The What and How of Quality Decisions

A good decision is like a good meal. We judge the quality mostly by the end product, but the ingredients and preparation have much to do with the quality of the meal.

We can judge the quality of a decision by the strength of the six DQ elements. The image of a chain with six links reminds us that the decision is no better than its weakest link. Using the chain as a checklist helps us see quickly which links need attention. Having developed the “What” of a good decision by understanding the chain and its elements, we now turn to the process—the “How.”

The steps and effort we use to reach a decision make a difference in the quality of the decision. The purpose of our process is to reach 100% on the check list to be able to make a quality decision and arrive at that point without wasting a lot of effort and time.

The basic steps to reaching a quality decision: frame, build, evaluate, and improve.