BRAINSTORM AND

CLUSTER CRITERIA

2014 v1.02014 v1.0

Define Decision: Identity Criteria

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Identify Criteria

Identify Participants

1. Brainstorm2. Cluster3. Define4. Refine

1. Brainstorm2. Cluster3. Define4. Refine

Identify Alternatives

Build Ratings Scales

Define

Building Your Decision Model Criteria Tree

A structured four step process of criteria development works well

1. Brainstorm – Develop ideas for criteria

2. Cluster – Build hierarchy by grouping like criteria

3. Define – Describe the meaning of each criterion

4. Refine – Finalize criteria structure and definitions

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Criteria are the driving factors used to define success for a specific decision, represent either a broad goal or specific objective against which an alternative is evaluated, and are specific to the decision goal

Criteria are the driving factors used to define success for a specific decision, represent either a broad goal or specific objective against which an alternative is evaluated, and are specific to the decision goal

1. Brainstorm Criteria

Uninhibited free flow of ideas Even if it seems a little wacky, as long as it has to do with the

problem, get it out there

Begin independently Start by having everyone brainstorm privately by jotting down

3-5 important criteria

Feel free to piggyback on other ideas Use one another’s ideas to get at the full scope of the problem

Don’t criticize any ideas until brainstorming is concluded You use a different part of your brain to critique than create;

keep critique turned off for now

Don’t worry about clustering or defining criteria yet

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2. Cluster Criteria

Do any criteria seem redundant?

Begin dragging criteria under the decision goal to develop the hierarchy tree

Do any criteria seem to “go” together? Group like criteria Create a descriptive heading for the grouping

Do the child criteria fully describe that parent criteria?

Do the parent criteria fully describe the decision goal?

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Brainstorm Criteria

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Type Brainstormed ideas into the space provided and click This feature may be used as a whiteboard for the facilitator while also allowing for remote collaboration by participants

Type Brainstormed ideas into the space provided and click This feature may be used as a whiteboard for the facilitator while also allowing for remote collaboration by participants

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Cluster Criteria

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Note: You can move criteria around different levels by dragging and dropping into the Decision Goal for a higher level criteria or dropping into the highest level to create sub factors.Note: You can move criteria around different levels by dragging and dropping into the Decision Goal for a higher level criteria or dropping into the highest level to create sub factors.

Cluster like concepts into broader categories. Drag and drop from the Brainstorm Criteria pane to the main screen

Cluster like concepts into broader categories. Drag and drop from the Brainstorm Criteria pane to the main screen

In this example, Traffic volume, Truck volume, Insufficient Capacity, and Construction Material are clustered under the parent Site Characteristics

In this example, Traffic volume, Truck volume, Insufficient Capacity, and Construction Material are clustered under the parent Site Characteristics

To Add Peer or Add Child to a Criterion, click To Add Peer or Add Child to a Criterion, click 1 2

Best Practices for Criteria Development

Brainstorm with a few key players and SMEs to create a strawman proposal (don’t start with too many cooks in the kitchen)

Let the broader set of stakeholders throw darts at the strawman What’s missing? What is duplicative? What is unclear in the

definitions?

Conduct either a top down or a bottom up approach Top down – begin with objectives and drivers Bottom up - pick two different alternatives and list pros and cons;

important differentiators, are likely factors to consider for all alternatives

Ensure that all voters have a chance to provide feedback prior to Collecting Priorities – buy-in is best achieved when stakeholders feel “vested” in the model

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Best Practices for Criteria Development cont.

Keep it simple! Criteria hierarchies should not be an exhaustive list

Criteria development is more of an art than a science – there are no concrete right or wrong answers

Criteria can be action oriented, but remember to keep criteria and solutions (alternatives) separate

Verify that you can get data to support the criteria in your model – if not, evaluate suitability of the criteria

Cost is not necessarily a criterion It may be a resource to allocate based on the value delivered

by the alternatives If used, how will you evaluate the criterion? What is

considered a “good” cost vs. a “bad” cost?

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