Harvard ManageMentor®

Generating and Evaluating Alternatives

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Harvard ManageMentor: Generating and Evaluating Alternatives

Discussion Topics

Generating decision alternatives

Evaluating alternatives

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Harvard ManageMentor: Generating and Evaluating Alternatives

Generating Alternative Courses of Action

What are our decision objectives? What do you want to accomplish with the decision we make?

What are some possible steps or courses of action we could take to accomplish these objectives?

• Suggest as many ideas as possible• Don’t judge the merits of any ideas

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Harvard ManageMentor: Generating and Evaluating Alternatives

Evaluating Alternatives

Steps for creating a prioritization matrix:1. Prioritize decision objectives2. Assign values to each objective3. Create a matrix4. Rate the alternatives5. Calculate the total scores

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Harvard ManageMentor: Generating and Evaluating Alternatives

Next Steps

Consider what our next steps should be before making a final decision, such as:

• Gather more information to determine feasibility of alternatives?

• Consult with stakeholders or decision-makers?

For future decisions, consider

using the Worksheet for Evaluating Alternatives.

© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.