Many decision problems can be supported with simple decision-making worksheets. This page describes four such worksheets and provides links to them. A comparison of the underlying methods and other is discussed on the decision making models page.

Pro/Con Worksheet

(For a single decision-maker who must accept or reject a single alternative)

Benjamin Franklin considered the decision-making problem over two hundred years ago. In a 1772 letter to Joseph Priestly, he proposed the Pro/Con method to make a decision on whether or not to pursue a single alternative. A full description of this method with guidance on how to compare the Pros to the Cons can be found in Making Robust Decisions. The basic structure is captured on a Microsoft Word template that you can download and use for free.

Decision Matrix Worksheet

(For a single decision-maker with multiple alternatives and criteria)

The decision matrix (known in the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) community as Pugh's Method or a concept selection matrix) supports the selection among a set of alternatives. It is accomplished by relative comparison of the alternatives to a set of criteria defined by the issue being solved. Each alternative is weighed by its ability to meet each criterion. The Decision Matrix method supports an individual decision maker, is limited to certain information and has a weak mathematical structure. A full description of this method with guidance on to use it can be found in Making Robust Decisions or The Mechanical Design Process. The basic structure is captured on a Microsoft Word template that you can download and use for free.

Accord Instant

(For a small team comparing two alternatives with uncertain information)

Interactive, web-enabled templates for some common issues are available free on this web site. Make rapid decisions with a free application that runs in Microsoft Internet Explorer (5.0 or newer). These fully functional decision support tools help you evaluate each alternative against a set of supplied criteria. You determine what is important to you and evaluate the options using a graphical interface. Instant Decision gives you a report documenting your deliberation. Some of the tools currently available are:

  • Vendor selector
  • Office suite selector
  • Make versus buy decisions
  • Applicant selector
  • Product differentiator
  • Accord versus Expert Choice compared

Accord Basic™

Accord Basic is a single seat application that can be used to evaluate the issues covered by a growing set of prepackaged templates. It can evaluate any number of alternatives with inputs from multiple team members. Accord Basic can be used to collect evaluation inputs or run custom templates for decision issues developed using Accord Professional.

  • Prepackaged templates for your common business issues
  • Any number of alternatives
  • Any number of evaluators on a single computer (for distributed team support consider Accord Enterprise)
  • Easy-to-use graphical interface
  • Easy-to-use comments and links to supporting information
  • Instant evaluation of alternative satisfaction, probability of being best, and risk
  • What-to-do-next guidance
  • Report summarizing the issue, rationale, and deliberation

Current templates include:

  • Concept selection - Choose the best concept to develop
  • Portfolio evaluation - Choose which projects to undertake
  • Proposal selection - Find the best proposal
  • Vendor selection - Determine which vendor to choose or whether to make or buy
  • Job candidate selection - Evaluate candidates for a position in your organization
  • Where to site office - Choose the best place to locate your facility

This capability is also part of Accord Professional™ but not part of the free download for this product.

These four decision-making worksheets can be used to help you make robust decisions.

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Read the Book: Making Robust Decisions