DE BONO`S

MAKING DECISION TOOLS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nominated for the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005,

Edward de Bono is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He is equally renowned for his development of the Six Thinking Hats technique and the Direct Attention Thinking Tools. He is the originator of the concept of Lateral Thinking, which is now part of language and is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary. Dr. de Bono was born in Malta. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, holds an MA in psychology and physiology from Oxford, a D. Phil. in Medicine and also a Ph.D. from Cambridge. He has held faculty appointments at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London and Harvard.

MAKING DECISIONS

We are only called upon to make decisions when an analysis of the information is insufficient.

That is when we have to speculate, guess or apply human values.

DECISION PREFRAME What is the situation?  Calm, panic,

conflict, competitive, pressure or what? What is the time frame of the

decision?  This applies to the decision (when must it be made by) and when will the effects of the decision be known?

TOOLS

1. The Dice Method2. The Easy Way Out3. The Spell-out Method4. Burden’s Ass5. The Best Home Method6. The “What if…? Method7. The Simple Matrix Method

(elimination method) 8. The Laziness Method

THE DICE METHOD

Toss die (if all roads are good). A new pair of shoes a visit to the theater, a meal in a restaurant with a friend, six books of your choice, three hours in a lime, a Polaroid camera.Toss a die and see if you’re happy with the

results.

THE EASY WAY OUT

What is the easiest alternative to choose?

The easy way out depends on your character.  One may be simple for you and not another person.

THE EASY WAY OUT (EXAMPLE)

A girl finds that her boyfriend has asked her best friend to go out with him.  What shall she do?

1. Ignore it completely2. Ask him about it.3. have an argument with him.4. Threaten her friend5. Go out with someone else.

THE SPELL-OUT METHOD

Here the decider imagines that he has chosen each alternative in turn.  In each case he imagines that he is describing to a friend why he has made that decision.

THE SPELL-OUT METHOD (EXAMPLE)

 At your office you are offered:1. More money2. A shorter work week3. Longer vacation4. More time off when required.

BURDEN’S ASS

The mythical ass was placed equidistance between two hay stacks.

  When the alternatives are equally appealing the

choice should be easy.   The difficulty lies in giving up the an attractive

alternative.  The burden’s ass method says that you knock off

decisions.  The easiest only to knock off gets gone.

BURDEN’S ASS (EXAMPLE)

1. To be very wise.2. To be very rich.3. To be very

beautiful.4. To be a talented

artist.

1. If wise all others are foolish; you may become aware of misery.

2. Rich people don’t know who their friends are.

3. Beautiful people worry about losing it.

4. An unrecognized artist is hard to be.

THE IDEAL SOLUTION METHOD

The general shape of the ideal solution is considered.  

Then the alternatives are judged for closeness to the ideal.

THE IDEAL SOLUTION METHOD (EXAMPLE)

1. Parking lot2. More houses3. Park4. Playground5. Outdoor flea market These alternatives are put on one side and

there is a discussion about the general shape of the ideal solution.  It is agreed that it should benefit most people and directly make life more pleasant.

THE BEST HOME METHOD

This is to ask in which setting the ideal would best thrive. 

 Then you can decide if your situation fits this description.

THE “WHAT IF…? METHOD (EXAMPLE)

A husband is offered a job he has always wanted two hundred miles away.  The kids are grown up.  The wife, it doesn’t seem will also find a suitable job.

THE “WHAT IF…? METHOD

Generate alternatives: Turn down the offer. Accept the offer and

meet at weekends. Wife gives up job and

moves. Accept it and then

resign later if necessary.

THE “WHAT IF…? METHOD (IMPLEMENTATION)

What ifs: What if the job is not as attractive as it seems. What if while separated either meets another

lover? What if either falls ill? What if it had been the wife who had the job offer? What if a better job in the same place was possible

for either? What if the wife did find a new great job in the new

area?Then focus on the most important or realistic ones.

THE SIMPLE MATRIX METHOD (ELIMINATION METHOD)

You are going to get a car. On the top list the qualities you are

looking for.Price, running cost, reliability. One the left (y axis) put alternatives:

repair old one, new car, second hand, lease, hire.

Then check stuff off.  

THE SIMPLE MATRIX METHOD (ELIMINATION METHOD)

Some are eliminated.  Then you can make another matrix with more details and eliminate again.

THE LAZINESS METHODFGL METHOD (FEAR, GREED, LAZINESS)

A son or daughter has to decide what to do with an elder parent that needs help.

1. leave things as they are.2. Place her in an old folk’s home.3. Have her come and live with their

family4. Pay someone to look after her. Which is the laziest?

DECISION POSTFRAME

Personal style and self image are important here.

What are the stages of implementation?  

What are the likely problems and sticking points?

What are the risks and danger?  Finally ,is there a fall back option?   What if the decision proves to be

wrong?