PENNANTFree vendor evaluation scorecard
Compare the operating model—not the quality of the demo.
Score two dashboard options against ten weighted enrollment reporting criteria.
Evaluation principle
Every option should answer the same institutional question with the same representative data.
The weighted score organizes evidence; it does not replace product validation, references, security review, pricing, or contract diligence.
Evaluation criterion
CRM-confirmed outcomesWeight 5/5 · Connects spend to institution-confirmed funnel outcomes.
Period, cohort, YoY, and seasonalityWeight 5/5 · Supports the time lenses enrollment teams actually need.
Campus, program, and channel detailWeight 4/5 · Preserves decision-relevant organizational dimensions.
Definitions and data qualityWeight 5/5 · Exposes mappings, coverage, exceptions, and refresh status.
Pacing and goalsWeight 4/5 · Connects actuals with budgets, goals, and expected curves.
Leader usabilityWeight 4/5 · Answers recurring questions without analyst mediation.
Implementation effortWeight 3/5 · Makes access, history, mapping, and validation requirements explicit.
Ongoing ownershipWeight 4/5 · Defines who maintains credentials, logic, QA, and changes.
Privacy and securityWeight 5/5 · Minimizes data and supports appropriate access and governance.
Portability and total operating costWeight 3/5 · Clarifies exports, dependencies, services, and long-term ownership.
How weighting works
Ratings from 1 to 5 are multiplied by visible importance weights. CRM-confirmed outcomes, time context, definitions, and privacy receive the highest weights because gaps there can make a polished dashboard operationally misleading.
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