MultiCriteriaEntscheidungsanalysen

MultiCriteriaE is a framework for evaluating alternatives across multiple criteria to support decision-making in complex contexts. It provides a generic model for implementing multi-criteria evaluation, enabling the integration of diverse objectives, data types, and stakeholder preferences. In practice, it is used to compare options when trade-offs between effectiveness, cost, risk, and other factors must be considered.

Core concepts in MultiCriteriaE include defining a set of criteria, assembling data for each alternative, and assigning weights to reflect relative importance. Data can be quantitative or qualitative, and normalization methods are applied to bring different scales onto a common footing. The framework supports various aggregation approaches, from simple weighted sums to more sophisticated methods such as analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and outranking techniques like ELECTRE or PROMETHEE. The result is a ranked list or a recommended shortlist of alternatives, accompanied by an audit trail of assumptions and calculations.

MultiCriteriaE is typically designed with a modular architecture. Core modules cover criteria definition, data handling, weighting, scoring, aggregation, results visualization, and reporting. It is suitable for applications across sectors, including public policy, procurement, product design, environmental and sustainability assessments, urban planning, and healthcare prioritization. A key strength is the ability to conduct sensitivity analyses, examining how changes in weights or data affect outcomes, which supports transparent decision processes.

Limitations of MultiCriteriaE include the subjectivity inherent in weight assignments and the potential impact of data quality and method choice on results. Ongoing developments focus on improving user guidance, uncertainty handling, and integration with qualitative stakeholder input. See also MCDA, decision analysis, and multicriteria optimization.