The Solutions Criteria Matrix typically includes the following components:

Problem or Decision Statement: Begin by stating the problem or decision that needs to be addressed. This provides context for the evaluation process and clarifies the goal.

Criteria: List the criteria or factors that will be used to evaluate and compare the solutions. These criteria should be relevant to the problem or decision and should reflect the key attributes or aspects that matter most.

Weight or Importance: Assign a weight or importance score to each criterion to indicate its relative significance in the decision-making process. The weights can be represented as percentages or numerical values. The total weight should sum up to 100% or 1 to ensure normalization.

Solutions or Alternatives: List the different solutions, options, or alternatives that are being considered for the decision. Each solution is evaluated against the criteria.

Evaluation Scores: Evaluate and score each solution against each criterion based on predefined scales (e.g., a numerical scale or qualitative scale). The scores represent how well each solution meets each criterion.

Total Scores: Calculate the total score for each solution by summing up the scores across all criteria. This provides an overall assessment of each solution's performance.

Ranking: Rank the solutions based on their total scores, with the highest-scoring solution ranked as the most favorable and the lowest-scoring solution as the least favorable.

Comments or Notes: Include a section for comments or notes where evaluators can provide additional context, explanations, or qualitative insights regarding each solution's performance.

Recommendation: Based on the evaluation and ranking, make a recommendation for the best solution or course of action. This recommendation considers both the quantitative scores and any qualitative insights.

Decision: Indicate the final decision made based on the evaluation. This is the selected solution or alternative that will be pursued.

The Solutions Criteria Matrix is a valuable tool for making informed decisions in various contexts, such as project selection, product development, vendor selection, and more. It provides a structured and transparent way to assess and compare options, taking into account the relative importance of different criteria.

Additionally, the template allows decision-makers to communicate their rationale for the chosen solution, making it easier to gain buy-in from stakeholders.