Value Clarification

Origin. Decision analysis (Keeney's value-focused thinking); multi-attribute utility theory.

Mechanism. Separates fundamental objectives (wanted for their own sake) from means objectives (wanted for what they produce). Alternatives are generated from objectives rather than objectives inferred from available alternatives — which is the ordinary and inverted way.

Procedure. For each stated objective ask 'why does this matter?' If there is an answer, it is a means objective; recurse. If the answer is 'it just does', it is fundamental. Generate alternatives against the fundamental set.

Applies to. Decisions where the option set arrived before the criteria did — which is most of them.

Limitations. Fundamental objectives conflict, and the method does not resolve the conflict. It exposes it, which is often the useful part and always the uncomfortable one.