How to make right decisions using WCCA

We are often presented choices or options in our daily decision making. Whether it is business decisions, career decisions or just deciding an action to take when ever we are faced with any given situation/challenge. The decisions and choices we make can be disastrous but if we properly analyse our choices, the potential disasters are exposed and alternative choices are made. This is where Worse Case Consequence Analysis (WCCA) comes in.

WCCA is a tool that can be used to analyse our choices in order to avoid perilous outcomes. When making a decision using WCCA, you have to answer these 3 questions:

What is the worse case consequence of this ?
What is the probability of this outcome?
Is this an acceptable risk?

Answering these questions shouldn't take more than a few seconds as you are only meant to use your head and a conscious choice of perception in answering them.

For example: John Doe is about to go for an urgent board meeting which was scheduled unannounced and can determine the outcome of his business. But John has one big problem. His renewed car licence is not yet ready for pickup. John is aware of the strick laws and the risks involved if he decides to go with his car. So lets quickly runs through the possible outcomes of John's choice of going with his car using WCCA:

1. What is the worse case outcome of this choice?

John's car could get impounded by law enforcement for driving around without a licence.
John could get delayed and eventually miss the urgent meeting as a result of questioning and attempting to work his way through the checkpoints.
John could get arrested if he tries to bribe his way through the checkpoint and eventually miss his urgent board meeting.

2. What is the probability of these outcomes?

Car getting impounded: 30%
Getting delayed at Checkpoint: 50%
Getting arrested for bribing: 10%

3. Is this an acceptable risk?

John's answer is "NO" as the outcome of going with this decision could jeopardise his future.

So in conclusion, John decides to choose the option of taking a cab, though he has to wait a little while for the driver to arrive and he'll also have to pay a large sum for the journey, John decides that, even though this alternative choice is expensive and inconvenient, it is the best choice in order to achieve his aim of getting to the meeting in time and avoiding any impending disaster along the way if he chooses to go with his car.

The illustrates how WCCA can be used in daily decision making when faced with any situation. So this is a powerful tool you can use in making decisions that can affect your business, relationship, life etc.