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Testing the Alternatives

Testing the alternatives is the sixth step in the decision making process. We are going to continue here first with some more excerpts from the book The Art of DECISION MAKING: 7 Steps to Achieving More Effective Results, by John D. Arnold...

1. The possible need for more information
2. Rate each alternative against each criterion
3. Thinking "outside the box"
4. Seek ways to combine characteristics of several alternatives to create a better solution.

You need to ask yourself the following questions:

• Why is a decision necessary?
• What needs to be determined?
• What are the Criteria for making the best decisions?
• What are the Priorities? What are absolute requirements and what are just desirable?
• How can the Criteria be met? List possible solutions.

"But what if, after you've taken those five steps, no Solution emerges as the clear winner? Or, what if several parties are involved in the decision and they disagree on the best Solution? … Clearly, an objective standard is needed to measure or test the Alternatives.

"There is such a standard.

"Testing the Alternatives involves THREE STEPS.

1. 1. "First, ask yourself how well each Alternative meets each Criterion. Using a 10-high scale, rate each Alternative the same way you learned to rate each Criterion. Just as you must have one or more Criteria that rate a 10, so you must have one or more Alternatives that rate a 10 against each Criterion. If no Alternative does a perfect job of satisfying a particular Criterion, the one that comes closest to doing so rates a 10.

2. 2. "Second, multiply the rating of each Criterion by the rating of each Alternative.

3. 3. "Third, add up the scores of each Alternative and compare the totals" (85).

"..rate each Alternative against each Criterion" (88).

Work "horizontally through the chart, asking, "Which Alternative does the best job of satisfying this Criterion? Why? Which does the next best job? Why?" (88).

You may need to seek more information about some of the Alternatives.

CRITERIA	ALTERNATIVE A Vacation	ALTERNATIVE B Stereo
Absolute Requirements Within $2000 Not an ordinary expense	Yes Yes	Yes Yes

Desirable Objectives		R	VxR		R	VxR
10 Something everyone in family can enjoy	Very high	10	100	High	8	80
8 Something lasting	2 to 3 wks	2	16	8 years?	7	56
6 Enjoyed frequently	Very low	2	12	Very high	10	60
5 Stimulating or creative	High	8	40	Stimulating but not creative	5	25
4 Action within three months	Very high	10	40	Very high	10	40
TOTAL PTS			208			261

Also consider "how to combine the characteristics of several Alternatives to create a better, more innovative Solution.

"Most of us tend to avoid the difficult and shun the unpleasant. Filling in the matrix forces us to make difficult judgments and keeps us from running away from unpleasant ones. It points out the areas where we need to develop data before we make a decision. It gives proper weight to a Solution that does a fair job on a major Criterion as opposed to one that does an excellent job on a minor Criterion. The process may sound complicated, but it is actually quite simple. It takes more time to describe than to do" (90).

Please send comments to: Colby Glass, MLIS

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