When several good ideas compete, opinions get loud. The Pugh Matrix makes the choice transparent, and easy to explain to your sponsor. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.
Tool video
The short tool video will appear here.
Pugh Matrix in short
- List the contenders. Two to five strong ideas from the Pick Chart.
- Agree on criteria. Impact on the root causeThe fundamental, underlying reason a problem occurs, as distinct from its symptoms. If you remove the root cause, the problem does not come back. Click term for full definition, cost, speed, sustainability, risk.
- Weight the criteria. Usually 1 to 3. Impact on the root cause gets the highest weight.
- Score each idea. 1 = poor, 5 = excellent. For cost: 5 = cheapest.
- Multiply and add. Score × weight, summed per idea. Check whether the winner makes sense.
Key points
- Compare strong ideas objectively.
- Weight before you score.
- 5 is always best, also for cost.
- The total starts the decision, it does not replace it.