How can you remain objective when evaluating alternative solutions?

When you face a complex problem or an ethical dilemma, you may have to evaluate multiple alternative solutions and choose the best one. However, this can be challenging if you are influenced by your own biases, emotions, assumptions, or preferences. How can you remain objective and fair when comparing different options? Here are some tips to help you improve your analytical skills and make better decisions.

1 Identify the criteria

Before you start evaluating the solutions, you need to define the criteria that you will use to measure their effectiveness, feasibility, and desirability. These criteria should be relevant, specific, and measurable, and reflect the goals and values of the problem or dilemma. For example, if you are trying to reduce the environmental impact of your business, you may use criteria such as carbon footprint, cost, customer satisfaction, and compliance.

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Aaron B.

AI-Driven Digital Transformation Leader | Custom AI Solutions for Legacy & Startup Growth
To unlock actionable insights and drive meaningful change, it’s essential to start with a solid framework: 🎯 Define Metrics: Establish clear, measurable criteria for assessment. 💚 Align with Values: Ensure criteria reflect your business's sustainability goals. 💡 Balance Factors: Consider cost vs. environmental impact for well-rounded decisions. 📊 Track Satisfaction: Include customer feedback to gauge market response. 🌱 Measure Impact: Use carbon footprint as a key indicator of eco-efficiency. By adhering to these criteria, we not only foster transparency in our processes but also ensure that every decision propels us toward a more sustainable and customer-centric future.
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2 Gather reliable data

To compare the solutions objectively, you need to base your evaluation on reliable data and evidence, not on opinions, anecdotes, or hearsay. You should use credible sources, such as peer-reviewed journals, reputable reports, or expert opinions, and check the accuracy, validity, and timeliness of the data. You should also avoid cherry-picking the data that supports your preferred solution and ignoring the data that contradicts it.

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Basilio Trygetius De Leon

Operational Excellence Black Belt at NCR Voyix . CLSSBB, CSLSSBB, CLSSGB and LSS Instructor
In the solution identification and selection, it is very important to select the best solution. To select the best solution, you will be needing a cross functional team of expert who will participate in the solution identification. Once several solutions has been identified, the next step is to select the best solution and to select the best solution is to use the effectiveness and practicality matrix. A practical solution is easy/quick to implement and is not costly. The best solution is the most effective and practical solution.
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3 Use a structured method

To avoid being swayed by your subjective preferences or emotions, you should use a structured method to evaluate the solutions systematically and consistently. There are various methods that you can use, such as SWOT analysis, decision matrix, cost-benefit analysis, or pros and cons list. These methods help you to organize the data, weigh the criteria, and rank the solutions based on their scores or ratings.

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4 Seek feedback and perspectives

To reduce the risk of overlooking important aspects or being biased by your own perspective, you should seek feedback and input from other people who are involved or affected by the problem or dilemma. These people may have different insights, experiences, or values that can help you to see the solutions from different angles and identify potential benefits or drawbacks. You should listen to their opinions respectfully and critically, and be open to changing your mind if the evidence warrants it.

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5 Review your reasoning and assumptions

Before you finalize your decision, you should review your reasoning and assumptions and check if they are logical, consistent, and supported by the data. You should also examine if you have any cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, anchoring bias, or availability bias, that may have influenced your evaluation and distorted your judgment. You should challenge your own beliefs and ask yourself if you are being objective and fair, or if you are rationalizing or justifying your choice.

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6 Document your process and decision

Finally, you should document your process and decision and explain how you evaluated the solutions and why you chose the best one. This will help you to communicate your decision clearly and transparently to others, and to demonstrate that you followed a rigorous and ethical approach. It will also help you to learn from your experience and improve your analytical skills for future problems or dilemmas.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you remain objective when evaluating alternative solutions?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify the criteria

2 Gather reliable data

3 Use a structured method

4 Seek feedback and perspectives

5 Review your reasoning and assumptions

6 Document your process and decision

7 Here’s what else to consider

Analytical Skills

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How can you remain objective when evaluating alternative solutions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify the criteria

2 Gather reliable data

3 Use a structured method

4 Seek feedback and perspectives

5 Review your reasoning and assumptions

6 Document your process and decision

7 Here’s what else to consider

Analytical Skills

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