This book introduces readers to multicriteria decision aiding (MCDA) interventions used in complex situations. In each chapter, expert analysts propose a piece of the puzzle, while the final, complete puzzle offers an interesting reflection of the main challenges and difficulties associated with decision aiding interventions, as well as the different tools adopted in response. Particular attention is given to the approaches used to identify and overcome specific difficulties.

Designed for analysts familiar with several multicriteria methods but seeking detailed information and experience, this book helps to elaborate and validate MC models in real-life decision aiding interventions. In addition, it helps novice analysts appreciate the difficulty of decision aiding and use the available methods to reduce or control them with the help of socio-technical approaches.

Focuses on the difficulties or complexities of the decision problems that impact decision aid interventions Presents comprehensively a different application in each chapter Features a common framework to facilitating a conclusive and transparent synthesis of all the approaches

Autorentext
Maria Franca Norese is an Associate Professor of Operations Research at Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy. Her research interests are in the areas of multicriteria decision aiding, complex problem structuring, and decision support systems.

María A. de Vicente y Oliva is a full Professor at Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. Her primary research area is multicriteria decision aiding, where she has developed applications mainly in the field of health and innovation. She has participated in several research projects both at the regional and national level. She is an advanced user of the software diviz, which implements a variety of multicriteria decision methods. Irène Abi-Zeid is a full Professor at Laval University, Québec, Canada. She is specialized in multicriteria decision aiding with applications in transportation, urban planning, water quality and land use. She has conducted numerous projects in collaboration with governments and non-profit organizations. She has also developed MCDA-ULaval, an open source software implementing many multicriteria from the ELECTRE family.

Inhalt
Introduction.- What are the Results of an MCDA Intervention? Some Reflections.- Spatial decision support to reorganise the Swiss postal network.- A decision aiding methodology to compare patient classification systems.- A decision-aiding tool for the choice of road pavements and surfacing.- Multicriteria decision aiding for a shift towards best environmental practices in agriculture, with a focus on viticulture.- Multicriteria Decision Aiding An overview of some challenges of interventions in real life applications.- Contrasting applications in environmental planning and public procurement.- Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Policy Options.- GIS based/MCDA platform for strategic planning and complexity management in conflictual socio-ecosystems.