4.4.2 System Performance Representation: Standard Scoring Functions

Abstract

Design is a series of nested decisions which lead from the abstract to the concrete. Most design decisions involve multiple objectives and multiple criteria. Criteria have relative importance, a range of expression and order of preference within that range. This paper presents a method by which design decisions can be approached. The set of standard scoring functions developed by Wymore enable encoding of relatively complex system performance parameters in an easily manipulated trade study (multiobjective decision technique). The twelve basic shapes translate measurements made of system parameters into a standard score (utility). The resulting set of representations are then weighted and combined to create a single measure of relative effectiveness across a set of system criteria.