MGA - A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR COMPLEX, INCOMPLETELY DEFINED PROBLEMS

Modeling-to-generate alternatives (MGA) is a technique for using mathematical programming models to generate a small number of different solutions for the decision maker to consider when dealing with complex, incompletely defined problems. The logic of MGA is presented in the context of concerns about the limitations of mathematical models and limitations of the human decisionmakers who use them. Arguments and experimental evidence are presented to support the assumption that the human-machine decisionmaking system will perform better when the human is presented with a few, different alternatives than when presented a homogeneous set of alternatives as might result from sensitivity analysis. © 1990 IEEE