MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS

This week I learned about how decision support systems can help you not only in making a decision but also in making the most accurate decision. Here I will talk about how these systems are essential but at cannot be 100% reliable, once the final decision cannot be fully automated. In other words, these systems can improve how information is managed, helping someone to make the final decision later on (Gotta, M., Par. 1). I will start by explaining how we can apply Gospel related principles in this process, then by how to implement what technology offers us and finally focus on the use of information to help making the final decision.

Studying the information provided in order to make a final decision is essential in this process of accuracy. As we look at the Gospel we can see many teachings from the Lord in regards to that. In the book of D&C 9:7-9 He taught Oliver Cowdery the following, “Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.” Here we can see a great pattern established by the Lord to help us make the right decisions, through seeking the answer and receiving it by the Holy Ghost. Elder Richard G. Scott said in his address of the first session of General Conference today, October 3, 2009, “The Holy Ghost can help us make decisions as we seek help from The Lord.”

This new era of Information Technology has provided other great mechanisms in decision making. Programs that generate detailed reports such as what Excel does with a pivot table are very helpful in this process. I am learning in my personal finance class, for instance, to track all my expenses in order to see where I could be saving more money. As I utilize spreadsheets with the right information put together, it becomes much easier for me to decide where I need to make changes. Learning how to use several different decision support systems such as queries in Access and different features in Excel as filtering, pivot tables, and others, will dramatically increase my ability to become a greater decision maker as I pursue my career in business as well as in my personal life.

Making a decision can completely change the course of one’s project or even his life. We need to be aware, however, that the information gathered should serve just as a support and not as the final criteria for making the decision (Jessup, L., Par. 11). If you will worry too much about focusing on the report, you might not notice other things that could also influence your decision, and many businesses have gone broke because of that. That’s why I need to learn how to analyze such decision support systems and apply the principles of the Gospel in order to make the right decision after all.




REFERENCES

Gotta, Mike. "Social software is improving collaboration." Http://www.computerweekly.com/.
Computer Weekly, 27 Mar. 2007. Web. 02 Oct. 2009. .

Section 9:7-9. Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
Day Saints, 1976. Print.

Scott, Richard G. "Making Decisions." 179th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Utah, Salt Lake City. 03 Oct. 2009. Address.

Jessup, Leonard M. "Decision Making in an Automated Environment: The Effects of Anonymity
and Proximity with a Group Decision Support System*." Decision Sciences 22.2 (7 Jun 2007): 266-79. Decision Sciences. Willey InterScience Journals, 7 June 2007. Web. 3 Oct. 2009. .