In the idea evaluation process, the classification criteria play a fundamental role. They ensure that all those involved in the approval process clearly understand which types of ideas are most relevant to the program at the moment, in addition to standardizing the evaluation method, thus establishing a quality benchmark. In general, these criteria complement the approvers' evaluation, determining the priority and importance of each idea based on pre-established parameters.This article addresses the following aspects related to Classification Criteria:
- What are classification criteria?
- Who will be able to view the classification tab and classification criteria
- Campaign classification criteria selection
- Mass criteria inclusion
- Delete criteria
- Idea without classification criteria
- Filling in the classification criteria at the stage
- Opinion request with classification
- Classification tab
- Mandatory filling criteria and stage advancement
What are classification criteria?
Stage-based Classification Criteria allow each phase of the approval flow to have specific evaluation parameters. This enables the campaign creator to define distinct criteria for each stage, ensuring a more accurate analysis suited to the context of each phase.
Thus, when requesting a technical opinion, the evaluator may require that the classification criteria corresponding to that specific stage be completed. In the Classification tab, the criteria evaluated for the idea in question are displayed, making it easier to visualize and follow the evaluation process.
Do changes generate a new approval flow?
Regarding campaign changes, specifically changes to Classification Criteria, the answer is yes. It is crucial to be aware that changes to already established Classification Criteria can significantly impact the approval flow, potentially triggering a new evaluation process. Actions that may generate a new approval flow include:
- If the number of configured criteria was changed;
- If a new criterion was configured;
- If any criterion configuration is on a new stage or was removed from a stage;
- If there was a change to the Mandatory Filling of any criteria.
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Note:To learn more about what a new flow is and what triggers a new flow on the platform, access: Which changes in campaign settings generate a new flow? |
Who will be able to view the Classification tab and Classification Criteria
On the Campaign editing screen, locate the Restrictions tab. Follow the path: Gear Menu > Campaigns > Pencil Icon > Restrictions tab > Restrict Viewing of Approval Step Information> item 2 Classification Criteria. You will see a selection list field WHO CAN VIEW THE CLASSIFICATION TAB:
Select an option in the field:
- All platform users: All users can view the classification tab.
- Approvers and Creators: Only users who are approvers at any step and the creators and other authors of the idea can view the classification tab.
- Only approvers: Only users who are approvers at some step of the idea can view the classification tab.
- Approvers, Creators, and Specific People: In addition to the idea's approvers and creators, it is possible to select specific groups or users without ties to the idea to view the classification tab.
- Approvers and Specific People: In addition to the idea's approvers, it is possible to select specific groups or users without ties to the idea to view the classification tab. Note that when selecting any option containing Specific People, a new field will appear to insert these groups or users. See the image:
In classification criteria, you can also define who will be able to view the classification criteria in the idea's approval steps.
The option Who can view the classification criteria in the idea steps follows the same pattern as the flag for who can view the classification tab in terms of fields. See the image:
| Note: The superuser permission always grants access to the classification tab, as well as to the classification criteria. |
Campaign classification criteria selection
The criteria are selected in the Classification tab in the campaign editing screen, as shown in the image below. It is worth noting that, to be selected, they must first be created. To learn more, read the article How to create classification criteria?.
Then, the option is enabled along with the button labeled Use classification criteria:
The criteria are displayed when clicking on the field Search classification criteria. The available options are shown by scrolling down the screen.
Clicking the checkbox next to the name allows you to select the criterion, completing the action by clicking the button
Add Criteria:
By clicking on Add criterion, a window opens allowing you to choose in which stages the criterion will be available and whether it will be mandatory or optional:
See below some configuration possibilities:
1) Criteria in the Creator’s Form: the creator can also classify the idea in a new tab called Classification on the New Idea submission screen.
2) Approval Flow Stages: below the Creator’s Form option, all stages of that campaign will be listed. By default, they are all unchecked and can be selected individually or all at once by clicking the Select All button.
| Note: If a criterion is saved without selecting any stage, that criterion will not appear in any stage. |
3) Mandatory Filling: The selection of the criterion's mandatory filling is made together with the choice of the stage in which it will be available. This way, a criterion can be mandatory in one stage and not in another. It can be selected for all stages by clicking the Mark all as Mandatory Filling button.
4) Functionality of the Select All and Mark all as Mandatory Filling buttons: These buttons "interact" with each other. Thus, if you click Mark all as Mandatory Filling, all stages will automatically be selected.
