title: Multi-criteria decision analyses. Viewing MCDA in terms of both process and aggregation methods: some thoughts, motivated by the paper of Huang, Keisler and Linkov.
abstract: The paper of Huang, Keisler and Linkov (HKL) (Huang et al., 2011) has motivated us to this note about the relation between ranking procedures and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tools. The key concept in the HKL-paper is in our eyes the 'trade-off'. A 'trade-off' seems necessary, when conflicting indicator values are present. HKL stress that the general application of MCDA is hampered by different terminology. We do not claim to have a solution for that problem. Nevertheless, we think that the discussion is worthwhile and this note presents some of our ideas, which basically imply the need of a broadening of the definition of MCDA.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department Ecohydrology, Müggelseedamm 310, D-12587 Berlin, Germany. Brg_home@web.de
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruggemann
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlsen
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004463:Ecology / Q000639:trends*