ACORI Model is a thinking technique aimed at exploring the consequences / outcomes of a decision or choice before making it.
Also it emphasizes that you matter in the decision making and in the outcomes you get from the decisions you make.
At step-2 it uses an updated version of the Cartesian Questions.
ACORI Model stands for:
A - Awareness
C - Cartesian Questions
O - Ownership;
R - Review and Reflect;
Premises:
Any decisions has consequences. That is true also for the choice to do nothing , i.e. preserve how things are in the present.
Too often we make choices without exploring the effects / consequences of our decisions and in the aftermath have to deal with unwanted outcomes.
Since consequences are concerned with the future we have to do with Degrees of Probabilities not with Certainties!
Most decisions, situations, problems, challenges involve more interrelated elements. That means we have a system like dynamic with inter-dependencies. Changing one component is likely to will change how the system behaves and outcomes it produces.
Steps - How to Use it?
Step-1
On the top of a piece of paper answer the following introductory questions:
What is the Issue you're dealing with?
What are your current alternatives or courses of actions that you are aware of?
Which alternative are you most inclined to choose?
Why do you think/feel this would be a great choice?
Step-2:
On the middle of the page draw four squares.
Answer the following 4 questions.
Step-2a. What is likely to happen if I do this?
Step-2b. What is likely to happen if I don’t do this?
Step-2c. What won’t likely happen if I do this?
Step-2d. What won’t likely happen if I don’t do this?
Step-3:
Recognize your own Power, the Contribution / Impact that you have to the Final Outcome/Result!
How would a change in how you think and feel about the situation would impact the outcome/what is likely to happen?
If you were to change your attitude / mindset (abundance over scarcity or growth over fixedness) about the situation and people involved what would that do ?
If you were for instance to be more or less confident, respectful, curious vs judgmental, etc how would that change what you do and get out of this situation?
Step-4
At the bottom of the page answer the following questions:
How do you feel now about the initial alternative you were inclined to take in Step-1?
What other alternatives have you become aware of?
What do you think about the identified consequences?
How do the identified consequences impact on your decision process?
Step-5
Consider what Implementation Steps are required to convert the Decision from intention to actualization! or....
If at the end of Step 4 you consider selecting a new alternative repeat Steps 1-4 until Step 1 and Step 3 are identical.
When to Use it?
Whenever your are facing a decision with potential significant consequences.
What to Expect?
By using this technique you'll be able to identify the likely consequences of your choices.
As you already guessed it is very possible that things turn out differently that what you anticipated. But by having a mental model of what is likely to happen you'll be able to make adjustments to how you make predictions. Bu iteratively practicing ACORI Model you'll make better and better decisions.
