Process Questions for Decision Analysis

Decision Statement: WHAT IS IT WE/I WANT TO ACHIEVE

Objectives: To establish what must be accomplished as distinct from what you want to
accomplish, ask:
-What RESOURCES do I have and what RESULTS do I expect. (List all—do
not discuss
To classify objectives: MUSTS
What are the limits of my/our own resources?
- Deadlines, people, money, skills and know-how, procedures, supplies,
authorities, laws, etc.
What are the minimum results expected of the decision?
- Profit, sales, machines output, needs of superior, organization, and
people, and other definite future expectations.
Review each Resource Area and ask: Is this really a limitation which cannot
be overcome?
Review each Result Area and ask: is it necessary that this be achieved?
Test of Must: is this quantifiable and visible? Is so, it should include a
measurable minimum and maximum standard of acceptability. If not, this
is a WANT.
WANTS:
- What resources are less than the “musts” requirement?
- What results are more than the “musts” requirement?
- What other things would be nice to have but are not absolutely
necessary?
Ranking of Wants: Of all these WANTS what is my highest want? (WANTS derived from MUSTS
automatically are the highest ranked) Rank 10 for highest WANT and
correspondingly lower for others.

ALTERNATIVES -Considering all the above OBJECTIVES, what choices do we/I have?
(Obtain from associates,
Yourself, suppliers,
Experts in the area, etc.)

Weighing of - Against MUST Objectives:

Alternatives
What Alternative does not satisfy my Must requirement?

Drop out alternative that does not meet any one requirement.

-Against WANT Objectives:

What data in each Alternative (compare horizontally) best fits the WANT
objective. Rate 10. In comparison to this, how does data rank?

ADVERSE -In checking Alternative with the highest overall rating ask:
CONSEQUENCES
What can possibly go wrong if I adopt this decision?

Probability
And
Seriousness -To check validity of each Adverse Consequence, ask: How probable will
this happen? If it does happen how serious will it affect me?

FINAL CHECK
ON DECISION -How valid is the Information given?
Check as of the date of implementation.

-Are all “Objectives” considered?

-What “Must” Objective poorly satisfies “Must” data?

-What high “Want” data on alternative were poorly satisfied?

-What other effects of this decision are there?

-GO TO PPA BEFORE FINAL IMPLEMENTATION.

 SUMMARY OF DECISION ANALYSIS

A DECISION IS THAT BEST CHOICE OF A COURSE OF ACTION TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES. MAKING

THAT CHOICE REQUIRES DECISION ANALYSIS.

• STATE PURPOSE

The Decision Statement provides a reference point for a relevant and consistent set of
objectives, and identifies a class of comparable alternatives.

• ESTABLISH OBJECTIVES

Identify the RESULTS to be accomplished and the relevant RESOURCES that need to be
considered for this decision situation.

• CLASSIFY OBJECTIVES

Must

A class of objectives (result or resource) so critical to this decision situation that they have,
or require, a specific and measurable limit of acceptability, which any alternative must
satisfy.

Want

A class of objectives (result or resource) which are weighted for relative importance to
this situation, and which alternative importance to this decision situation, and which
alternatives may satisfy to varying degree.

• GENERATE ALTERNATIVES

An alternative is a possible course of action. Since a decision is choice, several alternatives

covering a range of actions should be considered. Use the objectives to add to known
alternatives.

• COMPARE ALTERNATIVES

To Must Objectives
Test the information about each alternative -- GO or NO GO – against the limits
established. Eliminate NO GO alternatives.

To Want Objective

For remaining alternatives, compare and weigh relevant information to each Want
objective, then reflect the relative weight of each Want objective.

For Consequences

For those alternatives that best satisfy Want objectives, assess significant potential
Adverse Consequences, or threats. Consider what could change to keep any alternative
from achieving objectives. Reflect both probability and seriousness.

CHOOSE THE BEST BALANCED ACTION

Select the alternative that:

a. Satisfies Must objectives, and has

b. The best balance between overall satisfaction of Want objectives and
c. Minimum Adverse Consequences.