Integrated Support from Problem Structuring through to Alternative Evaluation Using COPE and V·I·S·A

Abstract

Work in the field of multiple criteria analysis has generally focused on evaluation procedures, taking as its starting point a well‐defined problem with specified alternatives and criteria. However, in reality, problems are rarely so well‐structured; hence, in order to usefully support decision making in practice, multiple criteria analysts need to address the issue of problem structuring. In this respect, much can be learned from the body of work stemming from operational research and systems in the U.K., known collectively as problem‐structuring methods. In this paper we describe a study which sought to integrate one of these approaches, SODA (strategic options development and analysis), using the COPE software for cognitive mapping, with multiple criteria evaluation based on a multi‐attribute value function using V·I·S·A. The study took the form of a 2 day action research workshop to explore the strategic direction of the Supplies and Commercial Services Department of a large U.K. NHS Hospital Trust and to develop an action plan consistent with the agreed direction. Even though the workshop was intended to be exploratory, from the point of view of both the facilitators and the participants, it enabled the group to make progress towards the definition of a strategic direction and led to an increased understanding and awareness of the issues. Drawing on this experience, we comment in general on the potential benefits arising from the integration of these two approaches and suggest fruitful areas for future research and development of the software tools and associated methodologies. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Multi‐Crit. Decis. Anal. 6: 115–130 (1997) No. of Figures: 9. No. of Tables: 0. No. of References: 37.

Analyzing ethical practices in the public healthcare sector using fuzzy cognitive mapping

“…The selection criteria guaranteed a more holistic perspective on the decision problem in question (cf. Belton, Ackermann, & Shepherd, 1997). The process‐oriented nature of the methodological framework applied in the current research needs to be highlighted here.…”

A Combined Value Focused Thinking-Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Structure Decision Support for Energy Performance Assessment of School Buildings

“…Structuring a functional value hierarchy into a criteria tree can be carried out using two classical approaches: top-down or bottom-up [31,38,41,42]. The top-down approach identifies the fundamental objectives, which are then decomposed into lower level sub-objectives, down to the relevant attributes of the alternatives.…”

Modelling multicriteria value interactions with Reasoning Maps

“…Idiographic cognitive maps (ICMs) have been extensively and successfully employed in Operational Research to support problem structuring for individual decision-makers and groups (Eden, 1994;Eden & Ackermann, 2001, 2013bFranco & Lord, 2011). Since the 1990s there have been proposals to integrate ICMs with multicriteria analysis, following the pioneer paper by (Belton et al, 1997).…”