Decision Making Utilizing Hesitation ⑨ | Heuristics as a 'Drawer'

Hello, I am Rina Nomura.

As we have seen so far, there are situations in decision-making where simple criteria work effectively.

So, is one criterion enough?

Situations where a single criterion cannot cope

Real-world decision-making takes place in a variety of situations.

There are times when time is limited, and times when careful consideration is required.

The number of stakeholders and the scale of impact also vary.

Therefore, there are times when a single criterion is not enough to handle the situation.

Heuristics as a 'drawer'

In decision-making research, it is considered important to use multiple heuristics selectively depending on the situation.

Heuristics are simple criteria or clues for making judgments with limited information.

This way of thinking is called the 'Adaptive toolbox'.

In other words, it is the idea of having several 'drawers' and choosing from them according to the situation, rather than fixing on a single criterion.

The perspective of adaptation to the environment

Which criterion is appropriate depends on the environment at that time.

Simple criteria may be effective in situations with high uncertainty, while more detailed examination may be necessary when there is sufficient information.

This approach, which emphasizes adaptation to the environment, is called ecological rationality.

It is considered that choosing criteria according to the environment leads to rational decision-making as a result.

The idea of using criteria selectively

What is important is not 'finding the correct criterion,' but 'using them selectively according to the situation'.

When to use which decision-making criteria.

That flexibility becomes one of the elements that supports the quality of decision-making.

Choices supported by mindfulness

Mindfulness enhances the ability to notice the current situation.

By noticing the constraints and premises of the situation, it becomes easier to determine which decision-making criteria are suitable.

As a result, you will be able to choose criteria consciously rather than using them unconsciously.

What kind of drawers do you have?

We make decisions in various situations every day.

At those times, what kind of decision-making criteria do you choose?

If you would like, please let me know in the comments about the decision-making techniques you use or things you change depending on the situation.

Magazine Introduction | Decision Making That Leverages Hesitation

Is hesitation really a waste?

This is a magazine that explores better ways of decision-making, valuing the insights and dialogues found within hesitation rather than rushing for the correct answer.

Click here for the list.

References: Gigerenzer, G., Todd, P. M., & the ABC Research Group. (1999). Simple heuristics that make us smart. Oxford University Press.

Gigerenzer, G., & Gaissmaier, W. (2011). Heuristic decision making. Annual Review of Psychology, 62, 451–482. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120709-145346

Gigerenzer, G. (2008). Why heuristics work. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(1), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6916.2008.00058.x

Gigerenzer, G., Reb, J., & Luan, S. (2022). Smart heuristics for individuals, teams, and organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 9, 5.1–5.28. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-090506

Karelaia, N., & Reb, J. (2015). Improving decision making through mindfulness. In J. Reb & P. W. B. Atkins (Eds.), Mindfulness in organizations: Foundations, research, and applications (pp. 163–189). Cambridge University Press.