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PMI
|
Plus | Minus | Interesting |
More going on (+5) | Have to sell house (-6) | Easier to find new job? (+1) |
Easier to see friends (+5) | More pollution (-3) | Meet more people? (+2) |
Easier to get places (+3) | Less space (-3) | More difficult to get own work done? (-4) |
No countryside (-2) | ||
More difficult to get to work? (-4) | ||
+13 | -18 | -1 |
She scores the table as 13 (Plus) - 18 (Minus) - 1 (Interesting)
= - 6
For her, the comforts of a settled rural existence outweigh the
call of the 'bright lights' - it would be much better for her to
live
outside
the city, but close enough to travel in if necessary.
PMI was codified by Edward de Bono in his book Serious Creativity.
PMI is a good way of weighing the pros, cons and implications
of a decision. When you have selected a course of action, PMI
is a good technique to use to check that it is worth taking.
To use the technique, draw up a table with three columns headed
Plus, Minus and Interesting. Within the table write down all
the positive points of following the course of action, all the
negatives, and all the interesting implications and possible outcomes.
If the decision is still not obvious, you can then score the table
to show the importance of individual items. The total score should
show whether it is worth implementing the decision.
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The next technique we explain, "forcefield analysis", helps you evaluate the forces for and against change – essential if your to avoid "biting off more than you can chew"! To read this, click "Next article" below. Other relevant destinations are shown in the "Where to go from here" list
Where to go from here: | Join Mind Tools | Free Newsletter | ||
Download & Print | Next Article |
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) - Choosing by weighing up many subjective factors
Reactive Decision Making - Making good decisions under pressure*
Spiral Dynamics - Understanding how people's values affect decision making*
Critical Thinking - Developing the skills for successful thinking*
The Ladder of Inference - Avoiding "jumping to conclusions"*
Blindspot Analysis - Avoiding common "fatal flaws" in decision making*
Multi-Voting - Choosing fairly between many options*
Monte Carlo Analysis - Bringing uncertainty and risk into forecasting*
The Kepner-Tregoe Matrix - Making unbiased, risk assessed decisions*
Impact Analysis - Identifying the "unexpected" consequences of a decision*
Avoiding Groupthink - Avoiding fatal flaws in group decision making*
The Delphi Technique - Achieving well thought through consensus among experts*
Nominal Group Technique- Prioritizing issues and projects to achieve consensus*
Stepladder Technique - Making better group decisions
Decision Making - Are you "cautious" or "courageous"? *
The Vroom-Yetton-Jago Decision Model - Deciding how to decide*
A full list of Mind Tools articles is available here.
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