To solve a problem, a large number of possible solutions may exist. Looking at existing options first is most efficient; you a track record and a paper trail that allows for effective analysis of what works and doesn't work with each option.

• When you look at these alternatives,
  
  Identify the viable alternatives. Viability is not merely technical, it is concerned with acceptability as well
• Screen these alternatives for adequate evidence for further analysis
• Provisionally examine these alternatives by the criteria that will be used for evaluation and eliminate the obvious duds
• Select the remaining candidates for further consideration

If no existing possible solution looks like it will be adequate, begin to develop a new solution that will satisfy the evaluation criteria.

FutureSystems and EAPs

Employee Assistance Programs vary widely in how they operate. In its simplest form, the employer refers the employee to the services locally available. These programs typically involve little employer management and minimal costs. Some companies offer in-house services and tie employee performance and treatment progress together. The most common type of EAP, generically called Outside Programs, involves a contract between the company and an EAP service provider. The services provided are negotiated on a regular basis, usually annually. Employees find this most helpful. Some industries form a consortium and contract with an EAP provider on a regional basis.

Each system has a different justification for its adoption, depending on the company's definition of the employer-employee relationship, its commitment to non-salary compensation, the amount of time the company is willing to invest into the productivity and well-being of its employees, and the right to privacy. These philosophical stances need to be compared.

Each program varies by the interaction among the employer, employee and the service provider, where the service is conducted, how confidentiality is handled, and the treatment programs it offers. The way the program is administered, the delivery of its services, and the methods of evaluating the program's success need to be compared.

These comparative tasks are discussed in the next two sections.

Analyzing Alternatives