Decision Making vs. Problem Solving

What's the difference.

Decision making and problem solving are two closely related concepts that are essential in both personal and professional settings. While decision making refers to the process of selecting the best course of action among various alternatives, problem solving involves identifying and resolving issues or obstacles that hinder progress towards a desired outcome. Decision making often involves evaluating different options based on their potential outcomes and consequences, while problem solving requires analyzing the root causes of a problem and developing effective strategies to overcome it. Both skills require critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to weigh pros and cons. Ultimately, decision making and problem solving are interconnected and complementary processes that enable individuals to navigate complex situations and achieve desired goals.

Further Detail

Introduction.

Decision making and problem solving are two essential cognitive processes that individuals and organizations engage in to navigate through various challenges and achieve desired outcomes. While they are distinct processes, decision making and problem solving share several attributes and are often interconnected. In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences between decision making and problem solving, highlighting their key attributes and how they contribute to effective problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Definition and Purpose

Decision making involves selecting a course of action from multiple alternatives based on available information, preferences, and goals. It is a cognitive process that individuals use to make choices and reach conclusions. On the other hand, problem solving refers to the process of finding solutions to specific issues or challenges. It involves identifying, analyzing, and resolving problems to achieve desired outcomes.

Both decision making and problem solving share the purpose of achieving a desired outcome or resolving a particular situation. They require individuals to think critically, evaluate options, and consider potential consequences. While decision making focuses on choosing the best course of action, problem solving emphasizes finding effective solutions to specific problems or challenges.

Attributes of Decision Making

Decision making involves several key attributes that contribute to its effectiveness:

  • Rationality: Decision making is often based on rational thinking, where individuals evaluate available information, weigh pros and cons, and make logical choices.
  • Subjectivity: Decision making is influenced by personal preferences, values, and biases. Individuals may prioritize certain factors or options based on their subjective judgment.
  • Uncertainty: Many decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty, where individuals lack complete information or face unpredictable outcomes. Decision makers must assess risks and make informed judgments.
  • Time Constraints: Decision making often occurs within time constraints, requiring individuals to make choices efficiently and effectively.
  • Trade-offs: Decision making involves considering trade-offs between different options, as individuals must prioritize certain factors or outcomes over others.

Attributes of Problem Solving

Problem solving also encompasses several key attributes that contribute to its effectiveness:

  • Analytical Thinking: Problem solving requires individuals to analyze and break down complex problems into smaller components, facilitating a deeper understanding of the issue at hand.
  • Creativity: Effective problem solving often involves thinking outside the box and generating innovative solutions. It requires individuals to explore alternative perspectives and consider unconventional approaches.
  • Collaboration: Problem solving can benefit from collaboration and teamwork, as diverse perspectives and expertise can contribute to more comprehensive and effective solutions.
  • Iterative Process: Problem solving is often an iterative process, where individuals continuously evaluate and refine their solutions based on feedback and new information.
  • Implementation: Problem solving is not complete without implementing the chosen solution. Individuals must take action and monitor the outcomes to ensure the problem is effectively resolved.

Interconnection and Overlap

While decision making and problem solving are distinct processes, they are interconnected and often overlap. Decision making is frequently a part of the problem-solving process, as individuals must make choices and select the most appropriate solution to address a specific problem. Similarly, problem solving is inherent in decision making, as individuals must identify and analyze problems or challenges before making informed choices.

Moreover, both decision making and problem solving require critical thinking skills, the ability to evaluate information, and the consideration of potential consequences. They both involve a systematic approach to gather and analyze relevant data, explore alternatives, and assess the potential risks and benefits of different options.

Decision making and problem solving are fundamental cognitive processes that individuals and organizations engage in to navigate through challenges and achieve desired outcomes. While decision making focuses on selecting the best course of action, problem solving emphasizes finding effective solutions to specific problems or challenges. Both processes share attributes such as rationality, subjectivity, uncertainty, time constraints, and trade-offs (in decision making), as well as analytical thinking, creativity, collaboration, iterative process, and implementation (in problem solving).

Understanding the similarities and differences between decision making and problem solving can enhance our ability to approach complex situations effectively. By leveraging the attributes of both processes, individuals and organizations can make informed choices, address challenges, and achieve desired outcomes.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

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Making the Difference: Problem Solving vs Decision Making

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Do you ever find yourself stuck between a rock and hard place, unable to decide what the best course of action is?

I have. Whether it’s what desk to put in our new conservatory space (and I’ll tell you what we ended up deciding later), or who to invite to meetings, or managing to order everyone else’s food and then getting so overwhelmed with having made decisions all day for all the people that I couldn’t choose anything for myself.

I left the café with nothing for me and ended up with a couple of slices of peanut butter toast at home.

Making decisions can be difficult for even the most experienced project managers. But before making any decision, it’s important to understand the difference between problem solving and decision making.

Ready to get into it?

Problem solving involves diagnosing issues that arise during projects while decision making requires taking appropriate steps based on those diagnoses. While they may appear similar at first glance, there are key differences in how each process should be approached – understanding these differences will help you make more informed decisions!

Let’s explore both processes as well as their similarities and differences.

What is problem solving?

You’ve been solving problems since you were a baby: how to stand up, how to get your socks off, how to get your parents to bring you your favorite sippy cup.

As an adult, we solve problems every day at work and at home.

So it probably sounds a bit odd to want to define problem solving before we go any further. Surely we all know what we are talking about as we do it all the time?

Humor me. Problem solving is the process of identifying and analyzing a problem, generating potential solutions, and selecting the best solution to address the issue. It involves breaking down complex problems into smaller components and then finding ways to solve them.

The problem solving process

If you think that description sounds linear, then you’d be right. Problem solving fits neatly into a process, one that we don’t even know we’re following most of the time.

The problem solving process typically consists of four steps:

  • Identify the problem
  • Generate possible solutions
  • Evaluate each option
  • Select an appropriate course of action.

