Consider the following statements about decision making in planning:
(A) The manager may have to apply permutations and combinations to select the best possible course of action.
(B) The manager has to evaluate each alternative and select the proposition that has worked in the past.
(C) Evaluating alternative courses is the real point of decision making in the planning process.
(D) Where plans cannot be analysed mathematically, the manager’s judgement plays an important part in selecting an alternative.
(E) Sometimes, a combination of plans may be selected instead of one best course.
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), (D) and (E) only
(A) The manager may have to apply permutations and combinations to select the best possible course of action. — Correct. The manager may try different combinations to find the best course.
(B) The manager has to evaluate each alternative and select the proposition that has worked in the past. — Incorrect. The manager evaluates each alternative and selects the most viable proposition.
(C) Evaluating alternative courses is the real point of decision making in the planning process. — Incorrect. The real point of decision making is selecting an alternative.
(D) Where plans cannot be analysed mathematically, the manager’s judgement plays an important part in selecting an alternative. — Correct. Then the manager’s experience, judgement and intuition help pick the best course.
(E) Sometimes, a combination of plans may be selected instead of one best course. — Correct. A mix of plans may be chosen.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(v) Planning facilitates decision making: Planning helps the manager to look into the future and make a choice from amongst various alternative courses of action. The manager has to evaluate each alternative and select the most viable proposition. …” “(v) Selecting an alternative: This is the real point of decision making. The best plan has to be adopted and implemented. The ideal plan, of course, would be the most feasible, profitable and with least negative consequences. Most plans may not always be subjected to a mathematical analysis. In such cases, subjectivity and the manager’s experience, judgement and at times, intuition play an important part in selecting the most viable alternative. Sometimes, a combination of plans may be selected instead of one best course. The manager will have to apply permutations and combinations and select the best possible course of action.” |