Managing in the Gray
Ho to make good decisions when no solution stands out as the best?
Author(s): Joseph L. Badaracco
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
Date of publication: 2016
Manageris opinion
How to make a decision when no alternative stands out? All managers are more or less frequently confronted with this situation. However well they thoughtfully analyzed the problem, consulted experts, etc., no “better” solution emerges. And for a good reason: information is blurred; the interests are varied and opposed. Yet you must make a decision…
Joseph Badaracco offers us a guide to better manage these “gray zones”, as he calls them. He articulates five questions that we should all ponder to broaden our perspective and refine our judgment. Each chapter introduces a question, explains why it is important to address it, and provides advice to answer it. The author relies on a huge body of managerial, philosophical and spiritual teachings. With a core message: when facing high-stake dilemma cases, the best decisions are those that you prepare as a manager and make as a human.
