The Little Blue Reasoning Book - Brandon Royal [16]
PRONS-AND-CONS ANALYSIS
Tip #11: Pros-and-cons analysis may be illustrated using a “T-Account,” with pros on one side and cons on the other side.
How many sides are there to every issue? Actually there are three. There are two distinct sides, as well as the “middle” view. But in pros-and-cons analysis, we assume for simplicity that there are two sides to every issue. The advantages are called “pros” and the disadvantages are called “cons.” Our practical goal is to evaluate a topic or issue by generating three support points for each side prior to beginning to write.
Seeing both sides of an issue is the cornerstone of an all-around thinking process. A secondary benefit of pros-and-cons analysis is that it forces a person to consider positive points, not just negative ones. Most people are naturals at finding flaws! Pros-and-cons analysis brings balance. Students who study debate in high school or college gain concrete exposure to viewing two sides of any issue. During a given tournament, a debater must be prepared to both defend and attack different sides of the same topic.
Note that pros-and-cons analysis should include both qualitative and quantitative support points, if applicable.
Replace an Old Historical Building?
Imagine for a moment working as a professional for the urban planning department of a major city. As a staff member, you must make a recommendation on whether to replace an historical building located in the city’s downtown center with a modern building. In order to engage all-around thinking — thinking that encompasses both sides of an issue — let’s fill in the chart on the next page, placing support examples next to each bullet point.
“Although most people would agree that historical buildings represent a valuable record of any society’s past, municipal governments should resolve doubt in favor of removing old buildings when such buildings stand on ground that planners feel could be better used.”
Outline the likely pros and cons behind any decision to remove or keep an historical building.
Outline Template for Pros and Cons
Filling in the Pros and Cons
Problem 6: Corporate Training
One more! Fill in the chart on the following page with hypothetical but plausible support points to illustrate the pros and cons of providing on-site corporate training.
“The Head of the Human Resources Department of Super Corp. believes that a formal in-house training program is required to build employee skills in order for employees to perform new tasks and to avoid the costs associated with hiring for new positions from outside the company. Certain key executives, however, believe that formal in-house training will either take up valuable company time without proven effectiveness or be lost due to the high rate of employee turnover.”
Using pros-and-cons analysis, evaluate the case for and against corporate in-house training.
Outline for Pros and Cons
See solution
MATRIXES
Tip #12: A matrix is a useful tool to summarize data that can be contrasted across two variables and sorted into four distinct outcomes.
Understanding Matrixes
The most common matrixes appear as two-column, two-row tables. A matrix is used to effectively present data, as is always the case, where two items are being contrasted with two other items and there are four possibilities or outcomes. The matrix below is based on a famous time management principle highlighting the need to concentrate on “important but not urgent” tasks.
Exhibit 3.1 – Time Management Matrix
Our job with respect to matrix problems is to fill in known information, and through simple mathematical deduction, find the unknown information.
Take for example a batch