knowCube — a Spreadsheet Method for Interactive Multicriteria Decision Making

knowCube is a novel multicriteria decision support system, consisting of components for knowledge organization, generation, and navigation. Knowledge organization rests upon a data base for managing qualitative and quantitative criteria, together with add-on information. Knowledge generation serves filling the data base via e.g. identification, optimization, classification or simulation. For “finding needles in haycocks”, the knowledge navigation component supports graphical data base retrieval and interactive, goal-oriented problem solving. Navigation “helpers” are, for instance, cascading criteria aggregations, modifiable metrics, ergonomie interfaces, and customizable visualizations. Examples from real-life projects, e.g. in industrial engineering and in the life sciences, illustrate the application of knowCube.