Decision Matrix Analysis Worksheet Please feel free to copy this sheet for your own use and to share with friends, co-workers or team members, just as long as you do not change it in any way. • For information on decision matrix analysis, visit Factors: Total Weights: Happiness Situation 10566: Happiness Situation 10568: Happiness Situation 10570: Happiness Situation 10572: Happiness Situation 10574: Happiness Situation 10576: Happiness Situation 10567: Happiness Situation 10569: Happiness Situation 10571: Happiness Situation 10573: Happiness Situation 10575: Happiness Situation 10577: Happiness Situation 10578: Happiness Situation 10579: Happiness Situation 10580: Happiness Situation 10581: Happiness Situation 10582: Happiness Situation 10583: Happiness Situation 10584: Happiness Situation 10585: Happiness Situation 10586: Happiness Situation 10587: Happiness Situation 10588: Happiness Situation 10589: Happiness Situation 10590: Happiness Situation 10591: Happiness Situation 10592: Happiness Situation 10593: Happiness Situation 10594: Happiness Situation 10595: Happiness Situation 10596: Happiness Situation 10597: Happiness Situation 10598: Happiness Situation 10599: Happiness Situation 10600: Happiness Situation 10601: Happiness Situation 10602: Happiness Situation 10603: Happiness Situation 10604: Happiness Situation 10605: Happiness Situation 10606: Happiness Situation 10607: Happiness Situation 10608: Happiness Situation 10609: Happiness Situation 10610: Happiness Situation 10611: Happiness Situation 10612: Happiness Situation 10613: Happiness Situation 10614: Happiness Situation 10615: Happiness Situation 10616: Happiness Situation 10617: Happiness Situation 10618: Happiness Situation 10619: Happiness Situation 10620: Happiness Situation 10621: Happiness Situation 10622: Happiness Situation 10623: Happiness Situation 10624: Happiness Situation 10625: Happiness Situation 10626: Happiness Situation 10627: Happiness Situation 10628: Happiness Situation 10629: Happiness Situation 10630: Happiness Situation 10631: Happiness Situation 10632: Happiness Situation 10633: Happiness Situation 10634: Happiness Situation 10635: Happiness Situation 10636: Happiness Situation 10637: Happiness Situation 10638: Happiness Situation 10639: Happiness Situation 10640: Happiness Situation 10641: Happiness Situation 10642: Happiness Situation 10643: Happiness Situation 10644: Happiness Situation 10645: Happiness Situation 10646: Happiness Situation 10647: Happiness Situation 10648: Happiness Situation 10649: Happiness Situation 10650: Happiness Situation 106010: Happiness Situation 10651: Happiness Situation 10652: Happiness Situation 10653: Happiness Situation 10654: Happiness Situation 10655: Happiness Situation 10656: For this assignment, you will create a decision matrix and write a short paper discussing your decision-making process. Please follow the steps below. 1. For this assignment, please review the video and article located at this link from Mindtools: (Links to an external site.) 2. Identify an academic or career-related decision that you either need to make now, or will need to make in the near future. Please make sure that this is a decision with at least 3 potential choices to choose from, and multiple factors influencing your decision. 3. Identify one (1) S.M.A.R.T. goal associated with your decision. List your S.M.A.R.T. goal at the top of your paper. 4. Complete the decision matrix worksheet below: DecisionMatrixAnalysisWorksheet-1.pdf 5. Develop a 1-2 page paper (double-spaced) discussing the following topics. The paper length of 1-2 pages should be where you answer questions like the ones below. The 1-2 pages does NOT count your decision-making matrix: · The details surrounding your academic/career decision · How you identified the factors that you used to judge/measure each potential choice · Your results · Your thoughts on the results · Did this clarify or complicate your decision? · Do you agree with the results? Why or why not? Explain. · Your S.M.A.R.T. goal associated with this decision, how this goal will help you, and how you will achieve this goal. 6. Submit your decision-making matrix worksheet and paper as one document. You can make your own decision-making matrix instead of using the one in the PDF as long as they look the same. Please submit your paper as a Word document or PDF and adhere to the following format : · 12-point font · 1 inch margins · In-text citations when necessary (include a reference list if applicable) · Word or PDF format Your paper will be graded on the following criteria : · Content (meaningful discussion, addressing major questions posed) · Inclusion of all required sections · Grammar, spelling, punctuation · Adherence to formatting guidelines

Paper For Above instruction

Making well-informed decisions is a critical aspect of personal development and professional success. In my current academic and career journey, I face a significant decision regarding whether to pursue a master's degree immediately after completing my undergraduate studies or to gain work experience first. This decision has both immediate and long-term implications, influencing not only my educational path but also my career trajectory and financial stability.

To guide my decision-making process, I identified several factors that weigh heavily on my choice. The primary factors include the financial cost of further education, the potential salary and career advancement opportunities associated with each path, my current level of work experience, and personal readiness to commit to advanced studies. I also considered the potential networking opportunities and the impact on my personal life. These factors serve as the criteria for evaluating my options: pursuing graduate education immediately or gaining work experience first.

Using a decision matrix, I assessed my options based on these factors. The potential choices were: (1) enroll in a master's program immediately, (2) defer my admission and work for a few years, or (3) pursue part-time study while working. Assigning weights to each factor according to their importance, I scored each option accordingly. The results indicated that gaining work experience first, especially if combined with part-time study, aligns best with my priorities, offering a balanced approach to achieving my long-term goals.

This decision matrix clarified several aspects of my dilemma. While enrolling immediately offers the advantage of uninterrupted academic progression, it also entails higher financial burden and potentially less practical experience. Conversely, working first provides valuable industry insights and financial gain, which can offset the costs of future education. I agree with the outcome because gaining relevant work experience prior to returning to school is aligned with my career goals of entering a specialized field that values practical knowledge.

My S.M.A.R.T. goal related to this decision is: "Within the next 12 months, secure a position in a relevant industry to gain practical experience, while exploring part-time or online graduate programs." This goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and it will guide my actions towards balancing work and study efficiently. Achieving this will involve actively applying to relevant jobs, enhancing my skills through courses or certifications, and researching suitable graduate programs that offer flexible learning options.

References

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• Zmud, R. W., & Bordoloi, S. (2016). Decision-Making Techniques for Complex Decisions. Journal of Management Information Systems, 33(4), 10-20.