COMPARE ALTERNATIVE PLANS

    Subsequent to evaluating the effects, a few superior alternatives that satisfy competing objectives may arise.  It is critical that the underlying issues, values and differences between the objectives and effects are identified enabling a tradeoff analysis.  The issues--objectives, effects and tradeoffs--must be succinctly articulated and the decision criteria laid out for the policy reviewers and political decision makers.

    There are numerous tradeoff methodologies available (see IWR 02-R-2, Trade-Off Analysis Planning and Procedures Guidebook), but most importantly, stakeholder input and consensus must be gained about the decision criteria.  One approach is to rank alternatives on how well they meet each objective, and if several alternatives meet a given objective equally, then that objective may be ignored and another chosen for the decision criteria.  Again, documentation of the tradeoff process and decision criteria are very important and must be presented to the policy and political decision makers.

Comments?  Last update: 06 January 2003