An analysis is made of a preference order dynamic programming procedure proposed in the literature for stochastic assembly line balancing problems. It is shown that in general the procedure does not satisfy the monotonicity condition and that therefore there is no guarantee that the solutions...

This article demonstrates that: (1) When a normally distributed decision variable is combined with an analytic utility function (one with derivatives of all orders and a power series expansion involving those derivatives), the expected utility can be expressed in powers of \mu and \sigma ². (2)...

This paper presents a decision model for a serious medical problem: the diagnosis and treatment of undifferentiated liver disease with jaundice. The model formalizes the use of information before a treatment is chosen, taking account of prior information collected by the doctor from laboratory...

Food preference and utility measures are functionally related to the frequency and quantity of foods consumed within fixed time periods. The coefficients of these functions can be estimated by psychometric or econometric methods. Total preference or utility can be maximized subject to budgetary...

Traditional definitions of stochastic dominance assume that the decision agent's preference-or-indifference relation on outcomes of risky decisions is transitive. This paper proposes a stochastic dominance relation for the comparison of risky decisions that is applicable to any complete and...

A procedure is presented to evaluate the appropriateness of alternative methodologies for analyzing a specified problem. This procedure is illustrated by identifying desirable characteristics of nuclear power plant site selection methodologies and evaluating the adequacy of methodologies that...

This note describes a different approach to urban modelling, resulting in a new, more general form of model. The model can be used for prediction, prescription, explanation, or evaluation; or to distinguish between the objectives of individuals, the planning authority, and the community. It is...