To compare responses fairly, a good answer to an important criterion must be weighted more highly than a good answer to a trivial criterion.
360 uses comparison-of-importance (this criterion is relatively more important than that criterion) in its underlying algorithms to determine best value for money.
In short, the important criterion must have a higher relative weight than the trivial criterion.
Step-by-step guide
To alter or change the weight of questions:
- Sign-in to https://360users.apetsoftware.com.au/ as the Request Manager
- From the main menu, click Requests
- If using the new look:
- Click Drafts
- Click Configure against the desired request
- If using the old look:
- Select the request from the list
- Click on the icon
Enter the Relative Weight (integer) for each weighted section and question
Only questions Weighted Question? selected will listed.
The percentages adjust automatically and its fine for a section or question to have a weighting of 0.
- Enter an Audit Reason if requested
- Click Update
Relative weighting is applied to both questions and sections.
- The executive team should identify importance at a macro level (section weightings)
For example: "Environmental Management" may be equally important as "Community Consultation" and only half as important as "Structural Integrity" so the sections' relative weights would be 5, 5, 10 (or a similar ratio) - The subject matter experts should identify importance at a micro level (question weightings)
For example: "Spill Containment Measures" may be not quite twice as important as "Dust Containment Measures" so the questions' relative weights would be 18, 10 (or a similar ratio)
Don't be tempted to use percentages. Relative weights are far easier to work with than percentages and 360 will calculate percentages for you.
Related articles
- What are the key terms in 360? (definitions/lexicon)
- How to weight criteria (questions) in the 360 internal portal to make some more important than others
- How to weight groups of criteria (sections) in 360 to make some more important than others
- How does the VFM (value for money) algorithm work in 360?