What Is a Decision？
Guidance for Reciting
People in modern society have to choose and then make decisions anywhere at any time because of the scarcity of resources and the wants and needs of human beings. In making decisions，the opportunity costs and the uncertainties are two primary factors to be considered.
Choice is the opportunity to select among alternatives. If there is no choice，there is no decision to be made. Decision making is the process of choosing，and many decisions have a broad range of choice. For example，a student may be able to choose among a number of different courses in order to implement the decision to obtain a college degree. For managers，every decision has constraints based on policies，procedures，laws，precedents，and the like. These constraints exist at all levels of the organization.
People often assume that a decision is an isolated phenomenon，but from a systems point of view，problems have multiple causes，and decisions have intended and unintended consequences. Thus a skilled decision maker looks toward the future consequences of current decisions.
Notes
1.implement [5implimEnt] vt. 实现，执行，使……生效
2.constraint [kEn5streint] n. 约束，强制，约束条件
3.precedent [pri5si：dEnt] n. 先例，前例
4.multiple [5mQltipl] a. 多样的，多重的
什么是决策
诵读导言
因为资源稀缺性和人类欲望和需求的存在，现代人无时无刻不在进行着选择权衡，进而进行决策。在决策的时候，机会成本和不确定性是决策者首先需要考虑的因素。
选择就是从多个选项中进行挑选的机会。没有选择就没有决策。决策本身就是一个选择的过程。很多决策有很宽的选择范围。例如，一个学生为了自己获得学位的志向，可以在许多不同的课程里作选择。对管理者来说，每一个决策都受着政策、程序、法律、先例等方面的制约。这些制约在一个机构的各个阶层都存在。
人们常以为决策是一个孤立的现象，但从系统的观念看，问题的产生有多种原因，所以决策既有意料中的结果，又有意料外的结果。因此一个老练的决策者通常要考虑当前决策在将来产生的结果。
口语点津
重要的事情不要过于匆忙地做决定（Don't decide on important matters too quickly.）。在面临重大问题、纠纷、严峻势态时决定不了而需要保持中立的时候，可以说I am on the fence（我保持中立）；如果你觉得难以决策，可以说It's still up in the air（悬而未决）；如果你把决定权让给对方，则可以说It is up to you！或You call the shots.（由你来做最后决定）。如果你对对方的决策效率感到不快，可以直接说You are so indecisive.（你真是太犹豫不决了。）