What is the goal of using structured techniques in decision-making?

• A. To forecast stock prices.
• B. To assist analysts in thinking critically rather than predicting future outcomes.
• C. To replace human judgment with automation.
• D. To generate precise numerical predictions.

Answer: (B)

Structured techniques in decision-making are about how to think clearly and rigorously. They give analysts a disciplined way to approach a problem: they help you articulate the issue, identify what you don’t know, lay out explicit criteria for judging options, test assumptions, consider uncertainties, and compare alternatives with transparent reasoning. The goal is to improve the quality of thinking and the defensibility of conclusions, not to forecast exact outcomes or produce precise numbers. While these methods can aid in evaluating what might happen, their primary purpose is to strengthen analytic reasoning, not replace human judgment with automation.