Decision Making and Problem Solving Independent Study November 2005 FEMA TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Course Overview......................................................................................................................... 1 Unit 1: Course Introduction Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1.1 Decisions in Emergency Management ...................................................................................... 1.1 Case Study 1.1—Sebring County .............................................................................................. 1.2 Decision Points .......................................................................................................................... 1.3 What’s at Stake?........................................................................................................................ 1.3 About This Course ..................................................................................................................... 1.4 Activities and Exercises ............................................................................................................. 1.5 Job Aids ..................................................................................................................................... 1.5 Knowledge Checks .................................................................................................................... 1.5 Appendix .................................................................................................................................... 1.5 Course Objectives...................................................................................................................... 1.6 How Will You Benefit? ............................................................................................................... 1.6 How to Complete This Course ................................................................................................... 1.7 Sample Learning Schedule........................................................................................................1.8 Goal Setting ............................................................................................................................... 1.9 Activity: Personal Learning Goals ........................................................................................... 1.10 Summary and Transition.......................................................................................................... 1.11 Unit 2: The Decision-Making Process Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2.1 Problem Solving vs. Decision Making........................................................................................ 2.1 Where Does the Process Begin?............................................................................................... 2.2 Case Study 2.1—Mandatory or Voluntary Evacuation?............................................................. 2.2 The Starting Point ...................................................................................................................... 2.4 Recent Changes to Emergency Planning Requirements........................................................... 2.6 Problem-Solving Model............................................................................................................ 2.12 Step 1: Identify the Problem.................................................................................................... 2.13 Step 2: Explore Alternatives.................................................................................................... 2.16 Case Study 2.2—What Are Your Options?.............................................................................. 2.16 Step 3: Select an Alternative................................................................................................... 2.20 Step 4: Implement the Solution............................................................................................... 2.22 Activity: Implementing the Solution ......................................................................................... 2.23 Step 5: Evaluate the Situation................................................................................................. 2.27 Activity: Evaluating Your Solution ........................................................................................... 2.29 Summary and Transition.......................................................................................................... 2.31 For More Information ............................................................................................................... 2.31 Knowledge Check .................................................................................................................... 2.32 Decision Making and Problem Solving Page i COURSE OVERVIEW Page Unit 3: Identifying Decision-Making Styles and Attributes Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3.1 What Is Psychological Type?.....................................................................................................3.1 What Are Preferences?.............................................................................................................. 3.2 Using Type Inventories to Determine Preferences .................................................................... 3.2 The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® ............................................................................................. 3.3 Preferences and Decision Making ............................................................................................. 3.4 Activity: Where Should You Flex?............................................................................................. 3.5 Who Decides?............................................................................................................................ 3.8 Successful Group Decision Making ......................................................................................... 3.10 Activity: Individual or Group Decision? ................................................................................... 3.13 What Is an Effective Decision Maker? ..................................................................................... 3.17 Attributes of an Effective Decision Maker ................................................................................ 3.17 Activity: Identifying Your Strengths and Limitations ................................................................ 3.19 Summary and Transition.......................................................................................................... 3.20 For More Information ............................................................................................................... 3.20 Knowledge Check .................................................................................................................... 3.21 Unit 4: Ethical Decision Making and Problem Solving Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4.1 What Is Ethics? .......................................................................................................................... 4.1 Ethical Issues and Emergencies................................................................................................ 4.2 Activity: Ethical Issues and Emergencies ................................................................................. 4.3 Components of Ethical Decision Making ................................................................................... 4.6 Applying the Problem-Solving Model to Ethical Issues.............................................................. 4.7 Activity: Applying the Problem-Solving Model to Ethical Issues ............................................... 4.8 Summary and Transition.......................................................................................................... 4.11 For More Information ............................................................................................................... 4.11 Knowledge Check .................................................................................................................... 4.12 Unit 5: Decision Making in an Emergency Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5.1 Decision Making and Stress ......................................................................................................5.1 Case Study: Hurricane Hortence .............................................................................................. 5.3 Summary and Transition.......................................................................................................... 5.10 Unit 6: Course Summary Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6.1 The Decision-Making Process ................................................................................................... 6.1 The Problem-Solving Model.......................................................................................................6.2