An Application of Fuzzy Expert Systems to Strategic Investments : The Case of Florim S.P.A

This paper makes use of a fuzzy expert system to evaluate a strategic investment. In particular, the model proposed aims at replicating the actual decision process accomplished by Florim S.p.a., an Italian ceramic tile firm which recently had the opportunity of buying a firm in the USA. The model is perfectly consistent with the evaluation process conducted by Florim's experts and on the basis of the same data available to the expert's panel, our expert system provides the same investment value and therefore the same solution to the decision process