Course Guide

MN 411 - Decision Making

Course Guide

In this page is the course guide for our subject. The course guide specifies the dates of meetings, the activities to be done in those meetings, objectives, learning outcomes, etc. Please refer to this course guide regularly so that you will be guided accordingly in regard to what we will do during offline and online sessions.

SCHEDULE	Session 1 Date: 8 November 2008 Mode: OFF LINE (Face-to-face) Room: OU Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	Course Orientation Definition of Decision Making What is decidophobia?
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Understand the concept and consequences of decision making · Define decidophobia · Discuss the etymology of the word decision
ACTIVITY	Lecture-discussion Introduction of the website: http://mn411dm.tripod.com Introduction of the class email address: decisionmaking.ou@gmail.com
MATERIAL	Module 1 – Introduction
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the activity called decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 2 Date: 8 November 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	Learning the ins and outs of the site, the internet, email.
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Open the website and read the materials · Create a personal email address · Become a member of the e-group.
ACTIVITY	Log on to and explore the website (virtual classroom). Create email address if still without email address. Send initial emails to the class email to become member of e-group. Make initial post in the discussion board.
MATERIAL
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Familiarization with the website and the concept of electronic mail and discussion board.

SCHEDULE	Session 3 Date: 15 November 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	Definition of decision making The steps in the decision making process The different decision making styles
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Open the website and read the materials For Module 1 · Understand the concept and consequences of decision making · Define and describe decidophobia · Discuss the etymology of the word decision For Module 2 · Define decision and problem · Describe decision making and problem solving · Differentiate decision making from problem solving · Illustrate the decision making process and define each step For Module 3 · Describe the contingency considerations in decision making · Describe escalation of commitment · Describe the different decision making styles
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 1 and send answers via email. Assignment No. 1 is to answer all questions or do the activities at the end of Modules 1, 2 and 3.
MATERIAL	Module 1 – Introduction Module 2 – Steps in the Decision Making Process Module 3 – Dynamics of Decision Making
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Introduction to decision making, its steps and the dynamics that surround it.

SCHEDULE	Session 4 Date: 15 November 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	Types of problems and decisions Fundamentals of decision problems
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: For Module 4 · Identify, describe and differentiate a well-structured problem from an ill-structured problem · Identify, describe and differentiate a programmed from a non-programmed decision For Module 5 · Identify and describe the different elements of a decision situation · Illustrate and describe sequential decisions
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 2 and send answers via email. Assignment No. 2 is to answer all questions or do the activities at the end of Modules 4 and 5
MATERIAL	Module 4 – Types of Problems and Decisions Module 5 – Elements of Decision Problems
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the types of problems and decisions and the elements of decision problems

SCHEDULE	Session 5 Date: 22 November 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 4 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	See LEARNING CONTENT for SESSIONS 3 and 4
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSIONS 3 and 4 and · Apply the learnings from the modules to write a meaningful reaction paper and a suggestive comment on the topic to be discussed in the e-group discussion.
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Write a reaction paper about an article found in the website and send answer via email. Participate in the e-group discussion on the assigned topic
MATERIAL	Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	See LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME for SESSIONS 3 and 4

SCHEDULE	Session 6 Date: 29 November 2008 Mode: FACE-TO-FACE Room: OU 6 Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	See LEARNING CONTENT for SESSIONS 3 and 4
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSIONS 3 and 4 · Comprehend the topics discussed in the module and participate meaningfully in the class dialogue
ACTIVITY	Lecture and class discussion
MATERIAL	Module 1 – Introduction Module 2 – Steps in the Decision Making Process Module 3 – Dynamics of Decision Making Module 4 – Types of Problems and Decisions Module 5 – Elements of Decision Problems
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	See LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME for SESSIONS 3 and 4

SCHEDULE	Session 7 Date: 6 December 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The different models of decision making The various aspects of individual versus group decision making
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: For Module 6 · Identify and describe the different models of decision making For Module 7 · Define individual decision making · Define group decision making · Identify the advantages and disadvantages of individual and group decision making · Describe groupthink and groupshift · Identify the different group decision making techniques
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 3 and send answers via email. Assignment No. 3 is to answer all questions or do all activities at the end of Modules 6 and 7
MATERIAL	Module 6 – Models of Decision Making Module 7 – Individual and Group Decision Making
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the models of decision making and individual and group decision making.

SCHEDULE	Session 8 Date: 13 December 2008 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 4 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The different models of decision making The various aspects of individual versus group decision making
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSION 7 · Apply the learnings from the module to write a meaningful reaction paper and a suggestive comment on the topic to be discussed in the e-group discussion.
ACTIVITY	Write a reaction paper about an article found in the website. Participate in the e-group discussion on the assigned topic
MATERIAL	Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the models of decision making and individual and group decision making.

SCHEDULE	Session 9 Date: 10 January 2009 Mode: FACE-TO-FACE Room: OU 6 Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The different models of decision making The various aspects of individual versus group decision making
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSION 7 · Comprehend the topics discussed in the module and participate meaningfully in the class dialogue
ACTIVITY	Lecture and class discussion
MATERIAL	Module 6 – Models of Decision Making Module 7 – Individual and Group Decision Making
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the models of decision making and individual and group decision making.

