A decision is a choice made from among alternative courses of action that are available. The purpose of making a decision is to establish and achieve organizational goals and objectives. The (11) for making a decision is that a problem exists, goals or objectives are wrong, or something is. (12 )in the way of accomplishing them. Thus the decision-making process is fundamental to management. Almost everything a manager does (13 )decisions. Indeed, some suggest that the management process is decision making. (14 )managers cannot predict the future, many of their decisions require that they (15) possible future events. Often managers must make a best guess at what the future will be and try to leave as little as possible to( 16 ), but since uncertainty is always there, risk accompanies decisions. Sometimes the consequences of a poor decision are (17) ; at other times they are serious. People often assume that a decision is an isolated phenomenon. (18) from a systems point of view, problems have multiple causes, and decisions have intended and unintended consequences. An organization is an ongoing entity, and a decision made today may have consequences far( 19) the future. Thus the skilled manager looks toward the future consequences of (20) decisions.