Project Management Framework
Initiation - Alternatives

Definition

The Alternatives document offers various solution options to solve the business problem.

Why is this important?

It is important to document all of the options under consideration to achieve executive and business buy-in, and to verify that all options are included. The identified alternatives become potential solutions thatare then analyzed as part of the feasibility study.

Instructions

A tool to identify alternatives is included in the Information Services Board Core Systems Framework at: http://isb.wa.gov/committees/coresystems/alternatives.aspx The Core Systems Framework is a toolset designed to assist agencies with the monitoring, assessment, justification, and analysis of their respective core systems. The framework serves to facilitate and inform the discussion between an agency and members of the Information Services Board about proposed or existing IT systems. While these tools have been developed specifically to provide guidance to agencies that currently have or will have projects subject to oversight, they are applicable to all projects regardless of risk or severity.

The intent of the alternatives tool is to help organize reasons for considering or not considering specific alternatives for addressing a business need. To use the tool, download the document, review the rationales, and check those that apply. Update the rationale description with appropriate text. If there are additional rationales not listed in the tool, add rows to the applicable table and fill in information about the rationale.