The Dialectical Systems Theory's Capacity for Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

The article introduces the Quantified Dialectical Systems Theory (DST), which is one of the cases of new systems theories. It arises from the need for the appropriate knowledge about the basics of both systems theory and the applied computer supported qualitative and quantitative methods that can help individuals or groups in researching important complex decision-making problems; among them we emphasize the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) ones. Moreover, the article presents the framework procedure for MCDM, based on assigning weights, which we developed by following the original procedures of several MCDM methods, adapted mainly by the conclusions of experts in practice regarding the suitability of different multi-criteria methods, and own experience. We demonstrate how the DST's guidelines defining the subjective starting points can be followed when approaching MCDM problems step-by-step, as well as the DST's guidelines concerning implementation of starting points. In the efforts to support creating and decision-making it helps a lot, if the application of theory can take place in an informal style. This article introduces ways of incorporation of informal systemic thinking and the DST's guidelines in the framework procedure for MCDM when solving several real-life complex problems, presented by example cases. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.