Final answer:
The unstructured decision among the provided options is A: which research and development projects should be undertaken, as it requires significant judgment, intuition, and creativity due to its complexity and novelty compared to the other more routine and procedural options.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question, “Which of the following is an unstructured decision?” pertains to decision-making in a business context. An unstructured decision is one that is novel and not routine, where the decision-maker must use judgment, intuition, and creativity because there is no clear-cut answer or procedure to follow. Considering the options provided:
- A. which research and development projects should be undertaken
- B. when scheduled maintenance should be performed
- C. how fast an assembly line should operate
- D. how much inventory to reorder
The decision on which research and development projects should be undertaken (Option A) typically qualifies as an unstructured decision. This is because it involves significant uncertainty, a high degree of complexity, and a lack of precedent, requiring a business to consider factors like potential market demand, future technological advancements, and financial constraints.
On the other hand, decisions regarding scheduled maintenance, assembly line speed, and inventory reordering (Options B, C, and D) are more structured, often relying on existing data, statistical analyses, and established procedures.