Designing a Generalized Multiple Criteria Decision Support System

Abstract

Decision support systems are of many kinds depending on the models and techniques employed in them. Multiple criteria decision making techniques constitute an important class of DSS with unique software requirements. This paper stresses the importance of interactive MCDM methods since these facilitate learning through all stages of the decision making process. We first describe some features of Multiple Criteria Decision Support Systems ( MCDSSs) that distinguish them from classical DSSs. We then outline a software architecture for a MCDSS which has three basic components: a Dialog Manager, an MCDM Model Manager, and a Data Manager. We describe the interactions that occur between these three software components in an integrated MCDSS and outline a design for the Data Manager which is based on a concept of levels of data abstraction. (1) situations (structured, semi-structured, or unstructured) [~intzberg et a1 . , 1976; Keen and Scot t-Mor ton, 1978 I, (2) managerial levels within the organization (operational, tactical, and strategic) [~nthony , 19651, (3) phases of the decision-making process (intelligence, design, and choice) [Simon, 1960 1, and (4) decision styles of the decision-makers (rational, empirical, intuitive, or political) [Huber, 19801. Various definitions have been suggested for decision support (e . g . , [ Benbasat , 1977 I, [ Joyce and Oliver, 1977 I , [Sprague andWatson, 19791, and[Keen, 19801 ) . We will use the one given by Ginzberg and Stohr [ 1982 1 who define a DSS as "a computer-based information system used to support decision making activities in situations where it is not possible or not desirable to have an automated system to perform the entire decision processH. Based on this definition, an MCDSS can be considered as a 'specific' type of system within the broad family of DSSs. The major (1) They allow analysis of several criteria at once. These criteria may be either quantifiable (or 'objectivef) such as price, weight, etc., or non-quantifiable (or 'subjectivei) such as comfort, aesthetics, quality of service, etc. [~eleny , 1982 1.The criteria may also be conflicting [Shakun, 19811, e . , the improvement or achievement of one criterion can be accomplished only at the expense of another.(2) They allow subjective evaluation of the criteria and alternatives by weighting, rating, or ranking them. (6) By using the multicriteria techniques (feature ( 5 ) ) in an interactive way (feature (3) ) , the role of the MCDM models is to identify and explain the inconsistencies between the two perceptions (that of the decision-maker on the one hand, and that of the MCDSS as an expert/informer on the other) in a learning process. Center for Digital Economy Research Stem School of Business IVorking Paper IS-84-60Page 5The MCDSS must support the above processes and provide easy access to a wide range of standard MCDM methods as enumerated in (5) above.Several surveys of computer based MCDM that are relevant to the above discussion have appeared in the MCDM literature Ewallen...

Multiple Criteria Decision-Making in Management Accounting and Control-State of the Art and Research Perspectives Based on a Bibliometric Study

“…Anderson, ; Tullous and Utecht, ; Lin et al , ). MCDM techniques generate an important class of decision support systems with unique software requirements to support management decision‐making activities (Jelassi et al , ).…”

An experimental investigation of the interaction between displays and models in multicriteria decision support

“…This support typically requires an MCDSS to have (1) an extensive database, (2) a portfolio of multiple-criteria methods, i.e. models, and (3) a user-friendIy interface (Jelassi et al, 1984).…”