Decision Making - Intermediate Level: priority decisions INTERMEDIATE

Boost your speed and accuracy with this adaptive style 📈 worksheet. Worksheet 15 of 30 presents 20 intermediate-level decision making problems. Focus on priority decisions while practicing decision logic, choice selection, optimal decisions. Difficulty: moderate complexity with mixed patterns. Perfect for mid-level test takers.

📝 Worksheet 15 of 30 • 20 questions • ⏱️ Estimated time: 20 minutes • 🎯 Intermediate level

What you'll learn in this worksheet:
Your progress through Decision Making
Worksheet 15 of 30 (50% complete)

Question 1

Decision: Expand to international market or focus on domestic growth? Based on expected value analysis, what is the optimal strategy?
International: 25% chance of 1000 profit, 75% chance of 100 loss → EV=250-75=175. Domestic: 60% chance of 400 profit, 40% chance of 50 loss → EV=240-20=220. Domestic focus has higher expected value.

Question 2

Situation: John has 4 hours of free time: study for exam (improve grades), work part-time job (earn $60), or exercise and relax (improve health) Considering opportunity costs, what is the best choice?
Long-term academic success typically has higher lifetime value than $60 or immediate health benefits. The opportunity cost of studying is short-term earnings, but education ROI justifies this choice.

Question 3

Decision: City council deciding on new affordable housing project location Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Distributes impact across neighborhoods, reduces concentrated opposition, provides better integration with existing communities. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.

Question 4

Decision: Company considering automation that will eliminate 200 jobs but increase efficiency by 40% Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Balances efficiency gains with social responsibility. Saves 100 jobs while improving efficiency, providing transition support for affected workers. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.

Question 5

Situation: Factory fire with 50 workers inside. You can either: try to extinguish fire (30% success, 10 minutes, saves all) or evacuate (100% success, 5 minutes, saves 40 workers). What is the best decision in this emergency situation?
Expected value: Extinguish = 50×0.3 = 15 expected saved; Evacuate = 40 guaranteed saved. Guarantee of 40 saved is better than 15 expected.

Question 6

Decision: Launch new product now or wait 6 months for more market research? Based on expected value analysis, what is the optimal strategy?
Launch now: 40% success → expected value = 0.4×1000 = 400. Wait: 70% success after research → expected value = 0.7×900 = 630 (accounting for 100 research cost). Higher EV makes waiting optimal.

Question 7

Situation: A farmer with limited land can either: grow wheat (guaranteed $5000 profit), grow organic vegetables (potential $8000 profit, 40% crop failure risk), or lease land to solar company (guaranteed $6000) Considering opportunity costs, what is the best choice?
Expected value of vegetables = $8000 × 0.6 = $4800, which is less than guaranteed $5000 from wheat. Solar lease gives $6000 guaranteed, making it optimal considering risk.

Question 8

Situation: Business expansion decision for cash-strapped startup with limited runway (6 months of cash left) Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
With only 6 months runway, survival is priority. Maintaining current operations gives 90% survival chance with minimal investment, avoiding overextension risk.

Question 9

Decision: Hospital choosing between specialized cancer center or expanded general services Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Greatest good for greatest number - 10,000 patients vs 500. General services impact broader community while cancer center serves niche population. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.

Question 10

Decision: Launch new product now or wait 6 months for more market research? Based on expected value analysis, what is the optimal strategy?
Launch now: 40% success → expected value = 0.4×1000 = 400. Wait: 70% success after research → expected value = 0.7×900 = 630 (accounting for 100 research cost). Higher EV makes waiting optimal.

Question 11

Situation: A hospital must choose between purchasing new MRI machine (improves diagnosis) or upgrading emergency room (reduces wait times). What should be the primary criterion for this decision?
In healthcare, patient outcomes should be the primary decision criterion. Both options improve care, but the one with greater impact on patient health should be prioritized.

Question 12

Decision: Expand to international market or focus on domestic growth? Based on expected value analysis, what is the optimal strategy?
International: 25% chance of 1000 profit, 75% chance of 100 loss → EV=250-75=175. Domestic: 60% chance of 400 profit, 40% chance of 50 loss → EV=240-20=220. Domestic focus has higher expected value.

Question 13

Situation: Business expansion decision for cash-strapped startup with limited runway (6 months of cash left) Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
With only 6 months runway, survival is priority. Maintaining current operations gives 90% survival chance with minimal investment, avoiding overextension risk.

Question 14

Situation: A family needs to choose between buying a house in Suburb A (good schools, long commute) or Suburb B (shorter commute, average schools). What should be the primary criterion for this decision?
For a family decision, children's long-term development typically takes priority over convenience factors. Education quality has lasting impact on children's future opportunities.

Question 15

Situation: A government agency needs to allocate limited disaster relief funds between flood-prone and earthquake-prone regions. What should be the primary criterion for this decision?
Risk assessment should prioritize areas with highest probability of imminent disaster, as prevention is more effective than post-disaster relief.

Question 16

Situation: Technology adoption decision for traditional manufacturing company Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
Partial automation balances risk and reward - moderate investment ($800k) with good efficiency gain (40%) and acceptable failure risk (15%). Full automation's 30% failure risk on $2M is too high for traditional company.

Question 17

Decision: Pharmaceutical company setting price for life-saving drug Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Balances profit motive with access to medicine. Differentiated pricing maximizes revenue while ensuring affordability in developing nations. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.

Question 18

Decision: City council deciding on new affordable housing project location Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Distributes impact across neighborhoods, reduces concentrated opposition, provides better integration with existing communities. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.

Question 19

Situation: You're the captain of a ship that hits an iceberg. You have 30 minutes before sinking. 100 passengers, lifeboats capacity 80. What is the best decision in this emergency situation?
In maritime emergencies, traditional protocol prioritizes vulnerable populations. This maintains order, maximizes survival of those with least chance of self-rescue.

Question 20

Decision: University deciding on tuition policy amid financial pressures Considering all stakeholder impacts, what is the most ethical and practical approach?
Balances financial sustainability with accessibility. Small increase with aid protects vulnerable students while generating needed revenue. This approach balances competing interests while prioritizing overall welfare.
Previous Worksheet Next Worksheet