Solution evaluation matrix
| Solution/Test |
Reversibility |
Harm |
Publicity |
Meta-Test: Convergence |
Meta-Test: Divergence |
| Description |
Would I still think the choice of this option good if I were one of those adversely affected by it? (Davis) |
Does this option do less harm than any available alternative? |
What person would I become were I to choose and perform this action? (Associating my character with the moral color of the action.) |
Do the three ethics tests (reversibility, harm, publicity) come together on this solution? |
Do the three ethics tests (reversibility, harm, publicity) differ on this solution? |
| Your best solution |
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| A good (but not the best) solution |
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| Your worst solution or a really bad solution |
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Solution implementation
The chosen solution must be examined in terms
of how well it responds to various situational constraints thatcould impede its implementation. What will be its costs? Can it be
implemented within necessary time constraints? Does it honorrecognized technical limitations or does it require pushing these
back through innovation and discovery? Does it comply with legaland regulatory requirements? Finally, could the surrounding
organizational, political, and social environments give rise toobstacles to the implementation of the solution? In general this
phase requires looking at interest, technical, and resourceconstraints or limitations. A Feasibility Matrix helps to guide
this process.
The Feasibility Tests focuses on situational
constraints. How could these hinder the implementation of thesolution? Should the solution be modified to ease implementation?
Can the constraints be removed or remodeled by negotiation,compromise, or education? Can implementation be facilitated by
modifying both the solution and changing the constraints?
| Feasibility Matrix |
| Resource Constraints |
Technical Constraints |
Interest Constraints |
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Personalities |
| Time |
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Organizational |
| Cost |
Applicable Technology |
Legal |
| Materials |
Manufacturability |
Social, Political, Cultural |
Different feasibility constraints
- The Feasibility
Test identifies the constraints that could interfere withrealizing a solution. This test also sorts out these constraints into
resource (time, cost, materials),
interest (individuals,
organizations, legal, social, political), and
technical limitations. By identifying situational constraints,
problem-solvers can anticipate implementation problems and takeearly steps to prevent or mitigate them.
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Time . Is there a deadline within which the
solution has to be enacted? Is this deadline fixed ornegotiable?
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Financial . Are there cost constraints on
implementing the ethical solution? Can these be extended by raisingmore funds? Can they be extended by cutting existing costs? Can
agents negotiate for more money for implementation?
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Technical . Technical limits constrain the
ability to implement solutions. What, then, are the technicallimitations to realizing and implementing the solution? Could these
be moved back by modifying the solution or by adopting newtechnologies?
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Manufacturability . Are there manufacturing
constraints on the solution at hand? Given time, cost, andtechnical feasibility, what are the manufacturing limits to
implementing the solution? Once again, are these limits fixed orflexible, rigid or negotiable?
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Legal . How does the proposed solution stand
with respect to existing laws, legal structures, and regulations?Does it create disposal problems addressed in existing regulations?
Does it respond to and minimize the possibility of adverse legalaction? Are there legal constraints that go against the ethical
values embodied in the solution? Again, are these legal constraintsfixed or negotiable?
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Individual Interest Constraints .
Individuals with conflicting interests may oppose theimplementation of the solution. For example, an insecure supervisor
may oppose the solution because he fears it will undermine hisauthority. Are these individual interest constraints fixed or
negotiable?
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Organizational . Inconsistencies between the
solution and the formal or informal rules of an organization maygive rise to implementation obstacles. Implementing the solution
may require support of those higher up in the management hierarchy.The solution may conflict with organization rules, management
structures, traditions, or financial objectives. Once again, arethese constraints fixed or flexible?
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Social, Cultural, or Political . The
socio-technical system within which the solution is to beimplemented contains certain social structures, cultural
traditions, and political ideologies. How do these stand withrespect to the solution? For example, does a climate of suspicion
of high technology threaten to create political opposition to thesolution? What kinds of social, cultural, or political problems
could arise? Are these fixed or can they be altered throughnegotiation, education, or persuasion?
