Task 3- Decision making issues- uncertainty, biases, in personal and group decision making

 

 

I classify my thinking process as SYSTEM TWO, in which, I think rationally considering facts and I put effort before making a decision. However, the following story will examine my decision making under the influence of decision bias.

Being the duty manager at the airport, I usually make the final decision of any issue or challenge for our client airlines. The issue started with the load controller on the next shift being sick and his spot was uncovered. This means that no aircraft could depart without producing a load sheet by a certified load controller. The next load controller doesn't start work until five hours later.

All load sheets for schedule departures are produced by the previous load controller apart from one departure. I arrived to work, there was one load controller on shift but he was about to complete his shift as he already worked 12 hours. The load controller on shift explained me how to produce the load sheet. He convinced me that I can produce the load sheet although I wasn't certified. However, if anything went wrong, it would've caused a big issue. He influenced my decision by making it sound like it is an easy job and nothing will go wrong, I wasn't comfortable and I did not feel in control at all.

I had to decide between offloading 200 passengers or produce a load sheet in which I am not qualified to do. Finally, under the influence of framing bias and the fear of the consequences of offloading the passengers I choose to produce the load sheet. My heart was beating fast and I was shaking. I should not have done it and I wouldn't do if it ever happens again. 

In group decision making, the fears of the truth by other group members distorts me the most, particularly at work. This is because each group member has his/her own agenda; this shifts away the real solution. 

In order to tackle the problem, we have to be truthful about the cause, even if we are personally responsible for the cause. Lots of managers like to avoid the real problem instead of being responsible, admitting the mistake and finding ways to resolving it.

I believe communication and politics at the work place can improve the solutions of such problems. For instance, if the manager who makes the final decision trusts my judgment then he/she would probably listen to my opinion, when I talk to him/her in private. This way I can influence the manager's decision before having a group meeting. I can form some sort of lobbying in order to manipulate the group decision.