Using a Decision-Making Grid

USING A DECISION-MAKING GRID

Materials:

•Decision-Making Grid (1 per participant)

•A calculator is recommended.

Steps:

1.Confirm understanding of each option and record it on the grid.

2.Develop a list of criteria for selecting one of the options. You might use the Generating and Organizing Ideas Technique to develop the criteria. Keep in mind that developing criteria is a decision-making process in itself, and depending on the complexity of the decision to be made and the degree of cohesiveness within the group, this step can be quite time consuming. If group members are not familiar with the concept of decision-making criteria, give examples of possible criteria. Or as a catalyst for thinking, suggest that they answer the following: “How would you describe the best decision?” or “What are important factors in making this decision?” Select no more than 6 criteria.

3.Record the agreed-upon criteria across the top of the grid.

4.Check whether some criteria are significantly more important than others. Criteria may be weighted 2X, 3X, etc. For example, a criterion might be twice as important or three times more important than others.

5.Members individually score each item against each criterion by ranking each on a 1 to 4 basis (4 being high). If using weights, each score is then multiplied by the weight assigned to the criterion. (If you wish, you may provide each participant with a blank Decision-Making Grid sheet to work on).

6.All scores are collected and the average score recorded for each option under each criterion. Scores for each option are added and recorded under Total.

7.The group analyzes the totals and makes a decision based on which option has the highest score.

USING A DECISION-MAKING GRID (cont’d)

BENEFITS

The criteria help focus the group’s attention. Members are no longer able to subjectively cling to a personal preference. Whatever their feelings, the procedure forces members to consider the group’s criteria and therefore to become more objective. Therefore, the procedure facilitates consensus.

Developing criteria not only enhances the process, but directly impacts the quality of the outcome by helping to ensure that no important factors are overlooked in the process. (Often groups must revisit decisions because a lack of structure in the decision-making process results in important factors being overlooked.)