Management Fundamentals 7th Edition by Robert N. Lussier

Exercise 37

The following critical-thinking questions can be used for class discussion and/or as written assignments to develop communication skills. Be sure to give complete explanations for all questions.

Do men and women make decisions differently?

Step 1 of 3

Different people make different decisions; it is more than being a factor of cultural differences or upbringing. Men and women are two different personalities; the following are a few insights as to how men and women make decisions differently:

• Females have stronger reactions to emotions and decision-making processes, where as men don’t show any emotions and make decisions as a part of their masculine personality.

• Women show more empathy even while making stressful decisions, while men behave more aggressively.

• Women are more inclined to make decisions by taking the interests of multiple stakeholders into account in order to arrive at a moral and fair decision. In decision making men are more motivated by selfishness, ego and the desire to avoid trouble.

• Stress makes men and women to respond differently to decision making, while men charge ahead for small rewards and women are more cautious and take their time to make a decision.

• Men have more black and white views in decision making process while women have more detailed and complex views.

• Traditionally due to cultural upbringing males tend to be decisive and proactive even if it means jumping into conclusions. In contrast, women are socialized to be more thoughtful and receptive to others views even if it means being more self-critical.

• Women perceive more risk across many real and hypothetical scenarios relative to men partly because risk-taking is perceived to be central and esteemed component of male gender role.

• Women come to understand and consider problems all at a time. They take a broad perspective and view elements in a task as interconnected and interdependent. Women tend to be overwhelmed with complexities that exist or may exist and may have difficulty in separating their personal experience from problems.

• Men tend to focus on one problem at a time or a limited number of problems at a time and show ability to separate themselves from problems and minimize the complexity that may occur. Men come to understand and consider problems one at a time. They take a linear perspective and view elements in a task as less interconnected and more independent.