Introducing Decision Free Solutions - A Generic, Systemic Approach to Minimize Risk by Avoiding Decision Making

Abstract

“Decision Free Solutions” (DFS) is a generic, systemic approach to minimize risk in achieving an aim by avoiding decision making. Applying DFS will benefit those who have an aim, and those who have expertise. DFS is based on Information Measurement Theory (IMT) and the Kashiwagi Solution Model (KSM), and is congruous with the Best Value Approach (BVA). Despite BVA being an approach aimed at utilizing expertise (and thereby minimizing risk), and not a procurement system, BVA and its applications are very much intertwined with procurement. This makes it challenging to apply BVA to other fields. Establish a generic, systemic approach to implement the technologies of IMT/KSM in any field. Analyzing existing BVA and IMT/KSM documentation, identify the logic and the principles by which expertise is utilized. Define a generic, systemic approach to minimize risk and demonstrate it by applying it to a field other than procurement. Avoiding all types of decision making was identified as the core principle to ensure the utilization of expertise. An approach consisting out of four steps (labelled DICE) and the consistent application of five principles (labelled TONNNO) has been proposed. The approach has been applied to the field of Lean. A generic and systemic approach to minimize risk by avoiding decision making has been introduced which can be applied in any field. It has been applied in Lean, where it addresses several of Lean’s weaknesses as perceived in practice and where it was demonstrated to reduce the risk of project failure. DFS can be considered a risk minimization method to which risk management is integral. DFS makes expertise matter.