The Matrix Decision Making framework is a helpful tool, which uses choice's attribute relative scoring to quantify subjective needs, and wants. Not only does the framework slow our decision making process, but also it reflects our preferences in a systematic counter intuitive way producing reliable decisions.

1. MATRIX DECISION MAKING
FALL 2017

2. How do you make decisions?
• Listening to others?
• Listening to your gut?
• Listening to your heart?
• Following the herd?
• Resources available?
• Utility maximization?
• Factor models?
• Learning from mistakes?

3. • Years ago a mentor introduced me to the
MATRIX DECISION MAKING framework,
which is a helpful tool to combine with
other decision making methods
What is MATRIX DECISION MAKING?

4. • Choices are composed of attributes
– Example: Buying an Automobile
• Attributes:
– Price
– Safety
– Luxury
– Utility
– Comfort
– Speed
What is MATRIX DECISION MAKING?

5. • Comparing ATTRIBUTES of CHOICES by RELATIVE
SCORING can help you to make better decisions
• Automobile ATTRIBUTE Example
– You prefer Safety to Speed
– You prefer Utility to Comfort
What is MATRIX DECISION MAKING?
But by
how
much??
?

6. • RELATIVE SCORING is a way to quantify subjective
needs, and wants, which is not an intuitive way of
thinking
• RELATIVE SCORING Auto Example
– How much do you prefer Utility over Comfort?
– How much do you prefer Safety over Speed?
What is MATRIX DECISION MAKING?

7. What is MATRIX DECISION MAKING?
• How can we quantify our preferences?
– By multiplying the RELATIVE SCORE to our CHOICE’S
ATTRIBUTES, and summing the results
– The results provide you a systematic decision based on
ATTRIBUTE CHOICE weighting, & slows your decision
making process

8. Helpful Example
• You’re faced w/ the CHOICE of moving to 3 Cities:
Choice 1 New York
Choice 2 San Diego
Choice 3 London

9. STEP 1: Select 5 ATTRIBUTES Important to You
What’s
important
to you?
ATTRIBUTES
ATTRIBUTE 1 Finance
ATTRIBUTE 2 Weather
ATTRIBUTE 3 Housing$
ATTRIBUTE 4 Activities
ATTRIBUTE 5 Convienence

10. STEP 2: Score the ATTRIBUTES for each CHOICE
Choice # 1 Choice # 2 Choice # 3
New York San Diego London
ATTRIBUTE 1 Finance 10 6 9
ATTRIBUTE 2 Weather 7 10 6
ATTRIBUTE 3 Housing $ 4 7 4
ATTRIBUTE 4 Activities 10 9 9
ATTRIBUTE 5 Convienence
9 6 8
On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the
best, how much does your choice reflect
the attribute?
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
10
ATTRIBUTE SCORECARD

11. STEP 3a: Compare the ATTRIBUTES by asking simple questions with weighted scores
APPLY
TO
SIMPLE
QUESTIONS
Much Less
Important
-2
Less
Important
-1
Equal 0
More
Important
1
Much More
Important
2
RELATIVE SCORING KEY

12. STEP 3b: Using the SCORING KEY answer the questions
Much Less
Important
-2
Less
Important
-1
Equal 0
More
Important
1
Much More
Important
2
RELATIVE SCORING KEY
Attribute vs Attribute = Relative Score
Finance compared to Weather is 2
Finance compared to Housing $ is 2
Finance compared to Activities is 1
Finance compared to Convienence is 2
Weather compared to Housing $ is 0
Weather compared to Activities is -1
Weather compared to Convienence is -1
Housing $ compared to Activities is -1
Housing $ compared to Convienence is 1
RELATIVE
SCORECARD

13. Finance Weather Housing$ Activities Convienence New York San Diego London
Finance 2 2 1 2 70 42 63
Weather -2 0 -1 -1 -28 -40 -24
Housing$ -2 0 -1 1 -8 -14 -8
Activities -1 1 1 2 30 27 27
Convienence -2 1 -1 -2 -36 -24 -32
28 -9 26
Choice Weight x Relative Score
MATRIX SCORING Results
THE HIGHEST SCORE REFLECTS YOUR PREFERRED CHOICE
Choice # 1 Choice # 2 Choice # 3
New York San Diego London
ATTRIBUTE 1 Finance 10 6 9
ATTRIBUTE 2 Weather 7 10 6
ATTRIBUTE 3 Housing$ 4 7 4
ATTRIBUTE 4 Activities 10 9 9
ATTRIBUTE 5 Convienence
9 6 8
ATTRIBUTE SCORECARD RELATIVE MATRIX SCORECARD

14. New York San Diego London
70 42 63
-28 -40 -24
-8 -14 -8
30 27 27
-36 -24 -32
28 -9 26
Choice Weight x Relative Score
Finance Weather Housing $ Activities Convienence
New York
Finance 2 2 1 2 70
MATRIX DECISION MAKING Results
Choice # 1
Question 1 Finance 10
Question: On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the best,
how much does your choice reflect the attribute? New York
How does it work?
- Simple multiplication & adding
(2*10) + (2*10) + (1*10) + (2*10) = 70
Relative Score
A
B
C The highest score is the CHOICE, which reflects
your preferences best
*
* * * *

