Assign each criterion a percentage weight, score every initiative on the same scale, multiply each score by its weight, and add the results. Discuss the weights before seeing which initiative wins.
- Weights express strategy, so agree on them before scoring candidates.
- Use anchored scores, such as what 1, 5, and 10 mean for each criterion.
- Run a sensitivity check to see whether a small weight change reverses the result.
Compare two initiatives
Scores use a 1-to-10 scale. Weights should add to 100%.
| Criterion | Weight % | Onboarding checklist | Enterprise SSO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer impact | |||
| Strategic fit | |||
| Delivery ease |
How weighted scoring works
Suppose Relay weights customer impact at 50%, strategic fit at 30%, and delivery ease at 20%. Each initiative receives a score from 1 to 10 on each criterion. The weighted total remains on a 1-to-10 scale when the weights add to 100%.
| Initiative | Impact 50% | Strategic fit 30% | Ease 20% | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onboarding checklist | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8.1 |
| Enterprise SSO | 7 | 9 | 3 | 6.8 |
Write criteria that do not overlap
If customer impact, user value, and satisfaction all measure nearly the same thing, that idea receives triple weight by accident. Prefer a small set of distinct criteria. Define the direction clearly so a higher number always means a more attractive choice.
Test the fragile parts of the decision
Change the most disputed weight or score within a plausible range. If the winner changes easily, the decision is sensitive and the team should gather evidence or preserve options. If the ranking stays stable, further scoring debate may not be worth the time.
Common mistakes
- Selecting weights after seeing the candidate scores.
- Using overlapping criteria that count the same benefit more than once.
- Scoring ease high on one item and scoring effort high on another.
- Adding many criteria until every stakeholder gets a private column.
Check your understanding
Impact has a 60% weight and scores 8. Ease has a 40% weight and scores 5. What is the weighted total?
6.8, because 8 x 0.6 + 5 x 0.4 = 6.8.
Sources
- ProductPlan: weighted scoringOverview of criteria, weights, candidate scores, and weighted totals.