How to decide how to decide

Rebecca Suthern’s Wiser Decisions Faster blog:

How to Decide How to Decide

1. Ask the group, “Before we choose which option to proceed with, let’s talk about what makes an option truly a great option. What needs to be true about the option in order for you to consider it a good one?”
2. If the list of criteria is longer than about 5 items, you need to insert a process for choosing the preferred criteria.
3. Create a matrix that is visible to all participants.
4. Invite people to rate the options according to each criteria, by placing a checkmark in each row under the option that they feel ranks the strongest on that criterion.
5. Tell people they have 10 “points” to spend on each criterion.
   • Before anything gets rated, ask the group whether any of the criteria should be weighted more heavily than the others from the start.
   • Whichever option has the most check marks wins.
   • Whichever option scores the highest wins.
   • Apply the multiplier to the relevant criteria
   • In the case of a tie? You have some options.
6. There is one more step: the “gut check.”

Stephen