DECISION TABLE

A decision table eases decision-making. It is an illustrative tool used in handling the mass of information bombarding you when making a decision. It shows what actions to take in response to one or more conditions.

Basically, a decision table shows the conditions requiring action and the appropriate responses to one or more of those conditions. Decision tables are often used with—or in place of—procedures that address circumstances when many conditions exist that require a unique action.

for Developing a Decision Table

• Identify all the conditions that might exist.
• Identify all the possible actions to take in response to a given set of conditions.
• Develop a table with the conditions listed in the top row and the actions listed in the left-most column.
• Where a condition intersects with an action in the table, determine whether the action should be taken (e.g., yes or no).