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Logical Decisions - Classweb

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objective measure levels and the more subjective conversion to<br />

common units. We recommend that you use the AHP approach<br />

infrequently, and only for measures that are very subjective and<br />

for which you cannot think of a reasonable quantitative scale.<br />

Each method for computing common units is discussed further<br />

below.<br />

Single Measure Utility Functions<br />

Utility functions -- or more specifically single-measure utility<br />

functions, or SUFs -- are formulas that convert the levels for a<br />

measure to utils. You develop a SUF for a measure by<br />

interviewing (assessing) the person making the decision (who we<br />

will call the decision maker).<br />

There is no right or wrong SUF for any measure. The shape of the<br />

SUF should depend on the problem and on the decision maker's<br />

personal preferences.<br />

This is where the separation of objective and subjective elements<br />

in LDW comes in. Identifying the measure levels for an<br />

alternative is a relatively objective process, while converting<br />

levels to utility is inherently subjective.<br />

Straight line SUFs. The simplest type of SUF is a linear SUF. A<br />

linear SUF assigns a utility of zero to the least preferred level of a<br />

measure and one to the most preferred level. It assigns<br />

intermediate levels utilities that delineate a straight line between<br />

the two end levels. An example of a linear SUF is shown in<br />

Figure 9-2, for a measure of Power. Straight line SUFs are the<br />

most commonly used type of SUF and they are the default used<br />

by LDW.<br />

9-14 Section 9 -- In Depth

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