On Strategy: Just Make a Decision - Any Decision
Copyright Jack Mixner. 714 449 1040 www.mixnerstrategy.com
Rosa Parks made a decision and sparked a revolution that had been long in coming. John Kennedy made a decision to go to the moon and sparked incredible creativity in a nation willing to be inspired. In business, Boeing bet the company on the decision on creating the 747 and assured the company's success for thirty years.
What about Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb? Axelrod shows that the harder decision for Truman was, in fact, whether to go with Korea some years later, not to end the war in Japan. "The idea, of course, was always to make the right decision. But this was less important than making some decision" (Axelrod, page 43). "Truman wrote, 'Presidents have to make decisions if they're going to get anywhere, and those presidents who couldn't make decisions are the ones who caused all the trouble' (Axelrod, page 43)."
Strategic Implication
Hard decisions have to be made. Indecision doesn't help anyone. Gather the information you need to proceed. Then proceed. Make your decision and move on.
References
Axelrod, Alan. Profiles in Audacity: Great Decisions and How They Were Made. Sterling Publishing Company. 2006.