- decisions tough, app helps
- follow the process, but do what you want
- decision overview with navigation on the top
- look at the help when lost
As said somewhere else, we aim to make decision making a little bit easier. The steps in this app reflect a process, that works free from any tech as well. The purpose is not only to make one decision, but to build positive connections with your choices and understand confidently why and what you're doing.
While our approach seems natural to many, to many others some steps appear to be in a counterintuitive order, or unnecessary. Although brains are (usually) very distinct, we encourage you to explore and possibly pick up some underlying principles. That said, you're not locked into a linear story here - but always able to jump around, re-visit and adapt things to your needs.
The process suits most contexts and targets both individuals and groups. Currently, the app prioritizes individuals though. Additional materials for business workshops or educational settings are available.
Concept
We have more on the how and why of our process in other places. but in here I'll paraphrase and attempt to keep it brief.
If you're wondering: “I'm not doing all that, where's the AI?” consider [our opinion on ai].
We go through multiple steps, each focusing on a specific cognitive activity. This sequence works against mental shortcuts and break up predetermined outcomes. The other main ideas are to identify possible additional outcomes, and particularly examine and understand different aspects of the problem.
Steps
- Problem What is the decision you're making really about?
- Criteria Define your factors to evaluate your options, and categorize them.
- Priorities Prioritize your criteria and categories .
- Options Add the different options.
- Data Setup and enter information for the options.
- Result Evaluate and understand the differences visually.
Note that some steps are split into multiple actions, to keep things simpler.
Workflow
Some decisions are super straight forward, others require days and weeks of research and effort. Using an app favors an “out-of-mind” approach, where you offload details and data, so you don't have to keep track and get a better grasp through visual representations.
Tackling complex decision takes time. Trying to recognize that, and the benefits of investing that time helps. With a small bit of practice, this becomes actually pleasant and much faster. We're also working on things that help with the mundane tasks.
Most people go straight through the steps and fill out what's available, and then iterate until everything's there. With a bit experience going out of order can also be efficient, but can come with some caveats: E.g. entering all the options you know already in the beginning, might get that out of the way - but easily leads to not thinking about additional options later on, or only think about criteria that apply to these options.
And since most of us are human beings: Ask others for help if necessary or possible! Get input, feedback and conflicting ideas. Even those in the bubble often have more than one perspective. (You'll hear that a few more times)
In the app
When opening an existing decision you're shown the "overview". This shows you the progress of the steps, and any pending notifications.
This is where you'll find actions like delete, clone or blueprint sharing. The big buttons are “close” the decision to get back to the dashboard / decision list, and “continue” which opens the next pending step, or the results.
You can open this by tapping on the header on top of the screen.
Every step leads with brief instruction, and has an extended help article ready.
The help articles contain: 1. background and reasoning for the step, 2. manual on how to use the app, 3. examples and references (where applicable).
At the end of the step you have the “next step” button. It is highlighted when sufficient/all information has been entered, and tells you if something needs to be done.
You're always able to skip any step, or go back to the previous one (there's a button on the bottom left). Some steps of course have prerequisites, e.g. you can't enter data without options or criteria. The app will tell you when somethings missing though. …remember that you can jump between any step via the overview.
Your data is saved automatically, and synchronized with the server when you're logged in and online.
In many steps you'll find recurring elements like the “editor” panel. These editors always have a primary text field, usually an optional image/icon button on the left, and extra actions for deleting, closing etc. below.
