Universal MCDM Interface

4. Concluding Remarks

In this chapter the most distinctive features of interactive MCDM methods are abstracted and organized into one common framework - the Universal Interface. The Universal Interface does not impose any restriction on the DM in manipulating weights or reference points to express his partial preferences as he searches for the most preferred outcome. The Universal Interface just separates the decision controls from the technical aspects of decision making processes, the latter now placed in the secondary, technical tier.

There are clear advantages of viewing interactive MCDM methods from the perspective of the Universal Interface. With the Universal Interface in place presenting interactive MCDM principles and merits becomes a much simpler task than it was before. Moreover, interactive MCDM issues can be addressed separately by two groups: in the methodological tier by actual DMs and decision theory researchers, and in the technical tier by research and technical persons from areas of decision theory, computer science, mathematics, software developing, and computing service providing.