STEP 1: What do we want to know?
What information would we like to know in the future? How often do we want to know it?
STEP 2: Should it be measured? Why?
Ensure that the measurement will be used. Estimate how much the information is worth.
STEP 3: Define/refine what result you want to measure
Check if the result is formulated at the right level — that it is not an activity or output deliverable with near certainty.
STEP 4: Decompose what should be measured
Break any uncertain variable into constituent parts to identify directly observable things that are easier to measure.
STEP 5: Check secondary sources
Have others already measured it or parts of it?
STEP 6: What level of accuracy do we want?
Measure "just enough" — keeping the information value in mind.
STEP 7: Determine measurement instruments
Can the change be observed? Can you observe a sample? Does it leave a trail? Can it be tagged or forced to occur through an experiment?
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