Member Reviews
Pádraig Ó Céidigh's book 'The Purposeful Decision Maker' tells us how to really break down the decision-making process and in particular, five rules to follow. He incorporates his own experience in the aviation industry, to show times he didn't make good decisions and in the section on unintended consequences he shares the story of Ryanair taking the Dublin to Cork route, selling at €5 versus his €70.
His section on Robert Merton's 1936 research on unintended consequences was an unexpected pleasure of new knowledge.
All in all, a good read covering well-known areas such as bias and classic behavioural science research.
Interesting book with a perspective to reflect, think and work on decision making strategy. The book outlines different harbour. Safe harbour (this is not your comfort zone) with the focus on what is important in your life (consider what you decide to do it not to do). Knowing yourself is truly important in understanding how and why you make certain decisions in life. This is the time to reflect on people, place, principles and purpose. There is a very good chapter devoted to biased we all have and may not even notice how the influence our decisions. Love the stories that illustrated overcoming some biases. There was an interesting concept of a funnel in deciding: clarify the information and the question. Sitting information in imaginary boxes of impression, third party, finances, competition, personal investment, etc. You will learn about anatomy of decisions and how to train your gut feeling and muchmore. Most valuable for me was the power of asking yourself questions in different situations (examples are provided). The questions do help to develop critical thinking and support your decision process in any situation.
Pádraig Ó Céidigh presents a readable and practical guide to making decisions that goes beyond the raw black and white that characterizes so many approached to business. Pádraig expands on the importance of evaluating outside and not traditional methods to arrive at an holistic decision that best meets the varied demands and consequences that apply.
The benefit of seeking outside guidance from what might appear as non qualified confidants is stressed and it's merits evaluated. Likewise, seeking to achieve consensus on the process of group decision making in odder to achieve a complex strategy that has optimal buy in, is well described.
Highly recommend this book.
Have you ever had to make a decision but couldn't arrive at one? This book will solve the problem. Rea it and reap.