Problem Solving and Decision Making Flashcards

What is the FIRST step in a systematic problem-solving process?

Answer: Identify and define the problem

Clearly defining the problem is essential before any other steps can be taken effectively.

A supervisor notices production errors increasing over three consecutive weeks. What is the BEST initial action?

Answer: Gather data to identify the root cause

Collecting data to find the root cause prevents addressing symptoms rather than the underlying issue.

Which decision-making model assumes a decision-maker can evaluate all possible alternatives and select the optimal solution?

Answer: Rational model

The rational model assumes all alternatives can be identified and evaluated to find the optimal solution.

A supervisor must make a quick decision with incomplete information and limited time. This situation BEST describes:

Answer: Bounded rationality

Bounded rationality occurs when decision-makers work within constraints of limited information, time, and cognitive capacity.

Which tool organizes potential causes of a problem into categories such as people, process, equipment, and environment?

Answer: Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram

The fishbone diagram categorizes potential causes to systematically identify root causes of a problem.

When a supervisor 'satisfices' in decision-making, they:

Answer: Select the first solution that meets minimum acceptable criteria

Satisficing means choosing the first acceptable solution rather than continuing to search for the optimal one.

A Pareto chart is used in problem-solving to:

Answer: Identify the few causes responsible for the majority of problems

The Pareto principle (80/20 rule) helps supervisors prioritize the causes that have the greatest overall impact.