Interactive Decomposition-Coordination Methods for Complex Decision Problems

Living in a vibrant and constantly changing world, in the last few decades we have witnessed tremendous advances in many important areas of human activity including medicine and drugs, public policy and service, engineering and economics, and new computing technologies. While rapid economic growth and substantial technological progress have resulted in a host of new opportunities for many private and public enterprises and organizations, in consequence, today we are also facing enormous competition in international trading, growing degrees of environmental pollution caused by continuing industrialization and urbanization, and unprecedented water and energy demands accelerating the steady shortage of natural resources and food. At the same time, the effects of globalization and the instantaneous exchange of data through modern telecommunication and information systems have radically changed the way we perceive and are able to respond to these and other increasingly complex challenges varying from homeland security and public health over climate, energy and transportation to natural resources and the environment. To solve these challenges, it is beyond doubt that the simultaneous consideration of a large number of interrelated aspects and criteria has become essential to make deliberate decisions and take responsible actions in both our professional as well as our private lives.