PMI :weighing the Pros and Cons of a decision.
How to use tool:
PMI stands for 'Plus/Minus/Implications'. It is a valuable
improvement to the 'weighing pros and cons' technique used
for centuries.
PMI is an important decision-making tool: the mind tools
used so far in this section have focused on selecting a
course of action from a range of options. Before you move
straight to action on this course of action, it is
important to check that it is going to improve the
situation (it may actually be best to do nothing!) PMI is
a useful tool for doing this.
To use PMI, draw up a table headed up 'Plus', 'Minus', and
'Implications'. In the column underneath 'Plus', write
down all the positive results of taking the action.
Underneath 'Minus' write down all the negative effects. In
the 'Implications' column write down the implications and
possible outcomes of taking the action, whether positive
or negative.
By this stage it may already be obvious whether or not you
should implement the decision. If it is not, consider each
of the points you have written down and assign a positive
or negative score to it appropriately. The scores you
assign may be quite subjective.
Once you have done this, add up the score. A strongly
positive score shows that an action should be taken, a
strongly negative score that it should be avoided.
Example:
A young professional is deciding where to live. Her
question is 'should she move to London?'
She draws up the PMI table below:
Plus |
Minus |
Implications |
More going on (+5) |
Have to sell house (-6) |
Easier to find new job?
(+1) |
Easier to see friends
(+5) |
More pollution (-3) |
Meet more people? (+2) |
Easier to get places (+3) |
Less space (-3) |
More difficult to get own
work done? (-4) |
|
No countryside (-2) |
|
|
More difficult to get to
work? (-4) |
|
+13 |
-18 |
-1 |
She scores the table as 13 (Plus) - 18 (Minus) - 1
(Interesting) = - 6
The comforts of a settled rural existence outweigh the
call of the 'bright lights' - it would be much better for
her to live outside London, but close enough to travel in
if necessary.
PMI was codified by Edward de Bono.
Key points:
PMI is a good way of weighing the pros, cons and
implications of a decision. When you have selected a
course of action, PMI is a good technique to use to check
that it is worth taking.
To use the technique, draw up a table with three columns
headed Plus, Minus and Implications. Within the table
write down all the positive points of following the course
of action, all the negatives, and all the interesting
implications and possible outcomes.
If the decision is still not obvious, you can then score
the table to show the importance of individual items. The
total score should show whether it is worth implementing
the decision.
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