Advantagescan

Advantagescan is a term used in management and decision-support contexts to describe a systematic process for identifying, capturing, and comparing the advantages offered by alternative options in a project, policy, or business decision. It focuses on identifying positive outcomes rather than risks, complementing other analyses such as cost-benefit or risk assessments.

The method typically proceeds through steps: define the decision objective; list viable options; elicit and record the perceived advantages of each option from stakeholders; group advantages into categories such as strategic fit, operational impact, financial effects, and stakeholder satisfaction; assign qualitative or quantitative scores to reflect impact and likelihood; and synthesize results in a visual or tabular map to facilitate comparison. The approach is flexible and can be adapted to different decision contexts and data availability.

Advantagescan is used in strategic planning, project portfolio management, product or service development, and procurement to illuminate the positive potential of choices, aid prioritization, and support collaborative decision making. It helps reveal how options align with organizational goals and where advantages may accumulate across dimensions.

Key benefits include a structured, transparent approach to advantage identification, improved stakeholder alignment, and a clearer basis for trade-off discussions. It can complement risk assessment by ensuring that positive outcomes are explicitly considered alongside costs and risks. Limitations include dependence on input quality, potential bias in attributing advantages, and the possibility of overlooking adverse effects. It is most effective when facilitated by an impartial moderator and used with quantitative analysis where appropriate.