What would be the best decision matrix?

Hi Grazia,

In your challenge I can refer back to the advice I have received from Cliff Spencer (another participant on consulthon.com). When I had a decision matrix challenge, he suggested the following:

I’d recommend using a Pugh matrix. Draw up a table with column headers as your solution design options and then list out your solution requirements down the LHS. 

You then set 1 of the options as the control (score 0 against each of the selection criteria). Typically this would be the current state, change nothing option. Then score each of the other solutions against each of the selection criteria by comparing to your control - ie is the solution better than, equal to or worse than the control option. Score as +2,+1,0,-1,-2.

Repeat for each solution requirement for all options and then sum up the score for each option to find the preferred. Requirements can also be weighted if you want (eg based on MoSCoW), but optional.

It’s a good visual tool, easily understood by stakeholders and provides a data driven approach to selection.

1. Because you have a big number of stakeholders, I would suggest having several workshops. Initially it might be better to group the stakeholders and use the Pugh matrix.

2. Once you have the outcome of each group, you can start creating the combined Pugh matrix. If  the teams assign different ratings to the same criterion, discuss this so people can learn from each other’s views and arrive at a consensus. Do not average the ratings or vote for the most popular one, because it might be the case that for the different stakeholders you will have different preferences and priorities.

3. Additionally, I can also suggest to group the criteria under the general categories of effectiveness, feasibility, capability, cost, time required, support or enthusiasm (of team and of others). 

a. For selecting a problem or an improvement opportunity:

• Within control of the team
• Financial payback
• Resources required (for example; money and people)
• Customer pain caused by the problem
• Urgency of problem
• Team interest or buy-in
• Effect on other systems
• Management interest or support
• Difficulty of solving
• Time required to solve.

b. For selecting a solution:

• Root causes addressed by this solution
• Extent of resolution of problem
• Cost to implement (for example, money and time
• Return on investment; availability of resources (people, time)
• Ease of implementation
• Time until solution is fully implemented
• Cost to maintain (for example, money and time)
• Ease of maintenance
• Support or opposition to the solution
• Enthusiasm by team members
• Team control of the solution
• Safety, health, or environmental factors
• Training factors
• Potential effects on other systems
• Potential effects on customers or suppliers
• Value to customer
• Potential problems during implementation
• Potential negative consequences.

Hope that helps. I have used the Pugh matrix for choosing an Operating model for a client and it definitely worked and showed the information as is across all the stakeholders.

Marieta

Hi Grazia:

I agree with Marieta. The Pugh matrix is the best decision matrix.