Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
As managers, we are asked to do many things – develop employees, create new products, generate revenue, build strong brands. I would argue that one of the most important factors that determines our ability to do all this well is sound decision making.
Why do smart people make bad decisions? Have you (or your boss) ever made a bad decision? If the answer is no, then this blog post is not for you. But if it’s yes, then you may want to read on.
This spring, we are offering a great opportunity for students interested in getting a firsthand experience of Babson’s Blended Learning MBA program before they apply – they can participate in a Babson Blended Learning: Test It Out course focused on decision making as a core management function.
The course is taught by Senior Lecturer in Management Dwight Gertz and he generously agreed to offer some insight on the class for this blog post:
“Why do smart people make bad decisions? Have you (or your boss) ever made a bad decision? These are important questions. The purpose of the Decisions Course is to help you understand why smart, educated people make bad decisions and how you can ensure that you, and the organization where you work, make good decisions.
We will use case studies of good and bad decisions, the writings of some of the best experts on the topic, and frameworks for thinking about decisions to form the basis for a conversation that will help to make you a better decision maker.
The course will meet for two all day sessions in San Francisco and will have one short online virtual meeting. In the weeks when there is no course meeting, students and the professor will have on line discussions, which you can enter at a time of your choosing.
The course will be graded based on student work on two short papers, participation in class meetings, and participation in online discussions. There is no final exam for this course.”
Let us know if you are interested in joining the class – here are the steps to learn more and get started.
[Bonus tip: Back in the day when I was an MBA student at Babson, one of Prof. Gertz’s classes was a big highlight of my learning and continues to influence the way I approach my work as my responsibilities grow.]
We all have our own goals. Live yours.