A632.2.3.RB - Sheena Lyengar: How to Make Choosing Easier

            Sheena Iyengar suggests that people avoid decisions because they are overwhelmed by so many choices. Americans are used to the idea that the more choices the better, but in fact, Ms. Iyengar believes that people will prefer to avoid the situation altogether if there is too much to consider. Whether choosing items from a grocery store, or options on a new car, it is apparent that choices must make people feel as if they are in control.

            In the video Sheena Lyengar (Iyengar, 2011) talks about four methodologies that can help us to make choices the right way. Four techniques for mitigating the problem of choice overload:

1.    cut -- get rid of the extraneous alternatives

2.    concretize -- make it real (understand the consequences of said choices by seeing it in a concrete way)

3.    categorize -- we can handle more categories, less choices (helps us to understand how to deal with the many choices we have by putting them into categories so we can tell which group is which)

4.    condition -- for complexity (when we go from a small number of choices to many we are not as overwhelmed and can handle making more complex decisions rather than being overwhelmed at the start and just picking the standard options)

            All of these techniques that I'm describing to you today are designed to help you manage your choices -- better for you, you can use them on yourself, better for the people that you are serving. Because I believe that the key to getting the most from choice is to be choosy about choosing. And the more we're able to be choosy about choosing the better we will be able to practice the art of choosing.

            This TED Talk was pretty good. It seems the farther along I go into the MSLD program the more I learn about myself. And I not learning anything new about myself. I'm learning that I fit in to a category with so many others. The problems I make in decision making is no different then that of the next manager or leader. But the way they process and make a decision maybe complete different then the way I process and decide.

            Cut and Concretization are two techniques that I would truly benefit from.  The term cut is pretty straightforward…like a pair of scissors used to cut away that extra piece of ribbon you get rid of what you don’t need.  I have been making efforts to cut back on things in my personal life that I don’t need by taking a day once every few months to go through different rooms in the house so that by the end of the year I have hit every room and “cut” out that extra fluff we don’t need.

            For example, I am a gadget freak. This is the career I should be studying for, technology product tester.  I waste time, money, and space in my home office on things I will either never use or may only use once or twice. Everyone that knows me, knows I'm a religious Apple guy, I even invest in Apple stock. But a couple years ago I choose incorrectly and purchased a Blackberry tablet. I didn't need it, having 3 iPads in the house. It was a silly emotional purchase (curiosity). Fast forward 2 years and that tablet sit in a drawer in my office.

            Making cuts in my organization, specifically my department has been something we work hard at every day. Every company tries to incorporate Lean and Six Sigma principles into their standard work processes. But my organization has taken it a step farther with a approach call 5S. This is basically removing any unused or broken office equipment. Also have a organize placement map showing where everything should be placed.

            Concretization to me is pretty easy to use. I use visualization a lot so this works well for me, I am a very visual person. Reading a description about something without the visual is good but you may not make that connection that you would if you saw it in pictures or in a more descriptive way. This is why we use the 5S system and have a organize placement map showing where everything should be placed.

            In the video when Ms. Iyengar used the example about using the ATM card instead of cash and that hit home for me. I never carry cash and always use my debit card for all of my purchases no matter the amount. I make excuses like I can earn reward points or I'm paying myself with the cash back bonuses. But, like she I don't have the mental connection that my balance is being depleted. I tried to use my account alerts to help, but there is no better way to help your budget then to leave the cards at home.

            I think all four of Ms. Iyengar’s steps are great for helping with choosing.  I am someone who likes chooses, so making the options simpler and less-complex can really help with the decision-making. Some additional steps I may take is to narrow down categories to what my interests are and what I am trying to accomplish with my decision.

Works Cited

Hoch, S. J., Kunreuther, H. C., & Gunther, R. E. (2001). Making Decisions. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Iyengar, S. (2011, November 1). How to make choosing easier. Retrieved from TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_choosing_what_to_choose