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OR/MS Today, October 2008
Decision Analysis Software Survey
The information in this survey was provided by the vendors in response to a questionnaire developed by the OR/MS Today staff. The survey should not be considered as comprehensive, but rather as a representation of available Decision Analysis packages.
If you know of a Decision Analysis package that is not in the survey, please contact Patton McGinley at (770) 431-0867, ext. 214 or e-mail patton@lionhrtpub.com. It will be included in the online version.
Be sure to read the accompanying article by Daniel T. Maxwell, Decision Analysis: Find a Tool that Fits.
UPDATES:
3/26/09 — added Decision Manager and Portfolio Manager from Deciware
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The survey is divided into twelve separate tables and a vendor list. Following is an index of the pages and the information they contain:
Page 1
Vendors
Operating Systems: Windows, Mac OS, Unix, specify flavors of Unix, other operating systems
Page 2
Applications: Best option using multiple objectives, Representation / analysis of uncertainty, Representation / analysis of probabilistic dependencies, Risk aversion, Sequential decision making, Portfolio decision making, Multiple stakeholders collaboration, All of the above in one model
Page 3
Software Features: Interfaces to other software: Import (database, spreadsheet), Export (presentation graphics), XML, API (embedded decision support); Can model segments be copied?; Can model segments be moved easily?
Page 4
Software Features (continued): Can model structure be displayed on screen?; Can model structure be printed?; Can user protect data from other users?; Does the software support explicitly group elicitation?, If yes, will it support decentralized elicitation?
Page 5
Software Features (continued): Does the software support explicitly group elicitation? If yes... (continued): Will it support simultaneous data input?; Does it support simultaneous viewing?; Is a record of model evolution kept?
Page 6
Decision Algorithms Implemented: MODA / MAUT; AHP; Other
Page 7
Pricing Information: Commercial, Education, Enhanced/High Performance
Estimated number of users
Page 8
Presence of size limitations in models: Number of alternatives?, Number of levels in value or decision tree?, Number of states of a node in a tree?
Page 9
Availability of graphical elicitation techniques: Model structure / Brainstorming, Value functions / scores, Value weights, Probabilities, Risk preference
Page 10
Availability of graphical elicitation techniques (continued): Can probabilities or weights be defined as variables that can be operated on?, Are graphical sensitivity analyses possible on either weights or probabilities?, Can analytical results be portrayed graphically?, Can the user document structure or judgments with text?
Page 11
New features since October 2006
Targeted industries or market segments
Page 12
Specific applications for which software is most widely used?
Comments
Vendor List
Vendor Contact Information
The survey appeared in the October 2008 issue of OR/MS Today. To order a copy of this issue, contact Customer Service at 770-431-0867, ext. 224 or send e-mail to:
csr@lionhrtpub.com.
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