Study reveals workplace decision-making crisis: Professionals overconfident but undertrained

Summary: New research from the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists reveals a critical gap between confidence and competence in workplace decision-making. While 91% of professionals believe they have above-average decision skills, 45% lack structured decision habits and 85% never received formal training. The study of 105 professionals across sectors identified 24 specific decision-making challenges and found widespread organizational barriers. Co-led by behavioral decision scientists from University of East Anglia, London School of Economics, and Warwick Business School, this first-of-its-kind workplace decision research shows strong demand for evidence-based training, with 84.8% wanting decision-making development from employers.

Key Finding: The "decision paradox" - high confidence paired with poor processes and poor preparation - suggests organizations are expecting sound decisions without providing the tools or training to make them.

Implications: Results challenge the assumption that experience alone builds decision expertise and highlight urgent need for systematic decision science education in professional development.

Institution: Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS), Zurich, Switzerland

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