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Dissertation Information for John Butler

NAME:
- John Butler
- (Alias) John Christopher Butler

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Operations Research

SCHOOL:
- University of Texas, Austin (USA) (1998)

ADVISORS:
- None

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected

Title: Simulation analysis of multicriteria decision models

Abstract: "This dissertation research investigates the insights available to the decision analyst via the combination of multiattribute utility theory and Monte Carlo simulation. We begin with a brief discussion of multiattribute utility theory and the practical considerations that often arise when applying the theory to real problems.

One of the important steps in any multiattribute analysis is the determination of ""weights"", measures of relative importance, for each measure or objective. While there are numerous approaches for determining these weights, there is little agreement as to which method is superior. We propose the use of Monte Carlo simulation as a tool to evaluate the need for assessing weights and to evaluate the robustness to a set of assessed weights.

As a starting point, we derive three simulation techniques that can be used to investigate the weights of multiattribute decision models. We demonstrate their properties on a simple example. We then show that our simulation approach is superior to the Centroid method, the only other multi criteria sensitivity analysis technique of which we are aware. We then propose a refinement of the simulation approach so that more general relationships among criteria weights can be modeled.

Finally, we develop a technique for representing differences between alternatives that have been evaluated with a multiattribute utility model. As one would expect, the result of such an analysis is that each alternative receives an overall score. In some cases, the decision maker may have difficulty interpreting the differences in these scores: Are the alternatives really different? We provide a methodology that aids in interpreting these differences and allows for determinations of practical significance. We demonstrate our approach on a simple scheduling problem."

MPACT Scores for John Butler

A = 1
C = 0
A+C = 1
T = 1
G = 1
W = 1
TD = 1
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:32:36

Advisors and Advisees Graph

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Students under John Butler

ADVISEES:
- Darius Mahdjoubi - University of Texas, Austin (2004)

COMMITTEESHIPS: