Discuss structured problems, programmed decisions, unstructured problems, and nonprogrammed decisions

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Some problems are straightforward. The decision maker's goal is clear, the problem is familiar, and information about the problem is easily defined and complete. Hence, these are called structured problems. For instance, when a server spills a drink on a customer's coat the customer is upset and the manager needs to do something. Because it is not an unusual occurrence, there is some standardized routine for handling it. For example, the manager offers to have the coat cleaned at the restaurant's expense. This is called a programmed decision, a repetitive decision that can be handled by a routine approach. Because the problem is structured, the manager does not have to go to the trouble and expense of going through an involved decision process.
Not all the problems managers face can be solved using programmed decisions. Many organizational situations involve unstructured problems, which are problems that are new or unusual and for which information is ambiguous or incomplete. Whether to build a new manufacturing facility in China is an example of an unstructured problem. When problems are unstructured, managers rely on nonprogrammed decision making in order to develop unique solutions. Nonprogrammed decisions are unique and nonrecurring and involve custom-made solutions. Lower-level managers mostly rely on programmed decisions because they confront familiar and repetitive problems. As managers move up the organizational hierarchy, the problems they confront become more unstructured. However, few managerial decisions in the real world are either fully programmed or nonprogrammed. Most fall somewhere in between.