Net Benefit of Option 2 = Criterion 1.O2 + Criterion 2.O2 + Criterion n.O2
Net Benefit of Option 3 = Criterion 1.O3 + Criterion 2.O3 + Criterion n.O3
Step 7 Evaluating Options
Aggregating the criteria enables the decision maker to determine the net benefit
of Options 1-n, namely Net Benefits 1-n. Having determined the net benefit
that each option yields, the decision maker can evaluate each of the options
and determine which option in the range Options 1-n constitutes the best way
to exercise the discretion. Put simply, the best option consists of the one that
yields the highest net benefit.
Thus if there are three options, namely Options 1, 2 and 3, the question is
which of the three net benefits, the net benefit of Option 1, the net benefit of
Option 2 or the net benefit of Option 3 possesses the highest value.
The best option, of course, is the one that yields the highest net benefit.
Consequently, this is the option that the official must take in order to exercise
the discretion. By doing this, they exercise the discretion in the best possible
way. They do this in Step 8 which we will not consider.
Step 8: Decision
It is rational to want the best. Therefore the decision maker exercises the
discretion by making the decision in a manner that yields the highest net
benefit. Let us assume for the sake of illustration that there are three options,
being Options 1, 2 and 3. Let us also assume that the decision maker has
determined the net benefit for each option as is done in Step 7. The results can
be set out in a simple table:
Options
Net Benefit
Option 1
Net Benefit 1
Option 2
Net Benefit 2
Option n
Net Benefit n
Figure 26.5 Decision
In Step 7 the court evaluated the options. To do this, it has determined the net
benefit of each option. (Since this can be hard to do in practice because
criteria are not measurable or comparable, the court can only do its best.)
In Step 8 the court identifies the option with the highest net benefit. Assume in
the example that Net Benefit 2 is the highest. This means that Option 2 yields
the best result. Consequently the court will exercise the discretion by taking
Option 2. It will make the decision by doing whatever Option 2 requires or
involves.
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