Beslutning

Beslutning is the Norwegian term for a choice reached after considering alternatives. The word derives from the verb beslutte, with the noun-forming suffix -ning.

In daily life decisions range from what to eat to which career path to pursue. In public administration and legal contexts, a decision often means a formal resolution or ruling that binds actions, sometimes described as vedtak.

Decision-making typically follows steps: define the problem, gather information, generate options, assess consequences, select a course of action, implement it, and review the outcome. Factors include preferences, values, time constraints, costs, risks, and uncertainty.

Decisions can be individual or collective. They can be strategic (long-term and policy-oriented) or operational (day-to-day). In theory, decisions are analyzed using normative models of rational choice; in practice, emotions and constraints also matter.

Common tools include cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, decision trees, and voting or consensus methods. In organizations, decision rights and governance structures determine who may decide.

Documentation and accountability are standard practice; decisions are recorded in minutes, policies, or formal resolutions to ensure transparency and traceability. See also decision theory, decision-making, governance.