Success Criteria and Constraints
What good looks like, and what limits the answer
- PhaseFrame
- Group3 to 12 people
- Time30 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
Success criteria and constraints sets out, before any ideas, what good looks like, what limits the answer, and what is out of scope. Ideas are later judged against the same list, which keeps the discussion fair.
When to use it
Before ideation, so ideas are judged against agreed criteria. Also when sponsors and teams define success differently.
When to skip it
When criteria are already set in a signed brief.
How to run it
- 10 minWrite what good looks like. Make each criterion measurable or observable.
- 10 minWrite the constraints that cannot move: budget, regulation, time, data.
- 5 minWrite what is out of scope.
- 5 minRead it aloud. Ask the sponsor to confirm.
About 30 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Criteria you cannot measure. Constraints that are really preferences. Skipping the out-of-scope list.
The AI lens
Add three AI-specific limits: how much error the work can tolerate, which data can and cannot be used, and which human role must stay.
What you leave with
A one-page set of criteria, constraints and exclusions, agreed with the sponsor.
An example
Success: ninety percent of routine queries resolved in the first reply. Constraint: no customer data leaves the region. Out of scope: replacing the complaints team. With these agreed, the group can tell a strong idea from an attractive one.
How it compares
Success Criteria and Constraints is the yardstick. The Decision Criteria Matrix, used later, applies a yardstick to compare options.
Related methods
Questions
What is Success Criteria and Constraints?
Success criteria and constraints sets out, before any ideas, what good looks like, what limits the answer, and what is out of scope. Ideas are later judged against the same list, which keeps the discussion fair.
When should I use Success Criteria and Constraints?
Before ideation, so ideas are judged against agreed criteria. Also when sponsors and teams define success differently.
How long does Success Criteria and Constraints take and how many people do I need?
Success Criteria and Constraints takes about 30 minutes and suits 3 to 12 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is Success Criteria and Constraints different from other methods?
Success Criteria and Constraints is the yardstick. The Decision Criteria Matrix, used later, applies a yardstick to compare options.
Can I run Success Criteria and Constraints remotely or with executives?
Yes. Success Criteria and Constraints works in the room or remotely. Remotely, put the canvas on a shared board in advance and write silently in the board, not in chat. Executives: Yes, works with executives present.