Abstract
Decision Analyst is a program that structures logical decision-making for policy analysis. Though well-explained and well-illustrated, this program is relatively inflexible and is lmnited to the simplest forms of analysis. Decision Analyst is a program that ranks policy alternatives and generates a report. The report consists of the following eight sections : 1. Problem Definition: In this section, your responses to such questions as "Why not do absolutely nothing?" or "What things are not part of the problem?" are reprinted back to you. 2. State of Purpose: Again, your statement is reprinted. 3. Criteria Definition: Here you defme criteria (e.g., cost) and sub- criteria (e.g., supply cost, capital cost), and assign weights to each; the report reprints this list. 4. Criteria Valuation: The criteria are reprinted in order of evaluation. 5. Alternative Definition: Your descriptive information on each alternative is typed back to you. 6. Alternative Analysis: In this section you score each alternative on each criterion; the program then creates a table that gives a synopsis of each alternative along with its aggregate rank. 7. Murphy's Law Analysis: Here you list potential problems, their probabilities, and possible solutions, and the program reprints this in a chart. 8. Conclusions and Choice: You type in your own description and the computer reprints it-though you presumably chose the highest-ranked alternative.
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