Filled Decision Matrix
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Understanding the Filled Decision Matrix
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Today, we will learn about the Filled Decision Matrix. It's a fantastic tool for evaluating different design concepts. Can anyone tell me why decision matrices can be useful?
Because they help organize our thoughts and compare options!
Exactly! They help us systematically weigh our options. Now, each criterion in our matrix has a weight. Can someone explain what that means?
It means we prioritize some criteria over others, right?
Yes! This way, we can focus on the most critical aspects of our design. Remember, the sum of weights should always equal 1. This helps balance priorities. Let's look at a filled example next!
Criteria and Weights in the Decision Matrix
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Now let's dig deeper into criteria. Why do you think accessibility is so crucial in design?
Because we want our designs to be usable by everyone, including those with disabilities!
Correct! And we assign weights to emphasize accessibility, which in our case could be 0.25. This means it's one of our top priorities. How about performance β why might that matter?
If a design is slow, people won't use it, right? So it should also have a high weight!
Exactly! Each weight reflects how we feel about the relative importance of that criterion.
Calculating Weighted Scores
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Letβs go through how we calculate the total scores for each concept using weighted scores. If Concept A has scores of 8, 6, and 9 for accessibility, performance, and user delight respectively, how do we calculate the total?
We multiply each score by its weight! For accessibility, itβs 8 times 0.25!
Correct! So, what does Concept Aβs accessibility score become?
That would be 2.0.
Right! And we repeat this for each score to get the total for Concept A. This systematic approach really helps clarify our decisions.
Interpreting the Final Decision
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Now, after calculating the scores, how do we decide which concept to go with?
We select the one with the highest total score, right?
Exactly! What if two concepts have very close scores?
Maybe we need to consider qualitative factors or do a sensitivity analysis to see how changes in weights affect outcomes?
Fantastic idea! Sensitivity analysis helps us understand the robustness of our decisions.
Practical Application of the Decision Matrix
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Can anyone think of a practical scenario where we could apply the Filled Decision Matrix?
Maybe when choosing features for an app?
Great example! Funding decisions in product development also apply this method. How about marketing choices?
Selecting which ads to run based on target audiences and costs!
Exactly! The matrix is flexible for various decision-making scenarios.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
This section describes the Filled Decision Matrix, a tool for systematically evaluating multiple design concepts against criteria like accessibility, performance, and user delight. By assigning weights and scores, this method helps select the most viable concept.
Detailed
Detailed Summary
The Filled Decision Matrix is a strategic decision-making tool that enables designers to evaluate different concepts systematically. The method involves defining criteria that the concepts must meet, such as accessibility, performance, cost, user delight, and technical risk. Each criterion is assigned a weight according to its importance (ranging from 0 to 1), ensuring that decision-makers focus on what matters most.
By providing scores for each concept corresponding to each criterion, stakeholders can calculate a weighted score for each design. This score is obtained by multiplying the score from each criterion by the corresponding weight assigned to that criterion.
For example, if a concept scores 8 in Accessibility (weight of 0.25), it contributes 2.0 to the overall score (8 * 0.25). The decision matrix illustrates this process clearly, revealing which concepts best meet the desired criteria and facilitating informed decision-making.
The significance of using the Filled Decision Matrix lies in its systematic approach, reducing the likelihood of biases influencing decision-making while providing a clear, visual representation of the evaluation process.
