Consider the following statements about identifying and evaluating alternative courses of action:
(A) There may be many ways to act and achieve objectives, so the alternative courses of action should be identified.
(B) An innovative course of action may be adopted by involving more people and sharing their ideas.
(C) Alternatives are evaluated in the light of their feasibility and consequences.
(D) Other managerial functions also come into the picture at this stage.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (C) only
(A) There may be many ways to act and achieve objectives, so the alternative courses of action should be identified. — Correct. There may be many ways to reach an objective, so all the alternative courses are identified at this step.
(B) An innovative course of action may be adopted by involving more people and sharing their ideas. — Correct. More people bring more ideas, which can give a new course of action.
(C) Alternatives are evaluated in the light of their feasibility and consequences. — Correct. Each course is weighed for whether it can work and what it leads to.
(D) Other managerial functions also come into the picture at this stage. — Incorrect. Other functions, such as organising, come in at implementing the plan, when the plan is put into action.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(iii) Identifying alternative courses of action: Once objectives are set, assumptions are made. Then the next step would be to act upon them. There may be many ways to act and achieve objectives. All the alternative courses of action should be identified. The course of action which may be taken could be either routine or innovative. An innovative course may be adopted by involving more people and sharing their ideas. If the project is important, then more alternatives should be generated and thoroughly discussed amongst the members of the organisation.” “(iv) Evaluating alternative courses: The next step is to weigh the pros and cons of each alternative. Each course will have many variables which have to be weighed against each other. The positive and negative aspects of each proposal need to be evaluated in the light of the objective to be achieved. In financial plans, for example, the risk-return trade-off is very common. The more risky the investment, the higher the returns it is likely to give. To evaluate such proposals detailed calculations of earnings, earnings per share, interest, taxes, dividends are made and decisions taken. Accurate forecasts in conditions of certainty/uncertainty then become vital assumptions for these proposals. Alternatives are evaluated in the light of their feasibility and consequences.” “(vi) Implementing the plan: This is the step where other managerial functions also come into the picture. …” |