Technology Evaluation Skill
Objectives
Provide structured methodology for evaluating technology choices:
- •Compare options objectively
- •Apply consistent evaluation criteria
- •Generate actionable recommendations
Evaluation Framework
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
- •Present Business Drivers: Goals and constraints
- •Present Architecture: Current and proposed systems
- •Identify Architectural Approaches: Key decisions
- •Generate Quality Attribute Tree: Priority ranking
- •Analyze Approaches: Sensitivity and tradeoff points
- •Brainstorm Scenarios: Risk scenarios
Comparison Matrix Template
| Criteria | Weight | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | X% | Score | Score | Score |
| Scalability | X% | Score | Score | Score |
| Maintainability | X% | Score | Score | Score |
| Cost | X% | Score | Score | Score |
| Team Fit | X% | Score | Score | Score |
| Weighted Total | 100% | Total | Total | Total |
Scoring Guidelines
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 9-10 | Excellent - Exceeds requirements significantly |
| 7-8 | Good - Meets all requirements well |
| 5-6 | Adequate - Meets minimum requirements |
| 3-4 | Marginal - Significant gaps exist |
| 1-2 | Poor - Does not meet requirements |
Technology Assessment Dimensions
Technical Fit
- •Requirement coverage
- •Performance characteristics
- •Scalability patterns
- •Integration complexity
Operational Fit
- •Deployment complexity
- •Monitoring capabilities
- •Maintenance burden
- •Support availability
Team Fit
- •Learning curve
- •Existing expertise
- •Hiring market
- •Community resources
Business Fit
- •Licensing costs
- •Vendor stability
- •Industry adoption
- •Future roadmap
Decision Templates
Build vs Buy
- •Total Cost of Ownership comparison
- •Core competency alignment
- •Customization requirements
- •Time to market impact
Technology Migration
- •Current state assessment
- •Target state definition
- •Migration path analysis
- •Rollback strategy
Vendor Selection
- •Feature comparison
- •Pricing analysis
- •Reference checks
- •Contract terms review
Output Specification
Technology evaluations should include:
- •Executive summary with recommendation
- •Detailed comparison matrix
- •Risk assessment per option
- •Implementation considerations
- •Decision rationale