Decision making is about what to do, how, and why. But, it’s also about decision making approaches, about logics. Ok. Got it. So what are the key characteristics of German decision making?
Scope
Because Germans think systematically, they view a decision in its broader and interconnected context. The scope of the decision is wider. German decision making, therefore, necessarily means making several decisions at the same time.
Analysis
Germans regard an individual step in the decision making process as completed only when all relevant information has been gathered and analyzed with the help of rigorous analytical tools. Germans are scientific. They are skeptical of intuition.
Resources
Germany is not, and never was, a country abundant in resources. Germans strive to be economical. In what they make, in how they make it, and in how they use it. Suboptimal decisions require modification, which in turn draws on resources. Germans do their best to get a decision right the first time. Because that’s economical.
Time
Germans believe that the time allotted to a decision should be determined by the nature of the decision. And not dictated by either internal or external pressures. But rather by the internal rhythm of the decision making process. Germans believe that a good decision making process leads to good decisions.
Risk
Germans believe that an intelligent and correct decision, in line with the essence of the situation, both farsighted and aimed towards the future, is a decision which provides continuity, ensures quality and minimizes risk.
