The Buck Stops Here

While it is enticing to think that formulas can help guide managerial policy, those types of ''instant'' measures are effective in only a small percentage of the decisions that executives must make. The far greater percentage of influences on executive action are human factors such as frailties, preferences, passions, prejudices, fears, ambitions, and pride.This guide arms busy executives with new ammunition for charting a course through daily decision making. It shows how to transform abstract concepts of choice and value judgment into practical steps toward the right choice, in situations at every level of the corporate structure. Most importantly, it shows how to avoid overlooking factors that can thwart executive policy.The Buck Stops Here lays out 270 questions faced by executives and provides advice for dealing with them. It covers how to evaluate subjective issues such as emotions and values; assess the size and complexity of any type of problem; gather factual data, make sure it is accurate, and focus on the information that really impacts a decision; formulate decisions into words that expedite the transformation of ideas into action; anticipate the consequences of actions more accurately; and make the right move when company experts disagree.Extensive think-triggers help executives analyze their attitudes and motivation. Included are ways to avoid making decisions too soon or too late, common mistakes that can permanently cut off access to preferable options.The Buck Stops Here: The Executive's Guide to Bottom-Line Decisions and Actions provides a basis for executive thinking that prevents the trial-and-error, detours, and dead ends that so often impede success. It is an essential field guide for corporate managers at all levels, as well as corporate training personnel.