That does make it sound easy. Wicked problems need a slightly different approach (PMI has a problem solving training course that is brilliant and will help with that).

But for now, let’s stick with a high-level approach that works for most problems.

1. Identify the problem

First, it’s important to understand what caused the issue in order to determine how best to resolve it.

You’d be surprised at how many managers don’t bother to find the root cause of the problem to truly understand it. Use techniques like the 5 Whys or an Ishikawa diagram to dig down into what the problem actually is.

2. Generate possible solutions

Brainstorming is one way to come up with different ideas for potential solutions. You could also interview experts, review lessons learned or innovative solutions from previous projects, research what the rest of your industry is doing or consult customers on what they’d like to see. There are no silly ideas at this point!

Choose the creative approach that gets you a range of options to review.

Read next: How to improve problem solving with lessons learned.

3. Evaluate each option

Once you have several options to consider, you can evaluate each one based on its effectiveness and cost before deciding which one is most suitable for your situation.

Use pairwise prioritisation, multi-criteria decision making or analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to help with the evaluation.

analytical hierarchy process

4. Select an appropriate course of action

Now you’ve got all the options for solving your problem, you can actually solve it by choosing a course of action that will sort it out. This is where decision making comes in. in this step you make the decision.

Finally, implement your chosen solution and monitor its progress over time so that any necessary adjustments can be made as needed.

Benefits of problem solving skills

There are many benefits associated with having effective problem solving skills.

These include improved decision making abilities (more on that in a minute), increased creativity, better communication skills, greater confidence when faced with challenging situations, enhanced ability to think critically, more efficient use of resources, improved relationships between colleagues or team members due to shared understanding of goals and increased productivity levels due to fewer mistakes being made during projects or tasks.

(Breathe. That was a long sentence, sorry.)

All these advantages make problem solving an invaluable skill in both personal life and professional life scenarios.

What is decision making?

Basically, decision making is the process of selecting a course of action from a number of alternatives. It involves gathering information, weighing options, and choosing the best option for achieving a desired outcome.

But how is that different to problem solving?

Decision making is the process of doing Step 4 of the problem solving process. It’s the choice making, option selection, conclusion of the analysis and thinking.

It’s decisive (duh), purposeful, specific. It removes the ambiguity of the ‘what do we do?’ and helps the team move towards the ‘OK, how do we do that?’

It brings action to a situation.

The decision making process

There is a simple method for decision making too, although the actual decision itself might be tough to make.

  • Identify that a decision is required
  • Ensure you have the data to make the decision
  • Make the decision
  • Tell whoever needs to implement the decision

1. Identify that a decision is required

The decision-making process typically begins with identifying what decision needs to be made. Are you making the right decision, or is there something else, deeper, different that is really what’s required?

In this step you also want to identify who is making the decision. That could be your project sponsor, a panel, you by yourself, a committee or whoever. Getting this step clear saves headaches later.

2. Ensure you have the data to make the decision

Do you have all the info you need to make the decision? If not, get it.

When decisions are made quickly but thoughtfully, they can save time and resources while still producing quality results.

Major decisions need more time spent on this step to make sure you understand all the variables.

decision chart example

3. Make the decision

After considering all potential solutions, it’s time to make a choice based on what will yield the best results for everyone involved.

This is the hard part: make the decision! The person or people responsible for this should weigh up the data and use their professional judgement to choose the right course of action. Decision trees can be useful here to avoid unconscious bias (or conscious bias!).

Obviously this is harder for complex decisions. What vendor to choose for a 3-year outsourcing arrangement is harder to decide than what venue to book for a team away day.

4. Tell whoever needs to implement the decision

Great – you’ve made the call and know what to do, but does the rest of the team? Don’t keep the decision to yourself!

Make sure whoever needs to know the next steps is aware that the decision has been made so they can implement it and take the right action.

Having confidence in decisions leads to greater trust between team members and better collaboration overall, which can lead to improved project outcomes over time. Well-made decisions often create opportunities for growth within teams by allowing them to learn from their mistakes as well as their successes along the way.

Similarities between problem solving and decision making

Problem solving and decision making sound very similar, right?

Well, that is true. Both processes involve gathering information, analyzing it, and coming up with solutions or courses of action. They both require critical thinking skills to identify potential solutions or options that are most likely to be successful.

The processes use a similar flow

Both processes involve identifying a problem or issue, researching possible solutions, evaluating those solutions based on criteria such as cost-effectiveness or feasibility, selecting an option from among the available choices, implementing the chosen solution, and you’d also want to monitor its effectiveness over time.

The process can be iterative if necessary; if one solution does not work out as expected then another may need to be tried until a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

They both produce a satisfactory solution

Problem solving and decision making usually lead to some kind of action being taken in order to address a given issue or situation. Problem solving often involves finding creative solutions for complex problems, while decision making typically entails selecting a course of action from several possibilities after carefully evaluating each option’s advantages and disadvantages.

But ultimately, the goal is for something positive (or at least neutral) to come out of the helpful process so that whatever challenge was initially presented can be effectively addressed.

Despite being so similar you could pretty much interchange them in some circumstances, there are some differences.

problem solving vs decision making

Differences between problem solving and decision making

Although they have similarities in terms of the process used to come up with a solution, their goals differ significantly.

Process goals are different

The goal of problem solving is to find a solution to an existing issue. It involves identifying the cause of a problem and then finding ways to address it. Problem solving often requires input from multiple stakeholders who can provide different perspectives on how best to solve the issue at hand.

On the other hand, decision making focuses on choosing the best option from multiple alternatives. This could include selecting between competing products or services or deciding which strategy will be most effective for achieving certain objectives.

In other words: decision making doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. We make decisions every day about small things and big things, but they aren’t all problems that need the creative step of solutioning.

Sometimes a decision just needs to be taken and the options are clearly known.

