Methods I — Data Gathering & Analysis

Methods to collect, assess and evaluate data to understand a situation and inform decisions. Outputs are often presented as the visual artifacts in §4.6.6.

Analysis methods§4.4.1

Alternatives analysis — evaluate options to choose how to do the work.

Assumption & constraint analysis — integrate assumptions/constraints into plans, check consistency.

Benchmarking — compare products/processes to peers to find best practice.

Check sheet — tally sheet to collect attribute data during inspection.

Cost of quality (COQ) — conformance vs non-conformance costs.

Decision tree analysis — evaluate branching choices and outcomes.

Earned value analysis (EVA) — integrate scope, schedule & cost vs baseline.

Expected monetary value (EMV) — probability × impact of risks.

Forecasting — estimate future performance from past data (e.g. EAC).

Influence diagram — graphical aid to decision-making under uncertainty.

Life cycle assessment — environmental impact across a product’s life.

Make-or-buy analysis — produce in-house vs procure.

Probability & impact matrix — rank risks by likelihood × consequence.

Process analysis — find improvement opportunities in a process.

Regression analysis — relate output to input variables statistically.

Reserve analysis — check schedule/budget reserve vs remaining risk.

Root cause analysis — find the underlying cause of a variance/defect/risk.

Sensitivity analysis — which risks most affect outcomes (tornado).

Simulation (Monte Carlo) — many iterations to model combined uncertainty.

Stakeholder analysis — whose interests to weigh and how.

SWOT analysis — strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats.

Trend analysis — forecast future outcomes from historical results.

Value stream mapping — lean method to map & improve flow, expose waste.

Variance analysis — cause & degree of difference from baseline.

What-if scenario analysis — test scenarios’ effect on objectives.

Business justification methodsoften feed the business case

Payback period — time to recover the investment IRR — internal rate of return ROI — return on investment NPV — net present value Cost-benefit ratio — benefits vs costs