
2. Even Swaps
5. Can You Analyze This Problem?
6. How to Analyze That Problem: Part II of a Management Exercise
7. The Hidden Traps in Decision Making

Weak or not new/relevant to me:
3. Humble Decision Making
4. Interpersonal Barriers to Decision Making
8. When to Trust Your Gut

[Kelly Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated, but full of helpful insights for both teacher and student.