They require different stakeholders

Another key difference between problem solving and decision making is that while problem solving typically requires input from multiple stakeholders, decision making is usually done by one individual or group who has access to all relevant information needed for the decision-making process.

To give you an example. Let’s say on a technical project the development team hit a problem. They have to bring in various subject matter experts to research and identify the parameters involved. They consult, brainstorm and debate. It’s a group effort, and it’s likely to end in a solution.

However, if I need my project sponsor to choose between two risk treatments, I’ll take him my recommendation and a summary of options and he’ll simply choose. Done.

Decisions are made based on what is known about a situation rather than relying on external opinions or advice when trying to make an informed choice about what course of action should be taken next.

They produce different results

The nature of both processes also differs in terms of the types of solutions they produce. Problem solving typically results in creative solutions that can be implemented over time, while decision making produces immediate choices from among existing alternatives without necessarily creating something new or unique.

Both processes involve the identification of a problem or issue, the collection of information to evaluate possible solutions, and an analysis of potential outcomes. The main difference between them is in their goals: problem solving seeks to identify the root cause of an issue and develop a solution that will address it; decision making focuses on selecting from among available options.

Both processes require careful consideration of facts and opinions before any action is taken. Problem solving often involves more people than decision making as it requires collaboration to identify underlying causes and brainstorm potential solutions. Decision makers may consult with others for input but ultimately make decisions independently based on their own judgment.

prioritization example

Still got a question?

What is the difference between decision and decision making.

A decision is the act of making a choice between two or more alternatives. Decision making is the process by which decisions are made. It involves gathering information, analyzing data, evaluating alternatives and choosing a course of action based on this analysis. The outcome of the process is the decision. The decision-making process also includes monitoring progress to ensure that goals are being met and taking corrective action if needed.

What is the importance of problem-solving and decision making?

Problem-solving and decision making are essential skills for project managers and managers in general. The processes keep work moving by making sure problems get solved and decisions get made so team members are not blocked from finishing their tasks.

What are the steps in problem-solving and decision making?

Problem-solving and decision making involve a series of steps that can help ensure the best possible outcome. The first step is to identify the problem or opportunity, then analyze it by gathering relevant information and evaluating potential solutions. After considering all options, select an appropriate solution and develop an action plan for implementation. Finally, monitor progress to ensure success and make necessary adjustments along the way. By following these steps, project managers can effectively manage projects while minimizing risks and maximizing results.

Before you go…

Sometimes there isn’t a right decision – it’s simply important to make a decision. As for the desk, in the end, we used a piece of furniture we already had upstairs and didn’t buy one at all.

I spent a morning measuring and researching options, and I’ll never get that time back, but that’s OK.

As a leader, you should be skilled at solving problems and making decisions, and the processes that support them. However, you don’t have to be doing all the solving and making all the calls yourself. As long as you facilitate the process and get the right people in the room, you can step back and let the experts do their thing.

Let the right people do the work and create an environment where your projects move forward because everyone’s got what they need to keep things moving.

Elizabeth Harrin wearing a pink scarf

Project manager, author, mentor

Elizabeth Harrin is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management in the UK. She holds degrees from the University of York and Roehampton University, and several project management certifications including APM PMQ. She first took her PRINCE2 Practitioner exam in 2004 and has worked extensively in project delivery for over 20 years. Elizabeth is also the founder of the Project Management Rebels community, a mentoring group for professionals. She's written several books for project managers including Managing Multiple Projects .

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problem solving and decision making difference

Problem Solving and Decision Making: Key Differences & Applications

Explore the nuances of solving complex problems and making intricate decisions in this insightful blog. Gain a deeper understanding of the key distinctions between them. In this blog, explore Problem Solving and Decision Making, their key differences and how to apply these abilities in the workplace. Let's dive in!

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Have you ever faced the trouble of deciding what is right or wrong? In our daily lives, we often come across situations that require us to confront challenges and make choices. This is why two critical cognitive processes are involved in addressing these situations: Problem Solving and Decision Making. While the terms are frequently used interchangeably, they represent distinct mental activities with specific objectives. Problem Solving involves identifying and resolving issues using critical thinking and creativity. On the other hand, Decision Making entails choosing the best course of action among alternatives and considering risks and rewards. In this blog, we will Learn the differences between Problem Solving and Decision Making, how to apply these abilities at work, and some advice on how to improve them.

Table of Contents 

1) What do you understand by Decision Making? 

2) Understanding Problem Solving 

3) What are the differences between Problem Solving and Decision Making?

4) Tips on how to improve Problem-solving and Decision-making skills

5) How can you integrate Decision Making and Problem Solving? 

6) Conclusion 

What do you understand by Decision Making? 

It is a hard choice when we are faced with the question to make important decisions, in organisational setting and personal life as well. Nevertheless, it is not a reason to be afraid, but rather, to master these tasks through comprehensive knowledge of their consequences. First, we should define Decision Making before going on to the difference between Decision Making and Problem Solving.

It is an intellectual process that has a direct impact on our everyday and work-life matters. It is the process of analysing different options to find the best one in line with various factors and the one that is going to meet the objectives.

Effective Decision Making combines Critical Thinking, analysis, and judgment, and it can be the determinant of outcome and consequences. Let's uncover the important steps to Decision -making and some real-life examples:

Steps of Decision Making

1) Evaluation of alternatives: The first step in Decision Making requires the identification of problems and conceptualisation of possible alternatives that can help to deal with the given situation or problem.

2) Rationality and objectivity: The correct Decision Making process consists of a detailed analysis of all the data that is accessible, assessing the pros and cons of each scenario, and selecting a logical and beneficial option. 

3) Heuristics and biases: Sometimes, it is possible that you may have mental heuristics to be quick in the decision process. However, biases may be introduced by shortcuts and suboptimal choices could become inevitable for you.

