Qualitative Multi-Attribute Model

DEXi’s multi-attribute models are called qualitative. They are characterized by:

• using qualitative (symbolic) attributes, whose scales are discrete and typically consist of words rather than numbers,

• employing utility functions that are represented by (tables of) decision rules rather that numerical formulae.

Here, the word “qualitative” is used for contrast with more traditional “quantitative” decision models, which are characterized by:

• using continuous numerical attributes, which typically represent the decision-maker’s preferences, and

• using numerical utility functions, such as the weighted sum.