Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
selection of the principal key political instruments, such as new environmental taxes for the
energy sector, or individual projects to improve the reliability of energy supply. The most
promising options are to be developed further. They may include the key political plans,
such as changes in the tax policy, or more detailed options related to preparation of
individual investment projects and development scenarios for electricity with the lowest
costs. Here, feedback is important. The designing stage also must choose the way to
compare the impact of different options or alternatives on implementation of the goals of the
first priority. The selected criteria must reflect the performance related to the goals. Each
criterion must be measurable for the sake of assessment—it must be possible to pick specific
indicators that will help to assess the impact of choices on achievement of the set goals. This
assessment may be also qualitative; it may express the relation between a certain criterion
and the selected option. Identification of weights is an important aspect; a range of methods
(described above) may be used for that purpose and the process also includes the
assessment of the preferences of social groups.
The evaluation and selection phase includes the analysis of the alternatives. Practical solutions
most often require financial analysis, price efficiency analysis, and, in some fields, the cost-
benefit analysis. These types of analysis fully, or partially, depend on the expression in
money. Conversely, multiple criteria analysis is directly related to some uncertainties and
includes qualitative assessment; it allows to make the aspects considered sensitive by the
public part of the decision-making process. The most solemn part of this phase is ranking of
the alternatives to identify the best solutions. The reliability of the end result depends
directly on the identified issues, analysed data, selected system of indicators, thoroughness
in the assessment of environmental factors, etc.
The implementation and verification phase is for implementation of the selected solution and, if
possible, verification of the result. It includes identification of the feedback and the
variability of solutions in time, as well as the sensitivity analysis.
4.1 Information technology in decision-making: automated decision support systems
Multiple criteria analysis methods help to assess alternatives by processing huge amounts of
information and data. Information technology may facilitate the process and make it
suitable for problem solving at various levels. Mathematical data processing methods are
used to build an information processing system for automated handling of any problems
related to multiple criteria analysis of variants using a developed algorithm for the analysis
of environmental factors. Automated decision support systems have a fundamental
advantage: they may be modelled and adjusted on the basis of other systems, considering
user needs and specific features of the alternatives in question. Automated decision support
systems have the following advantages:
possibility to base decision-making on data provided in a form adequate for the
problem in question: numbers, text, graphical expressions, formulae, etc.;
decision support systems may be modelled and used both for individual and for group
decision-making;
customised software enables processing of huge amounts of information, and ensures
access to data from diverse sources, as well as selection and addition of data that best
reflect the needs and requirements;
integrated software facilitates development of data models and complex studies,
preparation of reports for users via a range of channels (internet, e-mail, printing and
mobile devices).
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