by Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis as developed by is a method to evaluate and score available options in an objective manner. The appropriate decision is then the one with the highest score.
Clarify the Purpose
- State the decision
- What decision do we need to take?
- What are we trying to do?
Develop Objectives
- What short term and long term results do we want?
- Identify resources we should use or save
- What restrictions influence this choice?
- How do the following factors influence this choice?
- Management, Human Resources, Competition, Research, Equipment, Policy, Law and Regulation, Cost, Time, Facilities, Productivity
- Which objectives should be clarified to make them more specific?
- Classify Objectives into MUSTs and WANTs
- Is this objective mandatory, measurable and realistic?
- Yes to all 3 = 3 MUST. All other objectives are WANTs
- Which MUST objectives should be reflected in WANTs
- Weigh the WANTs
- What is the relative importance of the WANTs?
Evaluate the alternatives
- Generate alternatives
- What are the different choices available?
- Screen alternatives through the MUSTs
- Does this alternative meet the MUST limit?
- Compare alternatives against the WANTs
- How does the option perform against each WANT objective?
Assess the Risks
- Identify adverse consequences
- What are the implications of being close to a MUST limit?
- Determine the invalid information in this option. What are the implications?
- What could go wrong, short and long-term, if you were to choose this alternative?
Make a decision
- Make a balanced choice
- Are we willing to gain the benefit of this choice?
For further information on decision analysis go to the Kepner Tregoe site.
