May 2025
Intermediate to advanced
400 pages
13h 54m
English
book
Handbook of Decision Analysis, 2nd Edition
by Gregory S. Parnell, Terry A. Bresnick, Eric R. Johnson, Steven N. Tani, Eric Specking
Content preview from Handbook of Decision Analysis, 2nd Edition
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8Design Creative Alternatives
Alternatives are the raw material of decision making. They represent the range of potential choices you have for pursuing your objectives. Because of their central importance, you need to establish and maintain a high standard for generating alternatives.
—Hammond, et al., 1999
Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have.
—Emile Chartier, French Philosopher
8.1 Introduction
Identifying a good set of alternatives is an important part of decision‐making. In most decision situations, it is quite easy to identify an initial set of alternatives. Should we close the factory or invest in upgrading its technology? Should we proceed with the development of Product A or Product B or both?
The challenge for any decision practitioner is to help the client push beyond the initial set of alternatives and to lead a search for additional, possibly much better, alternatives. This is an opportunity to create great value. Doing an excellent job of analyzing an existing set of alternatives cannot create ...
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