This can be useful if you want to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a particular option.

Method:

1. Make a table, with two columns – pros and cons (see example below)
2. In the table write as many effects and implications of the option as you can think of, placing each in the relevant column.
3. Add a weighting to each item (e.g. a score of 5 for something of major significance and a 1 for minor significance).
4. Compare the total score between columns.

Decision option: e.g. To pursue a career as a  GP 

This tool helps you to identify these different elements to the option:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

Rather than looking at just the pros and cons, this helps you look at the decision from a number of perspectives.  It is simply about your thoughts and feelings about a particular option, so Strengths and Weaknesses are mainly internal (to do with you), and Opportunities and Threats are mainly external (what is available, obstacles etc.)

If you take each section in turn, you should find that you gain a different perspective from each of the angles:

You can take this further by reflecting on the weaknesses and threats you have identified.  Could you change them, or work around the situation?  Are they acceptable in comparison to the strengths and opportunities?

This technique facilitates the identification of the forces for or against an option.  In effect, it is a specialised method of weighing the pros and cons which respects the fact that not all the elements carry equal weight.  It can also be used to identify where change is needed – how can forces supporting or against your decision be either strengthened or reduced?

Method:

1. Describe your option / course of action in the middle.
2. List all the forces for that course of action in one column and all the forces against in another.
3. Assign a score to each force (e.g. 5 for strong and 1 for weak)
4. Tally up the scores and see whether you agree with your decision!

See the diagram below:

This tool allows you to list the factors you want to include in your decision and to assign a value to them in terms of their importance.  This enables you to compare specialties you may be interested in and it therefore requires you to have thoroughly researched the ones you are considering.  If you need to do some further research, see ‘specialty pages’ and ‘resources’ (include links).

Method:

1. Insert the specialties you are considering (up to 3)
2. In the left hand column list the 5 most important factors you want to take into account when decision making (see example below).
3. Create a column titled ‘importance’ and rate how important the factor you’re considering is to your decision on a scale of 1-5, with 1 = not very important and 5 = critical.
4. Create another column titled ‘probability’ and rate the likelihood that each option will fulfil each factor on a scale of 1-5, with 1 = very little chance and 5 = no doubt it will.
5. Multiply the Importance number by the Probability number and enter the result in the Subtotal boxes. 
6. Add the subtotals for each option and write the totals in the spaces at the bottom.
7. Finally, compare the totals and look at the highest one.  How do you feel about this being your highest score?  If your favoured choice does not have the highest ratings, do you need to adjust your ratings or think again about what is important to you?  You may wish to discuss your results with a colleague or adviser if the scores are not what you expect.

Example: