James M Carey

20040199417, Oct 7, 2004

Jul 2, 2003

10/612540

Randy Baxter - Mesa AZ, US
William Bliss - Wellesley MA, US
Stephen Biondi - Brookfield CT, US
Robert Bojanek - Ridgefield CT, US
James Carey - Rochester MN, US
Thomas Christopherson - Rochester MN, US
Charles Davis - Sleepy Hollow NY, US
Kathleen Diedrich - Rochester MN, US
Charles Gauthier - Stewartville MN, US
Uwe Hansmann - Durham NC, US
Katherine Imming - Rochester MN, US
Pamela Kaplan - Washington DC, US
Roger Kerr - Stamford CT, US
Brian Peterson - Ridgefield CT, US
Thomas Pitzen - Rochester MN, US
Christopher Wicher - Raleigh NC, US

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

G06F017/60

705/010000

Techniques are disclosed for assessing information technology products by comparing a product (including a product still under development) to a set of criteria. Each of the criteria may have one or more attributes, and may be different in priority from one another. The comparison is preferably directed toward ensuring, and/or improving, the product's acceptance by its target marketplace or market segment. In preferred embodiments, a product assessment score is created as a result of the comparison. When necessary, a set of recommendations for product changes is also created. The criteria/attributes may be prioritized in view of their importance to the target marketplace or market segment, and the assessment results are preferably provided to product teams to influence the importance of product planning and/or development efforts. Optionally, the assessment process may be used to determine whether the assessed product qualifies for a special designation that signifies support for the assessment criteria/attributes.