Which quality improvement (QI) tool uses criteria to weigh different alternatives?

The decision matrix is a valuable quality improvement tool specifically designed to evaluate and weigh different alternatives based on defined criteria. It provides a systematic approach to decision-making by allowing users to quantify the advantages and disadvantages of various options. In a decision matrix, each alternative is scored against weighted criteria that reflect the priorities or goals of the quality improvement initiative. This process helps teams to make more transparent and informed decisions by facilitating comparisons among options, ensuring that decisions are made based on a balanced assessment rather than hunches or bias.

In contrast, a flowchart is used primarily to visualize processes and understand the flow of activities, which helps identify areas in need of improvement but does not facilitate the weighing of alternatives. The PDSA method (Plan-Do-Study-Act) is a cyclical quality improvement framework for testing changes in a systematic way, focusing on planning and implementing improvements rather than comparing alternatives. A customer satisfaction survey gathers feedback from users to assess the quality of services or products but does not provide a structure for evaluating alternatives. Each of these tools serves distinct purposes in quality management, making the decision matrix the appropriate choice for weighing alternatives.