CBC Decision Making & Problem Solving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A business coach's client keeps postponing a major hiring decision. Which coaching approach best addresses the root of decision paralysis?
- Recommend the candidate the coach believes is best
- Give the client a firm deadline to decide
- Advise the client to delegate the decision to HR
- Explore the fears and assumptions underlying the delay through open questions (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Explore the fears and assumptions underlying the delay through open questions
Coaching addresses decision paralysis by surfacing the underlying fears and assumptions rather than imposing deadlines or answers.
Question 2: In the classic problem-solving cycle, what step should immediately follow defining the problem?
- Assigning blame for the problem
- Evaluating outcomes against goals
- Analyzing root causes and gathering relevant information (Correct answer)
- Implementing the first workable solution
Correct answer: Analyzing root causes and gathering relevant information
After defining a problem, effective problem solvers analyze causes and gather data before generating or implementing solutions.
Question 3: A client presents a symptom, 'sales are down,' as the problem. What technique helps the coach and client uncover the underlying cause?
- SWOT analysis of competitors only
- Immediate brainstorming of sales tactics
- A cost-benefit analysis of layoffs
- The 5 Whys questioning technique (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The 5 Whys questioning technique
The 5 Whys drills down from a symptom to its root cause by repeatedly asking why the issue occurs.
Question 4: Which cognitive bias is a client displaying when they only seek data that supports the expansion plan they already favor?
- Anchoring bias
- Sunk cost fallacy
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Availability heuristic
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek and favor information that supports one's existing beliefs.
Question 5: When should a business coach encourage a client to use a weighted decision matrix?
- When only one option exists
- When a decision must be made instantly with no data
- When the client wants to avoid accountability
- When comparing multiple options against several criteria of differing importance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When comparing multiple options against several criteria of differing importance
A weighted decision matrix is designed for evaluating multiple options against criteria that vary in importance.
Question 6: A client says, 'We've invested too much in this product to stop now,' despite mounting losses. Which decision trap should the coach highlight?
- Groupthink
- Decision fatigue
- The halo effect
- The sunk cost fallacy (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The sunk cost fallacy
The sunk cost fallacy is continuing an endeavor because of past investment rather than future value.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of divergent thinking in the problem-solving process?
- Verifying the accuracy of financial data
- Selecting the single best solution quickly
- Generating a wide range of possible solutions before narrowing down (Correct answer)
- Documenting the final decision for stakeholders
Correct answer: Generating a wide range of possible solutions before narrowing down
Divergent thinking expands the pool of possible solutions, which convergent thinking later narrows.
CBC Decision Making & Problem Solving 2
A business coach's client keeps postponing a major hiring decision.
Which coaching approach best addresses the root of decision paralysis?