Comparing decision aids for technology transfers.

Proponents of various decision aid systems loudly proclaim the merits of 'their' system over all competition, especially 'brand X,' and justify their own process because it does a 'better job of decision making' than that done by competing products. In order to compare such decision aids independently, a systematic process was conceived, designed, constructed, tested and implemented. The purpose was to use automation to standardize a decision process among diverse adversaries in a dynamic, complex, technological environment. The process first step structured the factors needed to arrive at an equitable decision on technology transfer from domestic to foreign ownership, control, or influence. The factors were identified by participants in the decentralized decision process. Using group problem solving techniques, the most important factors were identified and ranked. Factor weights were determined with automated aids. Four decision processes were evaluated to determine their accuracy in arriving at a decision dealing with proposed technology transfers. The author deals with the process of identifying the factors and testing the decision aids.< >