Measuring change distance of a factor in a decision

A method, comprising:

• storing, in an analytic network process (ANP) storage memory, an ANP weighted supermatrix representing an ANP model;
• in a processor in communication with the ANP storage memory, storing, in an analytic network process (ANP) storage memory, an ANP weighted supermatrix representing an ANP model;
• fixing each one of plural nodes one at a time in the ANP model and measuring a row sensitivity of each one of the plural nodes as it is fixed, the row sensitivity being measured using one or both of (i) a predetermined increase value and (ii) a predetermined decrease value;
• scoring how much synthesized alternatives scores found by doing ANP row sensitivity on each of the plural fixed nodes changes from original values thereof, to generate a value indicating a change distance for each one of the plural nodes;
• maintaining a same proportionality in the stored ANP weighted supermatrix as the fixed node is changed by the one or both of the predetermined increase and decrease values and
• utilizing a weighted average of different metrique calculations of the alternative scores on the space Rn, where a metrique is defined according to:
• x=(x1, x2, . . . , xn) y=(y1, y2, . . . , yn)
• are two vectors in Rn′, where
• Rn is real n-space with the ANP model,
• xi is a starting alternative score for alternative i, yi is an ending alternative score for the alternative i, and
• d:Rn×Rn→R a continuous function is a metrique calculation iff for all x, yεRn
• d(x,y)≧0, and
• d(x,x)=0.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer executable instructions, wherein execution of said computer executable instructions by one or more processors causes a computer to perform the steps of:

• storing, in an analytic network process (ANP) storage memory, an ANP weighted supermatrix representing an ANP model;
• fixing each one of plural nodes one at a time in the ANP model and measuring a row sensitivity of each one of the plural nodes as it is fixed, the row sensitivity being measured using one or both of (i) a predetermined increase value and (ii) a predetermined decrease value;
• scoring how much synthesized alternatives scores found by doing ANP row sensitivity on each of the plural fixed nodes changes from original values thereof, to generate a value indicating a change distance for each one of the plural nodes;
• maintaining a same proportionality in the stored ANP weighted supermatrix as the fixed node is changed by the one or both of the predetermined increase and decrease values;
• and
• utilizing a weighted average of different metrique calculations of the alternative scores on the space Rn, where a metrique is defined according to:
• x=(x1, x2, . . . , xn) y=(y1, y2, . . . , yn)
• are two vectors in Rn′, where
• Rn is real n-space with the ANP model,
• xi is a starting alternative score for alternative i, yi is an ending alternative score for the alternative i, and
• d:
• Rn×Rn→R a continuous function is a metrique calculation iff for all x, yεRn
• d(x,y)≧0, and
• d(x,x)=0.