4) Decision Making under uncertainty: Some times, you have to make important decisions based on the information that is not complete or with determined assumptions. The risk is directly connected and making risk assessment is considered to be the answer to this question. You must enhance on your flexibility to address the unpredictable.

5) Group Decision Making: In collaborative contexts, people may arrive at a decision together having discussed, brainstormed and found a common consensus with one another. Such a method taps into the different perceptions and skills.

6) Strategic Decision Making: In organisations, Strategic Decision Making requires being concerned with the possible long-term implications, aligning decisions with organisational goals, and trying to anticipate potential impacts on stakeholders.  

7) Ethical considerations:  This involves assessing the moral implications of choices, decisions, and actions. It revolves around making the right and just choices, guided by one's ethical values and principles.

8) Learning from outcomes: As an effective decision-maker, one should have the audacity to learn from both successful and unsuccessful outcomes because learning from these will only enhance future Decision Making processes. 

Here are some real-life examples that may require you to make some justified decisions: 

a) Choosing between two job offers based on salary, benefits, and career prospects. 

b) Deciding which college or university to attend, considering factors like location, courses offered, and campus culture. 

c) Selecting an investment option after analysing risk, return potential, and financial goals. 

d) Determining the best marketing strategy for a new product launch, considering target audience, budget, and competition. 

e) Making a medical treatment choice for a patient after weighing the benefits, risks, and patient preferences.   

Problem Solving Course

Understanding Problem Solving  

You're now aware of how you can make effective Decision Making. Let us now learn how to effectively carry out Problem Solving tasks in our daily life. Problem Solving is a fundamental cognitive process that entails identifying challenges, finding solutions, and accompliching the set goals. 

It is a logical process aimed at knowing the problem, looking for possible solutions, and choosing the most efficient solution. This helps you to navigate complexities and arrive at successful conclusions. Let us now look at some tips that can help you in Problem Solving effectively:  

Steps to be efficient in problem Solving

1) Problem identification: As a first step towards Problem Solving, effectively carry out tasks. Also, recognise and define the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed.  

2) Data gathering: Gathering relevant information and data related to the problem is essential for understanding its root causes and implications. This helps you become a good problem solver. 

3) Analysis and diagnosis: Analyse the gathered information to identify the underlying causes of the problem. This helps you in devising targeted solutions. 

4) Solution generation: Brainstorming and generating multiple potential solutions is crucial for you when you are exploring diverse approaches to resolve the problem. 

5) Evaluation of alternatives: Carefully evaluate the pros and cons of each solution. This helps you in selecting the most feasible and effective one. 

6) Implementation: After choosing a solution, you have to put the chosen solution into action. This requires planning, coordination, and effective execution. 

7) Creative thinking: Sometimes adopting an open-minded view towards finding a solution to the challenging situations will encourage you to be creative.

8) Root cause analysis: Finding and tackling the cause behind the problem in itself can make a change that lasts and you will get a much better, sustainable solution to your problem.

Let us now see some real-life examples where you need to apply your Problem Solving skills: 

a) Resolving a technical issue with a computer by identifying and troubleshooting the actual cause of the problem. 

b) Finding an alternative transportation route when faced with unexpected road closures. 

c) Addressing a communication breakdown within a team by facilitating open discussions and conflict resolution. 

d) Solving a math problem by applying various Problem Solving Techniques and mathematical principles. 

e)  Fixing a malfunctioning appliance by diagnosing the issue and performing necessary repairs. 

Learn to be more Mindful when you are applying your Problem Solving skills with our Conflict Management Training .  

What are the differences between Problem Solving and Decision Making?

Let us now have a look how Problem Solving and Decision Making skills are different from each other:

1) Definition  

Problem Solving is a step-by-step approach that one uses to identify, analyse, and finally come up with the solution to the issues or challenges they face. It seeks to find the origin of a problem, generate possible ideas or solutions, and choose the best alternative to be implemented. In most researches and practices, the primary aim of Problem Solving is reducing or overcoming the negative impacts of the problem.

On the other hand, the Decision Making process gives the choice, which can be taken from different alternatives. Every process of Decision Making produces a choice like taking action, a strategy, or making a resolution. There is not necessarily a problem but it is applicable in any situation which requires making a choice.

2) Objective 

Problem Solving is an effort to overcome a given obstacle or challenge. Its basic aim is to produce a solution that would change the current situation from less desirable to more desirable. On the other hand, Decision Making aims at selecting the best possible choice from among several alternatives. It could be proactive, such as deciding on an expansion strategy for the market, or it could be reactive, such as deciding on a course of action in response to the moves of a competitor.

3) Nature 

In the Problem Solving process, a problem often arises as a response to a discrepancy between what was expected and what is actually experienced, necessitating a solution. This process is typically reactive. On the other hand, Decision Making can be both proactive and reactive. Proactive Decision Making involves making choices based on anticipation of future events, while reactive Decision Making involves selecting courses of action in response to an immediate situation or problem.

4) Process 

The process of Problem Solving usually starts with understanding and diagnosing the problem. This is followed by brainstorming various solutions and analysing the suitability of each before finally implementing the most fitting one.

On the other hand, the Decision Making process typically begins with identifying a need, often through gathering information. This leads to the search for alternatives and compiling a list of these options. The alternatives are then weighed against criteria such as risks, benefits, and implications before making a choice.

5) Tools and techniques 

In Problem Solving, commonly used tools include root cause analysis, brainstorming, SWOT analysis, and fishbone diagrams (Ishikawa). These tools help in pinpointing the origin of a problem and exploring all possible solutions.

On the other hand, Decision Making often utilises techniques such as decision trees, cost-benefit analysis, pros and cons lists, and grid analysis. These methods assist in evaluating the implications of each available choice.

6) Skills required 

The major skills required in Problem Solving include critical thinking, analytical skills, creativity, and resilience. It is crucial to have the ability to persevere and not be overwhelmed by challenges.

