UC Davis
Department of Nutrition
FSM 122
Winter 2015
Decision Making Assignment
Due January 15th
The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with one of the tools available for making a
non-programmed decision to solve a problem that you are facing. This is called “Multiple
Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).” The decision that you make needs to be one where you
must choose between several options (i.e., which Smartphone to purchase), not a decision with
only two options (i.e., whether or not to buy an iPad).
Choose a problem that you have, or will be dealing with in the near future. For those of you who
are applying to Dietetic Internships next month, you might want to use this tool to rank your
internship selections.
Next go to the following website http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_03.htm
Read the instructions and then download the Grid Analysis Worksheet from the link at the
bottom of the page (you will need Adobe Reader). Using the grid, determine which option is the
best one to solve your problem. The worksheet is a fill-in pdf, but once you save it, you cannot
change your inputs.
Write a brief analysis of the decision-making exercise, beginning with your problem. Next
provide a brief explanation of your options (minimum of 3; but 5 is best). Explain your criteria
(factors), the weighting of each and why, and the results of the grid analysis. State the decision
that you reached based on the analysis. If the decision you make is different from the results of
the analysis, please explain why this occurred. Follow the format on page 2 of this assignment.
The assignment must be typed.
You should turn in two pages, the written problem/decision analysis and the Grid Analysis
Worksheet. Your write-up is what will be graded; do not assume that we will look at the grid.
You need to explain yourself in the written problem/decision analysis. Points will be taken off for
grammar and spelling errors. The assignment will be graded as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Problem identification
Options/alternatives
Criteria (factors)
Weights
Analysis results
Decision
TOTAL
1 pts
3 pts
3 pts
3 pts
4 pts
1 pts
15 pts
Last Name____Xie__________________ First Name_____Yuchen______________
Decision Making Assignment
Problem:
I would like to have a trip with my friends of 3, we have one week for vacation, but we are not
sure where to go.
Options/alternatives:
We also want to go to a place where there is good view and ocean is preferred, so we have
 Oahu, HI
 Cancun, Mexico
 Yellowstone, US
 San Juan, Puerto Rico
 San Jose, Costa Rica
Criteria/factors:
I have five factors that take into my consideration, which are
 Cost,
 Location/distance,
 Weather,
 Dining,
 Activities.
Weights:
I think activities are the most important factor (5), because we would have much more fun if the
place has a lot of activities to do. Also weather (4) is the second important factor, because we
all want to go to a place where are warm and sunny. Moreover, since we all students, we don’t
have very high budget, so cost (3) is the third important consideration. Dinning(2) and
location/distance(1) are the lease important factor, because most of the resorts are all inclusive,
and we can always fly there.
Analysis results:
According to my analysis, the best decision for travel place is Oahu, Hawaii. It have a lot of
activities such as snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, hiking at diamond head, and etc. Also, it has nice
weather and lots of different types of restaurants to eat, not only fine dining but also local
restaurants. However, the flying distance is long and the cost is high. As a result, the worksheet
shows Oahu is the best place to go.
Decision:
My decision is to Oahu, Hawaii. I believe we would have much more fun in Hawaii than other
places. Although it’s a relatively long distance within the five options, which takes about 7 hours
flying, it’s worthy. Moreover, the cost is high, but I can save money for longer time, because it’s
better to spend more money in a great place than spend less money in a normal place.