MCDMmenetelmät

MCDMmenetelmät refers to Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. These are a set of techniques used to evaluate and rank alternatives based on multiple, often conflicting, criteria. The primary goal of MCDM methods is to assist decision-makers in selecting the most suitable option when a single objective is insufficient.

These methods are broadly categorized into two main groups: Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) and outranking methods. MAUT approaches typically involve assigning weights to each criterion and then calculating a utility score for each alternative. Outranking methods, such as ELECTRE and PROMETHEE, focus on pairwise comparisons of alternatives, determining which alternative is "better" than another based on a set of dominance relationships.

Common MCDM methods include the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), ELECTRE (Elimination and Choice Expressing Reality), PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations), TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), and the simple Weighted Sum Model (WSM). Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses, making the choice of method dependent on the specific decision problem, the decision-maker's preferences, and the available data.

MCDM methods find applications in a wide range of fields, including environmental management, finance, engineering, marketing, and public policy. They help structure complex decisions, make trade-offs explicit, and provide a transparent and systematic approach to selecting the best course of action.