Note that clicking Select All a second time undoes the actions of the first click. The second click's actions override the first.
Mass criteria inclusion
This feature is ideal for criteria that need to be in the same stages and have the same mandatory setting. With it, we can include all criteria at once. To do this, just select the Select All option:
After selection, you can undo by clicking Clear selection:
By selecting all criteria and clicking Add criteria, a configuration screen opens that applies to all previously selected criteria. The selected criteria are displayed in the header of the screen. If it exceeds the 50-character limit, clicking the See more button shows the names, and the See less button hides them again:
Note that clicking Select All a second time undoes the actions of the first click. The changes from the second click override those of the first.
Delete criteria
When a criterion has already been included in the campaign, you can edit or delete it. For the latter option, click on the “X” icon:
When doing so, a confirmation screen asks if the user is sure they want to delete the criterion and informs that the criterion will no longer appear in any approval step of ideas submitted in the future, but it will continue to be evaluated in previous ideas:
Idea without classification criteria
If no criteria are selected, none will be displayed in the steps. In this case, the classification tab will appear as follows:
In the step tab, only the step analysis field and the opinion request (if enabled) are displayed. This is also the view for steps where there is no criterion to be answered.
Filling in the classification criteria at the stage
The classification criteria are evaluated directly in the step tab, just above the step analysis/observation, as shown in the image below:
Opinion request with classification
When the evaluator of the step requests a technical opinion, it is possible to require that the opinion issuer also classify the idea. Right after clicking issue an opinion on the request screen, besides choosing the responsible person and writing your request, you can check the option Request the completion of classification criteria.
By selecting this option, all criteria for the step can be evaluated by the opinion issuer.
| Important! Filling in the classification criteria within the opinion is optional, even if the step requires mandatory filling. |
On the idea editing page, just below the opinion's average rating, the most voted answers of the criteria answered in the opinion are displayed, followed by the number of votes each received. In case of a tie, the tied options are shown in two lines on the same row:
| Note: If the Evaluation column field becomes too large, a See More button will display the remaining tied answers. |
By clicking the Eye icon to view the opinion, it displays the requester, whether it is favorable or not, and the opinion content along with the evaluated criteria.
Classification tab
In the classification tab, an overview of all criteria evaluated in that idea is displayed, showing the answer from the last stage where the criterion was evaluated and the stages where it has been or will still be evaluated. In addition, the opinions submitted are shown at the end.
When expanding the opinion section, these evaluations are also displayed, along with the evaluator's name and role, as well as the final stage assessment:
Next to the title General Criteria of the Idea, an information icon shows — when hovered over — the message that the answer from the last evaluated stage is being considered.
If a criterion has not yet been answered, a message will appear instead of the response, indicating it has not yet been answered by the evaluator. For example:
In this case, the same criterion will be answered in three different stages. Therefore, all those stages are listed on the right side:
Right below the general criteria of the idea, the financial return and investment fields are displayed, which are detailed in the section Return and investment options.
Analysis and prioritization
In the analysis and prioritization section, similar to how criteria are displayed in the classification tab, the response from the last evaluated stage will be considered. For example, in campaign X the Gain Potential criterion was evaluated in stage 1 and stage 2. If the response was 10,000 in stage 1 and 50,000 in stage 2, the system will consider 50,000 as the valid answer for this criterion, since it is the latest. This rule applies to both scoring and idea reclassification.
Return and investment options
When configuring your campaign, you can activate the financial return and investment fields and then decide whether their completion is optional or mandatory. By default, they are set as optional.
This field is displayed (editable) in the classification tab, and is not linked to any specific stage.
Mandatory filling criteria and stage advancement
When there is a mandatory criterion in the current stage of the flow, attempting to move the idea to another stage, approve, or reject it will block the flow. That is, filling in the criterion at that stage will be required.
In cases of direct approval or rejection where there are mandatory criteria in the subsequent stages (after the current one) and no mandatory criteria in the current stage, the criteria will not be required and the user will be able to approve or reject normally.
Saving the analysis of a stage without having filled in criteria should not require mandatory criteria completion.
If there is any mandatory criterion to be filled in the current stage and the evaluator changes the person responsible for the evaluation of the stage, the system will not require the criteria to be filled in. This responsibility will fall to the new evaluator when they move the idea forward.