1. Nr. 10, Year 2011
Editorial
EWG-DSS Newsletter by Pascale Zaraté, Fátima Dargam, Rita Ribeiro, Boris Delibašić, Jorge
Hernández & Shaofeng Liu.
Newsletter of the EURO Working
(Current Members of the EURO Working Group on DSS Coordination Board)
Group on Decision Support System
Dear Euro Working Group Members! Dear Friends!
In this issue
The year of 2011 has been very positive and productive for our group. Since
Editorial......................................1 January 2011, the EWG-DSS Coordination Board has doubled in number of
members. Besides the old coordinators (P.Zaraté, F.Dargam and R.Ribeiro), now
New Board Members .................2 we count with the assistance of three new Board Members, namely: Boris
Delibašić; Jorge Hernández and Shaofeng Liu, to better administrate the
EWG-DSS Channels................... 3 activities of the group, as well as to bring new ideas to it. The new members have
already proved their value in their first official task within the Board. It was great to
Interview.....................................3 count with their non-exhausting support in all the organizational stages of the
EWG-DSS London-2011 Workshop on Decision System, which took place in
EWG-DSS Awards ..................... 5 Birkbeck University of London last June. Great work! Their level of cooperation
and support has been outstanding!
Recent Publications................... 6 Also in 2011, the EWG-DSS has managed to organize two Workshops; to
propose a COST Action on the theme “Decision in the Internet Age”, joining over
EWG-DSS Projects..................... 8 20 members of the group within a very exciting proposal for a network of
excellence in the area; to launch the initiative of the annual “EWG-DSS Award”;
Call for Papers ......................... 10
and to write a proposal for a EU project, entitled “PIKES: Providing Integrated
Knowledge Management and Decision Making Approaches for Resource Efficient
EWG-DSS Meetings ................. 11
Process Simulation and Innovation”, together with 7 members of the group and
related industrial partners, addressing the topic of the FP7 Call FoF.NMP.2012-6.
Meetings in 2011 ...................... 11
As you can see, we kept ourselves busy! All those activities comply with one of
the main aims of our group, which is to actively promote the interest on Decision
Upcoming Events..................... 11
Systems in the scientific community by proposing research projects, organizing
dedicated workshops, mini-conferences and conference streams, as well as
Contacting the EWG-DSS ........ 12
editing special and contributed issues in relevant scientific journals. In this sense,
the EWG-DSS Board is currently editing two Journal Special Issues (on IJDSST
and IJIDS) and one LNBIP Series Springer Book, which are described in more
details in this issue.
Editorial Board This EWG-DSS Newsletter reports to you the details about all our 2011
activities, projects, publications, proposals and achievements. It also reports
about both London and Paris Workshops, the latter is still to happen during the
th st
period of November 30 to December 1 , 2011. Another highlight of this edition is
The Newsletter of the EURO WG the worth reading interview with Prof. João Clímaco! Within the usual sections,
on Decision Support Systems is this issue presents research projects being developed by members of the group;
currently edited by: recent publications; call for papers and for conference participation as well as
Fátima Dargam, Pascale Zaraté, general information about the group members. We thank you all for your
Rita Ribeiro, Boris Delibašić, Jorge contributions and hope you enjoy our EWG-DSS Nr.10 2011 Newsletter!
Best wishes from the EWG-DSS Coordination Board!
E. Hernández & Shaofeng Liu.
Comments and announcements to
next issues of the EWG-DSS
Newsletter should be sent to the
email address ewg-dss@fccdp.com
with the subject: “Newsletter”.
Boris Delibašić, Shaofeng Liu, Rita Ribeiro, Pascale Zaraté, Fátima Dargam & Jorge Hernández.
Photo: London, 2011
1

2. already conformed by a high- requirements for the benefit of
New Board Members qualified staff who is very open to future service. In the organisation
collaborate and support new ideas. of the EWG-DSS 2011 London
Boris Delibašić Thereafter, by having this Workshop, the support I have
prospect, the team makes me feel received from the EWG-DSS
very comfortable and supported members and friends, including
within their experience. I really those internationally famous
expect to reach this high-qualified scholars, was tremendous, which I
level to start to contribute side by highly appreciate. Among which I
side within this excellent European have to take this opportunity to
working group.” Jorge E. Hernández is express my special gratitude to
Lecturer in Management at the University of Professor Philip Powell (the
Liverpool Management School (UK). He holds
Executive Dean and Professor of
an Industrial Engineer degree from
Universidad de La Frontera of Chile (2003) Management, School of Business,
“Being invited to assist the EWG which was awarded by the Latin American Economics and Informatics, at
DSS Board gave me the possibility Association of Industrial Engineering Birkbeck, University of London) for
to work in a dynamic team, to help Students and related careers (2003). His PhD
VIVA is due for presentation on December
all the help I have received from
the coordination of the EWG-DSS th
12 of 2012 at the Universidad Politécnica de him for the local organisation of the
group, to know better the DSS Valencia (Spain). His research considers EWG-DSS London Workshop!
