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Decision Making - Intermediate Level: decision logic INTERMEDIATE

Master decision making concepts through this excellence pursuit practice set. Worksheet 16 of 30 contains 20 intermediate-level problems. Deep dive into decision logic while learning choice selection, optimal decisions, critical choices. Recommended for mid-level learners aiming for moderate complexity with mixed patterns.

📝 Worksheet 16 of 30 • 20 questions • ⏱️ Estimated time: 20 minutes • 🎯 Intermediate level

What you'll learn in this worksheet:
Your progress through Decision Making
Worksheet 16 of 30 (53% complete)

Question 1

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.
decision, opportunity-cost, trade-offs

Question 2

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.
decision, stakeholders, ethics, corporate

Question 3

Scenario: Selecting employee benefits package Criteria weights: Employee satisfaction (35%), Cost to company (30%), Retention impact (25%), Administrative ease (10%) Scores: Health focus: 9/5/8/7, Retirement focus: 6/8/7/8, Work-life balance: 8/7/9/6 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
Health=3.15+1.5+2.0+0.7=7.35; Retirement=2.1+2.4+1.75+0.8=7.05; Work-life=2.8+2.1+2.25+0.6=7.75. Work-life package optimizes across criteria.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 4

Situation: Investment decision for conservative investor nearing retirement (5 years from retirement) Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
For a conservative investor nearing retirement, capital preservation is paramount. Government bonds provide guaranteed returns with zero loss risk, aligning with the short time horizon and risk tolerance.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 5

Scenario: Selecting a software vendor for company operations Criteria weights: Reliability (40%), Features (35%), Cost (25%) Scores: Vendor A: 9/8/7, Vendor B: 7/9/8, Vendor C: 8/7/9 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
Weighted scores: A=9×0.4+8×0.35+7×0.25=3.6+2.8+1.75=8.15; B=2.8+3.15+2.0=7.95; C=3.2+2.45+2.25=7.9. Vendor A scores highest.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 6

Scenario: Choosing a marketing strategy for product launch Criteria weights: Reach (30%), Engagement (30%), Cost (25%), Speed (15%) Scores: Digital: 9/8/7/9, Traditional: 6/7/8/5, Hybrid: 8/9/6/8 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
Digital weighted=2.7+2.4+1.75+1.35=8.2; Traditional=1.8+2.1+2.0+0.75=6.65; Hybrid=2.4+2.7+1.5+1.2=7.8. Digital scores highest, but Hybrid balances all factors.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 7

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.
decision, emergency, crisis, time-critical

Question 8

Situation: A company can use $500,000 to: upgrade equipment (increase efficiency 20%), hire employees (expand capacity 30%), or keep as cash reserve (maintain financial stability) Considering opportunity costs, what is the best choice?
30% capacity expansion provides highest growth potential if market demand supports it. The opportunity cost of hiring is foregone efficiency gains, but capacity growth typically drives revenue more directly.
decision, opportunity-cost, trade-offs

Question 9

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.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 10

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.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 11

Situation: Career decision for mid-level professional with family responsibilities (sole earner, 2 children) Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
As sole earner with family responsibilities, income stability is critical. The downside risk of startup failure (50%) or business failure (70%) is too high given family obligations.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 12

Situation: Sarah has $10,000 to either: pay off credit card debt (12% interest), invest in stock market (expected 10% return), or put in savings account (2% interest) Considering opportunity costs, what is the best choice?
Paying off 12% debt provides guaranteed 12% 'return' (interest saved), which exceeds the expected 10% stock market return and is risk-free. The opportunity cost of not paying debt is 12% interest accrual.
decision, opportunity-cost, trade-offs

Question 13

Scenario: Choosing a location for new factory Criteria weights: Labor costs (25%), Logistics (25%), Tax incentives (20%), Skilled workforce (20%), Energy costs (10%) Scores: Location X: 8/7/9/6/8, Location Y: 6/8/7/9/7, Location Z: 7/9/6/8/9 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
X=2.0+1.75+1.8+1.2+0.8=7.55; Y=1.5+2.0+1.4+1.8+0.7=7.4; Z=1.75+2.25+1.2+1.6+0.9=7.7. Location Z scores highest.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 14

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.
decision, stakeholders, ethics, corporate

Question 15

Scenario: Selecting a software vendor for company operations Criteria weights: Reliability (40%), Features (35%), Cost (25%) Scores: Vendor A: 9/8/7, Vendor B: 7/9/8, Vendor C: 8/7/9 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
Weighted scores: A=9×0.4+8×0.35+7×0.25=3.6+2.8+1.75=8.15; B=2.8+3.15+2.0=7.95; C=3.2+2.45+2.25=7.9. Vendor A scores highest.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 16

Situation: Career decision for mid-level professional with family responsibilities (sole earner, 2 children) Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
As sole earner with family responsibilities, income stability is critical. The downside risk of startup failure (50%) or business failure (70%) is too high given family obligations.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 17

Decision: Accept job offer immediately or negotiate with current employer? Based on expected value analysis, what is the optimal strategy?
Accept: guaranteed 25% raise. Negotiate: 50% chance of 15% raise, 50% chance of 0% raise → expected = 7.5% raise. Guaranteed 25% > expected 7.5%.
decision, sequential, probability, expected-value

Question 18

Scenario: Choosing a location for new factory Criteria weights: Labor costs (25%), Logistics (25%), Tax incentives (20%), Skilled workforce (20%), Energy costs (10%) Scores: Location X: 8/7/9/6/8, Location Y: 6/8/7/9/7, Location Z: 7/9/6/8/9 Based on weighted multi-criteria evaluation, which option should be selected?
X=2.0+1.75+1.8+1.2+0.8=7.55; Y=1.5+2.0+1.4+1.8+0.7=7.4; Z=1.75+2.25+1.2+1.6+0.9=7.7. Location Z scores highest.
decision, matrix, weighted-evaluation

Question 19

Situation: Medical treatment decision for 75-year-old patient with heart condition Considering risk assessment, what is the most appropriate decision?
For an elderly patient, balancing success rate with mortality risk is key. Medication offers reasonable success (60%) with low mortality (5%), avoiding surgical risks while providing meaningful improvement.
decision, risk, uncertainty, investment

Question 20

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.
decision, emergency, crisis, time-critical
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