Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) in Capital Projects

What is PDRI? A simple question that drives clarity in capital project planning.

How Measurable Scope Definition Drives Predictability and Cost Certainty | ROMAN Consulting Group 

In capital projects, success begins long before construction starts. 

The Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII), provides a structured way to measure how well a project’s scope is defined during front-end planning. 

Using a 1,000-point scoring system where lower scores mean better definition, PDRI evaluates three key areas: 

1. Basis of Project Decision – business objectives and feasibility 

2. Basis of Design – process data, technology, and equipment scope 

3. Execution Approach – procurement, controls, and startup strategies 

By converting subjective scope discussions into measurable data, PDRI helps teams close gaps, reduce risk, and align stakeholders. Strong scope definition directly supports the Basis of Estimate (BoE) and improves the accuracy of cost and schedule baselines. 

CII research shows that projects entering execution with a PDRI score below 200 achieve better cost, schedule, and change-order performance. The enhanced version, PDRI MATRS, adds measures of maturity and accuracy, giving organizations a deeper understanding of both deliverable quality and planning reliability. 

PDRI sessions bring together owners, EPCs, and contractors in a collaborative workshop to evaluate scope completeness. The results feed directly into estimating and even support should-cost estimating by improving visibility into scope maturity before vendor negotiations. 

For organizations integrating PDRI into governance, it becomes more than a checklist. It is a discipline for reducing bias, improving decision quality, and creating predictable outcomes. 

At ROMAN Consulting Group, we help owners improve early project definition by facilitating structured PDRI sessions that identify scope gaps, clarify boundaries, and strengthen alignment across teams. Our work integrates scope maturity assessments with independent estimating and risk reviews so decision makers have a transparent view of definition, uncertainty, and investment readiness before moving through each gate. 

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Related Articles 

• How to Build a Strong Basis of Estimate (BoE) 

• Should-Cost Estimating: Closing the Gap Between Price and Value 

• Front-End Planning Without Bias: Smarter Scope, Estimate, and Risk Decisions