Weighted matrix is an another alternative to PUGH or decision matrix though both have a very wide usage.
From earlier blog post about PUGH matrix click here to access, we know that it was primarily developed as a decision model or decision matrix or problem solving matrix. It helps to choose between list of different alternatives against a baseline.
Pugh matrix just speaks on the 3 point scale. But it is very good if we have no clue of how better or worse the particular item is when compared to the rest. If we have comparable scores in between we can use the weighted matrix by further extending the PUGH matrix to five-point scale, several point scale or higher scale.
Examples of scale:
+2 – much better than
+1 – better than
0 – equal to
-1 – worse than
-2 – much worse than
It is worthwhile to note that weighted matrix speaks of data more truly than simple PUGH matrix alone and sometimes the decision given by simple PUGH matrix and weighted matrix may be different. For example, here, the vendor F is considered the best to be chosen among 7 vendors.
It is the choice of user themselves which approach to choose. Generally, for a simple approach where we can’t say with certainty how much one item is better or worse than other, I would suggest selection of Simple PUGH matrix.
The same PUGH matrix (from previous example) can be transformed to a 5 point matrix system in the following way
| Key Criteria | Weight | Supplier A | Supplier B | Supplier C | Supplier D | Supplier E | Supplier F | Supplier G |
| Quality | 5 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Timely deliver | 5 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| Discount | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 1 |
| Easy with communication | 4 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | 1 |
| compliant with standards | 3 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 2 | -1 | 1 | 2 |
| keeps information upto date | 3 | 0 | -1 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| cost | 4 | 0 | -1 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| shows new innovation | 3 | -2 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 1 |
| Proactive attitute/ relationship | 3 | -2 | -2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Good packaging | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Good transportation | 4 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other managerial and technical issue | 5 | 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| Trustworthy | 5 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Acts as team players | 5 | 1 | 1 | -2 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 |
| Exceed customer expectations | 4 | 1 | -1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| -3 | -1 | -4 | -5 | -1 | 5 | 0 |
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