Decision Making and Problem Solving

Abstract

Imagine that you have been placed in the position of screening applicants for a high-level decision-making position. What criteria would you employ to evaluate the candidates for a job that involves making important decisions and solving difficult problems? Perhaps the first attribute that you would look for would be previous experience in making similar types of decisions or solving related problems. It is reasonable to expect that someone who has enjoyed success in such situations in the past will likely prove successful in the future. However, if experience is excluded, other characteristics must be considered. Some of those that might be useful in this context are: (1) creativity; (2) flexibility; (3) organizational skills; (4) ability to make valid logical deductions; (5) ability to sift relevant from irrelevant information; (6) ability to operate at both abstract and concrete levels; and (7) ability to proceed systematically towards a problem solution.