Decision Matrix • WorkshopBank
A Decision Matrix is a structured scoring tool that helps a group compare several options against a set of criteria, usually with weights attached to reflect what matters most.
How to run it
- Clarify with the decision owner what question the matrix needs to answer. Write it on a flip chart at the front of the room.
- Confirm that the group has the right people to score. You need domain knowledge on the criteria. If the expertise is missing, delay or invite someone else in.
- Check that options are real. Weak or half-baked options waste the group's time.
- Decide in advance whether you will use a baseline (Pugh's original approach) or simple weighted scoring. Weighted scoring is more common in workshops.
- Draw the empty matrix on the wall or board before the group arrives, or prepare a template in a shared document if running hybrid.
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Prompts to use +
Clarify with the decision owner what question the matrix needs to answer. Write it on a flip chart at the front of the room.
Confirm that the group has the right people to score. You need domain knowledge on the criteria. If the expertise is missing, delay or invite someone else in.
Decide in advance whether you will use a baseline (Pugh's original approach) or simple weighted scoring. Weighted scoring is more common in workshops.
Draw the empty matrix on the wall or board before the group arrives, or prepare a template in a shared document if running hybrid.
Run this with your AI assistant +
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Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Decision Matrix • WorkshopBank. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Clarify with the decision owner what question the matrix needs to answer. Write it on a flip chart at the front of the room.; Confirm that the group has the right people to score. You need domain knowledge on the criteria. If the expertise is missing, delay or invite someone else in.; Decide in advance whether you will use a baseline (Pugh's original approach) or simple weighted scoring. Weighted scoring is more common in workshops.; Draw the empty matrix on the wall or board before the group arrives, or prepare a template in a shared document if running hybrid.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from WorkshopBank; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including WorkshopBank.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.