Applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process for Tech Decisions

decision-makinganalytic-hierarchy-processarchitecturejavascriptconsensus

Abstraction: Pairwise-comparison AHP framework for structured technology framework selection

Key points:

AHP uses pairwise comparisons on a 1–9 scale for each option-vs-option and criterion-vs-criterion combination, then derives a weighted ranking
Comcast used 7 criteria (Community, Performance, Redux Compatibility, Web Components, Localization, Developer Productivity, Hybrid App Support) to select a JavaScript framework; process took ~6 hours
Community and Performance ranked most important; Developer Productivity third — others not critical
Limit options and criteria to 8 or fewer to avoid combinatorial explosion of required comparisons
Comcast open-sourced the tool at comcastsamples.github.io/ahp-tool; AHP charts are embedded in Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
Pairs well with nemawashi (open consensus-building) to ensure team buy-in on the final decision

Connections: Comcast · Analytic Hierarchy Process · Decision Making · Architecture Decision Records