Criteria
Agreed standards, rules, or test conditions that provide the basis for making decisions or for judging the quality and performance of a product, service, deliverable, or process.
Key Points
- Provide an objective, measurable basis for decisions and evaluations.
- Should be defined and documented early in planning (e.g., acceptance, selection, or exit criteria).
- May be qualitative or quantitative and can be weighted to compare alternatives.
- Must be clear, testable, and verifiable through inspection, measurement, or analysis.
Example
In vendor selection, the team establishes evaluation criteria such as total cost (40%), technical capability (30%), schedule compliance (20%), and past performance (10%), with a minimum technical score of 70%. Proposals are scored against these criteria to choose the supplier.
PMP Example Question
During Plan Procurement Management, the team wants an objective way to compare vendor proposals. What should they develop to guide their decision?
- Assumption log
- Evaluation/selection criteria
- Change control system
- Stakeholder register
Correct Answer: B — Evaluation/selection criteria
Explanation: Evaluation or selection criteria are the standards, rules, or tests used to judge proposals objectively and support a fair procurement decision.
