IMAT 637 UMDC IMAT 637 – Discussion Question 9-1

Read and contribute to peer discussions in 100 or more words each.

Peer 1

As illustrated, Template 13 is one of the effective ways of evaluating and selecting the best proposal. It is not a one size fits all criterion because there are other aspects of a project selection that is missing(e oral presentation. I understand the template summarizes and compares the evaluation result to enable the project manager to select a better project from a list of options; supplementing the source selection matrix with an oral presentation can help the project manager to choose the best project. The oral presentation opens the floor for the project team and sponsors to drill the vendors with questions on how the proposed IT service will meet the needs of the organization and check if it complies with the organization’s strategy. Also, through the presentation, “evaluators can request additional information or clarification regarding the technical information included in the offer” (www.learn.umgc.edu).

                                                        Reference

Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Retrieved on February 10th 2022 from https://learn.umgc.edu/d2l/le/content/732226/viewC…

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PEER 2

Michael Johnson

A source selection matrix is a good way of organizing the decision-making process for selecting a potential contractor for a procurement. However, there are a number of associated advantages and disadvantages with using a source selection matrix. For instance, an advantage of using a decision matrix is it allows you to prioritize criteria that can be weighted and applied when comparing contractor proposals, thus using a quantitative process (Peek, 2023). In addition, a decision matrix can assist to remove bias from a decision, as it will make the members of the evaluation team to seriously reflect on their evaluations of proposals (ActiveCollab Team, 2022). Despite the many advantages to decision matrix there are also a number of disadvantages, such as there is no way of knowing if the decision matrix displays a complete list of criteria or not and if the criteria listed truly includes truly highly important criteria, rather than less important criteria that just serves as a distraction from the more important criteria categories (ActiveCollab Team, 2022). Furthermore, it is important that the ratings are truly quantitatively based (ActiveCollab Team, 2022). However, what is highly important to take advantage of a source selection matrix is to have a defined process for evaluation criteria, as per the Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures, which provides a detailed process for each procurement category (DAU, 2022). However, the source selection matrix is just a means for collecting information on the evaluation of each contractor proposal and a source for resolving varying conflicting ratings by the selection team, ultimately the selection team members summarize their findings and opinions in a summation document. In conclusion, the use of a source selection matrix is a good way to organize the evaluation criteria and ensure each selection team member are using the same criteria to evaluate the contractoràproposal.  

References

ActiveCollab Team (2022). Pros and Cons of a Decision Matrix. Retrieved from https://activecollab.com/blog/project-management/pros-cons-decision-matrix

DAU (2022). Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures. Retrieved from https://www.dau.edu/pdfviewer/Source/Guidebooks/DoD-Source-Selection-Procedures-(SSP).pdf

Peek, S (2023, February 21). What Is a Decision Matrix? Definition and Examples. Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6146-decision-matrix.html