You're in a Communication Systems career. What's the best way to make decisions that benefit your company?

2 Gather relevant data

To make informed decisions, you need to gather relevant data from reliable sources. Data can help you identify the current situation, the trends, the risks, and the opportunities of your communication systems. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze data, such as surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, simulations, or metrics. You should also consider the quality, accuracy, and validity of the data you use.

3 Evaluate the alternatives

Once you have the data, you can evaluate the alternatives based on their advantages and disadvantages. You can use different criteria to compare the options, such as cost, feasibility, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, security, or compatibility. You can also use different techniques to rank or score the options, such as decision matrices, decision trees, SWOT analysis, or cost-benefit analysis. You should also consider the potential impacts and consequences of each option on your communication systems and your stakeholders.

4 Involve others

Making decisions in isolation can lead to biases, errors, or oversights. That's why it's important to involve others in your decision-making process. You can consult with your colleagues, managers, customers, or experts who have relevant knowledge, experience, or insights about your communication systems. You can also seek feedback, suggestions, or opinions from others who will be affected by your decision. By involving others, you can gain different perspectives, insights, and ideas that can improve your decision.

5 Communicate the decision

After you make the decision, you need to communicate it clearly and effectively to your stakeholders. You need to explain the rationale, the benefits, and the implications of your decision. You also need to provide the necessary information, instructions, or guidance on how to implement or follow your decision. You should also be open to questions, comments, or concerns from your stakeholders and address them accordingly. By communicating the decision, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your decision is executed smoothly.

6 Review the results

The last step in making decisions is to review the results and evaluate the outcomes. You need to monitor and measure the performance, impact, and feedback of your decision. You need to compare the actual results with the expected results and identify any gaps or discrepancies. You also need to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your decision and learn from them. By reviewing the results, you can assess the effectiveness of your decision and make adjustments or improvements if needed.