The big idea

Decision making is a key skill whether you run your own business or are employed by someone else. Whether you're deciding which person to appoint, which supplier to use or which strategy to pursue, the ability to make a good decision using all the available information is vital. Each decision presents its own challenges, and we all have different ways of approaching problems.

Purpose

So, how do you avoid making bad decisions – or leaving decisions to chance? You need a systematic approach to decision making. No matter what type of decision you have to make, you need to be able to take decisions with confidence. The purpose of this tool is to give you a staged approach to making good-quality decisions.

The Tool

The tool consists of five decision-making steps:

You can use it on your own or with a group. The time needed will depend on the situation you are reviewing. Allow one to two hours for the first two stages. The tool is suitable for businesses of all scales and sectors.