The EVALUATING THE OPTIONS activity collects or develops the option data as it relates it to the key criteria. No attempt is made to define the "best" option at this point. Rather this is a learning process that sets the stage for the final selection by:

    Collecting data on the options
    Developing a set of scores for each criteria
    Defining additional data requirements
    Identifying outstanding issues
    Assessing the adequacy of the defined criteria

At the completion of the EVALUATING THE OPTIONS activity, the team has an initial sense of the relative merits of the options and has defined the outstanding data requirements. It knows the issues to be addressed, potential additional criteria and has laid the foundation for the final selection process.