Topic 2 Activities

This week you are introduced to the different types of decision makers, both individual and group. It is imperative at the end of this week that you are able to:

• identify the different characteristics of individual decision makers
• identify issues related to group decision making

1. Read the following chapters/papers

André, R 2007, Organizational Behavior:  An Introduction to Your Life In Organizations, Chapter 3, pp 62-93  www.prenhall.com/behindthebook/013185495X/pdf/Andre_CH03.pdf.

Senik, ZC et al 2012, 'Academics as Decision Makers: What style do they adopt?', ASEAN Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 69-81

2. Watch the Decision Style concept video

3. Complete the Decision Style Inventory and MBTI (you will need the results of these to be able to contribute to all seminar and workshop activities).

4. Determine your level of creativity and intuition by completing the following quizzes:

• Creativity Quiz
• Intuition Quiz

Seminar

1. Theory discussion: what did you learn about this week's theory?  Are there elements of the theory that you don't understand? Discuss this in your tables
2. In your Organisation discuss the personalities and decisions styles of the team members.
3. Can you identify the personalities and decision styles of the key members of the actual organisation you have been allocated to?  How have they influenced the recent decisions discussed last week?
4. Which Simpsons Character are you?

Workshop

1. Week 1 recap - what did you find in your post-class activities from last week?
2. Reflection question: How does personality impact on decision making?
3. Consider the Case Study from week 1. Discuss the staff members of the case organisation and attempt to determine their decision style and personality.
4. Glossary activity: this week we are looking at defining personality types. Each workshop and external group will be allocated a set of terms for discussion and clarification.
5. Using one of the distributed news articles - consider and discuss the impact of the decision maker(s) on the decision that was made.

1. What have you learnt about yourself as a decision maker this week? Consider this for next week's in-class discussions.
2. Locate one business-based story (either from personal experience or in the news) that describes the impact of personality and decision-style on a business decision.