Decision support for information systems management : applying analytic hierarchy process

Decision-making in the field of information systems has become more complex due to a larger number of alternatives, multiple and sometimes conflicting goals, and an increasingly turbulent environment. In this paper we explore the appropriateness of Analytic Hierarchy Process to support I/S decision making. AHP can be applied if the decision problem includes multiple objectives, conflicting criteria, incommensurable units, and aims at selecting an alternative from a known set of alternatives. An AHP analysis is described by using the project selection decision as an example. The strengths and weaknesses of AHP are investigated based on a set of eight criteria for evaluating I/S decision support methods. This evaluation shows that AHP scores well on most criteria. Given this promising performance, other possible applications of AHP within the I/S function are listed.

Ex-ante evaluation of tightening environmental policy: the case of mineral use in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to asses. A relevant example is mineral emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on microsimulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Using scenario analysis we are able to assess the possible effects of further tightening of agro-environmental policy.micro-simulation, spatial-equilibrium model, non-point source pollution, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Informatienet 2003 in zicht: Totstandkoming en kwaliteit van de steekproef land- en tuinbouwbedrijven van het Bedrijven- Informatienet

The EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) requires the Netherlands to yearly sent bookkeeping data of 1,500 farms to Brussels. This task is carried out by LEI and CEI. The data send to Brussels mainly involves technical and financial economic information. For national policy purposes additional data is collected, such as pesticide use, manure production, nature management, non-farm income and rural development. This report explains the background of the farm sample for the year 2003. The report mainly focuses on the Dutch contribution to the European Farm Accountancy Data Network. All phases from the determination of the selection plan, the recruitment of farms to the quality control of the final sample are described in this report. Mede voor de Europese Unie organiseren het CEI en het LEI jaarlijks de verzameling van technische en financieel-economische gegevens van circa 1.500 bedrijven in de akkerbouw, tuinbouw en veehouderij. Voor nationaal beleidsgericht onderzoek wordt die informatie aangevuld met gegevens over bijvoorbeeld milieubelasting, natuurbeheer en plattelandsontwikkeling. Alle gegevens worden vastgelegd in het Bedrijven-Informatienet. In dit rapport wordt verantwoording afgelegd over de steekproef 2003, toegespitst op de Nederlandse bijdrage aan het Farm Accountancy Data Network van de Europese Unie. De diverse fasen, van het opstellen van het selectieplan, het werven van de bedrijven tot het beoordelen van de kwaliteit van de resulterende steekproef worden beschreven.Agricultural Finance,

Proceedings of 24th Pacioli Workshop: FADN in a changing environment : Pristina, Kosovo, 25 September - 28 September 2016

Innovative ideas face many hurdles to become successful implementations. This is also true in farm accounting and in Farm Accountancy Data Networks (FADNs). Therefore it makes sense to bring together the 'change agents', the persons who have a personal drive to change the content of their work and their organisations. For farm accounting and policy supporting FADNs it is appropriate to do this in an international context: this creates possibilities to learn from each other. By bringing FADN managers and data users in micro-economic research together, learning and innovation is fostered. It is with this background that the PACIOLI network organises a workshop every year. This year the 24th edition already took place. This small but open network has become a breeding place for ideas on innovations and projects. PACIOLI was originally a Concerted Action in the EU's Third Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (AIR3-CT94-2456). After completion of the contract with the PACIOLI-4 workshop, the partners decided to keep the network alive at their own costs. See www.pacioli.org for the presentations and papers of all the workshops

Evaluación de ocho métodos de selección de proyectos: el caso de los sistemas de información

