Pugh Decision Matrix
The Pugh decision matrix is a is a tool to help you make decisions when you're trying to sort out what alternative is the best but they all have their pros and cons. It can also be used to help a group decide on a decision. The way it works is that you first list your alternatives. And you also want to have a default decision (usually doing nothing). List this across the top of a table as in this example.
| Watch TV | Go to bed | Go to the cinema |
Then you need to list the consequences and properties of your decision. List these on the side like this.
| Watch TV | Go to bed | Go to the cinema | |
| Will feel rested tomorrow | |||
| Saves money | |||
| Can watch zombie land | |||
| Can eat popcorn |
Each thing on the left then needs a weight, i.e. how important are they compared to each other.
| weight | Watch TV | Go to bed | Go to the cinema | |
| Will feel rested tomorrow | 2 | |||
| Saves money | 1 | |||
| Can watch zombie land | 2 | |||
| Can eat popcorn | 1 |
Now it's time to measure the effect of each option. Your default option (if you have any) should be neutral in regards to all effects so put zeros in that column. Then write down if the other options is better or not than the reference (i.e. the default option). If it's better, put a one in that box and if it's worse put minus one there. If effect is comparable to the default option put a zero.
| weight | Watch TV | Go to bed | Go to the cinema | |
| Will feel rested tomorrow | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Saves money | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Can watch zombie land | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Can eat popcorn | 1 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
Now calculate the sum for each column and remember to use the weight for each row and you should have a decision on top. In this case go to bed. So how do you feel about that decision? If you think it's good you're done but if not you should revisit the weights and also try to find more attributes to put on the left side. Or maybe even a new option. Repeat until you get a decision you're ready to make.
| weight | Watch TV | Go to bed | Go to the cinema | |
| Will feel rested tomorrow | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Saves money | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Can watch zombie land | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Can eat popcorn | 1 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | -1 |
So now you have another tool to make decisions. You don't want to use this for all your decisions but it can be useful at times.