Decision matrices are used to unbiasedly evaluate different ideas based on a weighted set of objectives the design team decides are important for solving the problem.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not sure

Answer: (A)

Decision matrices provide a structured, quantitative way to compare ideas by rating each option against a set of criteria and applying weights to reflect how important each criterion is for solving the problem. The design team selects these objectives and assigns weights, then computes a weighted score for every idea, allowing a clear, numeric basis for choosing the best fit. This approach helps reduce subjective, ad-hoc judgments by turning qualitative judgments into numbers tied to the team’s stated goals. It’s not that the process is perfectly unbiased—weights and scores still involve judgment—but it’s designed to bias the comparison toward the factors the team deems most critical. So the statement is true: decision matrices use a weighted, team-defined set of objectives to evaluate ideas in a systematic, objective-friendly way.