However, Decision Making requires analytical skills, risk assessment, intuition, and foresight. The essential capability here is to be accountable for decisions, which involves predicting the outcomes of every choice

7) Duration and finality  

Problem Solving is time-consuming. It requires a deep dive into understanding the problem before moving on to solutions. The process concludes once a solution is implemented, and the problem is resolved. 

On the other hand, Decision Making can be swift (like everyday decisions) or prolonged (strategic decisions) depending on the complexity of the problems. Once a decision is made, the next step is to implement it, but decisions can sometimes be revisited based on outcomes or changing scenarios. 

Gain a deeper understanding of yourself to take more effective Decision Making with our Decision Making Course .

Tips on how to improve Problem Solving and Decision Making skills

Decision Making and Problem Solving are two most important skills that every individual must possess to excel in their career and in their personal life. There are multiple ways which can be used to improve these skills. Let’s have a look at some of these tips to improve these skills:

Developing skills related to Decision Making and Problem Solving

You can improve your Decision-making and Problem-solving skills by developing other skills such as analytical thinking, creativity and critical thinking. These allied skills will help you boost your analytical thinking skills, will help you think creatively and outside the box. Moreover, honing these skills will help you understand the problems deeply and analyse them without getting partial with your decisions.

Effective communication

Communication is the one of the major keys to success. Effective communication helps in solving problems, miscommunications and helps you understand different perspectives to the same problem. By practicing effective communication, you can convey an information or tasks seamlessly to you team members or colleagues. It helps you understand the root cause of any problem and helps you take an informed decision.

Think about past decisions

It may seem unrelated to you in this context, however, thinking back on your decisions that you made previously can help you not repeat the mistakes, or save you the time that you previously took to make a small decision. Reflecting on past decisions helpin analysing the current problems impartially and help you learn more about your own methods to decide or solve a problem.

Research your industry

Before you make any important decision, or solve out a problem, you need to know about your industry in detail. Since not all situations are same, neither are the industries. Every industry, company or business have their own set of goals, requirements, ideologies, and policies. Whenever you are a part of that specific industry, you should keep in mind, their framework. If you are going beyond their framework or their principles, while solving a problem, there may not be any significant impact taken by your decisions.

Keep yourself updated

It is necessary that you keep yourself updated. As you know that our world is going through many technological advancements. Hence you need to know and update yourself so that you can incorporate all these inventions and discoveries in your industry.

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How can you integrate Decision Making and Problem Solving? 

Even though Decision Making and Problem-solving have their differences, there are still instances where you need to integrate these two special skills so that you can carry out any challenging tasks or situations, whether it be in the workplace or in your personal life. The following tips will help you show how you can take effective decisions and simultaneously solve problems: 

1) Foster a systematic approach: You can start by adopting a systematic approach to Problem Solving. It involves defining the issue, gathering relevant information, analysing data, generating potential solutions, and evaluating alternatives. Then, you can implement your structured Problem Solving process, which provides a solid foundation for your informed Decision Making. 

2) Identify decision points: You can recognise the key decision points within the Problem-solving process. Then you have to determine which factors require choices and weigh the consequences of each decision on the overall Problem Solving outcome.  

3) Incorporate critical thinking: You can emphasise your critical thinking throughout both Problem Solving and Decision Making. Engage in objective analysis so that you can consider multiple perspectives and challenge assumptions to arrive at well-rounded solutions and decisions.  

4) Utilise data-driven decisions: Ensure that the decisions made during the Problem Solving process are backed by relevant data and evidence. Your data-driven Decision-making minimises biases and increases the chances of arriving at the most suitable solutions. 

Gain a deeper understanding of yourself to take more effective Decision-mking with our Personal & Organisational Development Training . 

Conclusion 

If you integrate both Problem Solving and Decision Making, you can have a more potent approach toward various challenges or tasks. This will help you in making well-informed choices in those circumstances. Moreover, this synergy will empower you to have a Problem -solving mindset to navigate complexities with clarity and achieve effective outcomes. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Problem Solving is both a skill and a competency. It involves the ability to analyse situations, identify issues, generate solutions, and implement them effectively. Developing this capability enhances decision-making, creativity, and adaptability in various personal and professional contexts.

The five steps for Problem Solving and decision-making are: 

1) Define the problem

2) Identify possible solutions 

3) Evaluate alternatives

4) Make a decision 

5) Implement and monitor the chosen solution.

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The Difference Between Problem Solving and Decision Making

Business leaders discuss the difference between problem solving and decision making

Decision making and problem solving are two related but different skill sets that apply to distinct business challenges. Sometimes leaders use decision-making techniques when they should be using a problem-solving approach, and vice versa. Knowing the difference between problem solving and decision making and understanding which skill to utilize in a particular situation will help you overcome challenges more quickly.

Seeking a Solution, or Choosing Between Options?

Both decision making and problem solving use information to inform a certain action, but that’s where the similarities end. Problem solving is the process of finding a solution to an ongoing, intermittent, or one-time failure of a process or system to perform at an acceptable level — or perform at all. It consists of identifying the causes through asking basic questions like “where,” “how,” “who,” and “why” to find the solution. Decision making involves choosing between different courses of action by evaluating each based on a set of criteria. It requires implementing an action plan based on what you have learned from problem solving.

A helpful way to illustrate the difference between problem solving and decision making is to consider the difference between a detective and a judge. As anyone who has seen an episode of Law & Order knows, a detective is a problem-solver. Their role is to determine who committed the crime based on evidence. A judge is a decision-maker. They weigh evidence, circumstances, and precedent to arrive at a judgment.

Understanding Differences in Processes and Outcomes

The process of decision making is clear: each option is evaluated based on a set of parameters or criteria. But the outcome is uncertain until a specific decision is made and time tells how well it worked — or didn’t work.

The process of problem solving is not immediately clear. Initially you might not understand the root of the problem, which makes it difficult to know where to start. For example, you can see that the conveyor belt in your warehouse isn’t working, but what made the motor controlling it stop working remains a mystery until you diagnose the problem, system by system. Once the problem is determined and addressed, the outcome is clear: the conveyor belt is again working.

