Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a structured methodology used to evaluate and prioritize alternatives based on multiple, often conflicting, criteria. It involves defining decision objectives, identifying relevant criteria, weighting their importance, and scoring alternatives to derive optimal or compromise solutions. MCDA is widely applied in fields like business, engineering, environmental management, and public policy to support complex decision-making processes.
Developers should learn MCDA when building systems that require automated decision support, such as recommendation engines, resource allocation tools, or risk assessment platforms. It is particularly useful in data-driven applications where trade-offs between factors like cost, performance, and user preferences must be quantified, enabling more transparent and rational choices in software design or algorithmic solutions.