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)

1. Present Business Drivers: Goals and constraints
2. Present Architecture: Current and proposed systems
3. Identify Architectural Approaches: Key decisions
4. Generate Quality Attribute Tree: Priority ranking
5. Analyze Approaches: Sensitivity and tradeoff points
6. 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

1. Total Cost of Ownership comparison
2. Core competency alignment
3. Customization requirements
4. Time to market impact

Technology Migration

1. Current state assessment
2. Target state definition
3. Migration path analysis
4. Rollback strategy

Vendor Selection

1. Feature comparison
2. Pricing analysis
3. Reference checks
4. Contract terms review

Output Specification

Technology evaluations should include:

• Executive summary with recommendation
• Detailed comparison matrix
• Risk assessment per option
• Implementation considerations
• Decision rationale