Interactive Decision Support Systems - The Case for Discrete Alternatives for Committee Decision Making

One of the important problems in decision analysis relates to the situation, where the committee (group of decision makers) has to select the best alternative from a given, finite set. In most cases, the alternatives are evaluated on the basis of several quality factors. In the paper, the authors present the concept of decision support systems in the context of such a decision situation and discuss several issues relating to the computer implementation of group decision support systems. The presented approach is based on the theory of aspiration-led decision making and the satisfactory principle, which ensures proper structuralization of the decision process and allows proper balance of opinion between the group members

Aspiration Based Decision Analysis and Support Part I: Theoretical and Methodological Backgrounds

In the interdisciplinary and intercultural systems analysis that constitutes the main theme of research in IIASA, a basic question is how to analyze and support decisions with help of mathematical models and logical procedures. This question -- particularly in its multi-criteria and multi-cultural dimensions -- has been investigated in System and Decision Sciences Program (SDS) since the beginning of IIASA. Researchers working both at IIASA and in a large international network of cooperating institutions contributed to a deeper understanding of this question. Around 1980, the concept of reference point multiobjective optimization was developed in SDS. This concept determined an international trend of research pursued in many countries cooperating with IIASA as well as in many research programs at IIASA -- such as energy, agricultural, environmental research. SDS organized since this time numerous international workshops, summer schools, seminar days and cooperative research agreements in the field of decision analysis and support. By this international and interdisciplinary cooperation, the concept of reference point multiobjective optimization has matured and was generalized into a framework of aspiration based decision analysis and support that can be understood as a synthesis of several known, antithetical approaches to this subject -- such as utility maximization approach, or satisficing approach, or goal -- program -- oriented planning approach. Jointly, the name of quasisatisficing approach can be also used, since the concept of aspirations comes from the satisficing approach. Both authors of the Working Paper contributed actively to this research: Andrzej Wierzbicki originated the concept of reference point multiobjective optimization and quasisatisficing approach, while Andrzej Lewandowski, working from the beginning in the numerous applications and extensions of this concept, has had the main contribution to its generalization into the framework of aspiration based decision analysis and support systems. This paper constitutes a draft of the first part of a book being prepared by these two authors. Part I, devoted to theoretical foundations and methodological background, written mostly by Andrzej Wierzbicki, will be followed by Part II, devoted to computer implementations and applications of decision support systems based on mathematical programming models, written mostly by Andrzej Lewandowski. Part III, devoted to decision support systems for the case of subjective evaluations of discrete decision alternatives, will be written by both authors

A Prototype Selection Committee Decision Analysis and Support System, SCDAS: Theoretical Background and Computer Implementation

One of the important problems in decision analysis related to the situation, where the committee (group of decision makers) has to select the best alternative from a given, finite set. In the most cases, the alternatives are evaluated on the basis of several quality factors. In the paper, the authors present the new approach, based on the principle of satisfactory decision making. This approach ensures proper structuralization of the decision process and allows proper balance of opinion of the group member. The experimental decision support system SCDAS was developed to test this approach

Multiobjective and Stochastic Optimization

This book is divided into four main sections, the first of which contains five papers dealing with the theoretical aspects of multiobjective and stochastic optimization. The seven papers included in Section II are concerned with those aspects of multiobjective analysis which have a direct relationship to decision making (some papers in Sections III and IV are also linked to decision making or decision support, although not so directly). Section III contains four papers dealing with uncertainties and multiobjective analysis. The first and last papers in this section also present solution techniques which are illustrated by means of examples. The final section contains papers which concentrate on solution techniques and indicate how they can be applied to practical problems; the software presented in this section can be regarded as a step toward computerized decision support systems. Naturally, some of the papers in other sections also touch on applications of multiobjective and stochastic optimization: examples are drawn from a wide range of activities, including regional planning, environmental control, wage negotiation and energy planning

