Part 6 of a series: A decision is something that is required when the answer doesn't present itself. So making a choice when no clear or best option seems to appear, we should go through a process to find the best option to meet our requirements. This process may be very straightforward and represent a choice we've made many times before. On the other hand, it may be very complex and expensive; buying a house or a car, or a new stereo, or which branch of the service to join. The process outlined in prior articles detailed the use of criteria, or goals that an alternative should meet so that it might be selected as the best one. These criteria were divided into mandatory items (non-negotiable) and negotiable items, or "wants" ?. The negotiable items are those criteria that will be met in varying degrees by each option.

In the discussion of criteria we raised the question of how many and which kind. Depending on your familiarity with a subject and the question you are asking, the list of criteria may come rather quickly and flow from prior good and bad experiences. Do you remember your last bad decision? I'll bet you'd list some very specific criteria were you to make that very decision again today.

On the other hand, those questions or decisions where an answer doesn't present itself are likely the very ones in which we do NOT have a lot of experience. Maybe we have none at all. Or maybe, it's been so long since making that type of choice that conditions and options have changed so dramatically. Have you looked at new computers lately? Or perhaps the decision is of such importance and magnitude that you just cannot afford to make a mistake, for whatever potential negative outcome might happen. In these cases, it is wise and warranted that you seek out input on the best criteria to use to make the very best choice.

Where do you start? Well first, why are you asking the question in the first place? What's driving you to put thought into a difficult choice, one requiring analysis? If you're buying a house because you've outgrown the one you're in, then size or number of bedrooms might be important. If the issue is you need room for entertaining, then spare rooms, large yards, or patios might be important.

Okay, we've made the basic list but in a new situation or one lacking familiarity more is required. There are quite a few resources out there of course. If you're buying a new computer you might visit with the neighborhood computer guy; you know, the one you call when yours isn't working. Just asking that person what they like about their machine or the best things to look for would make a great list. Another great source of criteria is retail websites, if you're purchasing something. Many vendors allow you to do side-by-side comparisons of items. This is a great service for sure; BUT be careful! This shows you criteria and how each option or alternative meets the criteria. What it doesn't tell you is how important that criteria might be to you or how they relate to each other.

For example, any retail web site can list the great features of two computers side-by-side. The $3,000 model will always look better than the $1,000 model. Right up to the price column that is. How important is price to you in your decision? How about disk drive size? Of course you have to determine which features or criteria are important to you, and then use those in your final decision process.

Another source of good criteria is consumer magazines and sites. What are these sites telling you about the products or services? The topics of their studies are great sources of what might also be important in your decision. Yet another source is advertisements. What are the vendors and manufacturers or users of a product or service telling you? It's important to them; perhaps it is important to you as well.

The bottom line: there are good criteria all around us. Great sources can be found on the web, vendor literature, advertisements and friends and neighbors. The best decisions will be made after careful evaluation of sound criteria. Give your criteria careful consideration and your decision will prove sound for years to come!