Choice Helper

Another way the team can choose ideas is by using Choice Helper. Choice Helper is a matrix that helps the team to assess ideas according to factors the team members consider important. Divide the team into two groups. Give each team a few pieces of paper.

Choice Helper allows the team to narrow its choices and to evaluate options in an orderly manner.

1. To use the matrix, the team first lists ideas down the left side of the matrix. For example, if team members have five different options for a prop, they would list the five options on the left side of the matrix.

2. Then the team lists criteria that are important to choosing the best ideas across the top of the matrix. Using the same example, the team might decide that low-cost, readily-available materials, needed skills, building time, and uniqueness are the criteria it will use to judge each prop. (Use these criteria, or have the team members make up their own.)

3. The team members then assign a ranking scale with which they can assess each option for each criterion (e.g., 1=fair, 3=average, 5=great).

4. Each team member should be given a sheet of paper and a writing utensil with which to rank each option.

5. Then the team should consider each idea, one at a time. Each team member will work down each column to rank each option for the same criterion. Then they should go to the next criterion. (Doing it this way will reduce the possibility that a team member will be affected by how others ranked the criteria.)

6. When each team member has ranked the options for each criterion, they give their individual sheets to the Team Manager to average the points. The results can direct the team’s discussion until they can come to an orderly and well-considered decision.