15. TRY IT OUT
FOR YOURSELF

16. TRY IT OUT – STEP 1
- PICK YOUR
CHOICES
- PICK YOUR
ATTRIBUTES
- SCORE
ATTRIBUTES
FROM 1 TO 10
- 10 BEING
BEST
COLUMN
1 2 3
ROW
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
A
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
B
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
C
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
D
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
E
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10

17. 2 = MUCH MORE IMPORTANT
1 = MORE IMPORTANT
0 = EQUAL
-1 = LESS IMPORTANT
-2 = MUCH LESS IMPORTANT
TRY IT OUT – STEP 2
USE THE
KEY TO
COMPARE
EACH
ATTRIBUTE
TO THE
OTHER
COLUMN
1 2 3 4 5
COLUMN
ATTRIBUTE
IS __________
COMPARED TO
ATTRIBUTE
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
F
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
G
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
H
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
I
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
J
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2

18. TRY IT OUT – STEP 3
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
TOTAL EACH
SUM
TOP SCORE
WINS _________________ _________________ _________________
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
A2 * F2 = ____
A2 * F3 = ____
A2 * F4 = ____
A2 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
A1 * F2 = ____
A1 * F3 = ____
A1 * F4 = ____
A1 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
A3 * F2 = ____
A3 * F3 = ____
A3 * F4 = ____
A3 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
B1 * G1 = ____
B1 * G3 = ____
B1 * G4 = ____
B1 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
B2 * G1 = ____
B2 * G3 = ____
B2 * G4 = ____
B2 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
B3 * G1 = ____
B3 * G3 = ____
B3 * G4 = ____
B3 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
C1 * H1 = ____
C1 * H2 = ____
C1 * H4 = ____
C1 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
C2 * H1 = ____
C2 * H2 = ____
C2 * H4 = ____
C2 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
C3 * H1 = ____
C3 * H2 = ____
C3 * H4 = ____
C3 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
D1 * I1 = ____
D1 * I2 = ____
D1 * I3 = ____
D1 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
D2 * I1 = ____
D2 * I2 = ____
D2 * I3 = ____
D2 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
D3 * I1 = ____
D3 * I2 = ____
D3 * I3 = ____
D3 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
E1 * J1 = ____
E1 * J2 = ____
E1 * J3 = ____
E1 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
E2 * J1 = ____
E2 * J2 = ____
E2 * J3 = ____
E2 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
E3 * J1 = ____
E3 * J2 = ____
E3 * J3 = ____
E3 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
COLUMN
1 2 3 4 5
COLUMN
ATTRIBUTE
IS __________
COMPARED TO
ATTRIBUTE
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
F
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
COLUMN
1
ROW
CHOICE 1
___________
A
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
CHOICE 1
___________
A1 * F2 = ____
A1 * F3 = ____
A1 * F4 = ____
A1 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______

19. COLUMN
1 2 3
ROW
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
A
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
B
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
C
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
D
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
E
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
COLUMN
1 2 3 4 5
COLUMN
ATTRIBUTE
IS __________
COMPARED TO
ATTRIBUTE
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
F
ATTRIBUTE 1
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
G
ATTRIBUTE 2
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
H
ATTRIBUTE 3
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
I
ATTRIBUTE 4
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
J
ATTRIBUTE 5
___________
1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2 1 2 0 -1 -2
TOTAL EACH
SUM
TOP SCORE
WINS _________________ _________________ _________________
CHOICE 1
___________
CHOICE 2
___________
CHOICE 3
___________
A2 * F2 = ____
A2 * F3 = ____
A2 * F4 = ____
A2 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
A1 * F2 = ____
A1 * F3 = ____
A1 * F4 = ____
A1 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
A3 * F2 = ____
A3 * F3 = ____
A3 * F4 = ____
A3 * F5 = ____
SUM 1 = ______
B1 * G1 = ____
B1 * G3 = ____
B1 * G4 = ____
B1 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
B2 * G1 = ____
B2 * G3 = ____
B2 * G4 = ____
B2 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
B3 * G1 = ____
B3 * G3 = ____
B3 * G4 = ____
B3 * G5 = ____
SUM 2 = ______
C1 * H1 = ____
C1 * H2 = ____
C1 * H4 = ____
C1 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
C2 * H1 = ____
C2 * H2 = ____
C2 * H4 = ____
C2 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
C3 * H1 = ____
C3 * H2 = ____
C3 * H4 = ____
C3 * H5 = ____
SUM 3 = ______
D1 * I1 = ____
D1 * I2 = ____
D1 * I3 = ____
D1 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
D2 * I1 = ____
D2 * I2 = ____
D2 * I3 = ____
D2 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
D3 * I1 = ____
D3 * I2 = ____
D3 * I3 = ____
D3 * I5 = ____
SUM 4 = ______
E1 * J1 = ____
E1 * J2 = ____
E1 * J3 = ____
E1 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
E2 * J1 = ____
E2 * J2 = ____
E2 * J3 = ____
E2 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
E3 * J1 = ____
E3 * J2 = ____
E3 * J3 = ____
E3 * J4 = ____
SUM 5 = ______
TRY IT OUT – STEP 1, 2, & 3
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

20. Making a Decision…
• The MATRIX DECISION MAKING framework
breaks our decisions down into simple
ATTRIBUTE questions, which if answered
honestly reflects our preferences in a
systematic way producing a reliable decision