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CBA Factors and Criteria

Use factors to organize comparison and criteria to state what is preferred before collecting attributes.

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CBA Factors and Criteria

Factors organize the comparison. Criteria define what is preferred for each factor. They guide attribute collection and prevent the team from writing advantages before knowing what the facts are.

Factor categories

Albarena supports strategic, financial, technical, operational, risk, user, legal, environmental, social, and other categories. Categories help review coverage; they are not factor weights.

Criterion direction

Use direction to make the preference test explicit:

  • Higher is better: larger values are preferred.
  • Lower is better: smaller values are preferred.
  • Closer to target: best value is near a target or range.
  • Qualitative: preference requires judgment and rationale.

Must-have criteria

A must-have criterion is a threshold for feasibility. If an alternative fails it, mark the alternative under review or rejected. Do not compensate for a failed must-have requirement by giving high importance elsewhere.

Common warnings

  • Factor has no criterion.
  • Criterion is vague or not testable.
  • Criterion mixes cost into advantage importance.
  • Multiple factors describe the same difference and may create double-counting.
From facts to importance

Keep the concept chain strict: criteria guide attribute collection; attributes produce advantages; advantages receive importance.