First step - Describe the problem Click on the Problem icon in order to go to the card where you can describe the decision-making problem. You can name the problem (but keep it brief) and write or edit a longer description.
Second step - Define the choices Click on the Choices icon to go to the card where you can create choices. It's best not to make too many choices - a good maximum is nine. Keep the names short - eighteen characters is good maximum if you want to see them. The choices you create should be mutually exclusive, that is they should not overlap or combine in representing a solution to the problem.
Third step - Describe individual choices Click on a choice to select it - it remains highlighted throughout the exercise until you select another or click on the space around the choices. Click on a selected choice to go to its card and write a brief description.
Fourth step - Define the Factors Click on the Factors icon to go to the card where you can create factors. As with choices, its best to keep the number of factors few - a good maximum is nine. Names should also be short - as with choices. Each factor defines a specific context within which the choices are evaluated.
Fifth step - Describe individual Factors and rank the choices Click on a factor to select it - it remains highlighted throughout the exercise until you select another or click on the space around the factors. Click on a selected factor to go to its card and write a brief description. Also on this card you can rank the choices in relation to the factor by dragging them into position. Before doing this, write a word that indicates a better choice at the top of the double headed arrow, and a word that indicates a poorer choice at the bottom - this will help you to position the choices.
Sixth step - Define your viewpoint Click on the Viewpoint icon to go to the card where you can decide the relative importance of the factors. Write a brief description of the person or group whose viewpoint is to be represented. The factors should be ranked to reflect this viewpoint by dragging them into position.
Seventh step- Evaluating the outcome Click on the Analysis icon to go to the analysis cards. The position of the choices is calculated both on how they are ranked for each factor and how the factors are ranked in the viewpoint. The analysis favours choices which are ranked highly in the highest ranked factors. There are two analysis cards. The first one shows all the choices equally spaced on the screen in their order of importance. The second one (click on the down arrow) shows the choices are not ranked, but are arranged on the screen according to the score calculated.
Although these steps suggest a sensible overall plan, when actually building a model you can hop around from place to place. Often new choices arise when you start working on the factors. New factors often suggest them self as a result of the discussion about the analysis. In either case, going back and modifying in mid-stream is entirely appropriate and reasonable. The major outcome from using Making Choices, as with many modelling activities, is the clarity it can bring to discussion and debate where opinions are shared and group understanding can be achieved.