community and to participate in the collaborative decision-making processes Working alongside our experienced
EWG-DSS activities (organization using conceptual modelling, simulation and
multi-agent based approaches, as well as
Board members, Pascale, Fatima
of workshops, co-edition of forecasting and optimization techniques. He and Rita, has been a delight. I
journals and books, etc). So far, is involved in some international projects, have observed with my own eyes
this has been a huge and such as the FP7 REMPLANET European and known how hard they have
enlightening experience for me.” project, which is concerned with non-
hierarchical supply chain networks; the C2I
worked for the community without
Boris Delibašić is an Assistant Professor at UK project, which deals with the generation of payments or complaints but
the University of Belgrade, Faculty of collaborative planning environment in supply sweats and long hours. They have
Organizational Sciences. In 2007 he received chains; and the REVOLUTION Spanish
his PhD with the theme “Formalization of the
set up excellent examples for me
project, which is concerned with the transport
decision-making process with patterns”. His modelling and optimisation process at a
to follow during my service to the
main research interests are reusable Valencian automotive supply chain network. EWG-DSS. I have also learnt from
component algorithm design, business The work of Mr. Hernández can be found in them first-hand about
intelligence, data-warehouse development, several competitive international journals,
and multi-attribute decision making. He is
professionalism and work
book chapters and conferences. He is also a
member of the development team of the open- reviewer for international journals and
efficiency, which I take as a
source data mining platform conferences. priceless reward to my involvement
(www.whibo.fon.bg.ac.rs) WhiBo. Dr. with the Coordination Board.
Delibašić is also an adjunct lecturer at the Shaofeng Liu
University of Jena (Germany). He is also a
Therefore, huge thanks to Pascale,
Fulbright visiting scholarship holder for the Fatima and Rita! Finally, thanks to
academic year 2011/2012 at Temple all of the EWG-DSS members for
University, USA. He joined the Data Analysis putting up with me and look
and Biomedical Analytics Center at Temple
on October 1st, forward to seeing you again soon
2011(http://www.dabi.temple.edu), where his in Paris!”
research objectives are to design spatio- Shaofeng Liu is an Associate Professor
temporal algorithms for analysis of ski injuries (Reader in UK system) in Operations
and to discover ski injury patterns that could Management and Decision Making at the
be used for injury prevention. The algorithms School of Management in University of
developed for ski injuries will be extended to Plymouth. She obtained a PhD in knowledge
analyze large scale data on road traffic “It has been for me a great and information models for production
accidents. management in the context of global
experience as a new member
manufacturing from Loughborough University,
Jorge Hernández working on the EWG-DSS Co- UK. She has undertaken research for a
ordination Board over the last year number of collaborative projects funded by
or so. For me, it is a great honour EC and UK research councils. Some of the
to be invited to join the Board. I recent projects included EU FP6 project
“VIRTUE: The Virtual Tank Utility in Europe”,
also take great pleasure in putting EU FP6 project “SAFDOR: Design,
my service to such a wonderful Operation and Regulation for Safety”, and UK
scientific community. Working on EPSRC and BAE Systems jointly funded
the Board, I have had the privilege project “NECTISE: Network Enabled
Capability Through Integrated Systems
to get to know a wonderful Engineering”. Her currently research is mainly
collection of academics, in the area of knowledge-based approaches
practitioners and researchers in and tools for resource-efficient production
the DSS area and beyond. management decisions, including project
“Quality assurance for embedded knowledge
Engaging with them not only opens systems in agile manufacturing environment”.
“My opportunity to belong to the my eyes and minds, it also helps Dr. Liu has published over 50 refereed papers
EWG-DSS Board can be seen as me understand better of the on high quality international journals and
a huge privilege, since the team is community’s needs and conferences.
