Question

kit is a manager at a retail store. she is responsible for hiring a new cashier. kit has interviewed several candidates, and two of them seem equally qualified. she is short on time and needs to make a decision quickly. since she thinks either will be fine for the position, she calls both and hires the first one to return her call.

what is the best way to describe this?

a.) satisficing
b.) programmed decision
c.) heuristic
d.) reflective system

Explanation:

Analyze the scenario

The scenario describes Kit, a manager who needs to hire a cashier. She is short on time and has two equally qualified candidates. Instead of conducting further extensive evaluations to find the absolute optimal choice, she chooses a simple, "good enough" path: hiring the first candidate who returns her call.

Define the key terms

Using the Decision-Making Styles knowledge point:

• Satisficing: A decision-making strategy that aims for a satisfactory or "good enough" result, rather than the optimal solution (maximizing). It occurs when a decision-maker faces time constraints or limited information.
• Programmed decision: A repetitive, routine decision that can be handled using a systematic, pre-established procedure.
• Heuristic: A mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to make quick judgments, but the specific action of choosing the first acceptable option to save time is best defined by the term satisficing.
• Reflective system: A logical, analytical, and deliberate system of thinking (System 2), which is the opposite of what Kit is doing here.

Match the scenario to the correct term

Kit's decision to hire the first person who calls back because "either will be fine" and she is "short on time" is a classic example of selecting the first option that meets her minimum threshold of acceptability. This is the exact definition of satisficing.

Answer:

• a.) Satisficing (Correct answer)
• b.) Programmed decision
• c.) Heuristic
• d.) Reflective system