Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Spring 5-31-2001

Degree Name

Master of Science in Information Systems - (M.S.)

Department

Computer and Information Science

First Advisor

Constantine N. Manikopoulos

Second Advisor

James A. McHugh

Third Advisor

Fadi P. Deek

Abstract

This study emphasizes mainly on the influence of evaluations, both qualitative and quantitative, on decision making for many occasions that occur in business and technically oriented settings. Decisions made with a certain fuzzy as wen as technical behavior are structured by means of computer-assisted decision-making tools. Decision support tools assist decision makers in making crucial decisions. For instance the tool that has been designed for the purpose of this research will be used for selecting capital-intensive products. It is also intended to prove that with the help of decision support systems decision makers could make decisions by reducing fuzzy decision behavior about capital investments in organizational systems. Such tools consider more than one criterion in making a decision. 'Me criteria for decision-making will range from the attributes of the system itself to the cost of the system. For each system under consideration for selection, each attribute will be analyzed and rated. Then a cumulative account of all the attributes for each vendor is brought together as a set. Though this set is produced by each decision maker there is little correlation between his decisions and the evaluation of the product. A product's quantitative evaluation may warrant of a different kind of decision than a qualitative evaluation.

An evaluation of a system leads to a decision. However when a decision is the one of selection, as is quite often the case, quantitative and qualitative evaluations may be done. Quantitative evaluations generally are performed based on statistical analysis of the system under consideration. A quantitative evaluation may be based also on algorithms designed for specific scenarios. On the other hand a qualitative evaluation may take place in settings that deal with a single system that must be evaluated and it's evaluation recorded in language specific descriptive terms. 11-iis study discusses how decisions can be made using qualitative and quantitative evaluations for the object or situation under consideration.

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