deCriteria

Decriteria is a concept used to describe the process of removing, downgrading, or otherwise deprioritizing certain evaluation criteria in a decision-making framework. The aim is to reduce complexity, avoid redundancy, and focus attention on the most relevant factors for a given context.

The term combines the prefix de- meaning removal or reversal with criteria, the standards by which options are judged. In common usage, decriteria are distinct from criteria that are added or weighted differently; they are specifically about reducing or excluding certain aspects of evaluation.

Decriteria appear in governance, project management, risk assessment, product development, and data governance. They are often used during scoping or reform to streamline assessments, align evaluations with strategic goals, or comply with resource constraints. They can help avoid decision paralysis when many candidates and metrics exist.

Practitioners typically identify candidate criteria, map overlaps and redundancies, propose decriteria with clear rationale, and document the impact on outcomes. The process should be transparent and auditable to maintain accountability and prevent bias from unduly excluding legitimate considerations.

Critics warn that decriteria may obscure important tradeoffs, bias judgments by omitting relevant factors, or erode comprehensiveness. Effective use requires predefined thresholds, stakeholder review, and periodic reevaluation to ensure that decriteria remain appropriate as conditions change.

Related topics include decision theory, criteria weighting, value-based management, and requirements engineering.