In business, typical problems could be:

  • Customer churn is increasing. Solution: expand product offering.
  • The organization’s carbon footprint is too big and costly. Solution: implement green initiatives.
  • A team is struggling to keep up with leads and organize customer data. Solution: implement a customer relationship management [CRM] system.

The associated complex decisions would be:

  • Determining what new product to launch
  • Selecting the green strategies that best balance cost and effectiveness
  • Identifying which CRM solution is right for your organization

Problem solving and Decision Making: Best Practices

Whether problem solving or decision making, there are some factors you should consider to make the process as successful and efficient as possible. When problem solving, make sure to gather as many facts as you can, which will help make the solution more obvious. For example, app development companies will often take a “ test and learn ” approach to determine what customers want and need in an app. They’ll create a beta version, provide it free-of-charge to customers, and then analyze that data to develop a paid app that meets customer needs.

 When making decisions, be action-oriented. This means that you should be able to act on your decisions. Many of your decisions, especially those concerning complex issues, should involve other key employees and subject matter experts for the best results. Gather a team with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to help you consider a wide range of options.  Be open to feedback; even the most carefully made decision may not work out as expected when implemented. And lastly, you should adopt a decision-making framework that enables you to make the best decisions possible on a consistent basis, in a variety of scenarios.

  • Ken Thompson

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5 thoughts on “the difference between problem solving and decision making”.

Hi Ken. Problem solving is a skill based on creativity and the ability to see things from many points of view. Decision making in particular requires the ability to manage emotions and a strong sense of responsibility. These are two very important skills in every area and in great demand at work. In the business environment, every good leader should be provided with them to perform at his best in his role.

Thank you for the insight. Agreed – creativity is key for problem solving. Thank you again for visiting the blog, and if you’re interested in learning more on the topic, you might find our Complex Decision Making for Leaders guide helpful. https://alignorg.com/guide/complex-decision-making-for-leaders/

I need help about the similarities of problem solving and decision making

We have an Executive Guide that might help you. You can find it here: https://alignorg.com/guide/complex-decision-making-for-leaders/ .

Every problem solving procedure is made of at least one process of divergent and convergent thinking. In the first part after determining the problem we should look for many many possible solutions in hand (which is one of the many many definitions of creativity). This is the divergent part of thinking (one to many). After having the options in hand, we encounter the second obstacle, i.e. looking for the best option from the many. This second part needs some convergent thinking and decision making skills (many to one). Then, I think the decision making in many cases is a part of problem solving procedure.

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Problem Solving vs Decision Making

  • Updated September 19, 2024
  • Posted in Blog / Decision Making / Problem Solving
  • Tagged as Decision Making , Problem Solving
  • 10 mins read

problem solving vs decision making

We make decisions every day, often without realizing it.

Getting out of bed, choosing what to eat, and deciding how to spend our time all involve quick judgment calls. More complex and impactful decisions like changing careers or moving across the country require extensive analysis.

Problem solving also permeates daily life. Figuring out what caused your computer to crash or how to fit in an extra errand involves assessing situations methodically to identify solutions. Just as with decision making, some problems we face require only simple logic to address while others necessitate more rigorous problem solving techniques.

So what exactly is the difference between decision making and problem solving?

At first glance they seem nearly identical – both involve evaluating options and making choices based on available information.

However, there are subtle distinctions in the catalyst and desired outcomes of each process. Grasping these nuances can lead to better decisions and more effective problem solving.

Defining Key Characteristics

Decision making involves selecting a course of action from among multiple options, often under conditions of uncertainty. The goal is to maximize the chances of achieving a desired outcome . Decisions can range from habitual choices requiring little thought to more complex judgments necessitating significant cognitive effort.

Problem solving refers to the active process of identifying problems , generating potential solutions, evaluating options, and executing the chosen resolutions. The objective is to methodically reduce differences between the current problem state and desired goal state. Problem solving abilities evolve and follow cyclical improvement phases.

While problem solving and decision making certainly overlap, focusing on the distinct motivations behind each process clarifies their differences. The decision making process aims to produce definitive action choices driven by desired end results . Problem solving represents continued efforts to skillfully bridge the gap between current and goal states . These unique orientations lead to divergent thinking patterns and behavioral outcomes even when addressing similar situations.

Here is a table summarizing some of the key differences between problem solving and decision making:

Everyday Examples

Consider a business owner noticing decreasing website traffic month-over-month. She now faces a situation requiring resolution. Should she view this issue through the lens of problem solving or decision making?

The problem solving perspective would have her ask broad diagnostic questions – Why did traffic decline? Have external conditions changed? Did we alter on-page content or metadata? Methodically investigating the underlying problem to pinpoint root cause allows her to then generate potential solutions tailored to that diagnosis.

Framing the traffic decline as a decision making matter suggests the business owner should primarily evaluate options most likely to improve future results – e.g. overhauling site content, investing in search engine optimization, and paying for online advertisements. The focus lies more on weighing alternatives rather than understanding the initial problem.

For everyday individual issues like conflicting appointments, household chores, or computer glitches, considering whether to approach the matter as one best addressed via decision making or problem solving can clarify productive pathways forward. Identifying the core motivations and thought processes unique to each method lays the foundation.

Steps and Strategies

While problem solving and decision making influence each other, they demand different outlooks regarding steps and strategies. Structured problem solving techniques specifically concentrate analytical efforts on expanding knowledge about problem causes to derive solutions. Decision making processes leverage existing knowledge to spotlight judgment factors influencing action choices.

Problem Solving Steps

Most problem solving frameworks share key phases focused on deepening understanding – Problem Identification, Information Gathering, Solution Generation, Solution Evaluation, and Implementation.

