Ad Hoc Decision Making
Ad hoc decision making is an approach where decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, often in response to immediate or unforeseen circumstances, without relying on predefined rules, formal processes, or long-term planning. It involves improvisation and flexibility, allowing individuals or teams to address unique problems as they arise. This method is common in dynamic environments where standard procedures may be insufficient or too slow.
Developers should use ad hoc decision making in situations requiring quick responses to unexpected issues, such as debugging urgent production bugs, handling novel technical challenges, or adapting to rapidly changing project requirements. It is particularly valuable in agile development, prototyping, and crisis management, where rigid frameworks might hinder progress. However, it should be balanced with structured approaches to avoid inconsistency and technical debt.