Which step in the basic management process involves choosing between different alternatives?

The step that involves choosing between different alternatives is decision making. This phase is critical because it requires evaluating the options available and selecting the best course of action based on the information at hand. Effective decision making integrates data analysis, risk assessment, and relevance to organizational goals.

In management, this process is essential as it impacts the strategies and actions that will be implemented. By making well-informed decisions, managers can navigate complexities and uncertainties in a business environment, ultimately guiding the organization toward success.

Other steps in the management process, such as planning, controlling, and organizing, serve different purposes. Planning is focused on outlining objectives and determining the best strategies to achieve them, controlling involves monitoring and analyzing performance against those objectives, and organizing refers to structuring resources and tasks to implement the plans. While these functions are all interrelated, it is through decision making that managers actively choose specific paths or actions from various possibilities.