  • Problem Identification  – Clearly articulate the root causes and effects fueling perceived issues or gaps between current and desired end states.
  • Information Gathering  – Thoroughly investigate all contextual dimensions around the problem space and potential solutions landscape.
  • Solution Generation  – Leverage accrued information to hypothesize prospective resolutions that logically address root causes.
  • Solution Evaluation  – Analyze hypotheses based on solution requirements and expected problem solving impact.
  • Implementation  – Execute the chosen solution after ensuring organizational alignment and securing necessary resources.

Revisiting and reworking through elements of this cycle fuels iterative refinement and often nudges solutions toward optimal states.

Decision Making Strategies

Decision making processes focus less on understanding all facets of a problem and more on judging the implications of actions. Key strategies include – Framing Decisions, Gathering Intelligence, Weighing Alternatives, Evaluating Tradeoffs, Rating Options, and Committing to Choices.

  • Framing Decisions  – Clearly define desired results and clarify which factors require evaluation when judging potential actions.
  • Gathering Intelligence  – Research external information and internal preferences to determine decision criteria.
  • Weighing Alternatives  – List all options and rank based on decision criteria to facilitate comparison.
  • Evaluating Tradeoffs  – Determine what benefits and consequences stem from each option.
  • Rating Options  – Score alternatives to derive quantitative judgments supplementing qualitative assessments.
  • Committing to Choices  – Make definitive decisions after gathering sufficient intelligence to assess key tradeoffs.

Taking time to intentionally progress through these steps before committing to major decisions can pay significant dividends.

Cognitive Biases and Logical Fallacies

Human judgment naturally incorporates irrational assumptions and logical errors – cognitive biases skew decision making while logical fallacies undermine problem solving. Heightened awareness around these natural human tendencies can improve analysis in both spheres.

Cognitive Biases

Mental shortcuts evolved to quicken judgment often become cognitive biases that negatively impact decisions. Common examples include –

Confirmation Bias – The tendency to embrace information supporting current beliefs while devaluing contradictory evidence.

Loss Aversion Bias – The inclination to overweigh potential losses relative to equivalent gains when assessing risk.

Anchoring Bias – The tendency to rely too heavily on initial information or suggested reference points when making decisions.

Logical Fallacies

Flawed reasoning often hinders problem solving by obscuring truth or generating illusions of strong logic. Common logical fallacies include –

Correlation/Causation Fallacy – Presuming a causal relationship exists simply because two elements correlate or occur together.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy – Incorrectly assessing significance in random data clusters or patterns.

Ad Hominem Fallacy – Attempting to undermine an argument by attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the logic itself.

Heightening vigilance around biases and logical errors takes concerted effort but can enhance both decision making and problem solving capacities over time.

Problem Solving vs Decision Making Quiz

Improving skills over time.

Cultivating increased self-awareness around personal judgment patterns offers a promising pathway toward better decisions and solutions. Our brains run on cognitive shortcuts enabling quick reaction times and pattern recognition. But consciously overriding autopilot brings more precision to high-stakes judgment calls. Comparing gut reactions with structured analysis can spotlight areas needing refinement.

Catalog Past Judgements

Recording an audit trail around past choices provides concrete evidence revealing engrained biases or habitual fallacies. Tracking elements leading up to decisions along with outcomes over specified time horizons furnishes data helping distinguish emotional prompts versus logic. Did initial loss aversion skew expected value calculations? Did confirmation bias corrupt preferred solutions? Objective issue timelines deepen insight.

Embrace Accountability

Openly discussing judgment rationale with trusted advisors introduces essential accountability checkpoints. External perspectives identifying potential flaws overlooked internally assist in recalibrating thinking. Welcome constructive criticism around cognitive blindspots or inconsistent logic. Gather feedback frequently while resolving problems or deciding next steps.

Practice Impartiality

Strive to separate personal preferences, current circumstances, and situational emotions from raw decision criteria or problem specifics, especially for crucial choices. Compartmentalize elements vetoing impartiality to see issues through more balanced lenses. No one achieves perfect objectivity but knowingly attempting to minimize subjective footprints bolsters abilities in both spheres.

The Takeaway

At their roots, problem solving and decision making share common goals – assessing situations, evaluating options, and determining optimal actions based on rational thinking. But when facing difficult junctures, consciously distinguishing problem solving mindsets from decision making orientations clarifies purpose.

If lacking enough information about the root causes behind complex issues, purposefully adopt a problem solving lens aiming to close knowledge gaps. Ask probing questions, run experiments, and gather abundant intelligence. Suspend initial judgement regarding solutions while learning more about current conditions through a problem solving frame,

When facing clear decision points with sufficient contextual awareness, allow a decision-making mentality to guide the next steps. Focus analysis more on potential actions rather than problems themselves. Thoroughly vet options against stated requirements and rank based on careful evaluations of tradeoffs.

Learning to shift fluidly between these two frameworks unlocks better solutions and choices over the long run.

Q. In reality don’t optimal outcomes usually require a combination of problem-solving and decision-making ? When should someone use only one approach?

A. For any complex situation, employing both problem-solving and decision-making lenses at different junctures aids progress. The standalone frameworks serve best as mental models clarifying priorities among all analytical tasks needing completion before determining final actions.

Q. Do certain personality types gravitate more toward either problem-solving or decision-making by default? How much does inherent nature versus nurtured experience drive aptitudes?

A. Nature versus nurture certainly influences individual predilections toward either philosophy. Early positive or negative experiences making high-stakes decisions could sway some toward more structured problem-solving techniques out of excessive caution. More research on neurological and behavioral propensities related to each framework offers promise for tailoring approaches.

Q. For important one-off life decisions like pursuing higher education or switching industries, which philosophy might generate better results?

A. Major one-time life decisions often feature unfamiliar variables arguing for problem-solving efforts first before committing irreversibly. Thoroughly investigating unknowns upfront through careful questioning and analysis could surface key insights needed later when weighing tradeoffs while finalizing decisive actions. Be wary of quick decisions in isolation around unfamiliar terrain, lest subsequent consequences reveal vital gaps not properly vetted at the outset.

