Foundations of Multiattribute Utility

Ali E. Abbas

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9781107150904
• eBook ISBN:
  9781108548687
• Topic: Mathematics
• Subtopic: Optimization
• Index: Mathematics

Many of the complex problems faced by decision makers involve uncertainty as well as multiple conflicting objectives. This book provides a complete understanding of the types of objective functions that should be used in multiattribute decision making. By using tools such as preference, value, and utility functions, readers will learn state-of-the-art methods to analyze prospects to guide decision making and will develop a process that guarantees a defensible analysis to rationalize choices. Summarizing and distilling classical techniques and providing extensive coverage of recent advances in the field, the author offers practical guidance on how to make good decisions in the face of uncertainty. This text will appeal to graduate students and practitioners alike in systems engineering, operations research, business, management, government, climate change, energy, and healthcare.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright information
• Title page
• Table of contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Basic structure of the book
• How to use this book
• Part I Foundations of Preference, Value, and Utility
• Part II Making Decisions When There Is No Uncertainty
• Part III Decisions with Uncertainty
• Part IV Properties of Single-Attribute Utility Functions
• Part V Multiattribute Utility Functions without Preference or Value Functions
• Part VI Multiattribute Utility Copulas
• Appendix A: Composite Functions, Inverse Functions, and Archimedean Combinations
• Appendix B: Jensen’s Equality and Inequality
• Appendix C: Delta Property for a Discrete Number of Points
• Appendix D: Decomposing Discrete Multiattribute Indifference Probability Assessments Using the Utility Tree
• Index