Applied digital library project management: Using paired comparison analysis to determine relative importance

Purpose – This paper sets out to define and describe paired comparison analysis as a method for prioritizing the factors that have the most impact in a digital library project. Design/methodology/approach – Using theory and example, the paper relates the use of paired comparison analysis to the successful prioritization of competing demands in digital library projects. Findings – Paired comparison analysis is useful to project managers and project teams alike as a means for prioritizing the issues, factors, and courses of action within a single project or among multiple projects, especially when these items are difficult to evaluate using an objective scheme. Originality/value – The paper fills a gap in the digital library project management literature by providing an overview of a useful tool to prioritize the issues, factors, and courses of action within a project or among several projects, particularly when these items cannot be compared based on similar measures.