Monikriteerianalyysiä

Monikriteerianalyysiä, often translated as multi-criteria analysis (MCA) or multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), is a systematic approach used to evaluate and rank decision alternatives based on multiple, often conflicting, criteria. It provides a structured framework for decision-makers when faced with complex choices that cannot be easily resolved by considering only a single objective. The core principle involves identifying all relevant criteria, assigning weights or priorities to these criteria to reflect their relative importance, and then scoring each alternative against each criterion.

The process typically begins with defining the problem and identifying the decision-makers. Subsequently, a set of alternatives is generated. The crucial step involves identifying the criteria that will be used to evaluate these alternatives. These criteria can be qualitative or quantitative, and their selection is critical for the analysis's validity. Once the criteria are established, their relative importance is determined, often through methods like pairwise comparisons or direct weighting. This is followed by assessing how well each alternative performs against each criterion. Finally, the scores and weights are combined using a chosen aggregation method, such as weighted sum, AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), or ELECTRE, to produce an overall score for each alternative, facilitating a ranked list and informed decision-making. MCA is widely applied in fields like environmental management, public policy, engineering, and business.