Pros-Cons-and-Fixes Technique
For each option, list its advantages and disadvantages, then identify practical fixes for the disadvantages. Compare the options again after accounting for what those fixes would cost and whether they can be carried out.
THE IDEA
EXERCISE 6 Business Location
A fast-food chain plans to build a restaurant in your area. Choose three different sites and use Pros-Cons-and-Fixes to compare them. For this exercise, you may invent “facts” where information is missing; record them as assumptions. There is no single right answer.
Work through these steps:
- Define the decision.
- List the viable options.
- Record each option’s pros.
- Record each option’s cons.
- Propose fixes that could reduce the cons.
- Compare the revised options and make a recommendation.
A proposed fix is part of the option being evaluated. Ask whether it is feasible, what it costs, and which disadvantages remain. A weak option may improve, but a plausible-sounding fix does not automatically make it attractive.
Practice with an everyday choice, such as picking a restaurant, or compare hiring only part-time staff with hiring only full-time staff. Contrived “facts” are useful for practice; an actual staffing or site decision requires checking those assumptions.
When to use it
Choosing between two suppliers for a business, listing pros/cons of each and fixes for cons.
Deciding on a marketing strategy (e.g., social media vs. print ads) by evaluating pros/cons and proposing fixes.
Selecting a job offer by comparing compensation, location, and culture, then addressing downsides with proactive solutions.
Evaluating whether to launch a new product by weighing potential benefits and risks, then planning mitigations.
Comparing job offers after asking whether a concern about location, schedule, or responsibilities can be negotiated.
Selecting a supplier for a business
Deciding on a vacation destination
Evaluating which software tool to purchase
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Small Retail Business Example
Imagine a small boutique considering part-time vs. full-time staff. Pro of part-time: lower benefits cost. Con: less consistency. Fix: cross-train part-timers to reduce inconsistency. Pro of full-time: more reliable scheduling. Con: higher labor cost. Fix: use flexible scheduling to keep full-timers busy during slow periods.
Tech Startup Example
A startup compares part-time and full-time staffing. Part-time work offers flexibility but may create coordination problems; regular shared meetings are a possible fix, with their own time cost. Full-time hiring offers more availability but puts pressure on cash flow; the team compares compensation arrangements and a smaller initial team.
Choosing a Business Location
A fast-food chain needs to select among three sites. Apply the Pros-Cons-and-Fixes technique to analyze each site's pros, cons, and possible fixes, then compare to decide the most lucrative location.
Choosing a Restaurant
When deciding among restaurants, quickly list pros, cons, and fixes for each, then compare results to make a selection.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How does adding a 'fix' step change the decision-making process compared to a simple pros-and-cons list?
In the workforce example, what specific fixes could mitigate the downsides of both part-time and full-time options?
Can this technique be applied to personal decisions like choosing a career path or deciding where to live? If so, how?
What would each proposed fix cost, and how would you check that it can address the drawback?
For a recent decision you made, apply the Pros-Cons-and-Fixes technique to see if you could have reached a better outcome.
What are some potential flaws or limitations of this technique?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Thinkers Toolkit by Morgan D Jones
- The Thinkers Toolkit by Morgan D Jones