A group decision-making methodology with incomplete individual beliefs applied to e-Democracy

We consider the situation where there are several alternatives for investing a quantity of money to achieve a set of objectives. The choice of which alternative to apply depends on how citizens and political representatives perceive that such objectives should be achieved. All citizens with the right to vote can express their preferences in the decision-making process. These preferences may be incomplete. Political representatives represent the citizens who have not taken part in the decision-making process. The weight corresponding to political representatives depends on the number of citizens that have intervened in the decision-making process. The methodology we propose needs the participants to specify for each alternative how they rate the different attributes and the relative importance of attributes. On the basis of this information an expected utility interval is output for each alternative. To do this, an evidential reasoning approach is applied. This approach improves the insightfulness and rationality of the decision-making process using a belief decision matrix for problem modeling and the Dempster?Shafer theory of evidence for attribute aggregation. Finally, we propose using the distances of each expected utility interval from the maximum and the minimum utilities to rank the alternative set. The basic idea is that an alternative is ranked first if its distance to the maximum utility is the smallest, and its distance to the minimum utility is the greatest. If only one of these conditions is satisfied, a distance ratio is then used.

Contribution of individual to collective brands

Traditionally, literature estimates the equity of a brand or its extension but it pays little attention to collective brand equity even though collective branding is increasingly used to differentiate the homogenous products of different firms or organizations. We propose an approach that estimates the incremental effect of individual brands (or the contribution of individual brands) on collective brand equity through the various stages of a consumer hierarchical buying choice process in which decisions are nested: “whether to buy”, “what collective brand to buy” and “what individual brand to buy”. This proposal follows the approach of the Random Utility Theory, and it is theoretically argued through the Associative Networks Theory and the cybernetic model of decision making. The empirical analysis carried out in the area of collective brands in Spanish tourism finds a three-stage hierarchical sequence, and estimates the contribution of individual brands to the equity of the collective brands of “Sun, Sea and Sand” and of “World Heritage Cities”.

The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with copious marginal references : also, the introductions to all the books and chapters in the Bible : with the general preface, as affixed to the commentary of Thomas Scott.

New Testament has special t.p.: The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : with copious marginal references by Thomas Scott.

Credit for marginal groups; a study of the principal private sector credit institutions providing loans to marginal groups in the countries of the Dominican Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala.

"Sponsored by: Pan American Development Foundation, in cooperation with: CUNA International, Inc. [and others]"

Progress of the study of investment trusts and investment companies made by the Securities and exchange commission, pursuant to section 30 of the Public utility holding company act of 1935.

Mode of access: Internet.

The Greek Testament : with a critically revised text, a digest of various readings, marginal references to verbal and idiomatic usage, prolegomena, and a critical and exegetical commentary, for the use of theological students and ministers / by Henry Alford.

Bibliography in each volume.

The Holy Bible, containing the authorized and revised versions of the Old and New Testaments, arranged in parallel columns. The text conformable to that of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. With a complete concordance and the Psalms of David in metre. Copious marginal references, chronological tables, and many important and useful aids to the study of the Holy scriptures ...

Mode of access: Internet.

The fundamental issue: documents and marginal notes on the University of California loyalty oath.

Cover-title.

Cost-effectiveness of countermeasures for utility pole accidents. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Life-cycle cost analysis for utility combinations handbook : departmental staff and program participants.

"December 1985."

Utility pole accident countermeasures evaluation program and input processor - user's manual.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Implementation, McLean, Va.

Selection of cost-effective countermeasures for utility pole accidents - user's manual.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Implementation, McLean, Va.

Cost-effectiveness of countermeasures for utility pole accidents - appendixes A-N. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Securities required to be exchanged for cash or new securities pursuant to plans of corporate reorgainzation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and Bankruptcy Act, February 1962.

Mode of access: Internet.

General rules and regulations and forms under the Public utility holding company act of 1935.

At head of title: 1937- Securities and exchange commission, Washington, D.C.