2

3. check the e-mail addresses of DSS since 1989 in Madeira.
EWG-DSS Channels each member. To access the Clímaco took part in the EWG-
Below you find a description server you need to be a registered DSS London-2011 Workshop on
of all the available communication member of the group. Decision Systems and we had the
channels for you to get in touch chance to contact him for this
with the EWG-DSS group and its  EWG-DSS – LinkedIn Group interview. Among various subjects,
over 150 registered members. we talked about Clímaco’s
LinkedIn Groups academic career as Professor of
“Efficient communication helps you the Faculty of Economics in the
to better cooperate, innovate, add http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gi Coimbra University and of the
and multiply!” d=1961459&trk=anet_ug_grppro
INESC Coimbra (Instituto de
Engenharia de Sistemas e
EWG-DSS Mailing-List: The Linked-In EWG-DSS Group
Computadores de Coimbra). The
has currently 100 members. This
ewg-dss@irit.fr result of this pleasant meeting is
group is also open to Linked-In
reported to you here.
This mailing-list is devoted to the users, who wish to interact with our
registered EWG-DSS members to group without being a registered We congratulate Prof. João
spread within the group EWG-DSS member. There you Clímaco for all his many important
information about research find briefings of the group’s career achievements and we also
events, projects, calls for activities, discussions, job thank him for giving us the
publications, etc. announcements, CfP, etc. If you opportunity of producing this
th
like networking, you should take exciting interview for the 10
advantage of this fantastic edition of the EWG-DSS
EWG-DSS Web-Links: plataform! To read and interact Newsletter in 2011.
with the Linked-In EWG-DSS
 EWG-DSS – Blog We hope you enjoy reading it!
Group, you have to log in the
Linked-In network. EWG-DSS: When and why was
your interest on DSS born?
 EWG-DSS – Slideshare Account
http://ewgdss.wordpress.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/ewgdss JC: In fact, in the late 70’s of
The EWG-DSS blog is maintained the 20th Century I got a Master in
by the Coordination Board. There This EWG-DSS account is Control Systems at the Imperial
you find up-to-date information open to any visitor of Slideshare. College of Science and
about the group’s activities, as There you find all the digital Technology, London. My thesis
projects, research collaborations, versions of previous Newsletters, was on a particular theoretical
workshops and publications. as well as the online EWG-DSS subject related to duality in non-
presentations. If you wish to share linear programming, and just by
some of your research chance I was introduced at that
 EWG-DSS – EURO Homepage presentations with us, you are time to the new ideas of multi-
http://www.euro- welcome to use this account. objective mathematical
online.org/web/ewg/10/ewg-decision- programming, enabling a fruitful
support-systems Interview cross-fertilization of both areas.
Later, working in my Ph.D. thesis
The EWG-DSS page at the EURO on Power Systems Expansion
site is the group’s official Planning, I developed a
homepage. There you find a multiobjective linear programming
summary of the detailed model (MOLP), considering
information you find in the blog. It explicitly three criteria: cost,
is worth visiting the EURO page reliability and environmental
also to get to know what other impact. To solve the problem I
EWGs are promoting and also implemented a new generating
about the EURO K Conferences, algorithm proposed by Milan
Awards, Summer Institutes and Zeleny in his Ph.D. thesis in the
other OR related events and João Clímaco early 70’s. However, I was not very
publications. pleased with the results, because it
“I am an engineer, an was heavy in computational terms
operational researcher, who and the outcome was several
 EWG-DSS – IRIT Server discovered the potentialities of hundreds of vertices of the feasible
https://wwwsecu.irit.fr/listes/info/ewg-dss MCDA and DSS just by chance!” polyhedron (the so-called non-
dominated vertices). Of course, it
This year the coordinators of
The EWG-DSS Server is hosted at was not very adequate to present
the EWG-DSS had the pleasure to
IRIT. It contains all the EWG-DSS the Decision Makers such a large
interview our long-time colleague:
shared files. Via the option number of alternatives, leaving for
João Clímaco, who was also a
“Review Members”, one is able to them the final choice… By that
founding member of the EWG-
3

4. time I read some articles by R. In those early days the DSS have undergone great
Ackoff emphasizing the architectures proposed by Tawfic development and, in many cases,
weaknesses of Operations Jelassi and the new ideas of Albert they are models rooted in
Research in practice. Those Anghern were very inspiring to me. constructivism. Obviously, they
articles drew my attention to the In the book Bridging the Socio- tackle questions that are very
importance of building new Technical Gap in Decision Support relevant in many decision
flexible interactive approaches. Systems, IOS Press 2010 processes. In particular, we can
Then, I started by the (Proceedings of DSS 2010, Lisboa not forget that negotiation is
implementation of the classical 7-10, July, 2010) you can see present in many real world cases,
interactive MOLP approaches and applications and the references yet it was ignored by OR for
in short we concluded that, at least concerning the original papers, decades. The use of multicriteria
in some type of models as in our related to two DSS we have been models lets us avoid one of the
Power System Planning Model, the developing. essential issues that have followed
use of approaches based on the us throughout, that issue being a
assumption of convergence to EWG-DSS: The very fast priori aggregation of the
some best compromise solution development of communication preferences of decision agents in a
was not very appealing… So, in and information technologies and single criterion, reducing
the late 80’s, we developed a the necessity of improving OR everything to just one measure,
triobjective learning oriented tools were two key issues in the usually applied in monetary units.
