Testing Record

  Proposed Action:___________________________________________________________________________________

  Problem (if dealing with a problem):_____________________________________________________________________

  Alternatives being compared: (1)______________________ (2)________________________(3)_____________________


  1. CAUSE AND EFFECT: Does this action address the root cause of the problem?
Pass Fail
  2. WEAK LINK
      Social:      Could this action, due to prevailing attitudes and beliefs, create a weak link in the chain of actions
                         leading toward your holistic goal?
      Biological: (problem organism)
                         Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of this organism?
                         Are we dealing with too many or too few organisms?
                         What's the weakest point in its life cycle?
                         Does this action deal with it at this point?
      Financial: Does this action strengthen the weakest link in the chain of production?
Pass Fail
  3. MARGINAL REACTION (Comparing two or more actions)
                        What action provides the greatest return, in terms of your holistic goal, for the time and money
                         spent when compared to the alternatives?
                         (1) _______________________ (2) _____________________ (3) _______________________
                         Estimate of dollars spent: __________________ Estimate of hours labor: __________________
Pass Fail
  4. GROSS PROFIT ANALYSIS (comparing two or more enterprises)
                        Which enterprise contributes the most to covering the overhead of the business?

Pass Fail
  5. ENERGY/MONEY, SOURCE & USE:
                        Is the energy or money to be used derived from the most appropriate source in terms of your
                        holistic goal?
                        Will the way in which the energy or money is to be used lead toward your holistic goal?
                                            Input testing for:                                      Energy                    Money
                                                  Source of input
                                                  Is it consumptive?
                                                  Does it create dependency?
Pass Fail
  6. SUSTAINABILITY:
                        If you take this action, will it lead toward or away from your future resource base?
Pass Fail
  7. SOCIETY AND CULTURE:
                        How do you feel about this action now?
                                                                        Will it lead to the quality of life you desire?
                                                                        Will it adversely affect the lives of others?
Pass Fail
  
RESULT OF TESTING
Pass Fail
MONITORING:
If this possible action passes, assume it's wrong.
And, list out how we'll know it's a mistake (early warning criteria).
  
1.________________________________________________________________________________________________

  
2.________________________________________________________________________________________________

  
3.________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: At Home With Holistic Management by Ann Adams, Copyright Acknowledgement: Allan Savory Center for Holistic Mgnt