UCD Guide to Business Value and Technical Fit Scoring
At regular intervals, each application in use at UCD will be assessed for its Business Value and Technical Fit. This assessment will be conducted by representatives from the relevant Unit or School acting as the Business Owner, and by the Technical Owner of the application.
Specifically, the designated Application Business Manager and Application Technical Manager will be contacted to complete this evaluation, using a standard set of predefined questions.
The results of these assessments provide evidence to support investment or rationalisation decisions within the Application Portfolio. For further details, refer to Application Portfolio Management.
The Business Owner should evaluate the Business Value considering the following criteria;
| Metric |
Evaluate considering the following criteria: |
Scoring Scale |
| Business Value |
Strategic Alignment - Assess how effectively the application supports future strategic objectives and delivers unique, non-duplicative functionality. Current Operational Needs - Evaluate the extent to which the application meets current functional requirements, including accessibility, performance under load, and data quality. Value for Money - Consider the total cost of ownership in relation to the value delivered, taking into account licensing, implementation, maintenance, support, and overall return on investment. |
1 - Unreasonable 2 - Insufficient 3 - Appropriate 4 - Very Good |
The Technical Owner should evaluate the Technical Fit considering the following criteria;
| Metric |
Evaluate considering the following criteria: |
Scoring Scale |
| Technical Fit |
Architecture Alignment – Assess whether the application adheres to approved UCD technology standards, including compatibility with existing software platforms, hardware, and integration requirements. In-house Skills – Evaluate the availability of internal expertise needed to support, manage, configure, integrate, and develop the application. Maintainability – Measure how easily the application can be updated, scaled, and supported over time. Security Measures – Review the application's security posture, including features such as encryption, access control, monitoring, vulnerability management, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Vendor Viability and Support – Consider the vendor’s ongoing support for the product version in use, the quality of their support services, and the alignment of their development roadmap with UCDs needs. |
1 - Inappropriate 2 - Unreasonable 3 -Adequate 4 - Fully Appropriate |
| Notes |
| Assessment capture is contingent on the identification and agreement of both a Business Owner and a Technical Owner for each application. |
| To ensure accurate and meaningful results, Business Value and Technical Fit scores should consider all criteria. |
| Scoring should reflect the application’s actual use within UCD, rather than theoretical potential. For example, while an application may be considered an industry-leading solution, if it is not effectively implemented to meet UCD’s specific business needs or technical requirements, it should be rated accordingly with a low score. |
| Applications receiving low scores may be subject to follow-up reviews to determine the root causes—whether they stem from fundamental limitations or addressable configuration issues. |
| In the case of University-wide applications, the designated Business Owner is expected to consider the needs of all user groups across the University, not solely those within their own unit. |
| Rationalisation recommendations will be made within the broader context of UCD’s Enterprise Architecture. For instance, an application with strong business value and technical fit may still be recommended for migration or elimination if it does not align with UCD's overall strategic aims. |
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