One of the things Nutt analyzed was how managers implemented their decisions. He found that the most successful implementation tactic involved asking for the participation of those who would be affected by the decision. That tactic had the lowest failure rate of 30 percent but was used in only 23 percent of the decisions Nutt studied. It was used in 30 percent of the decisions studied, but had a failure rate of 64 percent. Nutt says he believes most managers know effective decision-making tactics, but don't feel they have the time or resources to put them to use.
Managers seem committed to fast answers and fail to recognize that quick fixes make failure likely.
Research Today is published three times a year by the Fisher College of Business Office of External Affairs.