Decision-Making Model Analysis Paper

Decision-Making Model Analysis Paper

Richard G. Gomez

Critical Thinking: Strategies in Decision Making

Daryl Korinek

November 25, 2006

Deciding on a Career Path:

Using a 7-step Decision-Making Model

Deciding on a career path has long been on my mind because of retirement coming around the corner. A major decision had to be made as to what direction will I go after leaving the Army. By using my experience in the military of critical thinking, I was able to narrow my decision and throughout the whole process used a 7-step Decision-Making Model. I ran across this decision-making model through the internet at (htttp://www.unf.edu/dept/cdc/services/decisio.htm) while doing research for a college class in critical thinking. Some of the steps I had already formulated in my mind so the beginning was rather easy now I just had to complete the rest by using critical thinking and make a decision.

Step one; Identify the decision to be made. Questions like, what will I choose for a major? Should I go to grad school? What kind of job do I want? These types of questions are the start for many young adults who are looking for the right answers. In my case these questions had already been answered and even accomplished for the most part. Being in the military with the education process already started, step one came and went. Critical thinking was used to decide on answers to these questions long ago.

Step two; Know Yourself (self assessment). This helps in understanding oneself by exploration of four areas; skills, interests, values, and personality which can also be found at (http://www.careercenter.uiuc.edu/findingpath/deciding.asp). The area of Skills, you may ask yourself questions such as, what can I do best? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What are my most prominent skills and abilities? What skills do I want to use on the job? What skills do I still need to acquire? Interests, questions like what am I...