User interface method and system for graphical decision making with

Abstract

A computer system and method operate on a number of user interfaces to provide a graphical decision making tool that allows a user to graphically define and manipulate objects representing options, criteria, and ratings, to analyze and produce a decision. The user interfaces include an option rating window for each criterion for categorically rating the options with respect to the criterion. The option rating window includes a number of columnar category areas representing various categories for graphically evaluating the options, and a number of special rating areas for ascribing particular non-linear evaluations. The category areas are mapped to numeric rating scales so that the graphical position of a rating (associated with both an option and a criterion) produces a numeric rating for the option. The user interfaces further include a criteria weighting window for graphically establishing a criteria weight for each criterion. The user interfaces further include a decision table window that displays a matrix defined by the options and criteria and that displays the qualitative evaluations and summary ratings for each option, where the summary ratings of an option are based on the numeric ratings for the option.