When to use a Weighted Decision Matrix

When to use a Weighted Decision Matrix?

A weighted decision matrix should be used to reach an answer when you have a choice between a number of different options that provide a solution to your question or problem. Furthermore, you need to consider each option against a number of factors involved in the decision making process. For example, when choosing a holiday, you have many potential destinations to choose between and must consider each against factors such as cost and the weather.

Some decisions are easy, some are much more difficult because of the number of options to choose between and the factors involved in the decision.  Do I eat an apple or an orange is a simple question to answer and we’re guessing not many people would need a weighted decision matrix for that one, but what if you’re deciding something much more complex?  For example, you need to pick a school for your child to attend or you need to decide which software solution meets your employers complex needs?  Suddenly there are many more factors to consider and the weighted decision matrix comes into play. Take the choice of school: things to consider would include the standard of teaching; the distance from home; are little Jimmy’s friends also going there; the sporting facilities; after school care etc.  The weighted decision matrix allows you to weight each of those factors by importance so that you can make a decision based on what are actually the most important factors.  Giving each factor a value strips out some of the emotion involved when taking a decision because you are being honest with yourself about what really matters.  Jimmy will be able to make new friends so that factor from a practical point of view is less important than the distance from home the school is.  In this way your decision becomes an objective rather than a subjective one.  Now you can go and download one of our weighted decision matrix templates and start to think about the decisions you need to make.

Example of a Weighted Decision Matrix

Leave a comment

name*

email* (not published)

website

I accept the Privacy Policy

We use cookies on our website

Weighted Decision and carefully selected third parties use cookies on this site to improve performance and for analytics. By browsing this site you are agreeing to this. For more information see our Privacy Policy