How-To Consolidate Lookup Matrices in Jama Connect®

Author: Szabolcs Agai
Date: October 3, 2025
Last Updated: January 2026
Audience: Organizational Administrators, Risk Management–related End Users
Environmental Details:

Jama Connect® Cloud
Customer-Validated Cloud
Supported Self-hosted Versions

Use Case

In Jama Connect®, lookup matrices can be “daisy-chained,” where the output of one matrix feeds as an input into another. However:

Only two consecutive lookup matrices are supported natively.
Attempting to chain a third lookup matrix is not supported without:
- Using the Medical Risk Management Package (JCI XLS functions), or
- Creating a custom API script.

Example Workflow:

First Lookup Matrix: Input pick lists Probability 1 and Probability 2.
Second Lookup Matrix: Input pick list Severity plus the result of the first matrix.
Third Lookup Matrix: Input pick list Diagnostic Coverage plus the result of the second matrix.

This three-level “daisy chain” cannot be executed natively in Jama Connect®.

Best Practice

We can assess the structures and contents of the three lookup matrices to determine whether they can be consolidated into two matrices, allowing the native functionality of Jama Connect® to achieve the original goal.

Example:

First Lookup Matrix: Input pick lists Probability 1 and Probability 2.

Second Lookup Matrix: Input pick list Severity plus the result of the first matrix.

Third Lookup Matrix: Input pick list Diagnostic Coverage plus the result of the second matrix, producing the Final Risk value.

Three “daisy-chained” lookup matrices are not supported natively.

The workflow above cannot be achieved as-is without the JCI XLS package or a custom API.

Consolidation Approach

With analysis, we can create a consolidated version of the matrices to reduce them to two lookup matrices:

Two “daisy-chained” lookup matrices replace the original three.

Compromise: Severity and Diagnostic Coverage cannot remain separate pick lists; they are merged into a single consolidated pick list containing all variations.

Limitation: This approach works best when the consolidated pick list contains up to 10 values.

This approach enables native Jama Connect® functionality to achieve the desired risk-calculation outcomes without external packages or scripts.

Implementation

Analyze Existing Matrices: Determine whether consolidation is feasible based on structure and input values.
Confirm End-User Requirements: Ensure the single pick list approach is acceptable for workflows.
Consolidate Lookup Matrices: Use standard Jama Connect® configuration practices to merge matrices.
Validate Results: Confirm that the consolidated matrix produces correct outputs and behaves as intended.

Tip: Human logic is key in mapping combined pick lists to maintain accurate risk calculations.

References

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