[Sample B: Approval/Signature Sheet] - George Mason University

4.3.2 Assumptions
As described before, the value model was built based on the identification of
objectives using affinity diagrams. This methodology identified ideas that were mutually
exclusive and collective exhaustive, considering the decision context of this research.
In other words, mutual exclusivity means that the objectives stemming from the
same parent should not be redundant, while collective exhaustive means that the
objectives expressed at each level of the hierarchy must completely define its parent.
The goal was to identify fundamental objectives as oppose to means objectives.
As explained before, the theory behind the fundamental objectives is that the lower-level
objectives are part of the higher-level objectives, with no causal relationships.
―Fundamental objectives hierarchies have a clear and simple order. Each lower-level
objective pertains only to the upper level objective directly above it.‖ 99 This structure led
to the assumption of an additive value model for the fundamental objectives hierarchy.
Clemen and Reilly argue that the additive utility function is very useful when
used in value models with many attributes:
any approach that helps to understand tradeoffs among objectives is welcome and
the additive utility function, despite its limitations, is exceptionally useful in the
process of understanding preferences and resolving a difficult decision, especially
in complicated situations with many attributes. 100
99 Keeney, Value-Focused Thinking, 78.
100 Clemen, Making Hard Decisions, 621.
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