Reasumpcje i limitacje Trybunału Koronnego w latach 1660–1700

The period since the end of the Second Northern War until the outbreak of the Great Northern War was the moment of a firm functioning of the Crown Tribunal. Only during that time, the Tribunal resumption was stopped three times which was caused by interregnum. The Tribunal’s work was not resumed during the following terms of office: 1668–1669, 1674–1675 and 1696–1697. Also during that period, the inauguration of the Tribunal courts was delayed few times. Because of awaiting for the end of a coronation sejm, there was a delay in resumption in the following terms of office: 1669–1670, 1675–1676 and 1697–1698, and because of the Gołąbska Confederation, in the 1672–1673 term of office, the Tribunal resumption started at the beginning of 1673. Between 1660 and 1700, the meeting of Tribunal was finished earlier three times. Such situation took place during the terms of office: 1667–1668, 1673–1674 and 1695–1696, which was caused by abdication of Jan Kazimierz and death of the first “countrymen kings”. What is more, the operation of the Tribunal was disrupted four times because of the levy in mass. Such limitations happened in the years 1667–1668, 1669–1670, 1670–1671 and 1671–1672.Okres od zakończenia drugiej wojny północnej do wybuchu wielkiej wojny północnej charakteryzował się stabilnością w funkcjonowaniu Trybunału Koronnego. W tym czasie tylko trzykrotnie nie doszło do reasumpcji Trybunału, co było spowodowane bezkrólewiami. Prace Trybunału nie zostały wznowione w kadencjach: 1668–1669, 1674–1675 i 1696–1697. W tym samym okresie kilkakrotnie opóźniono rozpoczęcie sądów trybunalskich. W oczekiwaniu na zakończenie sejmów koronacyjnych opóźniła się reasumpcja w kadencjach: 1669–1670, 1675–1676 i 1697–1698, a z powodu zawiązania konfederacji gołąbskiej w kadencji 1672–1673 reasumpcja Trybunału nastąpiła na początku 1673 r. Pomiędzy rokiem 1660 a 1700 trzykrotnie doszło do wcześniejszego zakończenia posiedzeń Trybunału. Taka sytuacja miała miejsce w kadencjach: 1667–1668, 1673–1674 i 1695–1696, co było spowodowane abdykacją Jana Kazimierza i śmiercią pierwszych „królów rodaków”. Ponadto czterokrotnie przerywano prace Trybunału z powodu zwołania pospolitego ruszenia. Takie limitacje miały miejsce w kadencjach: 1667–1668, 1669–1670, 1670–1671 i 1671–1672

Aspiration Based Decision Support Systems

This book focuses the methodology of decision analysis and support related to the principle of reference point optimization (developed by the editors of this volume and called also variously: aspiration-led decision support, quasi-satisfying framework of rationality, DIDAS methodology etc.). The selection principle applied for this volume was to concentrate on advances of theory and methodology, related to the focusing theme, to supplement them by experiences and methodological advances gained through wide applications and tests in one particular application area - the programming of development of industrial structures in chemical industry, and finally to give a very short description of various software products developed in the contracted study agreement

Tell Me How You Feel: Designing Emotion-Aware Voicebots to Ease Pandemic Anxiety In Aging Citizens

The feeling of anxiety and loneliness among aging population has been recently amplified by the COVID-19 related lockdowns. Emotion-aware multimodal bot application combining voice and visual interface was developed to address the problem in the group of older citizens. The application is novel as it combines three main modules: information, emotion selection and psychological intervention, with the aim of improving human well-being. The preliminary study with target group confirmed that multimodality improves usability and that the information module is essential for participating in a psychological intervention. The solution is universal and can also be applied to areas not directly related to COVID-19 pandemic.Comment: 16 page

Theory, Software and Testing Examples for Decision Support Systems

Research in methodology of Decision Support Systems is one of the activities within the System and Decision Sciences Program which was initiated seven years ago and is still in the center of interests of SDS. During these years several methodological approaches and software tools have been developed; among others the DIDAS (Dynamic Interactive Decision Analysis and Support) and SCDAS (Selection Committed Decision Analysis and Support). Both methodologies gained a certain level of popularity and have been successfully applied in other IIASA programs and projects as well as in many scientific institutions. Since development and testing the software and methodologies on real life examples requires certain -- rather high -- resources, it was decided to establish a rather extensive international collaboration with other scientific institutions in various NMO countries. This volume presents the result of the second phase of such a cooperation between the SDS Program and the four scientific institutions in Poland. The research performed during this stage related mostly to converting the decision support software developed during the previous phase, from the mainframe to the microcomputer, ensuring simultaneously high level of rebustness, efficiency and user friendliness. Several new theoretical developments, like new non-simplex algorithm for linear programming, new algorithms for mixed-integer programming and job shop scheduling are also described in the volume. Finally, it presents also new theoretical developments relating to supporting the processes of negotiations as well as the methodological issues on application the Decision Support Systems in industry management