All worked examples

Compare options and get a recommendation

Sample

Three options on one table, the tie dropped, one recommendation and the runner-up's case.

Sample results: runs and scores on this page are illustrations while testing is set up. How we test

What goes in: the options
A shared calendar tool for a 9-person team
Deciding: which tool to pick. Cost and easy setup matter most.
Must-haves: $60 a month at most. Live by Monday, November 2.
Option A (Clearbook): $45 a month. Setup takes about 2 days. Works for up to 10 people. Reviews mention a clunky phone app.
Option B (TeamTide): $72 a month. Setup takes about 1 day. Works for up to 10 people. Reviews praise the phone app.
Option C (Shared spreadsheet): $0 a month. Setup takes about 3 days. Works for up to 10 people. No reminders.
Next: the first step runs
Step 1Read each option
Step 2Build the comparison table
Step 3Drop the factors where options tie
Step 4Recommend one option
Step 5Argue the runner-up's case

What each check found

  1. Read each option
    Every number comes from the options (A plain rule)
    ProblemFirst try, Option B: wrote $70 a month. The options say $72.
    CheckSecond try: every number is in the options.
    Failed once, so the step ran again with the problem pointed out. Passed.
  2. Build the comparison table
    Each factor is marked tie or differs (A plain rule)
    CheckAll 6 factors say tie or differs: 5 differ, 1 tie.
    Passed, on to the next step.
  3. Drop the factors where options tie
    Only differing factors are left (A plain rule)
    CheckAll 5 rows left say differs. 1 factor was dropped.
    Passed, on to the next step.
  4. Recommend one option
    A recommendation is named (A plain rule)
    CheckThe answer starts with Recommendation: Option A.
    Passed, on to the next step.
  5. Argue the runner-up's case
    The facts that could change the answer are named (A plain rule)
    CheckThe answer has a What would change my mind: line with two facts.
    Passed, on to the final checks.
  6. Finished
    You make the final call (You check this one)
    Your turn. This check is yours.
Use this templateChange it in the Editor

More to step through

Turn meeting notes into decisions and actionsMessy notes in, a clean record out, with the one gap flagged instead of guessed.Write a summary of a long documentA long report split into parts, each part summarized, one wrong number caught and fixed.Review a draft before you send itOne draft read from two angles, with two claims the sources do not back, ranked into a fix list.Scope a job before you startA vague request turned into what is in, what is out, what done looks like and when to stop.Build your "how I like work done" fileAnswers turned into rules, tested on a real task, one rule reworded, then one file to paste.Draft three versions and pick the bestThree versions of one text, each rated against your criteria, and the winner picked by the first criterion.Fact-check against sourcesFive claims tested against quoted passages, with two wrong figures and one claim no source backs.Find themes in commentsEight comments labeled, grouped into three themes and counted, each theme backed by two real quotes.Remove personal informationNine details swapped for placeholders, nothing else changed, and a short list of what a person must still check.See a workflow runThe parts, lit one at a time.