Week 1 Conference

Topic #1 - PrOACT Approach
Hammond, Keeney, and Raiffa describe in their book an approach designed to help you make the best possible choice. They call it the PrOACT approach, and it addresses eight keys to effective decision making. Those keys are:

• Work on the right decision problem.
• Specify your objectives.
• Create imaginative alternatives.
• Understand the consequences.
• Grapple with your tradeoffs.
• Clarify your uncertainties.
• Think hard about your risk tolerance.
• Consider linked decisions.

Explore a major personal decision you made in the past, e.g., buying a house or car, choosing to return to school, changing jobs, getting married, etc.
1. Which PrOACT element(s) did you take into account before making your decision? How did specific PrOACT element(s) help you make the best choice? 
2. Which elements were not considered, or not considered enough? What impact did overlooking those elements have on your choice?
Topic #2 - Root Cause, Symptoms and Decision Problems
We make decisions every day but some decisions are more complex requiring more thought and analysis.  These are the decisions we focus on in this class.  Medical examples can be the easiest to identify symptoms, root causes and decision problems.

Watch the following video clip from the E.R. series.
ER Final Scene - Series Finale at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ98ke7ma3s (3.27 minutes long)
There are several decisions in the video that can be discussed.  You might want to watch the clip a first time just to understand the content.  Then, rewatch looking for root cause, symptoms, and a decision problem.

Topic #3 - What is Change?
In his book, Beyond the Wall of Resistance, Maurer talks about executives who fail to lead change in chapter 1 and then in chapter 2 (Maurer) discusses the need to move forward and how change causes resistance.  Today's business world is evolving very quickly causing organizations to effect change more so than ever before.  However, a dilemma arises because not all organization manage change well while other organizations seem to know the secrets of effective change.
Discuss a major change that the organization you work for has undergone and describe the challenges experienced in moving forward.  Using the various concepts learned in Chapters 1 and 2, how did your organization fare?   If you are unable to come up with an example within your organization or if you do not work, look at an organization you are familiar with.

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