A decision is a conscious choice from among two or more alternatives. The restrictions placed on potential solutions by the nature and importance of the problem are called the:

• A. parameters
• B. assumptions
• C. criteria
• D. constraints

Answer: (D)

When making a choice among alternatives, the limits that shape what can be done because of the problem’s nature and importance are called constraints. They define the feasible set of solutions by restricting what’s possible, such as budget, time, resources, or regulatory requirements. Any option that violates a constraint isn’t a valid choice, so you narrow the field before comparing options.

For example, if you must select a plan within a $500,000 budget and a six-month deadline, those limits are constraints. They prevent options that exceed the budget or miss the deadline from being considered, leaving only feasible choices to evaluate further.

Criteria, by contrast, are the standards you use to judge among feasible options (like cost, quality, or risk). Assumptions are beliefs you accept as true for planning. Parameters are fixed values in a model that help define how a system behaves, not the limits on potential solutions in a decision.