My 1st discussion topic for my 1st subject of my MBA program was : " Assuming you are the CEO faced with a prospect to lay off 600 workers, which decision-making model will you use and why." *Yucks!*
I don't believe anyone would like to make a decision like that and I definitely hope that I will not have to make such a decision in real life, especially not when I am the CEO! Anyway, after reading 2 related chapters of the textbook, I realised that there are many models of decision-making and approaches which I actually have been applying at work all the time but had no idea that they have names. For example there is a model called The Garbage Can Model of Decision-Making whereby I must have been using all the time in this company. I have to make decisions under highly ambiguous conditions whereby the goals are not clear, the participants change fast and I also do not have a set of rules to guide me along! So I am actually a Garbage Can decision-maker all along! And the Japanese bosses in my company will always use the Political Model of Decision-Making whereby they use their powers (titles) to affect the decisions...
Most of friends who have done the MBA are telling me that I will have a freshing and enjoyable time doing my MBA. I was at doubts about myself going back to studies after so many years but I am beginning to believe them now. I feel that my time is spent more fulfilling now that I have things to read about and the theories I learnt are actually applicable to my work! It is really a revitalising experience. I am looking forward to starting my next subject next month and then the next