SCHEDULE	Session 10 Date: 17 January 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The factors that help make quality decisions The processes involved in the making of ethical decisions
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: For Module 8 · Identify and describe the behavioral influences on individual decision making For Module 9 · Comprehend what ethics is · Identify the five sources of ethical standards · Assess ethical decisions
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 4. Assignment No. 4 is to answer all questions or do all activities at the end of Modules 8 and 9
MATERIAL	Module 8 – What Makes A Quality Decision? Module 9 – Ethical Decision making
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the factors that make a quality decision and the processes involved in ethical decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 11 Date: 24 January 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 4 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The factors that help make quality decisions The processes involved in the making of ethical decisions
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Apply the learnings from the modules to write a meaningful reaction paper and a suggestive comment on the topic to be discussed in the e-group discussion.
ACTIVITY	Write a reaction paper about an article found in the website. Participate in the e-group discussion on the assigned topic
MATERIAL	Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the factors that make a quality decision and the processes involved in ethical decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 12 Date: 31 January 2009 Mode: FACE-TO-FACE Room: OU 6 Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The factors that help make quality decisions The processes involved in the making of ethical decisions
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSION 10 · Comprehend the topics discussed in the module and participate meaningfully in the class dialogue
ACTIVITY	Lecture and class discussion
MATERIAL	Module 8 – What Makes A Quality Decision? Module 9 – Ethical Decision making Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the factors that make a quality decision and the processes involved in ethical decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 13 Date: 7 February 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The theories of creativity The learning process
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: For Module 10 · Define creativity · Identify and describe the theories of creativity · Enumerate the phases of the creative process · Identify and describe the blocks to creativity For Module 11 · Understand the science of the brain · Define learning and the process of learning · Distinguish between information versus knowledge · Understand the roots of decision making
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 5. Assignment No. 5 is to answer all questions or do all activities at the end of Modules 10 and 11
MATERIAL	Module 10 – Creativity Module 11 – How the Mind Works: From Deciding to Action
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of creativity and how the mind works in relation to decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 14 Date: 14 February 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 4 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The theories of creativity The learning process
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Apply the learnings from the module to write a meaningful reaction paper and a suggestive comment on the topic to be discussed in the e-group discussion.
ACTIVITY	Write a reaction paper about an article found in the website. Participate in the e-group discussion on the assigned topic
MATERIAL	Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of creativity and how the mind works in relation to decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 15 Date: 21 February 2009 Mode: FACE-TO-FACE Room: OU 6 Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The theories of creativity The learning process
OBJECTIVE	See OBJECTIVES for SESSION 13 · Comprehend the topics discussed in the module and participate meaningfully in the class dialogue
ACTIVITY	Lecture and class discussion
MATERIAL	Module 10 – Creativity Module 11 – How the Mind Works: From Deciding to Action Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of creativity and how the mind works in relation to decision making

SCHEDULE	Session 16 Date: 28 January 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 3 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The tools that aid people make sound decisions Discussion of decision analysis Factors that contribute to being a good decision maker
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: For Module 12 · Identify and describe the different tools used for decision making For Module 13 · Understand the need to study decision analysis · Illustrate and describe the decision-analysis process · Learn where decision analysis is used For Module 14 · Identify and describe the factors that contribute to being a good decision maker · Identify and describe the strategies in avoiding personal decisions
ACTIVITY	Read from the website the assigned materials. Work on assignment no. 6. Assignment No. 6 is to answer all questions or do all activities at the end of Modules 12, 13 and 14
MATERIAL	Module 12 - Decision Making Tools Module 13 - Decision Analysis Module 14 - Decisions Concerning Personal Life
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the tools that aid decision making Understanding of decision analysis and appreciation of decisions that concern our personal lives

SCHEDULE	Session 17 Date: 7 March 2009 Mode: ON LINE Room: Website/e-group Duration: 4 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	The tools that aid people make sound decisions Discussion of decision analysis Factors that contribute to being a good decision maker
OBJECTIVE	At the end of this session you should be able to: · Apply the learnings from the module to write a meaningful reaction paper and a suggestive comment on the topic to be discussed in the e-group discussion.
ACTIVITY	Write a reaction paper about an article found in the website. Participate in the e-group discussion on the assigned topic
MATERIAL	Assigned reading
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Better understanding and appreciation of the tools that aid decision making Understanding of decision analysis and appreciation of decisions that concern our personal lives

SCHEDULE	Session 18 Date: 14 March 2009 Mode: FACE-TO-FACE Room: OU 2 Duration: 2 hours
LEARNING CONTENT	Final Exam
OBJECTIVE
ACTIVITY	Final Exam
MATERIAL	All Modules and Readings
LEARNING OUTPUT/OUTCOME	Evaluated Exam

email your answers to: decisionmaking.ou@gmail.com