Good decision making is always something I have struggled with but once in a while I see someone else that is so much worse. I’m sure everyone has seen a news story and thought, “Wow, a bad decision was made here.”
One recent example of this is on September 20, 2018, a Florida Institute of Technology student attempted to steal an airliner. When I heard about this, I didn’t understand why he thought this was a good idea. I can’t tell if he didn’t use a good decision-making technique or if he did and decided to do it anyway. While most of the decisions that we will make in college will not have as far-reaching consequences, a good decision-making technique is essential.
One decision-making technique that I find helpful is one provided by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
1. Identify the decision to be made
In the example earlier about the student stealing an airliner, the decision to be made is either steal an airliner or not.
2. Gather relevant information
I think the relevant information in this example is that an airliner is a very expensive piece of equipment and that it isn’t easy to steal off the ground. The person who steals it would also need to be able to understand and use the technology relevant to flying the airplane. Where is the airplane? What work would you need to do in order to steal the airplane?
3. Identify alternatives
There are two very simple alternatives: to steal the plane or not to steal the plane.
4. Weigh Evidence
Consider both alternatives and how they would play out. If they tried to steal the plane what would that really look like? Or if that student decided, “Nah, better not,” what would that look like?
5. Choose among alternatives
Obviously, the student decided to steal the airplane. Personally, after taking the previous steps, I would decide that this is not a good decision.
6. Take Action
This is the part in the decision-making process when he stole the plane. Or at least he attempted to. In reality, someone stopped him, and he was arrested.
7. Review Decision and Consequences
In this final step, you look back at your decision and think about how it worked out. For most college students this looks something like, “I decided not to study the night before an exam, so I didn’t do well on the exam.” For the college student who decided that stealing an airliner was a good idea ,he looks back at this decision and thinks, “Maybe that wasn’t a good idea because now I’m getting deported.”
In conclusion, I advise using this seven-part process in making decisions and not stealing a plane.