Decision matrix
Score options against weighted criteria and let the arithmetic decide.
Weight each criterion by how much it matters (1–10), then score each option against it (0–10).
| Criterion | Weight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted total | 12 | 83 | 79 | 84 |
Within 5% of the runner-up — the model is not telling you much. Trust your judgement, or add a criterion that distinguishes them.
Ranking
How it works
A weighted decision matrix separates two things people usually tangle together: how much each factor matters, and how well each option performs on it.
score = Σ (weight × rating) Set the weights before you score
This is the discipline that makes the method worth anything. Deciding what matters before you look at how the options perform stops you from quietly re-weighting until your favourite wins. If you find yourself adjusting weights after seeing the totals, you have already made the decision — which is itself useful information.
A close result is a real result
When two options land within a few percent, the honest conclusion is that they are equivalent on the criteria you listed. Either pick on a factor you have not modelled — gut feel, timing, who you would rather work with — or accept that the choice matters less than it feels like it does.
Watch for missing criteria
The matrix can only weigh what you put in it. Risk, reversibility and opportunity cost are the three most commonly omitted, and often the most important. A cheap decision you can undo beats an optimal one you cannot.