The Decision Exploration System is a method of thinking through decisions and exploring the consequences of your possible choices. You are probably reading this page as an introduction after we’ve discussed it, or I’ve sent you an email. If you’re coming to the idea new, you’re welcome to contact me using our contact details.
This second version of the Decision Exploration System is a set of tabs within a Google Sheet. This is the simplest way to discuss your situation, the different parties involved ( called “entities” ), and their and your choices.
How does it work? #
We’ll have a quick introductory conversation and then open up the Google Sheet I’ve built the latest version in. Either you can see and fill in the same sheet from your machine, or I’ll screenshare and we’ll discuss the process together.
For an illustrated example please work through this page.
For access to a read only copy of the latest version of the Google Sheet, please go here.
We’ll work through which situation you’d like to discuss: what your situation is and what your choices are, who those choices will affect and how they might react. Those “entities” who react to your decision will have their reaction chosen at random, and then it’s your turn to make another decision, and the scenario progresses forward.
We’ll work through this loop for around twenty five to forty five minutes, depending on your available time and level of interest. I will expect to be paid in answers to two questions:
- Was this useful?
- Is there a product or service here?
Why does this exist? #
The Decision Exploration System exists because commonly used methods over-emphasise predicting the actions of others, or focus solely on your own strategy or plans - whether the situation is something personal like changing jobs or moving house, to an organisation’s decision such as launching a new product or going through with a merger.
- When trying to decide a course of action for a difficult problem we can all get stuck in mental loops. We can believe that just thinking about a situation harder, or for longer, will mean we’ll find a solution - we just have to keep looking. But this can leave us just circling around the same thoughts. A way of breaking this loop is required.
- I’m told that I have a talent for asking the right questions, questions that help people see new options. Thinking about this I’ve put together a system for helping people consider different possibilities for whatever situation they’re stuck in.
- A lot of decision making practices and methods focus solely on the self, and on the next step that you or your organisation should take. The Decision Exploration System forces you to do two things beyond that:
- You’ll have to consider the responses of at least two different entities involved in your situation - they’ll either be people or organisations. To use the system you’ll have to look at your scenario from their point of view. This idea is taken from professional wargaming - beyond just considering another’s position, actually put yourself into their role and make their decisions - this provides new perspectives.
- You’ll have to consider a spectrum of responses those entities might make. This forces you to go beyond default assumptions of how others will react, which is another “loop breaker”.
- As per my work with Matt Ballantine on Random The Book, there are benefits of using randomness. In the Decision Exploration System the response of the other entities to your decisions are decided at random. This breaks you out of assuming that a particular outcome is inevitable.
- A lot of systems thinking practices are relatively complex, and difficult to get into. I think many of them are worth the effort, but that can be difficult to see when you look at how much reading and research and expense is involved. The Decision Exploration System is designed to be simple to pick up, so that more people can see the benefit of using any kind of formal method to think through a situation - which will hopefully encourage them to engage with more complex and comprehensive systems. ( I know a good source of introductory training in systems thinking, do contact me if you’re interested ).
Frequently Asked Questions #
When a few people find the system useful I can see this section expanding. If there’s a question you have please do ask, that will help me see what I’ve missed, and once I’ve come up with an answer for you I can include it here for the benefit of everyone else too. So just one so far:
- Is it me? No, it’s not you, please explain what’s confusing or perplexing you so I can answer you, and share that answer with others.
- How do I sign up? You will have been given details of how to sign up for a demonstration session. If someone else has directed you to this page please contact us using the details on our contact page.
