Interdisciplinary Professional Programs
College of Engineering

Decisionmaking as a Competitive Advantage Choosing by Advantages (CBA)

The 2-day course provides a comprehensive exploration of the Choosing by Advantages (CBA) sound decisionmaking process, essential for professionals in capital-intensive industries. Please note that the term "decisionmaking" is used intentionally in accordance with the formal CBA methodology, which employs this non-traditional spelling. Participants will delve into foundational principles, models, and methods of CBA, learning to effectively describe differences, decide importance, and recognize unsound methods. The course covers various decisionmaking contexts and simple to complex situations, applying either a quick mental process or practical written tools like the Tabular Method and MS Excel CBA Workbook. Attendees will also explore priority and resource allocation decisions, life cycle cost considerations, and the integration of CBA with Lean practices. Through demonstrations, interactive Q&A sessions, and hands-on activities, this course equips participants with the skills to soundly make informed, strategic decisions that enhance efficiency and profitability.

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Take course number RA00027 when it’s offered next.

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What You Will Learn:

Join our 2-day course, Decisionmaking as a Competitive Advantage: Choosing by Advantages (CBA), and master a proven decision-making process essential for professionals in capital-intensive manufacturing, facilities, and construction projects. Developed by Jim Suhr in 1981 and detailed in his influential works, CBA offers a structured five-phase approach to making sound decisions using both objective and subjective data. Participants will learn to discern decision contexts, effectively use data, and apply CBA methods through hands-on case studies. This course is designed for leaders, managers, engineers, and consultants, equipping them with practical skills to make better, more informed decisions, enhance collaboration, and drive continuous improvement in their organizations. Enhance your decision-making capabilities and achieve better outcomes in today's complex business environment.

Who Should Attend:

  • Organizational Leaders: Executives and managers in capital-intensive industries wanting to improve decisionmaking practices and enhance team collaboration.
  • Project Managers: Individuals responsible for overseeing large-scale projects and making key decisions.
  • Team Leaders: Those who lead teams and facilitate collaborative decisionmaking in manufacturing investment, facilities improvement, and construction projects.
  • Business Analysts: Professionals who review business proposals, assess financial viability, and provide recommendations for major investments.
  • Consultants: Advisors who guide organizations in various practices or seek to gain expertise in the Choosing By Advantages decisionmaking system.
  • Engineers and Technical Leads: Individuals who evaluate multiple technical options and select the best one for large-scale projects.
  • Stakeholders: Individuals or customers who want to ensure decisions affecting them or their constituents are soundly made in large, capital-intensive projects.

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Course Details: RA00027

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Course Outline

Day 1, Part I: Foundational Information  
  • Definitions, Principles, Models, Methods
  • The Discovery and Recognition of CBA
  • Correctly Describing Differences
  • The Principles of Deciding Importance
  • Unsound Methods
Day 1, Part II: Mutually Exclusive Alternatives Context
  • Methods for Simple Decisions
  • Methods for Moderately Complex Decisions
  • Methods for Complex Decisions
Day 1, Part III: Tools & Techniques                     
  • Hints and MS Excel CBA Workbook
  • Three Answers about Process
  • Toyota’s Principle 13
  • Online Software
Day 2, Part I: Foundational Information  
  • Demonstration
  • Deciding Importance
  • CBA Usage Q&A
Day 2, Part II: Priority and Resource Allocation Decisions     
  • Four Basic Contexts of Decisionmaking
  • Nonexclusive Proposals Defined
  • Priority Ratio
  • “With Minus Without” Increment
  • Margin
Day 2, Part III: Complex Allocation Decisionmaking     
  • Nonexclusive Proposal Prioritization for Allocations
  • Testing Weight of Importance in Allocation Decisionmaking
Day 2, Part IV: Special Situations  
  • Decisions using Life Cycle Cost
  • Integrating CBA in the Lean A3
  • Supplementary CBA Info
  • Special Techniques

Program Director & Instructors

  • John Koga

    Owner

    John Koga is a retired vice president of The Boldt Company, a prestigious construction firm founded in 1889 and recognized as an ENR Top 100 company. The Boldt Company has been a leader in Lean Construction principles for over two decades, known for its innovative Integrated Lean Project Delivery (ILPD™), takt-time planning, built-in-quality, safety, and Choosing By Advantages (CBA) Decisionmaking.
     
    John was an early adopter of CBA and introduced it to the lean construction community, significantly influencing lean methodologies in construction projects. As a vice president at Boldt, he championed these initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. His career included twenty years of consulting and teaching across various markets and project types. Mentored by CBA originator Jim Suhr since 2003, John assembled and taught this CBA training program for over ten years. At Boldt, he taught CBA to many clients and at Lean Construction Institute Congresses. As an independent consultant, he has taught Lean Construction and CBA for companies like McNeilus Truck and Oshkosh Corporation.

  • Program Director

    James Rink

Total Credits:
CEU 1.4, 
LU 14, 
PDH 14, 
Certificate Compatibility:
Technical Leadership,

Course Administration

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Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

  • Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
  • Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
  • You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

  • Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
  • Provide the registrations representative with:
    • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
    • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

  • Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
  • Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
  • Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Course Notes

Attendees will need a laptop on Day #2.  

This course is part of the Technical Leadership Certificate. Course may be taken individually as well.

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