Make Better Decisions With Pugh Matrix - A simple tool for all decisions
What is Pugh Matrix?
The Pugh Matrix method was invented by Stuart Pugh, University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland as an approach for selecting concept alternatives.
Contrary to general belief, Pugh matrix can be applied to many decision making situations not only design. In addition, Pugh Matrix is a consensus building tool as well as is a synthesis tool.
In decision-making environment, people can become attached to the ideas that they contribute. Sometimes it becomes a matter of ideology or ego as to who’s proposal is to be implemented. Pugh matrix gives the team a structured way to make decisions. If you are a consultant and work with teams, you probably already use this method, if not, here is a tool that will serve you well in many situations – on your own, or in a group situation.
Common steps of creating a Pugh Matrix are listed below, but remember there are two main stages of this process.
- The formation of the Pugh Matrix with all of the options and their attributes.
- The second stage is to include the best qualities from the contributed designs (or concepts) into a final design. An attempt should be made to include as many as possible good ideas from the contributed designes. to include as many options as possible to improve the final design. The second stage is to include the best qualities from the designs (or concepts) to include as many options as possible to improve the final design.
Populating the Matrix.
- Develop a set of criteria. - List all of the proposals, designs or ideas that are to be evaluated.
- Using a simple matrix, list criteria on the left and the concepts across the top. (I actually use it the other way) Select one of the concepts or idea as a baseline. For example, if you already have a product use the functions and features as the baseline. Having a baseline is not essential, however having a must have list of requirements is important.
- Evaluate each of the concepts against the baseline. Determine whether it is better (+), the same (0) or worse(-) than the baseline. Alternately, one could assign a -1, 0, +1 based on where each choice would stack up against a set of the agreed-to criteria. We could give each of these criterion a weight.
- Record each of the design’s (or concept’s) scoring on the matrix.
- For each column, determine the total number of pluses, minuses and sames. Alternately, take the sum of the alternate score using the weight of the criterion.
- Work to improve the promising concepts by incorporating strong ideas from other lower ranking concepts. This is the most important aspect of the Pugh Matrix.
- Continue the process of synthesizing concepts through discussion and iteration.
- Document the steps that you went through to come to the final concept.
Example Pugh matrix
The three designs contributed are listed as columns. Criteria is in the rows. As evident, the designs are close in total score. In the simplest form of using Pugh Matrix, one could be content with choosing the design with the best score.
However, to synthesize a better design, the features with high scores should be investigated to see if they can be included in the top design or in another design to produce highest total score possible. In the example below the top scoring features are highlighted in grey. The final step would be to attempt to include all of the highlighted feature in one design.
|
Car Door
Handle Design |
Existing design |
Team 1-design
“Push down” |
Team 2-design
“Push in" |
Team 3-design
“electronic” |
Discussion notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria |
Weight (=0)
/criteria weight -3 to +3 |
Un-weighted/
Weighted |
Un-weighted/
Weighted |
Un-weighted/
Weighted |
|
| Cost to produce | 0/3 | 0/ (0x3=0) | 1/ (1x3=3) | +1/ (1x3=+3) | |
| Security, safety | 0/3 | 0/0 | +1/+3 | +1/+3 | |
| Aesthetics | 0/2 | +1/+2 | 0/0 | +3/+6 | |
| Wind resistance | 0/1 | +1/+2 | +2/+2 | +2/+2 | |
| Water tightness | 0/2 | 2/+4 | +1/+2 | -1/-2 | Tests not completed |
| Corrosion resistance | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | -1/-1 | |
| Set up cost | 0/1 | -1/-1 | -2/-2 | -2/-2 | |
| Totals | N/A | +7 | +8 | +9 |
The above process forces a discipline of thorough examination of the issues and benefits and a way to include many good ideas, concepts or solutions from competing proposals.
Practice Pugh matrix before using with a group.