Definition
STAR Technique
Situation, Task, Action, Result structure for evidence answers.
The STAR technique is a way of structuring a real example within a tender answer, covering Situation, Task, Action, and Result, so that evaluators can see clear evidence of capability rather than a vague claim. It is most useful wherever a question asks for a past example, a case study reference, or proof a stated approach has worked before.
The four parts explained
Each part of STAR does a distinct job, and skipping one is the most common way the technique gets undermined.
- Situation: brief context — the client, the setting, and why it's relevant to this tender
- Task: the specific challenge or requirement that had to be addressed
- Action: what the supplier actually did, in enough detail to show real capability, not just intent
- Result: the measurable or observable outcome, ideally with a figure, a client statement, or a concrete change
Why it works for evaluators
Evaluators scoring capability-based questions are trained to look for evidence rather than assertion. A claim like 'we have strong experience of contract mobilisation' carries little weight on its own; a two- or three-sentence STAR example showing a specific mobilisation, the challenge involved, what was done, and the outcome achieved gives the marker something concrete to award marks against.
Keeping the Action section the most detailed part, rather than spending most of the word count on Situation, is what usually separates a strong STAR example from a weak one — evaluators want to know what the supplier actually did, not just the backstory.
Common mistakes
Bidders often write long, scene-setting Situations and then compress the Result into a single vague sentence such as 'the client was very happy'. A Result should be specific wherever possible — a time saved, a cost reduced, a service level achieved — and should tie back directly to something the buyer's specification says it cares about.
Frequently asked questions
- Can STAR be used in an interview or presentation stage, not just written bids?
- Yes, it is commonly used for verbal answers at bid presentations or clarification interviews as well as written method statements, since it gives a clear, memorable structure that's easy to follow when listening rather than reading.
- How long should a STAR example be within a method statement?
- It depends on the available word count, but a tight example covering all four elements in a few sentences to a short paragraph is usually more effective than a lengthy narrative that leaves less room for the rest of the answer.
- What if the supplier doesn't have a perfect example to use?
- Use the closest genuinely relevant example and be honest about scale or context differences rather than exaggerating. An evaluator can usually tell when an example has been stretched beyond what it actually demonstrates, which damages credibility.
Related terms