methodatlas
Decision Making

Option Framing

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by collecting rough options, consolidating them, and creating a comparable shortlist.

Core question
Which actions options are truly comparable, complete, and decision-ready?
MediumWorkshop + async45-120 min
Open runsheetPlan sessionStart comparison
Purpose

The method helps clarify options, criteria, and risks in a concrete way. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as option frames, assumption notes, and a comparable shortlist.

How it works

The team follows the steps: collect rough options, consolidate the options, develop each option in a structured way, add assumptions and consequences, and create a comparable shortlist. Each step is captured visibly. At the end, option frames, assumption notes, and a comparable shortlist are available so decisions, tests, or actions can follow directly.

Visual orientation

Method sketch for a quick mental model.

Option Framing · Either/Or/HybridTranslate raw ideas into comparable option frames with scope, assumptions, effort, risks, reversibility, and consequences
Option FramingThe visual shows how raw options are consolidated and turned through one frame template into a comparable decision shortlist.Turn raw ideas into fair, decision-ready optionsOption Framing puts every alternative into the same structure so gaps, assumptions, and consequences become visible before evaluation.do not evaluate before options are worked outread every option through the same frameRaw optionsideas, proposals, solutiondirectionsConsolidatebundle duplicates, cut realalternativesOption Frame TemplateScopeWhat is included?ValueWhich goal contribution does it make?AssumptionsWhat must be true?RisksWhat could fail?ConsequencesWhat do we accept?Comparable shortlistOption A, B, hybrid can be judgedfairlyDecision Inputready for matrix, trade-off, or ADR

Flow

  1. 1Collect rough options
  2. 2Consolidate the options
  3. 3Develop each option in a structured way
  4. 4Add assumptions and consequences
  5. 5Create a comparable shortlist

The runsheet guides execution with 5 phases, timeboxes, 5 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.

Open runsheet

Ideal for

  • Preparation for complex decisions
  • Strategy and product options
  • Architecture variants

Not good for

  • Pure root-cause analysis
  • A single option without alternatives
  • Acute incident response

Deep dive

In detail

Option Framing sits between idea collection and decision. The method prevents immature ideas from being judged too early by translating each option into comparable parts. These include contribution to the goal, assumptions, effort, risks, dependencies, reversibility, and consequences. Only then are the options truly ready to be compared.

Facilitation

Use one consistent template for all options and give teams short timeboxes to work them out. Make sure options are not made unfairly attractive or unattractive through wording. End with a shortlist that can be carried into trade-off analysis or a decision matrix.

Output artifacts
Option FramesAssumption NotesComparable ShortlistDecision Inputs
Tags
optionsdecision-framingstrategycomparison

Sources

Decision analysis - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Artifact templates
Option FrameStandardized description of action options so they can be compared fairly.
markdown

option-frame-markdown.md

Standardized description of action options so they can be compared fairly.

Option Frame: Option Title

Short description

What is the option in one sentence?

Scope

What is included, and what is explicitly excluded?

Benefit

Which goal does this option support?

Cost and effort

Which resources, duration, and dependencies does it create?

Risks

Which negative consequences or open points remain?

Assumptions

Which prerequisites need to be true?

Decision signal

How do we know this option should be preferred?

When to choose differently

Short decision aid for existing alternatives.

RICE Scoring

Statt Option Framing, wenn ihr bereits vergleichbare Optionen habt und eine knappe Score-Logik für Priorität braucht.

Impact Filter

Statt Option Framing, wenn ihr Optionen nach Wirkung, Aufwand und strategischer Relevanz vorsortieren wollt.

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