computational environment, development of DSS. Regarding Some multicriteria approaches
looking for a progressive and your own experience, how propose the combination of
selective learning of the potentially remarkable are the achievements algorithmic protocols with the
interesting non-dominated of the last 30 years? experience and intuition of the
solutions. The outcome was decision agents in the process of
TRIMAP, which is in fact a DSS JC: DSS roots are much preference aggregation. But, even
that makes use of graphical and diversified. Clearly, they have if only formalized procedures are
numerical information, integrating been developed following several used to aggregate preferences,
objective and subjective aspects streams of research. As I said these are generally interactive,
involved in the selection of before, I am an engineer, an and need not be compensatory.
satisfactory compromise solutions operational researcher, who Obviously, aggregation always
(Clímaco and Antunes, in discovered the potentialities of implies loss of information, which
Mathematical and Computer MCDA and DSS just by chance! means special care is needed.
Modelling 1989). Summarizing, So, I see DSS from the point of New technologies allow very
this real life story is the origin of view of an MCDA convict flexible interactive DSS to be
my interest in DSS. researcher and supporter… I have constructed, which makes it easier
not a complete transversal to put a constructivist view of
knowledge on DSS. Made this operational research in practice. In
Contributing to this Newsletter declaration of interests, let me addition, these DSS can even be
answer your question. used symbiotically with wider-
Every member of the EWG-DSS is
In the year 2000 I was chosen to ranging tools of a systemic nature,
very welcome to contribute to this
Newsletter. make the inaugural lecture of the or with qualitative prospective
academic year at the University of analysis. Crosier, in B. Roy (ed.),
Subjects can be related to: Coimbra. The title of my talk was: La Décision – ses Disciplines et
“A Critical Reflection on Optimal ses Acteurs (1983), recognizes
 Project Descriptions
Decision” (a short version can be that OR is established as a
 Recent Publications found in EJOR 2004). In the last particular case of action
part of that talk, in some sense I methodology, and we add that
 PhD Dissertations
answered your question. In short I constructivist approach is blurring
 Book Presentations / Reviews said: “Conceptually, decision the borders between various levels
aiding science, permits or even of this methodology. Although I am
 Research Group Presentations
incorporates, both quantitative and optimistic about the future of DSS
 Research Views and qualitative models in assisting in practice, we must admit that
Perspectives agents of decision, with large open DSSs, which can integrate
spectrum of options, from the quantitative and qualitative
 Journal Announcements – CfP
traditional models of Optimization, models, and perhaps the actors’
 Forthcoming Events to Statistical Inference, to the experience and intuition about the
techniques of Artificial Intelligence, decision process, have not yet
 General Announcements
to Cognitive Maps, imported from been found to be very useful in
Contributions should be sent to the Psychology, and used with practical complex problems.
email address ewg-dss@fccdp.com considerable success in the
with the subject: “Newsletter”. structuring of decision problems, EWG-DSS: We live nowadays a
etc, etc…” In recent years, deep economical and social crisis.
multicriteria models, group In your opinion, how can DSS help
decision and negotiation models to overcome our current situation?
