Original Research

The application of a selection of decision-making techniques by employees in a transport work environment in conjunction with their perceived decision-making success and practice

Theuns F.J. Oosthuizen
Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management | Vol 8, No 1 | a118 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v8i1.118 | © 2014 Theuns F.J. Oosthuizen | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 15 August 2013 | Published: 17 March 2014

About the author(s)

Theuns F.J. Oosthuizen, Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

A lack of optimum selection and application of decision-making techniques, in conjunction with suitable decision-making practice and perception of employees in a transport work environment demands attention to improve overall performance. Although multiple decision-making techniques exist, five prevalent techniques were considered in this article, namely the Kepner-Tregoe, Delphi, stepladder, nominal group and brainstorming techniques. A descriptive research design was followed, using an empirical survey which was conducted among 210 workers employed in a transport work environment and studying in the field of transport management. The purpose was to establish to what extent the five decision-making techniques are used in their work environment and furthermore how the decision-making practice of using gut-feel and/or a step-by-step decision-making process and their perception of their decision-making success relate. The research confirmed that the use of decision-making techniques is correlated to perceived decision-making success. Furthermore, the Kepner-Tregoe, stepladder, Delphi and brainstorming techniques are associated with a step-by-step decision-making process. No significant association was confirmed between the use of gut-feel and decision-making techniques. Brainstorming was found to be the technique most frequently used by transport employees; however, it has limitations as a comprehensive decision-making technique. Employees working in a transport work environment need training in order to select and use the four comprehensive decision-making techniques.

Keywords

nominal

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