Lost in the 6 C's

The first question that my group and I put through the decision machine was "How can we provide families with autistic children a night of safe fun, in a different way than they normally are able to?" After discussion and making our way through the machine we decided that including different activities for the parents and children would provide a fun relaxing evening get away for children and parents. We decided to provide a dance and dance instruction for the parents in one room, while having toys and games in another room for the kids. However, like Brother Ward pointed out a week ago, decision making in not a one time deal, but an on going process.

I know that I have realized that our initial decision has cause the development of many more decisions. When? Where? Who? How? All of the little details are causing the group as a whole to need to make more decisions.

One important detail is where. To show how the Decision Machine works we will plug it in.

1)Construct- We are needing to know where is an appropriate and adequate place for this family event to be held.
2)Compile- The place needs to have a large room that is suitable for thirty couples as well as the dance instructors and DJ. That room also needs to be large enough that those couples can dance and have the space to learn different dances.
The facility also needs to have a couple rooms or one large room that can be "the Kids Zone" which can provide space for children of all ages to run around, play games, and also not feel too overwhelmed. If possible it would be good to have a couple rooms so that the children can be split into smaller groups to better suit the needs based on their age.
This facility should also be in a reasonably close area because we are wanting to help families in the surrounding area.
3)Collect- There is an Elementary school not too far away from the BYU campus in Provo that would have the room for both the dance instruction and the "Kids Zone"
There are facilities built to provide services directly for those with disabilities such as autism. Brighter Horizons is one such place that might be available for our specific needs.
4)Compare- Elementary school: would be free, has multiple rooms, would be able to publicize our activity to families at the school, is not in use on a Friday evening (when we would be needing it)
Brighter Horizons: is a facility built for such activities, might cost, has very close access to families with autistic children.
5)Consider- We don't really have funding to rent out a place
We might not be able to find enough volunteers to help with the "Kids Zone"
The facilities might not be available on the specific date of the activity.
6)Though more information needs to be found concerning both places and contacts need to be made, We are going to lean more towards the Elementary school because it will provide us with the necessary facility but it will also be affordable for us.

When planning a big activity such as this evening of fun for the family, we need to carefully consider different options and make sure that we have made specific decisions about the details. If we don't make decisions about details then we will end up with a poorly planned activity with many possible flaws. As the process of planning continues, so does the process of making decisions.