A632.3.4.RB - Reflections on Decision Making

A632.3.4.RB - Reflections on Decision Making

The authors, Shoemaker and Russo, of chapter in titled “Managing Frames to Make Better Decision” discuss the hazards associated with “frame blindness” and how to guard against it. The chapter states that there are three types of frames: 1. “problem frames which are used to generate a solution, 2. decision frames which are used to choose among clear alternatives, and 3. thinking frames which are described as deeper mental structures based on years of experience. (Hoch, Kunreuther, & Gunther, 2001) Frames can easily distort a picture of a scenario that we are faced with.  “These distortions can cause communication problems within a company” and can complicate situations.  (Hoch, Kunreuther, and Gunther, 2001)

Frame blindness is when we do not even realize what we are doing and the areas we are missing when analyzing a situation. Each frame can highlight and hide different aspects of a situation, making it difficult to see the whole problem at hand. This Reflection Blog is meant to discuss the ways learned to frame traps and frame blindness. There are three ways taught to frame traps and frame blindness.

Recognizing that there are frames. Conducting a frame audit is the best solution for seeing frames. Surfacing your frames is a method used that presents the frames in a visual manner. By starting with certain characteristics of a situation and branching out can help you note areas where you may have overlooked previously. Paying attention to the way people frame questions can also help you to reveal hidden frames you may have missed. Listening and analyzing these frames can help you to rethink previous frames from the past.

Identifying and changing inadequate frames. Once frames have been revealed, changing them and reframing them to better fit your questions will help. It is important to make sure that your frame is effective. Does this new frame get the job done, prompt you to ask the right questions, has the frame been challenged, is it easily understood, etc.? Asking these questions can help to assess the effectiveness of your frame.  It’s also important to question your own reference points and understand where your ideas are coming from as well.

Mastering techniques for reframing. This step includes incorporating a variety of methods to help in reframe. Testing out multiple different frames can help place the frame in a different environment and offer a different perspective.

Now that I’m a parent I see the frames I had on some of my life’s decision versus the one that my parents had for me. Now making the same decisions that my parents tried to make for me, I see the frames they used and why. Now I get to use that knowledge (frames) of how I felt as a kid, the knowledge (frames) as a young adult, and lean on the knowledge (frames) of my parents.

I get to identify and change inadequate frames that I had about the decisions that my parent guide me. And I get to use the knowledge of how I felt and rebel as a kid to help me see the frames that my kids use to look at me chooses and decisions for them. By incorporating the different lessons learn in both as a rebellious child and a over protective parent.

Works Cited

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