Source: https://hiatt-co.com/workflows/compare-business-options/

FREE BUSINESS WORKFLOW · AI AS A THOUGHT PARTNER

# Compare options before making a decision

Give a business choice structure without handing over the final judgment.

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## When to use it

Before choosing between business options, when you need to compare evidence and tradeoffs.

## What you’ll get

An evidence-based comparison, tradeoffs, and questions to resolve.

## Work through the steps

Before you start

Two or more options, your decision criteria, and approved supporting material. Use only information you can verify.

Step 01

### Define the comparison

Explain what matters before asking for a recommendation.

Help me compare \[options\] for \[business need\]. My criteria are \[criteria\], and my constraints are \[constraints\]. Use this source material: \[material\]. Create a comparison table. Distinguish source facts from assumptions and unknowns. Refer to the supporting passage for each factual claim. Do not fill missing information with guesses. Ask me about any essential missing criterion.

Step 02

### Challenge the leading option

Answer the questions, then test how much the recommendation depends on assumptions.

Given the clarified criteria, explain which option fits best and why. Make the strongest case against it. Identify the assumptions that could change the recommendation, what evidence would resolve them, and a reversible next step. Do not invent numerical scores or treat the recommendation as a final decision.

### Step 03 · Review before use

-   Verify material claims against the source documents.
-   Check that the comparison uses your priorities consistently.
-   Resolve important unknowns with the relevant people before deciding.

**If you get stuck:** If every option looks equally good, name your most important constraint and request explicit tradeoffs.

### Want your team to use this on your own work?

In a Hiatt Co workshop, we can adapt this process to your team’s work, tools, and review rules.

[Related training: AI as a Thought Partner](https://hiatt-co.com/programs/#thought-partner)

[Plan a workshop](https://hiatt-co.com/plan/?workflow=compare-business-options)

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