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Criteria and Weights
Chapter 1 of 3
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Chapter Content
| Criterion | Weight | Concept A | Score | Weight | Concept B | Score | Weight | Concept C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility (WCAG) | 0.25 | 8 | 2.0 | β | 7 | 1.7 | 9 | 2.2 | |
| Performance (<2s) | 0.20 | 6 | 1.2 | 9 | 1.8 | β | 8 | 1.6 | |
| Cost (<$5k) | 0.15 | 7 | 1.0 | 8 | 1.2 | 6 | 0.9 | β | 5 |
| User Delight (Kano) | 0.20 | 9 | 1.8 | 8 | 1.6 | 7 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Technical Risk | 0.20 | 5 | 1.0 | 6 | 1.2 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
Detailed Explanation
The Filled Decision Matrix comprises various criteria that are evaluated to help make decisions concerning different concepts. Each criterion has an assigned weight, which indicates its importance in the overall decision-making process. Concept A, B, and C are then scored against each criterion. For example, Accessibility (WCAG) is a criterion with a weight of 0.25, and Concept A scores 8 out of 10 for this criterion, contributing 2.0 to its total weighted score. This method quantifies how well each concept meets the different established criteria.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're deciding on a new smartphone. You may have different criteria for your decision, such as camera quality, battery life, and cost. You give importance to camera quality more than battery life, so you weigh camera quality higher. When you score different phones on these criteria based on reviews and personal preference, you are essentially filling a decision matrix, just like this one.
Scoring Concepts
Chapter 2 of 3
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Chapter Content
Total | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.1
Detailed Explanation
After scoring each concept against the various criteria, the scores are summed up to provide an overall score for each concept. In this matrix, the total scores are calculated for Concept A (7.0), Concept B (7.5), and Concept C (7.1). These totals represent how well each concept fulfills the needs described in the criteria. The concept with the highest score is generally considered the most favorable option based on the defined criteria and their importance.
Examples & Analogies
Think of this like a competition where different brands of sneakers are evaluated on comfort, price, and style. Each shoe gets points for how well it performs in each category, and in the end, you tally those points to see which shoe came out on top. Just like in a competition, the shoe with the highest score wins!
Selection of Concept
Chapter 3 of 3
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Chapter Content
Concept B selected. See sensitivity analysis in Appendix B.
Detailed Explanation
After evaluating all concepts, Concept B has been chosen based on its highest total score of 7.5. The mention of a sensitivity analysis indicates that further exploration of how changing the weights or scores would affect the selection has been conducted or is available in another section, helping to confirm the robustness of this choice.
Examples & Analogies
Consider this like choosing a movie to watch based on reviews. You consider reviews (like the scores) and find one movie that has the best ratings overall. However, you also look into how different aspects of the movie (like genre, director, and cast) might have affected these ratings before you finally deem it the best choice for your movie night.
Key Concepts
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Weighted Criteria: Represents the relative importance of each evaluation aspect.
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Total Score: The sum of all weighted scores, indicating the best-performing concepts.
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Decision Matrix: A visual representation used to compare multiple alternatives against defined criteria.
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Sensitivity Analysis: A method to test how changes affect outcomes in decision making.
Examples & Applications
An example of a Filled Decision Matrix may involve three concepts evaluated based on accessibility, performance, and user delight, helping teams select the best option.
In a project to develop a new app, the team can use the Filled Decision Matrix to decide which features to prioritize based on weights assigned to key metrics.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In a matrix so fine, we weigh and combine, choices lined just right, making decisions bright!
Stories
Once there was a team trying to select the best app feature. They gathered around a matrix, weighing criteria like performance and delight until, at last, they uncovered the best choice!
Memory Tools
WET SPA β Weigh (Weights), Evaluate (Scores), Total (Total Score), Select (Decision).
Acronyms
M.A.P β Matrix, Assess, Prioritize.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Weighted Score
A score obtained by multiplying the performance score of a criterion by its assigned weight.
- Criteria
Standards or benchmarks used to evaluate the alternatives in the decision matrix.
- Sensitivity Analysis
A technique used to determine how different values of an independent variable affect a particular dependent variable under a given set of assumptions.
- Accessibility
The measure of how easily all users, including those with disabilities, can use a design or product.
- Performance
The effectiveness of a design as determined by metrics such as speed and responsiveness.
- User Delight
The level of satisfaction and enjoyment that a user experiences when interacting with a design.
Reference links
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