Exploring Decision Making Theories in Annotated Bibliographies

This research paper delves into the utilization of various decision making theories—such as programmed vs non-programmed, structured vs unstructured, and strategic vs operational—in crafting annotated bibliographies. Through analyzing these frameworks, the study elucidates how they assist researchers in selecting pertinent information for inclusion, thereby enhancing the clarity and efficiency of their work. The paper underscores that understanding and applying these theories is crucial to achieving success in research endeavors, as they offer structured approaches to decision making within academic contexts.

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REFLECTIVE ACADEMIC
INTRODUCTION
A reflective summary is a brief written analysis of what an individual learnt and the activities
hey undertook during a certain event. This assignment represents a reflective summary on an
activity that our group undertook, which was on researching and making annotated bibliography
under the topic managing under uncertainty. This reflective summary will summarize all the
lessons the group learnt from the process, when, where and which activities were conducted
during the process. This means that a reflective summary indicates a brief indication of what
time, place an activity was performed. An annotated bibliography is a list of research conducted
on a specific topic. It is used to indicate the kind or type of research source, authors, limitations,
research findings and research methodologies used, conclusions, strengths and weaknesses
involved in the research. Therefore, the reflective summary will show a summary of what the
group members learnt from and experienced during the annotated bibliography research.
DISCUSSION
The act of decision making basically involves choosing an option from a list of suitable and/or
similar alternatives hoping for the choice to be the best and most effective (Al-Tarawneh, 2012).
There are theories that are used especially when analyzing and evaluating the decision making
processes used by groups during their research (Dathwade, 2016 and Milkman et al, 2009)). The
following are some of the theories that were used by the group when conducting the research on
annotated bibliographies on the topic “managing under uncertainty”.
Programmed and Non-Programmed Theory
Programmed theory is mostly used in situations or scenarios that are repetitive in nature. In this
theory, the decisions are made by use of traditional or reoccurring standard procedures or rather
procedures that are structured in nature(Ahmed et al, 2014). This means that when a group uses
this theory, the members must have experienced the same issue and situation previously and
therefore they decide to use the same technique they used before, which may become a routine.
In non-programmed theory, the decision makers often face new and completely different and
complex scenarios whenever they want to make a decision. This theory originated from

unstructured situations and ill-defined scenarios. The decision making process in this theory
involves more intense and effective brainstorming process simply because the problems or
situations at hand are usually unique and complex (Vuorinen, 2015. In most cases, the decision
makers use their own skills, judgment, intuition and creativity to implement this process.
During the research, this theory was certainly used by the group members to conduct the
annotated bibliography. It was easy for the members to research on the topic and complete the
whole research because they have certainly been faced by the same situation before. The
members had done various researches before on management and decision making process
which made it a routine for them, used the programmed decision making theory. The members
also implemented the non-programmed theory by using their own skills and knowledge conduct
the research on the annotated bibliography which was an activity they had never done before.
Structured and Unstructured Theories
Structured theory originates from a process whereby the decision makers have certain specific
decisions with specific and limited results (Fujita et al, 2014). They are mostly used for solving
structured problems which are said to be problems that are have a routine and repetitive in nature
and with standard solutions (Salter et al, 2015). The structured decision making theory involves a
process with a well-defined procedure or steps, a well-defined inputs system or resources and a
well-defined output or results.
Unstructured decision making theory is often used in situations that are completely unstructured
or rather definite. This theory is used mostly in solving problems that can be solved with any
kind and type of solution. The solutions involved in this theory are not definite, nor unique,
instead they are sometimes completely different from what is expected but still serve the purpose
(Van Knippenberg et al, 2015). This means that the decision makers that use this theory rarely
repeat decisions or solutions but rather use different solutions and processes even for the same
problems or scenarios.
During the research on conducting annotated bibliography on managing under uncertainty, we
also used this type of theories to complete the research. We used the unstructured theory to
review different types and kinds of sources that were written on the topic, e.g. journals, books,
research papers, academic articles to name a few. We used the sources to get any information on

the topic hence completing the research. The structured theory helped us get the needed
information on the format to use when writing an annotated bibliography. This is simply because
formats are usually definite and unique. They are mostly used to solve certain specific problems
and situations.
Operational and Strategic Decisional Theories
Operational theory basically relates mostly to making decisions that solve problems that occur on
a daily basis. This theory is mostly used as routine (Dekkers, 2010). Therefore, they are mostly
used when the decision makers are aiming at achieving just the short-term objectives. The
operational theories are often said to be repetitive and routine like in nature (Menzel, 2013). This
means that they are mostly based on predefined or pre-organized policies and procedures
(Swami, 2013). In addition to that, the decisions in this theory are likely to affect only the section
that is directly involved but later or in the long run, they affect the whole process or individual.
Strategic decision making theory are used to solve problems that are non-occurring but important
to an individual or group.This means that they can be used especially when effective and
efficient knowledge, skill and judgment is needed (Papulova et al, 2016). Therefore, this theory
is effective for problems that are unique and non-repetitive in nature. They mostly are used to
achieve and individual’s or group’s objectives that are long term.
During the research on annotated bibliography based on the topic “managing under uncertainty”,
we implemented the operational theory when we were trying to follow the format of producing
the best annotated bibliography. Also, when conducting the whole research itself, we followed
the processes that are often used to research which includes reading, making small notes and
including the information into the research itself. We utilized the strategic theory when we
conducted the whole research which was part of a subject that was to determine the overall grade
of the whole group and later each and every one of us. The assignment was to determine our
level of reading, research and knowledge on the whole topic as well as the grade to be awarded
in the long run.

CONCLUSION
It is important for researchers to be draft and brief summary of what they have learnt and done
during their whole research process. A reflective summary helps a writer and researcher show
this information. An annotated bibliography can be categorized as a type of an assignment
mostly given to students that need to research on a specific topic. It helps them list the most
important sections of their researches in brief. The group learnt a lot from the research that it
conducted. The members were able to realize the various types of decision making theories they
used during the research. They used these theories to make decisions on what information is to
be included in the annotated bibliography. The theories include, Operational verses strategic
theory, programmed verses non-programmed theory and structured verses unstructured theory.
According to the research, the theories are somehow related and therefore were more effective
and efficient in helping the group to complete and be successful during the research. In other
words, decision making theories are simply some of the most crucial aspects of a research
process because they help the researcher to determine which information is to be included in the
research and which is not to be included.

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