Making Effective Decisions: Civil Service Behaviour Examples
What Making Effective Decisions assesses, how to structure answers with trade-offs, and a worked STAR example at SEO scope.
**TL;DR.** Making Effective Decisions is one of the 9 Civil Service behaviours. Assessors look for evidence that you weigh options against explicit criteria, consult appropriately, and explain your reasoning. The mistake most candidates make is presenting a decision as obvious — strong answers show the trade-offs.
What Making Effective Decisions assesses
This behaviour is scored on the visibility of your reasoning. Assessors want to see how you thought about the decision, not just what you chose. Present the options you considered (at least two, often three), the criteria you weighed, the evidence or consultation you drew on, and the rationale for your choice.
Worked SEO example (250 words)
*As an SEO programme manager I was running a £2.4m grant scheme with an end-of-year deadline. Three weeks before the deadline I discovered that one of four delivery partners had not started spending and was unlikely to deliver. The contract had a clawback clause but invoking it would create a public dispute. I had three options: extend the deadline, reallocate funding to the three other partners, or invoke clawback. I assessed each option against three criteria — value for money, scheme reputation, and precedent for future grants. I requested an urgent meeting with the partner, discovered the delay was due to a procurement freeze beyond their control, and confirmed they could deliver with a six-week extension. I drafted a recommendation paper for my Grade 7 presenting all three options with my recommendation (extend deadline, revised milestones, weekly check-ins). The Grade 7 approved. The partner delivered to the revised schedule, the scheme spent in full, and the precedent set the tone for the next grant cycle.*
Common Making Effective Decisions mistakes
- Presenting the decision as obvious
- Skipping the consultation or information-gathering step
- Not naming the criteria you used
- Making the decision without senior approval at a grade where you should have escalated
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Frequently asked questions
What does Making Effective Decisions assess?
Making Effective Decisions assesses whether candidates weigh options against explicit criteria, consult appropriately, and explain their reasoning. Assessors score the visibility of your decision process, not just the outcome.
How do I structure a Making Effective Decisions example?
Present at least two options you considered, name the criteria you weighed, describe the evidence or consultation, and explain the rationale for your choice. The Action section should walk through your reasoning, not just your conclusion.
What scores 1 at Making Effective Decisions?
Presenting the decision as obvious, skipping the options considered, not naming the criteria used, or making a decision without escalation when escalation was appropriate at your grade.