Alternative Types

Independent Alternatives (独立型方案): The decision on one alternative has no effect on any of the others.

Relative Alternatives (相关型方案): The decision on one alternative influences the acceptance or rejection of others.

Composite Alternatives (混合型方案): 

Two alternatives are independent, the sub-alternatives are relative.

Two alternatives are relative, the sub-alternatives are independent. 

Note: “Do Nothing” always is a decision option.

Relative Alternatives

Mutually Exclusive Alternatives (MEA, 互斥型方案): All alternatives fulfill the same need and the selection of one implies that the others are excluded.

Complementary Alternatives (互补型方案): The acceptance of one alternative requires the acceptance of the other, and vice versa.

Contingent Alternatives (附属型方案): The acceptance of one alternative requires the acceptance of the other, but not vice versa.