ChemDecide
1. PurposeChemDecide is a suite of software for analysing complex decision problems. The suite contains four software tools, one for structuring a decision problem (Decision Setup) and three for analysing a decision problem (ChemDecide-AHP, ChemDecide-MARE and ChemDecide-RANK). Each of the analysis tools can utilise both subjective (qualitative) and measurable (quantitative) information and handle uncertainty. ChemDecide can be used independently or in a group as part of a facilitated study. The software allows you to save a decision file (*.df) which can be opened and re-evaluated at a later stage. The software can also generate Microsoft Word (*.rtf) or Adobe (*.pdf) reports for corporate memory. Each analysis method has its own unique strengths and limitations (see table below). It is recommended that a decision problem is studied with two, if not all three of the decision analysis tools as to completely understand the problem being addressed. | 
Printable Poster Download |
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ChemDecide AHP |
ChemDecide MARE |
ChemDecide RANK | |
| Strengths |
Pairwise comparisons provide an uncomplicated way to enter qualitative preferences. |
Algorithm is relatively straightforward to use and the output provides high amounts of information about the uncertainty present. |
Very poor performance on a single criterion may eliminate an alternative from consideration. |
| Limitations |
Intransitive preferences can occur (although a consistency checker is built in) and a high number of pairwise comparisons is required for a problem with many alternatives/criteria. |
Further decisions may have to be considered upon reviewing the uncertainty associated with each option. |
The calculations used are relatively complex and a complete ranking of the alternatives may not always be achieved. |
| Methodology |
The methodology for Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was published by Dr. Thomas Saaty (1980) in ‘The Analytic Hierarchy Process’ by McGraw Hill International. |
The methodology for Multi-Attribute Range Evaluations (MARE) was published by Dr. Richard Hodgett et al. in the journal of ‘Production Planning and Control’ in 2013 under the title ‘Handling Uncertain Decisions in Whole Process Design’. |
The RANK methodology (ELECTRE III) was published by Dr. Bernard Roy in the French journal ‘Cahiers du Centre d’Etudes de Recherche Opérationnelle’ in 1978 on pages 3-24 (Volume 20). |
Further reading about the methodologies used in ChemDecide is available from Richard Hodgett's PhD Thesis.
It is recommended that a decision problem is studied with two, if not all three of the decision analysis tools as to completely understand the problem being addressed. ChemDecide can be used independently or in a group as part of a facilitated study.
ChemDecide has the ability to save a decision file (*.df) which can be opened and re-evaluated at a later stage. The software can also generate Microsoft Word (*.rtf) or Adobe (*.pdf) reports for corporate memory.
2. Information requirements
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Essential information |
Useful Information (for corporate memory) |
Decision Goal, Alternatives and Criteria (including if qualitative or quantitative and minimising or maximising). |
Descriptions of each criterion including why they are essential. |
The Microsoft .NET 4.0 Framework is also required (this comes pre-installed with Windows 7, 8 & 8.1).
3. Procedure
| 1. Download ChemDecide |
Before downloading the ChemDecide software, you will need to accept the terms of the End-User Licence Agreement (EULA) covering use of the software. Once you have accepted the EULA, you can then proceed to download the compressed *.zip ChemDecide package. Once you have downloaded the *.zip file, extract all of the files to a folder on your computer.
To start working on a decision problem, open the DecisionSetup.exe file.
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2. Decision Setup |
When DecisionSetup is opened, you are presented with the following screen:  Simply fill in the information requested in the various forms throughout the tabular menu. If you need to amend a previous entry, just return to the previous tab and make the necessary changes. |
3. Decision Analysis |
To start analysing a decision, open ChemDecide-AHP.exe, ChemDecide-MARE.exe or ChemDecide-RANK.exe. Click on ‘File’ at the top left of the window and select ‘Open’. Then select the file which you saved using Decision Setup, this will load the interface allowing you to analyse the decision problem. Similarly to Decision Setup, the ChemDecide analysis tools use a tabular menu. Simply progress through the forms, providing the criteria weights and alternative scores with respect to each criterion. The final two tabs show the results and an analysis chart. If you wish to save a decision file, click on ‘File’ menu and then the ‘Save’ button. If you wish to generate a report, click on the ‘Report’ menu and choose either a Word or PDF report. |