Decision Making

Here is a detailed explanation of the Decision-Making.pdf content, along with illustrative examples and additional practice questions for each type of decision-making reasoning problem¹²³.

Detailed Explanation of Decision-Making Reasoning

Definition

Decision-making reasoning involves evaluating given information and conditions to select the best possible outcome or action. These questions test your analytical ability, logical thinking, and judgment based on specified criteria¹².

Key Concepts

• Primary Conditions: Essential criteria that must be fulfilled for selection.
• Additional Conditions: Supplementary criteria that may be considered if primary conditions are not fully met.
• Data Analysis: Carefully read and analyze each condition and the information provided about each candidate or scenario.
• Table Construction: Organize information using a table to track which conditions each candidate meets or violates.
• Decision Rules: Use the table to decide the appropriate course of action for each candidate or scenario.

Step-by-Step Approach

1. List Conditions: Write down all primary and additional conditions as column headers.
2. Construct Table: Place candidate names or scenario numbers in rows and mark each condition as:
   • ✓: Condition is satisfied.
   • x: Condition is violated.
   • (✓): Additional condition is satisfied if primary is violated.
   • (x): Additional condition is violated if primary is violated.
   • ? or -: Data is inadequate or not provided.
3. Analyze: Compare each candidate’s information against the conditions and mark accordingly.
4. Decide: Use the table to select the appropriate decision for each candidate or scenario.

Illustrative Example

Scenario: A computer education center is recruiting faculty. The candidate must:

• a: Be 23–28 years old as of 1 November 1993.
• b: Have work or programming experience.
• c: Have a postgraduate degree in computer application (MCA, M.Tech) with at least 60% marks.
• d: Obtain at least 25 marks in the interview (out of 50).
• Additional conditions:
  • f: If a candidate has a postgraduate degree with less than 60% but at least 50%, appoint as junior faculty.
  • g: If a candidate is over 28 but under 32, refer to the director.

Sample Candidates:

1. Manisha Punjabi: M.Sc. in Computer Science, 65% marks, born 31 July 1965, 4 years as programmer.
2. Kishore Garg: MCA, 61% marks, born 14 August 1970, 3 years as teacher, 60% in interview.
3. Babli Sarkar: M.Tech, 58% marks, born 31 December 1971, 2.5 years as programmer, 40 marks in interview.
4. Manish Kumar: M.Sc., 52% marks, born 10 July 1968, 4 years as teacher, 40% in interview.
5. Sudha Ranjan: MCA, 56% marks, born 12 February 1969, 3 years as programmer, 55% in interview.

Table Construction:

Explanation:

• Manisha: Age outside range but fits additional condition (g), experience (b) and qualification (c) met, interview marks not given.
• Kishore: All conditions met.
• Babli: Age below 23 (violates a and g), qualification below 60% but above 50% (f met), experience and interview marks met.
• Manish: Age fits, qualification below 60% but above 50% (f met), experience met, interview marks below 25.
• Sudha: Age fits, qualification below 60% but above 50% (f met), experience and interview marks met.

Decision Rules:

• All primary conditions met: Senior faculty.
• Primary condition violated, additional condition met: Junior faculty or refer to director.
• Primary condition violated, additional condition not met: Not selected.
• Data inadequate: Cannot decide.

Final Answers:

1. Manisha: Data inadequate.
2. Kishore: Senior faculty.
3. Babli: Not selected.
4. Manish: Not selected.
5. Sudha: Junior faculty.

Types of Decision-Making Questions

• Eligibility-Based: Given criteria and candidate profiles, decide eligibility.
• Passage-Based: Read a scenario and answer questions based on the information.
• Situational: Analyze a situation and choose the best course of action²⁴.

Examples and Practice Questions

Practice Question 1: Criteria for chemistry lecturer:

• a: +2 first class with 60% marks.
• b: Graduation in chemistry (honors or pass) with 55% marks.
• c: 1 year teaching experience.
• d: Age 22–30 as of 1.1.2014.
• e: If not all criteria but has postgraduate degree, refer to ED.
• f: If not all criteria but can do marketing, refer to VP.

Q1. Sambhrant: +2 with 65%, graduation with 70%, 3 years experience, age 27.

• Answer: Selected (all criteria met).

Q2. Laxmi Rattan: +2 with 70%, graduation with 50%, M.Sc. chemistry, 1 year experience, age 29.

• Answer: Refer to ED (postgraduate degree, but graduation marks below 55%).

Q3. Mamta Kulkarni: B.Sc. chemistry 53%, +2 58%, 2 years experience, age 28.

• Answer: Not selected (graduation marks below 55%).

Q4. Ritu Chandra: Chemistry graduate, no teaching experience, can do marketing, age 26.

• Answer: Refer to VP (can do marketing).

Q5. Mannishree Malhotra: B.Sc. chemistry 65%, 3 years experience, age 27, +2 not mentioned.

• Answer: Data inadequate.

Passage-Based Practice:

Scenario: A panel of three teachers elects a Head Boy. Candidates: Ajay, Veer, Nitin.

• Exactly two teachers vote for Ajay.
• Exactly one teacher votes for Veer.
• Exactly one teacher votes for Nitin.
• Teacher 1 votes for Ajay.
• Teacher 2 votes against Ajay and Nitin.
• Teacher 3 votes against Nitin.

Q6. Which statement is definitely true?

• A: Teacher 2 votes against Nitin (already given).
• B: Teacher 3 is in support of Ajay but against Nitin.
• C: Teacher 1 is against Ajay (false).
• D: Teacher 3 is against Veer (not necessarily).
• E: None of the above.
• Answer: B

Q7. Which statement is completely false?

• A: If Teacher 3 votes against Veer, Teacher 2 would have voted for Veer.
• B: Teacher 1 was against making Veer the Head Boy.
• C: Teacher 3 voted for Ajay.
• D: Veer was not supported by Teacher 1.
• E: None of the above.
• Answer: E (all statements can be true or not necessarily false based on the given information).

Situational Practice:

Q8. You are preparing an election campaign strategy. What is most effective?

• A: Coordinate with agencies to approve strategy.
• B: Set deadlines and targets.
• C: Focus on content design and layout.
• D: Concentrate on logistics.
• Answer: C (strategy must be ready before logistics and coordination).

Q9. What is least effective?

• A: Coordinate with agencies.
• B: Set deadlines.
• C: Focus on content.
• D: Concentrate on logistics.
• Answer: D (logistics is last step).

General Practice:

Q10. You are responsible for a database and a team member requests to submit data weekly instead of daily. Your boss is on leave. What must you not do?

• A: Inform them you cannot authorize it until your boss returns.
• B: Make the change and inform your boss later.
• C: Inform them no change is possible.
• D: Ask others and inform your boss when he returns.
• Answer: B (do not make changes without authorization).

Summary Table

Additional Tips

• Read all conditions and information carefully.
• Construct a table to organize data.
• Mark each condition as satisfied, violated, or unknown.
• Apply decision rules based on your analysis.
• Practice a variety of scenarios to improve speed and accuracy²⁴.

This comprehensive guide, with explanations, examples, and practice questions, will help you master decision-making reasoning for any competitive exam.