A decision-analysis methodology for priority-ranking and comparing international collaborative research and development activities

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6905975

Buehring, W A; Gillette, J L; Szpunar, C B; Whitfield, R G

A methodology for evaluating and comparing proposed collaborative international research and development (RandD) activities has been developed for the US Department of Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (DOE/FE). The objective of the methodology is to rank proposed agreements in order of highest desirability for DOE/FE participation. Agreements are assessed in terms of six attributes: (1) probability of achieving agreement-specific objectives, (2) US balance-of-trade effects, (3) joint commitment of the RandD partners, (4) distribution of anticipated benefits from the RandD, (5) professional challenge and worthiness of the RandD, and (6) level of industrial participation. These attributes were defined by examining 71 agreements and interviewing individuals experienced in international coal research activities mostly present or former DOE personnel. For each agreement, numerical levels of achievement under each attribute are estimated and then inserted into 11 multiattribute utility functions, which reflect 11 expert opinions regarding the relative importance of each attribute. The outcome consists of 11 sets of expected-utility scores, which are averaged and arranged in descending order as a basis for ranking the agreements. A trial application of the methodology, involving 22 closed agreements, produced usable, reasonable results. 15 refs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Energy and Environmental Systems Div.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6905975
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-348; ON: DE88015516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990100* -- Management
AGREEMENTS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COOPERATION
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DECISION MAKING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS