Structuring tools and techniques, many of which stem from the
decision sciences, help to distinguish an SDM approach. These
tools provide discipline and decision-focus both to technical
analysis and to value-based deliberations. A small sample of them
are briefly described here.Influence Diagrams
Influence diagrams are a conceptual modeling tool that
graphically represents the causal relationships between
decisions, external factors, uncertainties and outcomes.
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Eliciting Expert Judgments
There are well-established methods for eliciting judgments
from experts that minimize a range of psychological biases
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Value Trees
A value tree, like an objectives hierarchy shows how higher
order objectives are linked to sub-objectives and eventually to
performance measures or attributes.
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Beyesian Networks
Bayesian networks describe the nature of the probabilistic
inter-dependence of factors (or 'nodes') in an influence
diagram. Conditional probabilities for complex belief networks
can be calculated by computer algorithms using Bayes Theorem.
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Trees
Inference trees document explanatory factors used in making
an assessment of impact level, along with the supporting data
used.
More... Strategy Tables
A strategy table is a convenient (and strategic) way of
creating a small number of logical, internally consistent and
informative alternatives when there are many possible ways to
mix and match actions.
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Value Models
A weighted index or a value model is scale that weights and
combines different kinds of impacts into a single metric for
reporting purposes.
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Defined Level Scales
These reduce ambiguity in comparing the performance of
alternatives by defining and describing discrete levels of
impact.
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A wide variety of tools and techniques are available to
help apply SDM to complex, real-world situations.