What do you think are the $3$ best keys to generating alternatives from Chapter $4$ in Smart Choices. Explain how they were used in our discussion of pianos purchases.

Resources:

Keys to Generating Better Alternatives

Use your objectives. Alternatives are the ultimate means to solving the objective

$**$ Ask "how" the objectives can be achieved. $-$ preferances, time efficent, $,$ Quantity$-$enough

Challenge constraints. Check to see if constraints are real; many are assumed $($a mental barrier and not a real barrier$)$

$**$ Try assuming a constraint does not exist and create alternatives that reflect its absence$.$

Set high aspirations.

$**$ Set targets that seem beyond reach because this forces a decision maker to think in entirely new ways.

Do your own thinking first.

Original ideas come from free range thinking before another person's opinion$/$judgement lessens your creativity in thinking about the alternatives.

Learn from experience

$**$ learn from the history of decisions that have been made, but don't be constrained by history.

Ask others for suggestions.

$**$ People at a distance from the problem will see it more clearly and without blocks the decision maker has.

Give your subconscious time to operate.

$**$ Time not specifically thinking about the problem allows your subconscious mind to work $-$ you may get a flash of insight.

Create alternatives first, evaluate them later.

$**$ Don't evaluate alternatives when they are being generated. That slows down the generation process and lessens creativity.

Never stop looking for alternatives.

$**$ The decision problem becomes more clear and better defined as the considerations of consequences and tradeoffs are considered $-$ that may produce another alternative.