Decisions range from long-term strategy to short-term day-to-day operational concerns. Obviously the most pressing decisions are of a day-to-day nature. Day-to-day operational decisions are limited by the objectives of the organization and by what is feasible with the resources available. Figure 7.3 shows the constraints of decision-making in day-to-day operations. The Mission /Policy of the organization sets the scope. Once the policy has been decided, then what is desirable is expressed as the objectives of the organization, and what is feasible is limited by the resources available.

Figure 7.3: Making it happen

The more demanding the objectives and the fewer the resources, the less choice there is. The basic objectives are two-fold - to use resources as efficiently as possible to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction within the constraints of policy objectives and available resources.