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SCORING METHODOLOGY For each product category the InfoWorld Test Center evaluates, we first determine which criteria are most critical to the buying decision, then assign a weighted percentage to each criterion based upon its importance. For any shipping product or service we test within that product category, we assign a score for each criterion (on a scale of 1 to 10), multiply each criterion's assigned percentage by its respective score, then add the resulting figures to calculate a total score. Finally, we assign a verbal rating based on that score. As of January 2005, products scoring below 4.9 are deemed "Unacceptable"; between 5.0 and 5.9, "Poor"; 6.0 to 6.9, "Fair"; 7.0 to 7.9, "Good"; 8.0 to 8.6, "Very Good"; 8.7 to 10, "Excellent." Scores related to products reviewed before January 2005 correspond to a different set of verbal ratings; the 2005 ratings system was not applied retroactively to those reviews. Scoring criteria will include a combination of any of the following: Availability: We gauge how consistently accessible the solution is. Ease of use: We determine how intuitive and user-friendly the solution is, keeping in mind who the intended user is. Interoperability: We gauge how seamlessly the solution interacts with various hardware and/or software or how well it supports various standards. Management: We assess how easy or difficult it is to administer the solution on an ongoing basis. Performance: We rate how well the product or service solves the problems it was created to address. Security: We rate how secure the solution is, if it adequately addresses security issues, or if it opens potential security holes. Reliability: We score how consistently the solution performs the way it is expected to perform. Scalability: We rate how much growth potential a solution has in relation to the rest of an organization's IT infrastructure. Setup: We rate the complexity and amount of time and effort required to get the solution up and running, relative to the implementation of solutions of similar size and functionality. Support: We rate the level of available customer support, be it in the form of documentation, online assistance, or live customer support. Value: We rate the overall value of the product in relation to similar products offering similar features and capabilities. The analyst and editor generally will not devise a new set of criteria for a product or service if one already exists for a similar solution. However, they may adjust criteria for various reasons. |
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