Dairy producers and their advisors are confronted with a bewildering number of choices or potential decisions in all aspects of managing a dairy. The focus of the presentation is to discuss various components of the decision-making process, from evaluation of Type I and Type II error risk and return on investment to the need to strive toward “constellation of evidence” to support decision-making to include elements of biological plausibility, research and demonstration in various forms, practicality, and experience to include potential pitfalls. Specific attention will be paid to discussing pitfalls associated with controlled work as well as evaluating the opportunity costs for labor and management associated with the implementation of some management practices on the farm.