Multi-Attribute Tradeoff System |
|
|
|
|
What Is It Good For?
|
Reclamation has recently updated MATS
for use on personal computers and laser printers. |
|
|
|
Multi-attribute Tradeoff System (MATS) is an
interactive software program designed to help decisionmakers (or
publics) make choices among options
and alternatives when many pieces of information must be considered.
MATS provides a framework for decision
analysis; the user provides the content. The MATS process
helps reduce the complexity of developing alternatives by tracking
all assumptions.
MATS is a decision framework which:
- Incorporates facts and values
- Can use both objective data and/or subjective ratings to
assess alternatives
- Assesses relevant preferences, values, and views
- Clearly distinguishes between technical and value judgments.
- Documents the decision process and rationales
- Can be used directly by the decisionmakers and the publics
|
|
|
|
How Do I Use It?
|
|
- Install MATS on your computer (contact Thayne
Coulter for a copy).
- Identify factors which will influence the decision. (The
first cut can be as high as 15 factors, but after examination,
often less than 5 factors will determine the decision.)
- Identify measurement criteria for each factor. Some of
these may be a range of potential impacts, others may be on
a numerical scale, and still others may be a yes/no variable.
- Use the function forms to describe the thresholds of desirable
and undesirable impacts (e.g., limits to the number of deer
that can be supported within the acreage before they begin to
starve).
- Place a weight based on the importance of each of these
factors in a decision. If you assume 100 total points, for example,
you can distribute a percentage of influence among factors to
determine weights. MATS' interrogative mode can be set to ask
a series of questions to establish these weights.
- Put in a baseline alternative using current or projected
future conditions if no action is taken.
- Enter the rest of your alternatives, based on the analysis
of impacts for each factor.
- Run MATS to get a 3-digit ranking for the desirability
of each alternative and allow you to analyze which impacts on
what factor influence their desirability.
- MATS also documents this process for decisionmakers and
publics to review.
|
|
|
|
Go On |
|
|
|