p.34 An objective generally indicates the "direction" in which we should
strive to do better... A goal is different from an objective in that it is either achieved or not.
Goals are useful for clearly identifying a level of achievement
to strive toward.
p.38 To be useful to the decision maker, an attribute should be both comprehensive and measurable.
p.50 It is important in any decision problem that the set of attributes
be complete, so that it covers all the important aspects of the problem; operational, so that it can be
meaningfully used in the analysis; decomposable, so that aspects of the evaluation process can be simplified by breaking
it down into parts; nonredundant, so that double counting of impacts can be avoided; and minimal, so that
the problem dimension is kept as small as possible."
p.55 A proxy attribute is one that reflects the degree to which an associated objective
is met but does not directly measure the objective. Thus, proxy attributes indirectly measure the achievement on
a stated objective. It could be argued that essentially all attributes are proxy attributes because nothing can be
absolutely measured. There are just varying degrees to which an objective is directly measured.
p.64 To attempt any formal analysis of a complex decision problem requires an articulation of the
decision maker's objectives and an identification of attributes useful for indicating the extent that these objectives are
achieved. Unfortunately these objectives and attributes are not simply handed to us in an envelope at the beginning
of an analysis. The intertwined processes of articulating objectives and identifying attributes are basically creative in
nature. Thus, it is not possible to establish a step-by-step procedure that leads one in the end to a meaningful set
of objectives and attributes.
