Decision Styles (StyleView^TM) Model

Decision Styles Defined

Decision Styles are habits of thinking, problem solving and decision‐making that people develop over time from interactions with other people and from dealing with the ebb and flow of complexities and pressures in everyday life. They are formed through experience. Consequently, people whose experiences differ develop very different styles of decision-making.

Decision Styles differ based on information use (some styles use lots of information – “Maximizers” – whereas others use just a few key facts – “Satisficers”) and solution focus (some focus on one clear solution of course of action – “Uni‐Focused;” others generate solutions involving multiple courses of action that could change as circumstances evolve – “Multi‐Focused”).  

Two Faces of Style

The StyleView decision style assessment produces two style profiles for each person. The profiles show a person’s likely behavior in interpersonal situations vs. situations that are more private or less intensely interpersonal. Note: Most people have interpersonal role style profiles that differ quite noticeably from their operating style profiles, as described below.

• Interpersonal Role Styles:  Styles that people use whenever they feel the need to present an appropriate image of themselves, such as when meeting people for the first time, making presentation, or attending formal meetings.

• Operating Styles:  Styles that people use when just going about solving problems or making decisions in whatever way comes most naturally, without giving any thought to how they are doing what they are doing, or without thinking at all about themselves. These styles typically are used when working alone or when working with people with whom one is familiar and with whom one feels no need to present any particular kind of image.