Compare Benefits and Consequences as Part of Decision Process

For managers of nonprofit organizations large and small, one of the biggest challenges of the job can be making good decisions that provide overall benefit for the organization. Managers are expected to be leaders both of personnel and "on paper" and it can be daunting to know how best to choose the direction to go. One of the key strategy for good decision-making is to compare the benefits and the consequences of each possible direction in order to make the best decision for the circumstance.

There is more to consider than just the bottom line when it comes to most on-the-job decisions. Of course, expenses and revenue should be considered, as should the profit margin, but these are often not the only considerations for managerial decisions.

Other benefits and consequences to think about can be: morale and personnel (which decision makes the most sense in terms of boosting morale and job satisfaction or which will be the smartest in terms of personnel issues?); marketing and branding; short-term or long-range planning for the organization or department; and what is the path of least resistance (which approach will make the most people happy?) Weighing the expense in terms of money and other resources is important as well.

It might be necessary to actually map out the benefits and consequences if there is enough time'"listing what the possible outcomes will be in columns of benefits and potential problems. It is important to consider the overall big picture when it comes to making managerial decisions instead of simply looking at the quick fix in the moment. If the decision will have an impact on various departments, projects, or programs, consider getting input in terms of benefits and consequences from various sources. This way, the most accurate evaluation can take place prior to a decision being made.