Separate criteria importance from option performance
Weights answer how important a criterion is; scores answer how well an option performs on it. Mixing those ideas makes the result hard to audit.
Normalize weights and explain the scale
The tool shows normalized weighting and keeps the scoring scale visible. Participants should agree on what 1 and 10 mean before scoring.
Use sensitivity instead of trusting the winner
A close result can reverse when one important weight changes. Sensitivity checks reveal whether the ranking is robust or depends heavily on one assumption.
Numbers do not remove judgment
A matrix structures a decision; it cannot discover missing criteria, ethical concerns, contractual risks, or information that was never entered.