Weighted Decision Matrix Add/remove

Purpose:

The purpose of a weighted matrix is to make decisions on solution development informed by relevant solution success criteria. Because not all success criteria are equally important, they are assigned a weight, hence the name of the method. The method is used to compare the viability of different solutions or elements in a solution to each other. Use this method to thoroughly assess solution proposals, or to decide on what mechanisms, components or elements to use in a design.

Step by step Facilitating tips Materials needed Goes well with Download template (pdf)

Tips to include participants who are not able to:

Ability to see

See

If participants are unable to see, be sure to focus on verbal group discussion when assigning scores, and verbally let the participant with the limited sight know how the matrix is forming.

Focus

If the ability to focus is limited because of time crunch, shorten down the time spent on the matrix, with fewer criteria. If the ability is limited because of distractions, make sure facilitators keep a calm and attentive attitude, and prolong time for the matrix creation. Remember breaks!

Think

If participants have a limited ability to grasp the task, shorten down the time spent on the matrix, with fewer criteria. If the ability is limited because of distractions, make sure facilitators keep a calm and attentive attitude, and prolong time for the matrix creation. Remember breaks!

Touch

If participants are unable to touch, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing on the template. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or other group members.

Hold

If participants are unable to hold, make sure to have a partner to spar with that can do the writing on the template. This could be a helper, documenter, facilitator or other group members.

Speak

If participants are unable to speak, sign language or other symbol language could be used if an interpreter is present. If not, the steps can be done in writing form.

Move

If participants are limited in motoric abilities, the template is either placed at a suitable height for wheelchair users or placed on the table.

Hear

If participants are unable to speak, sign language or other symbol language could be used if an interpreter is present. If not, the steps can be done in writing form.

Overview

Input

Solution proposals

Output

Assessment of viability

Complexity

Moderate

Time

30-45 min

Participants

min. 2

Activity

Core abilities:

  • Critical thinking
  • Comparing

Step by step:

  1. Set your solution succes criteria. This is most commonly done by creating a product design specification (PDS). See the method for further details. Write the criteria in the most left column matrix template.

  2. Now, assign a weight to each criteria. The weight is often between 1 and 5 or 1 and 10. The weight should be assigned through team discussion, and inclusion of relevant partners, like the client or commissioner. Be critical and thorough with this tasks, as it will largely impact your final result.

  3. List all the solutions/mechanisms/components/elements, that you are comparing against each other in the first row.

  4. Start from the first criteria, and score your solutions or elements. The score typically ranges from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10, or even from -5 to +5 if you score solutions or elements based on an existing solution. Do not confuse the weight with the scores, these are two different things.

  5. Proceed with the following criteria and score all of your solutions. This is done til every solution has been scored on every criteria.

  6. Lastly, summarize the scores for each solution. The solution/solutions that score overall best, are in theory the most viable solutions.

  7. When one solution reaches the highest score, this does not mean that it is the only proposal you should keep working with. This is only an exercise and not a final conclusion. See the result as a guideline for what seems to be working with your success criteria, and what does not.

    Maybe you are not ready to let go of an idea that scored low. Analyse which criteria it scored low on, and try to improve it through brainstorming or any other ideation session. Go back to the matrix and see if it performs better.

When doing this method you should consider:

  • Be objective and unbiased when giving the solutions scores – group discussion is important for assigning the right scores, and not letting anyone rate their personal favorites the highest. This could largely impact the end result.
  • All voices must be heard in this exercise. If some participants are shy to tell their opinion, try having everyone write down a score first, and discuss afterwards, or let the score be the mean of the opinions.
  • If you have many criteria and/or solutions to score, you will easily end up having decision fatigue. Remember breaks!

Materials needed:

  • Matrix template
  • Pens