Wertkarte

Wertkarte is a German term that refers to a type of decision aid used to evaluate and compare different options based on their values and priorities. The term is often used in the context of strategic decision-making, particularly in business and organizational settings.

A Wertkarte is essentially a matrix or table that contains a list of options or alternatives on one axis and a list of values or criteria on the other axis. The matrix is used to chart the relative importance of each option against each criterion, allowing decision-makers to visualize the trade-offs and make more informed choices.

Wertkarte was first introduced in the 1970s by German management consultant Christian B Barton, who developed it as a tool to aid executives in evaluating investment opportunities and making strategic decisions. The technique has since been adopted and adapted by various management consultants and strategists around the world.

The Wertkarte methodology involves several key steps, including:

Identifying the key options or alternatives to be evaluated

Defining the relevant criteria or values to be used in the evaluation

Creating the Wertkarte matrix and charting the options against the criteria

Analyzing the resulting matrix to identify patterns and relationships between the options and criteria

Using the insights gained to make more informed decisions

Wertkarte is often used in conjunction with other decision-making tools and techniques, such as cost-benefit analysis and decision trees. It is a flexible and adaptable method that can be applied to a wide range of decision-making contexts, from simple to complex.