Chapter 4 Developing Decision-Making Skills 95
Identify the Alternatives
The next step is to identify what choices you
have in addressing the issue. A choice is called an
alternative. At least two choices must exist before a
person is faced with making a decision. At this step,
you need to identify as many alternatives as you can.
Thinking about all the resources that are
available, or possible for you to use, can help you
identify alternatives. Sometimes people facing a
decision need to gather more information to learn
about possible alternatives. At other times, they can
draw on their experience or information they have
learned and remembered. For instance, Chandra
remembered that staff from the co-op program
had spoken to all the students in her school at
the beginning of the year about what they do and
what kinds of jobs they have. That helped her
identify one alternative.
Chandra thought about her alternatives for
earning money. She identifi ed four possible job
options. See step 2 of Figure 4.9.
Using the Decision-Making Process
Step 3 Consider each alternative. (Continued)
4. Join a vocational co-op program at the high school.
Pros Cons
• One of the several co-op programs offered at
school is in the health fi eld, Chandra’s career
interest. The teacher would help her fi nd a job
related to her career goal.
• She could work an average of 15 hours per
week. She would be excused from school early
to go to work. She would earn credit for the
work experience as well as a wage.
• Job-related classroom instruction would be
provided.
• Participating in the program would mean
fewer chances to take elective courses during
the school year.
• Her work schedule would determine
whether she could participate in any
after-school activities.
Step 4 Make the decision.
• Chandra decided to enroll in an FCCLA co-op class. She will receive job-related classroom
instruction and on-the-job training in the health services fi eld.
• She will be working 15 hours per week.
• She will be able to participate in fl ag squad after school two days a week for the fi rst quarter.
Step 5 Carry out the decision.
Chandra identifi ed the following four steps to carry out her decision:
1. Sign up for the FCCLA class.
2. Take the job-related classroom instruction.
3. Work with the teacher-coordinator in fi nding a job.
4. Work with the coordinator and employer to identify goals for her work experience.
Step 6 Evaluate the decision.
• With assistance from the teacher-coordinator and the employer, she will evaluate her work
experience.
• She will determine her success in reaching her job-related goals.
• She will determine her success in earning more spending money.
• Overall, she will think about how well she used the decision-making process in making her choice.
Figure 4.9 Continued.
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