Decision Skills: Theory & Practice Course

This four-day course focuses on the application of MCDA techniques to real-world issues of appraisal, evaluation, prioritisation and resource allocation.

First, the course covers the basic theory of decisions with multiple objectives, which shows how to make choices that balance costs, benefits and risks.

The theory provides the grounding needed to ensure the proper construction of models. Second, these theories are applied using Hiview3 and Equity3 as tools to support analysis.

However, the real point of the course is to work on real cases, showing how to conduct MCDA and how to gain the most benefit from it.

The course is a mixture of short lectures, demonstrations and hands-on modelling. At the completion of the course, participants will be acquainted with the underlying theory behind the software, and have gained an understanding of the functionality of Hiview3 for appraising or evaluating alternatives.

Participants will also be acquainted with Equity3 for prioritising investments (projects, systems, options, etc.) or allocating resources. In addition, they will be able to apply an eight-step process for constructing MCDA models.

Professor Larry Phillips of the London School of Economics will conduct the course.