decisione

Decisione is the act of choosing between available courses of action. In philosophy it is discussed as a problem of normative justification; in psychology as a cognitive process; in economics and management as a mechanism for selecting actions under uncertainty; and in information systems as a basis for decision support.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin decisio, from decidere meaning "to cut off" or "to determine," and entered Italian as decisione in the medieval period. The plural is decisioni. The word reflects the sense of selecting by severing alternatives.

Types and approaches: Normative models specify how decisions should be made to achieve optimal outcomes given preferences and constraints, descriptive models describe how decisions are actually made, and prescriptive methods guide improvements. Decisions can be programmed (routine) or non-programmed (novel), and can be strategic or operational.

Theoretical frameworks and tools: The study includes decision theory and Bayesian decision theory, and behavioral approaches such as prospect theory and bounded rationality. Practical tools include multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), decision trees, influence diagrams, scoring models, and the Delphi method.

Applications and scope: Decisione applies across business, public policy, engineering, healthcare, and everyday life, where decision support systems and risk assessment help structure choice. Related topics include risk, uncertainty, preferences, information use, and cognitive biases that influence judgment.