Independent Living Research

Information Reviewed:	Decision Command and Others
Author(s):	J. Budde, K. Feighny, G. White, D. Altus, and J. A. Snyder
Source:	Consumer Control: How to Command Decisions and Achieve Personal Goals (pp. 50-95). Lawrence, KS: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living, The University of Kansas
Date:	1990
Type:	Chapter
Overview:	It is not always possible to make all the decisions that affect your life. However, it is possible to identify and influence those people who make decisions that affect your life. When you influence other people's decisions, you increase the chances that they will make decisions the way you want them to be made. When you influence others, you are still exercising decision command. Although you try to maintain decision command, there are always situations where others share in or make decisions that affect what you might want to do. Here are four types of decisions that affect your life. Personal decision: This is a decision that directly relates to you and for which you have the full right to make the decision. Such decisions may be as simple as what to wear or where to live, or as complex as which occupation to pursue or how to develop a retirement plan. Example: You decide to take a class to improve your budgeting skills. Joint decision: This is a decision that will involve one or more individuals. It affects another's life as well as yours. Example: You want to spend money from the family budget for advocacy training and your spouse wants to use the money for your anniversary dinner. Informed decision: This is a decision that is made with the input of an expert. It affects your life and the way you make the decision. However, you can use the expert's advice and involve the person in the decision as long as the expert does not make the decision for you. Authoritative/Administrative decision: This is a decision made by another who has the responsibility to make the decision. It affects your life. However, you cannot make the decision because you do not have the authority. In the decision command influencing process, you have a way to effectively influence decision makers. This process starts with making a request. Next, listen to the reply or decision. To make certain you and the decision maker both understand the decision, repeat the decision, which may be a "yes," "maybe," "no," or "final no." By identifying the decision, you will be able to decide what response to use next. If "yes," then clarify the decision. Add details such as "when," "who," where," or "what." If "maybe no," you can still try to persuade the decision maker or negotiate. If it is a "final no," you can advocate at another level and seek other action. Keep in mind that you have the right to ask someone to make a decision that affects your life. The worst the decision maker might do is make a final "no" decision. The best he or she might do is make a "yes" decision. For more information, contact the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, 4089 Dole, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS (785) 864-4095, rtcil@ku.edu, Website This research was supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the U.S. Department of Education. #1982 Budde, J., Feighny, K., White, G., Altus, D., & Snyder, J. A. (1990). Decision command and others. Consumer control: How to command decisions and achieve personal goals (pp. 50-95). Lawrence, KS: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living, The University of Kansas. Keyword: Empowerment Copyright. The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living.
Reviewer:	Cindy Higgins