Decision-making software


Decision-making software is software for computer applications that help individuals and organisations make choices and take decisions, typically by ranking, prioritizing or choosing from a number of options.
An early example of DM software was described in 1973. Before the advent of the World Wide Web, most DM software was spreadsheet-based, with the first web-based DM software appearing in the mid-1990s. Nowadays, many DM software products are available – e.g. see the comparison table below.
Most DM software focuses on ranking, prioritizing or choosing from among alternatives characterized on multiple criteria or attributes. Thus most DM software is based on decision analysis, usually multi-criteria decision-making, and so is often referred to as "decision analysis" or "multi-criteria decision-making" software – commonly shortened to "decision-making software". Some decision support systems include a DM software component.

Purpose

DM software can assist decision-makers "at various stages of the decision-making process, including problem exploration and formulation, identification of decision alternatives and solution constraints, structuring of preferences, and tradeoff judgements."
The purpose of DM software is to support the analysis involved at these various stages of the decision-making process, not to replace it. DM software "should be used to support the process, not as the driving or dominating force."
DM software frees users "from the technical implementation details , allowing them to focus on the fundamental value judgements". Nonetheless, DM software should not be employed blindly. "Before using a software, it is necessary to have a sound knowledge of the adopted methodology and of the decision problem at hand."

Methods and features

Decision-making methods

As mentioned earlier, most DM software is based on multi-criteria decision making. MCDM involves evaluating and combining alternatives' characteristics on two or more criteria or attributes in order to rank, prioritize or choose from among the alternatives.
DM software employs a variety of MCDM methods; popular examples include:
There are significant differences between these methods and, accordingly, the DM software implementing them. Such differences include:

Software features

In the process of helping decision-makers to rank, prioritize or choose from among alternatives, DM software products often include a variety of features and tools; common examples include:
DM software includes the following notable examples.
SoftwareSupported MCDA MethodsPairwise ComparisonSensitivity AnalysisGroup EvaluationWeb-based-
1000mindsPAPRIKA
AhoonaWSM, Utility
Altova MetaTeamWSM
Analytica
Criterium DecisionPlusAHP, SMART
D-SightPROMETHEE, UTILITY
DecideITMAUT
Decision LensAHP, ANP
Expert ChoiceAHP
Hiview3SMART
Intelligent Decision SystemEvidential Reasoning Approach, Bayesian Inference, Dempster–Shafer theory, UtilityAvailable on request
Logical DecisionsAHP
M-MACBETHMACBETH
PriEsTAHP
Super DecisionsAHP, Analytic Network Process