Ebook: Evaluation and Decision Models: a critical perspective

The purpose of Evaluation and Decision Models: A Critical Perspective is to provide a critical thinking framework for all individuals utilizing decision and evaluation models, whether it be for research or applications. It is axiomatic that all evaluation and decision models suffer some limitations. There are situations where a decision model will not perform to expectations. This book argues that there is no best decision or evaluation model, but that decision-makers must understand the principles of formal evaluation and decision models and apply them critically. Hence, the book seeks to deepen our understanding of evaluation and decision models and encourage users of these models to think more analytically about them.
The authors work in six different European universities. Their backgrounds are varied: mathematics, economics, engineering, law, and geology, and they teach in engineering, business, mathematics, computer science, and psychology in their universities. As a group, the authors have particular expertise in a variety of decision models that include preference modelling, fuzzy logic, aggregation techniques, social choice theory, artificial intelligence, problem structuring, measurement theory, operations research, and multiple criteria decision support. In addition to their decision analysis research, all the authors have been involved in a variety of high-impact applications which include software evaluation, location of a nuclear repository, the rehabilitation of a sewer network, and the location of high-voltage lines. It is this variety within the authorship that unifies this book into a systematic examination of how best formal decision models can be used. The monograph is an excellent tool for researchers of decision analysis and decision-makers.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Introduction....Pages 1-6
Choosing on the Basis of Several Opinions: The Example of Voting....Pages 7-28
Building and Aggregating Evaluations: The Example of Grading Students....Pages 29-52
Constructing Measures: The Example of Indicators....Pages 53-71
Assessing Competing Projects: The Example of Cost-Benefit Analysis....Pages 73-89
Comparing on the Basis of Several Attributes: The Example of Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis....Pages 91-152
Deciding Automatically: The Example of Rule Based Control....Pages 153-184
Dealing with Uncertainty: An Example in Electricity Production Planning....Pages 185-209
Supporting Decisions: A Real-World Case Study....Pages 211-242
Conclusion....Pages 243-252
Back Matter....Pages 253-274

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Introduction....Pages 1-6
Choosing on the Basis of Several Opinions: The Example of Voting....Pages 7-28
Building and Aggregating Evaluations: The Example of Grading Students....Pages 29-52
Constructing Measures: The Example of Indicators....Pages 53-71
Assessing Competing Projects: The Example of Cost-Benefit Analysis....Pages 73-89
Comparing on the Basis of Several Attributes: The Example of Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis....Pages 91-152
Deciding Automatically: The Example of Rule Based Control....Pages 153-184
Dealing with Uncertainty: An Example in Electricity Production Planning....Pages 185-209
Supporting Decisions: A Real-World Case Study....Pages 211-242
Conclusion....Pages 243-252
Back Matter....Pages 253-274
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