Which approach emphasizes envisioning and exploring new and innovative solutions rather than only evaluating existing alternatives?

• A. Rational decision making
• B. Bounded rationality
• C. Design thinking
• D. Heuristics

Answer: (C)

Design thinking focuses on envisioning and exploring new, innovative solutions rather than just weighing existing options. It starts by deeply understanding people’s needs and reframing the problem, then encourages generating a wide range of ideas (divergent thinking) before narrowing in on the most promising ones. Prototyping and testing are built in to learn quickly, iterate, and refine concepts based on real feedback. This approach is about discovery and creativity, not simply optimizing a choice from the available alternatives, which is more characteristic of traditional rational decision making. It also recognizes that people and situations are complex and uncertain, so it favors exploration over quick satisficing or reliance on mental shortcuts.