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Problem Solving vs Decision Making: Difference and Comparison

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Every person is, without a doubt, influenced by the worst-case situation for a significant period. Another difficult issue is not understanding the distinction between problem-solving and decision-making.

Decision-making and problem-solving are both psychological words that are frequently used interchangeably. Furthermore, it should be emphasised that these two terms are not interchangeable and are not synonymous.

Key Takeaways Problem-solving involves identifying and resolving issues or obstacles, while decision-making involves choosing different options or courses of action. Problem-solving is used to address a specific issue or challenge, while decision-making can be used in various contexts, such as business, personal life, or government. Problem-solving involves a step-by-step process of analysis and evaluation. At the same time, decision-making can be influenced by various factors such as personal values, emotions, or external pressures.

Problem Solving vs Decision Making

Problem-solving is the process of identifying and resolving a problem or challenge that is preventing an individual or organization from achieving its goal. Decision-making involves choosing a course of action or solution. This process can be complex and involve a variety of factors.

Problem Solving vs Decision Making

Problem-solving is a complex process that entails in-depth analysis. The identification of an issue is the first step in the problem-solving process. The main goal of problem-solving is to find the best solution.

Problem-solving is coupled with a specific goal. The results of problem-solving should be solution-oriented. The techniques and roads to resolution remain unknown when it comes to problem-solving. The purpose of problem-solving is to fix the problem or issue.

The process of decision-making leads to a final opinion and a course of action. The identification of opportunities is part of the decision-making process. The goal of the decision-making process is to avoid potential difficulties.

When making decisions, a variety of options are explored. The decision-making process can have a variety of results. The paths adopted in the event of decision-making are structured. The objectives of decision-making are unrelated to the resolution of a problem or issue.

Comparison Table

What is problem solving.

Problem-solving is a technique that can be used to solve a problem. When it comes to problem-solving, making the appropriate judgments is critical to reaching a specific outcome.

Problem-solving is a difficult process that entails extensive research. Identifying a difficulty is a common step in the problem-solving process.

In simple words or layman’s terms, problem-solving is simply solving problems, as the name suggests. Here, either an individual or a group tries to solve a problem in this process.

This involves high analytical skills for reaching better and faster solutions. This process also includes gathering information, facts and following or working parallel with human intuition.

The primary goal of problem-solving is to find the best solution possible. In general, problem-solving is linked to a specific goal. Problem-solving results must be solution-oriented.

The techniques and roads to resolution are unknown in the case of problem-solving. The purpose of problem-solving is to resolve the problem or issue.

problem solving

What is Decision Making?

Making a decision is seen to be a procedure. Depending on the situation, the decision-making process may or may not entail problem-solving.

The decision-making process culminates in the formulation of a conclusion and a plan of action. Identifying opportunities is an important part of the decision-making process.

Decision-making focuses on the actions, ways and alternatives that are used to solve a particular problem. This is also a result of cognitive function.

Sometimes a psychological aspect of an individual is taken into consideration while stressing about making decisions. The needs and wants are taken care of. This process can also be considered as continuous interaction with the surrounding environment.

The goal of the decision-making process is to avoid any potential issues. While making decisions, various types of options are explored. Decision-making can have a variety of results.

The paths that are taken in decision-making are structured. The decision-making goals have nothing to do with resolving a problem or issue.

decision making

Main Differences Between Problem Solving and Decision Making

  • Problem-solving can be considered a method. On the other hand, decision-making is considered a process.
  • At the time of problem-solving, taking the right decisions is important to reach out a certain conclusion. On the other hand, the decision-making process sometimes includes solving problems and sometimes does not.
  • The method of problem-solving is complex and includes deep analysis. On the other hand, the decision-making process leads to taking a final opinion and a course of action.
  • The method of problem-solving involves the identification of a challenge. On the other hand, the decision-making process involves identifying opportunities.
  • Creating the right solution is an important motive for problem-solving. On the other hand, avoiding potential problems is the motive of the decision-making process.
  • Problem-solving is associated with a clear objective. On the other hand, different types of options are considered while taking decisions.
  • The outcomes coming from problem-solving should be solution-driven. On the other hand, the outcomes of the decision-making can vary.
  • In the case of problem-solving, the ways and paths to resolution are not known. On the other hand, in the case of decision-making, the paths taken are structured.
  • The goal of problem-solving is to correct the issue or problem. On the other hand, the goals associated with the decision making is not related to the solving of an issue or problem.

Difference Between Problem Solving and Decision Making

  • https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/22321/slovic_189.pdf?sequence=1
  • http://www.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~kopec/cis718/fall_2005/2/Rafique_2_humanthinking.doc

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By Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page .

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COMMENTS

  1. Making the Difference: Problem Solving vs Decision Making

    The main difference between them is in their goals: problem solving seeks to identify the root cause of an issue and develop a solution that will address it; decision making …

  2. Problem Solving and Decision Making: Differences

    Problem Solving involves identifying and resolving issues using critical thinking and creativity. On the other hand, Decision Making entails choosing the best course of action among alternatives and considering risks …

  3. The Difference Between Problem Solving and Decision …

    Decision making and problem solving are two related but different skill sets that apply to distinct business challenges. Sometimes leaders use decision-making techniques when they should be using a problem-solving …

  4. Problem Solving vs. Decision Making

    Problem-solving and decision-making have more that separates them than unites them. Simply stated, decision-making identifies an opportunity, while problem-solving …

  5. Problem Solving vs Decision Making

    So what exactly is the difference between decision making and problem solving? At first glance they seem nearly identical – both involve evaluating options and making choices based on available information. …

  6. Problem Solving vs Decision Making

    Problem-solving involves finding solutions to specific issues, while decision-making is the process of choosing the best course of action from multiple alternatives.