Page 8 - Mini-Module 2

Four Ways to Make a Decision

There are basically four ways in which a beginning principal can make a
decision, there are:
● Instruct – decide for yourself and then give directions on what you
want to have happen [with no input from anyone else].
● Consult – collect other people views and recognise a difference in per-
spectives before making your own decision [no consensus & no agree-
ment].
● Arbitrate – take the decision to someone else to decide the matter [an
arbitrator whose opinion would be accepted by staff]
● Negotiate – collaborate with people to reach an agreement on what to
do.

There is no doubt that at different times and in different contexts a
principal will have to use all four ways to implement decisions,
including making their own decisions without input from others (for
example in a time of crisis or emergency).
In the following table are some examples of situations in which the
principal is asked to make a decision. Go through this list and note
whether you would Instruct, Consult, Arbitrate or Negotiate each
decision.

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