What are the best practices for documenting evaluation and selection criteria for a BA project?

2 Identify the evaluation and selection criteria

Once you have defined the problem and the objectives, you need to identify the evaluation and selection criteria that will guide your decision making process. These criteria are the attributes or characteristics that you will use to compare and rank the alternative solutions. You can use techniques such as brainstorming, stakeholder analysis, requirements analysis, and SWOT analysis to identify the evaluation and selection criteria. Some examples of common criteria are feasibility, alignment, usability, quality, performance, and cost.

3 Prioritize and weight the criteria

Not all criteria are equally important for your project. You need to prioritize and weight the criteria according to their relevance, impact, and urgency. You can use methods such as MoSCoW, pairwise comparison, or scoring models to prioritize and weight the criteria. Prioritizing and weighting the criteria will help you to focus on the most critical factors and avoid bias or inconsistency in your evaluation and selection process.

4 Document the criteria and the evaluation method

After you have prioritized and weighted the criteria, you need to document them and the evaluation method that you will use to apply them. You can use templates such as evaluation matrix, decision tree, or cost-benefit analysis to document the criteria and the evaluation method. Documenting the criteria and the evaluation method will help you to communicate them to stakeholders, obtain feedback, and justify your recommendations.

5 Evaluate and select the solution

Finally, you need to evaluate and select the solution that best meets the criteria and the objectives. You can use tools such as scoring sheets, rating scales, or ranking tables to evaluate and select the solution. You should also document the results of your evaluation and selection process, including the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each solution. Evaluating and selecting the solution will help you to deliver value to your organization and stakeholders.

6 Review and refine the criteria and the solution

Evaluation and selection criteria are not static. They may change over time due to new information, feedback, or changes in the environment. You need to review and refine the criteria and the solution periodically to ensure that they are still valid, relevant, and effective. You can use techniques such as lessons learned, change management, or validation testing to review and refine the criteria and the solution. Reviewing and refining the criteria and the solution will help you to improve your project outcomes and adapt to changing needs.