FRS 001EE — Sec. 001 — (1 unit) — CRN 73908— W 3:10-4:00 PM — 123 Lower Hickey Gym
Decision Making

Instructor: Donald Hill, Department of Military Science, College of Letters and Science

Description: This course will teach students the deliberate decision making method that they can use to rationally and systematically break down and solve virtually any kind of problem. This methodology is used by the U.S. Military and the business community to help define problems, develop possible courses of action, and select the best possible solution. This is a critical “life skill” that students will be able to apply in both their professional and personal lives. The students will also learn how to use the “decision brief” presentation to effectively convince others that their decisions are the most sound. The goal of the course is to get the students to master the deliberate decision making process and be able to apply it to any problem. They will also learn how to use a decision support matrix to graphically support their methodology and analysis. Another goal of the course is to improve the students’ oral presentation abilities and their self confidence.

Format: All classes will be held in Room 123 in lower Hickey Gym on Wednesdays from 3:10 pm to 4:00 pm. The students will have to attend all scheduled classes. For the first few classes the instructor will teach the students the decision making process and we will work our way through numerous examples. During the next few classes the students will solve problems in both group and individual settings and present their methodology and decisions to the class in an informal setting. For the last few classes the students will complete their final project by individually presenting their final decision briefs to a board of directors made up of various other students from the class. Grading: Methodology test - 20%; written final project - 35%; final project decision briefing - 35%; class participation - 10%.

About the Instructor: Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Hill is a Professor of Military Science and chair of the Military Science Department. LTC Hill is an active duty Army officer on temporary assignment with the University. He has served as an Army officer for over 20 years in various leadership positions where he has commanded anywhere from 40 to nearly 1,000 soldiers. He is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and has been assigned overseas for a total of five years in Germany and Saudi Arabia. His Army ROTC program at UC Davis prepares students to enter the military as future leaders. His courses stress ethics, leadership, communication and decision making.