Established, since 1997, leading UK based training provider.
Celebrating 25 years in business! CPD Member - The CPD Certification Service ilm Recognised Provider

Making 'Which one?', 'What kind?' Decisions

Making Good Decisions - Making 'Which one?', 'What kind?' Decisions

There are many, Which one? What kind? decisions to make.

  • Which one, what kind of dog should I have?
  • Which one, what kind of computer should we get?
  • Which one, what kind of holiday should we go on?

In order to make a “which one, what kind?" decision, take the following steps.

  1. Name the question. For example: Which one, what kind of car should I buy?
  2. Name the positive criteria
  3. Rank each of the criteria for importance
  4. List your top contenders
  5. Rank candidates against each of the criteria

When you have finished this decision-matrix you will have a decision that will look similar to this:

Who should get the job as the next James Bond

What are you making a decision about?
Start your question with 'Which one...', or 'What kind...'

Name the positive criteria

Think about your perfect ideal and name the qualities that each of your options would need to have.
Make sure each quality is worded in a positive manner.

For example, when thinking about buying your next car, a negative quality might be:
"I don't want to die in a crash." But instead, write: "It must have a high safety specification."

A second example: "I don't want to struggle getting the bags in the car." would be written as: "It must have a large boot."

Other positive criteria for a new car could be:

  • High degree of comfort
  • Good acceleration
  • Low emissions
  • High resale value

Write down all the positive criteria you are going to use in order to make your choice.

You will need at least three, we would suggest no more than 10.

Your question: What kind of [X] should I buy?

Enter a positive criteria:

Positive Criteria:

  • Nothing yet!

When you've thought of all the positive criteria, press:

Next Step > Next Step >

Rank each of the criteria for importance.

Your question: What kind of [X] should I buy?

Drag the slider to the correct value (or tap on a mobile device).
10 meaning "extremely important", 1 meaning "of only minor importance".
Out of ten, rank the following criteria: Criteria

List your top contenders

Now think about which are the top contenders in answer to your question: What kind of [X] should I buy?
We would suggest between 2 and 6. In our car example, the contenders might be: 'Ford Focus', 'Audi A3', 'Porsche 911'.

Enter a contender:

Contenders:

  • None yet!

When you've thought of all the contenders, press:

Next Step > Next Step >

Rank your candidates against each of the criteria

Your question: What kind of [X] should I buy?

How does the current candidate: Candidate
Rank for the criteria: Criteria?


Here is the answer to your question: I should do [X]?

    Here's how it's worked out:

    You can print this page

    You may benefit from attending our time management course.

    Need to decide about something else?

    Are you making a different type of decision? We have other decision making apps available for you to use - find out more here.

    Let's Get Social

    If you think a friend might enjoy this, please share it with them:

    Drag this button: What-One-What-Kind Decision Web-Widget to your bookmarks bar or desktop to save it for use later.

    Decision Making Articles From Our Blog

    • How to Overcome ProcrastinationThumbnail

      How to Overcome Procrastination

      21 May 2024
      To overcome procrastination, develop strong time management skills by identifying tasks and commit to completing them regardless of your mood.This approach contrasts with procrastination, where tasks are delayed due to a lack of immediate motivation.
      How to Overcome Procrastination Procrastination is the habit of putting off what we know we should do because we're not in the mood to do it. Procrastination is the opposite of good time management. Time managers figure out what they should do and then they do it, even if they're not in the mood. Procrastinators figure out what they should do, but they DON'T do it - because they're not in the mood. You...
      Continue Reading >
    • Five Important Problem-Solving QuestionsThumbnail

      Five Important Problem-Solving Questions

      27 February 2024
      Success requires that we solve problems. There are five questions that may be profitably applied to any situation, the answers to which will provide valuable information and help solve any problem.
      Five Important Problem-Solving Questions Success requires that we solve problems. There are five questions that may be profitably applied to any situation, the answers to which will provide valuable information and help solve any problem. Here are the five questions: 1. What are the facts, and how do we know? The first thing to do in any situation is to gather the facts and verify them. When we say facts, w...
      Continue Reading >
    • Unlocking the Power of First PrinciplesThumbnail

      Unlocking the Power of First Principles

      13 June 2023
      When supporting our opinions, we often turn to facts or fundamental principles. However, one of these approaches emerges as significantly more impactful. We explore why this is important.
      Unlocking the Power of First Principles: A Superior Approach to Validating Your Opinions over Facts When it comes to substantiating our opinions, we frequently rely on either factual evidence or fundamental principles. Nonetheless, one of these approaches proves to be notably more impactful. Let's delve deeper into this matter. Rethinking the Reliability of Facts Employing facts as a foundation for supporting your opinions may appe...
      Continue Reading >

    Customer Reviews

    Here are a selection of reviews for our training courses.

    • Came to the course with a huge workload sitting on my desk, but I think I'll be able to tackle this in a better way (and better frame of mind) having done this course. The trainer's presentation was excellent. Good pace, clear presentation and we were involved and engaged throughout. Lots of good stuff presented. Thanks.

    • Very interesting and inspiring. I found understanding how to identify cynic and critic and how to transform conversations and how to keep self positive, most beneficial. The course was very beneficial and will stick in my mind. The trainer was very confident and the day had the right amount of facts, mixed with humour.

    • I would recommend the course to my peers. It was entertaining and interesting. Gave examples where you can stop and think how it affects you. Asked lots of rhetorical questions, which is required to make you think. Examples provided will definitely be used in my working life. Trainers presentation was knowledgeable, friendly and approachable.

    • Excellent training course. I feel very secure (and excited) to start using certain models in my practice, including the priority decision matrix and the wrong box/right box method. The trainer was equally excellent. By using 'real life' examples he helped me contextualise the models. As well as giving me the confidence to start better prioritising my work and others in my team.

    • I found the objective/subjective section really beneficial and will apply this to everyday work duties. Good presentation by trainer, well articulated and everything clearly put. Great level of humour incorporated into the course, good level of interaction.

    • The course content was comprehensive and informative. Useful tools and strategies for managing all aspects of team dynamics. Managing conflict was particularly interesting. Trainer's presentation was clear and easy to understand. Informative.