MEPX
Chapter 3 of 10All chapters

Chapter 3 of 10

Framing the decision

The options you did not list.

Widen the frame

Most decisions are presented as yes or no. Asking what else could we do, and what would we do if this option vanished, routinely surfaces a better third option.

  • Beware either-or framing; it is often a false dichotomy.
  • Doing nothing is always an option and deserves to be listed.

Define the criteria first

Deciding what matters before seeing the options prevents the criteria being retrofitted to justify a favourite.