Consult With Your Team

After performing a more indepth review of various technologies, talk with your team and weigh your options. Your team will include those who are directly involved in designing, developing, and implementing your project. It is critical to include each team member in your decisionmaking process, because they are the ones who will execute the plan. They will be able to determine what is needed and what will work best for the project.

Your team also includes all those who will be affected by the project, such as the building maintenance, security, and residential staffs. It is likely that all these people will have different viewpoints, desires, and opinions related to the project. A member of the maintenance staff, for example, is likely to heavily emphasize reliability and durability, while a residential staff employee might push for technologies with better indoor air quality for a healthier environment.

All the information you have gathered to this point for each technology should be organized and evaluated by you and your team. Develop a list of the pros and cons of each option and determine how they compare with the goals, objectives, and desired performance attributes you previously identified. Be sure to consider the economic and feasibility aspects of the technology as well. Although performance is important, combining evaluations of these three considerations will enable you to make the best decision for your project.