|
|
This tool uses the following decision making criteria to assess and compare improvement and innovation opportunities:
|
|
1. Benefit
2. Cost-of-not-doing 3. Ease 4. Motivation 5. Cost 6. Risk 7. Time 8. Term |
Expected value from implementing the option.
Undesirable consequences if not implemented. How easy it will be to implement the option. Level of enthusiasm for the option. Resources needed to implement the option. Likelihood of undesirable consequences. Amount of time needed for implementation. Time between implementation and benefits. |
Two versions of the Eight Dimensions Tool are given – the Bar Graph Version and the Pin Wheel Version. The Bar Graph Version is good for quickly assessing whether one option is a ‘better’ choice than other options. The Pin Wheel Version is good for comparing options and assessing how the chosen option will need to be managed to ensure successful implementation. |
|
Steps – Bar Graph Version
1. For each option, consider each of the criteria and mark your scores in the table at the bottom of the graph (1 = low, 10 = high).
2. Add up the scores for the ‘positive’ or ‘helping’ dimensions and for the ‘negative’ or ‘hindering’ dimensions. Write these scores in the bottom row of the table. 3. Draw a bar graph to represent the ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ dimensions for each option and compare these. 4. Consider your graph. Sometimes it will be obvious which options to implement because they have high scores for the positive/helping, criteria & low scores for the negative/ hindering criteria. At other times it will be less clear. 5. After considering the graphs and scores select the option/s you will take forward to action. If the bar graph doesn’t help you to reach a decision, you may find the pinwheel view gives you a different perspective. 6. If you need to explain or share your decision with others, such as other people involved in your business or organisation, it can be very useful to make a few notes against each criteria to help them understand your assessment and the assumptions you have made. |
|
Steps - Pin Wheel Version
1. For each option, consider each criteria and mark your scores from 1 to 10 on the ‘wheel’ (1 = low, 10 = high).
2. Join the scores for each option using a different colour/style for each one so you can distinguish between the options. Include a small legend to show which type of line represents which option. 3. Consider the shapes created by joining the scores. Sometimes it will be obvious which options are more likely to be implemented – sometimes not. After considering the implications of the shapes for different options, select the option or options you will take forward to action. 4. If you need to explain or share your decision with others it can be very useful to make a few notes against each criteria to help them understand your assessment and the assumptions you have made. When using the Eight Dimensions Tool in teams be careful not to fall into the trap of using ‘average’ scores to come to a rapid ‘group decision’. The thinking, insights and shared understanding stimulated by discussing broadly differing scores can be very powerful. Worksheets for use with each version are provided by clicking on the links below. |
|