Amelia W.'s Key Ideas from Creating Great Choices
by Jennifer Riel, Roger L. Martin

Proactively brainstorm a wide diversity of possible options and alternatives so great choices emerge through considering breadth. Don't default to only the obvious ideas. Bring in outsider perspectives.

Produce a large menu from which the best solution can emerge.

Thoroughly stress test the key assumptions underlying each option under consideration through rigorous debate playing devil's advocate.

Make implicit assumptions explicit in order to seriously evaluate their validity and impact.

Explore creative ways to integrate elements from multiple options into novel hybrid solutions. Break either/or thinking - new options emerge from synthesis. Build integrative rather than compromising hybrids.

Thoughtfully assess the pros/cons, risks, strategic impacts, and opportunity costs of the final options systematically before committing to a choice.

Weigh through multiple lenses like financial, culture, operations.

Once a choice is made through robust consideration, commit fully to the decision rather than second guess. Alignment and decisiveness in execution is key.

Avoid analysis paralysis. Move forward decisively.

Rigorously track results, assess what is working well and what is not. Adjust tactics based on outcomes without changing strategy.

Build evidence to refine subsequent choices. Insights emerge from doing.

Formalize organizational processes for widening options, exploring integrations, constructive debate, systematic analysis and clear decision-making.

Systematize rigorous strategic choice evaluation practices.