Determining the priorities of projects is an essential step in the planning process. Usually, the limited availability of resources prohibits the simultaneous execution of all proposed projects, A number of project selection methods have been developed to ensure a deliberate process of determining priorities. In this paper we describe and discuss eight of these methods: cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, ranking, scoring, zero one programming, knowledge-based systems, steering committees, and the analytic hierarchy process. We evaluate these methods based on a set of eight criteria. We conclude that none of the methods meets all requirements. An important shortcoming of most methods is the inability to support group decision-making despite the increasing importance of this criterion. As a consequence, the appropriateness of the methods depends on the characteristics of the decision situation. Our analysis provides guidelines for choosing a method in a specific situation.La determinación de prioridades de proyectos constituye una etapa esencial del proceso de planificación. Usualmente, la escasa disponibilidad de recursos impide ejecutar simultáneamente todos los proyectos disponibles. Se han desarrollado en este respecto diversos métodos de selección, a fin de definir uno adecuado para determinar prioridades. Este artículo expone y analiza ocho de tales métodos: análisis de costo beneficio, análisis de riesgo, escalafón (ranking), ponderación, programación cero uno, sistemas sobre base de conocimiento, comisiones especiales y proceso de jerarquización analítica. El artículo evalúa estos métodos en función de ocho criterios, llegando a la conclusión de que ninguno satisface todos los requisitos. Una limitación importante en la mayoría de los casos es la incapacidad de dar respaldo a la adopción de decisiones colectivas, no obstante la creciente importancia de tal criterio. La conclusión obtenida es que la idoneidad de los métodos depende de las características de la situación en que se ha de adoptar una decisión. El análisis expuesto aporta pautas para escoger un método ante una situación específica

Decision support for information systems management : applying analytic hierarchy process

Decision-making in the field of information systems has become more complex due to a larger number of alternatives, multiple and sometimes conflicting goals, and an increasingly turbulent environment. In this paper we explore the appropriateness of Analytic Hierarchy Process to support I/S decision making. AHP can be applied if the decision problem includes multiple objectives, conflicting criteria, incommensurable units, and aims at selecting an alternative from a known set of alternatives. An AHP analysis is described by using the project selection decision as an example. The strengths and weaknesses of AHP are investigated based on a set of eight criteria for evaluating I/S decision support methods. This evaluation shows that AHP scores well on most criteria. Given this promising performance, other possible applications of AHP within the I/S function are listed.

Integration of small area estimation and mapping techniques; Tool for Regional Studies

Research projects are increasingly aimed at specific regions. A tool for statistics for regional studies was developed to combine all available information from the agricultural census and the Farm Accountancy Data Network. In this report a description is given of the development of methods and tools to display small area estimates in maps

Informatienet 2003 in zicht: Totstandkoming en kwaliteit van de steekproef land- en tuinbouwbedrijven van het Bedrijven- Informatienet

The EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) requires the Netherlands to yearly sent bookkeeping data of 1,500 farms to Brussels. This task is carried out by LEI and CEI. The data send to Brussels mainly involves technical and financial economic information. For national policy purposes additional data is collected, such as pesticide use, manure production, nature management, non-farm income and rural development. This report explains the background of the farm sample for the year 2003. The report mainly focuses on the Dutch contribution to the European Farm Accountancy Data Network. All phases from the determination of the selection plan, the recruitment of farms to the quality control of the final sample are described in this report. Mede voor de Europese Unie organiseren het CEI en het LEI jaarlijks de verzameling van technische en financieel-economische gegevens van circa 1.500 bedrijven in de akkerbouw, tuinbouw en veehouderij. Voor nationaal beleidsgericht onderzoek wordt die informatie aangevuld met gegevens over bijvoorbeeld milieubelasting, natuurbeheer en plattelandsontwikkeling. Alle gegevens worden vastgelegd in het Bedrijven-Informatienet. In dit rapport wordt verantwoording afgelegd over de steekproef 2003, toegespitst op de Nederlandse bijdrage aan het Farm Accountancy Data Network van de Europese Unie. De diverse fasen, van het opstellen van het selectieplan, het werven van de bedrijven tot het beoordelen van de kwaliteit van de resulterende steekproef worden beschreven

Ex-ante evaluation of tightening environmental policy: the case of mineral use in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to asses. A relevant example is mineral emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on microsimulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Using scenario analysis we are able to assess the possible effects of further tightening of agro-environmental policy