Decision making

Decision Matrix Builder

Add the options you are choosing between and the criteria that matter, weight each criterion, score every option, and see which one wins on a weighted total.

Criteria
Options
Scoring matrix
Score each option from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) on every criterion. The highlighted row has the highest weighted total.

How to use the decision matrix builder

  1. Add your options and criteriaList what you are choosing between, and the criteria you will judge them on.
  2. Set weights and scoresWeight each criterion by importance, then score every option from 1 to 5 on each one.
  3. Compare the totalsThe option with the highest weighted total is highlighted automatically.

Why use a weighted decision matrix

A decision matrix forces you to separate two things that often get tangled together: how important a factor is, and how well each option performs on that factor. By setting the weight once per criterion and then scoring every option consistently against it, the matrix produces a single ranked number instead of a vague gut feeling, while still leaving room for judgment about factors the matrix does not capture.

Keep criteria independent

Try to pick criteria that measure genuinely different things, so you are not weighting the same factor twice.

Score before you total

Fill in every score before looking at the totals, so the ranking does not quietly influence how you rate each option.

Decision Matrix Builder FAQ

How is the weighted total calculated?

Each score from 1 to 5 is multiplied by that criterion's weight, and the results are added up across all criteria for that option.

What does the Score /5 column mean?

It divides the weighted total by the sum of all the weights, giving a normalized score out of 5 that is easier to compare across matrices with different total weights.

Can criteria have different weights?

Yes, set each criterion's weight from 1 to 10 based on how important it is relative to the others.

What happens if I remove a criterion or option?

Its scores are removed along with it. The remaining options and criteria, and their existing scores, are left untouched.

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