Kritéria

Kritéria are standards or rules used to judge or decide something. In Czech, the plural kritéria refers to multiple such standards, while the singular is kritérium. The term derives from Greek kritērion, meaning a means of judging, and entered many languages through Latin and other historical layers of vocabulary.

In practice, kritéria function as reference points for evaluating options or outcomes. They can be objective, based on measurable data such as cost, duration, or reliability, or subjective, based on judgment and expertise. Criteria are often weighted to reflect their relative importance and may be used individually or in combination. Clear and well-defined kritéria improve transparency, accountability, and consistency in decision-making processes.

Applications span diverse fields. In research, eligibility criteria determine who may participate in a study. In education, assessment criteria define what constitutes adequate performance. In procurement and project management, evaluation criteria guide supplier selection and project success. In policy and administration, decision criteria help balance goals with constraints and risks.

Etymology and usage notes: kritéria is the standard Czech plural form of kritérium; the concept is widely found in many languages under similar variants of criterion. Understanding and documenting the criteria used in a decision aids reproducibility and fairness.