4

5. be adequate to measure capability contexts. I emphasize this new
JC: Although I still make and suggests other direct and project because it tries to
research on the development of indirect approaches without contribute modestly, with new
new multicriteria tools and their rejecting interpersonal information. proposals, to overcome bad
engineering applications, I have In conclusion, it is clear the practices supporting the present
new research interests, which may importance of new concepts and decisions, which are - in our
have been stimulated by my move new interactive tools in order to opinion - responsible for the
to the Faculty of Economics of the help the decision makers to clarify deplorable situation of our
University of Coimbra. I believe the consequences of feasible societies.
that speaking a few words about choices of very complex
the most recent of those challenges in our society, many of
experiences will justify what I think them related to the present crisis. EWG-DSS: João Clímaco: Thank
about your difficult question. I am Hence, it is unquestionable the you very much for this
speaking about potential interest of need of trans-disciplinary research extraordinary opportunity. It’s been
some multicriteria analysis in this and other senses. The a remarkable experience for us to
concepts in order to try to increase question is: “Are political and other interview you ! 
the usefulness of the key societal decision makers
“Measurement of Economic interested in this type of EWG-DSS Award
Performance and Social Progress”. evolution?” Note that when a
A Commission on this subject was problem becomes highly
created in 2008 by Stiglitz, Sen controversial, when it is
and Ftoussi (SSF) with the surrounded by uncertainties and
patronage of President Sarkozi. As conflicts of values, the The EWG-DSS has launched
it is written in the introduction of preconceived ideas of many this year a motivating research
their report: “The Commission’s decision makers are one of the initiative for young researchers of
aim has been to identify the limits pieces of a complicated jigsaw. an annual “EWG-DSS-Award“.
of GDP as an indicator of For instance, in Pfeffer Harvard The annual “EWG-DSS-
economic performance and social Business School Press (1992), the Award” will choose the best and
progress including the problems author observes that, in many of most innovative among submitted
with its measurement; to consider life’s circumstances, the experts and presented work by students or
what additional information might perform the service of hired guns young researchers, in the EWG-
be required for the production of for company directors or for DSS organized workshops and
more relevant indicators of social politicians, justifying preconceived conference streams of the same
progress to assess the feasibility of decisions scientifically… year, to be rewarded with a modest
alternative measurement tools and prize in money.
discuss how to present the EWG-DSS: We can see how
statistical information in an enthusiastic you discourse about How to apply?
appropriate way”. Of course, there your working area and your To apply for the
are several propositions of new research interests. To conclude annual EWG-DSS
indices in the literature and in the our interview, we would like to Award you only
Internet. However the SSF report know about “What is next?” In need to participate
is much more than a new proposal, other words: What are your plans in one of our
it is a space for open discussion on for the next years? Workshops or
the subject. It proposes to get Session Streams
adequate data enabling multi- JC: It is very difficult to speak organized each
methodological enhancements in year and allow
about the future. As a well known
the definition of well-being, quality your work to be
Portuguese football player once part of our
of life and sustainability in order to said: “Previsions, only after the selection!
substitute the mono-rationality of match…”. What I can say is that I
GDP by the multi-rationality of a plan to continue working at INESC-
dashboard of indicators (including Coimbra, the research centre I
possible aggregate measures For 2011, applicable work
helped to create in mid eighties. I submitted to the EWG-DSS
according to different intend to maintain at INESC some
perspectives…). The importance London-2011 Workshop on
collaborations with external Decision Systems in June 2011
of new concepts is crucial. Among researchers in Portugal and
them I draw your attention to and to the EWG-DSS Stream on
abroad, as well as to carry on with Collaborative Decision Making of
capability (proposed by Sen). It is the supervision of PhD theses. At
introduced as a “kind of freedom, the EWG-DSS / DASIG Paris-
this moment I am starting a very 2011 Joint-Workshop in November
to achieve alternative functioning interesting collaboration with a
combinations (or, less formally, put 2011 will be taken into
Group of the Federal University of consideration for this award.
the freedom to achieve various life Rio de Janeiro, involving decision
styles)”. Note that Sen already aiding for sustainable development The “EWG-DSS-Award 2011″
considers that total comparisons and new ways to deal with will be of € 300.00. For the next
getting complete rankings can not performance measures in several years, the EWG-DSS hopes to
5

6. count with sponsorship from the devoted to the development of
industrial sector to make the new approaches to decision-
Award more financially appealing. making and decision support for
negotiation, taking into account
We hope you like and support
collaborative networking
this initiative by participating,
environments and the Internet
sponsoring it and/or disseminating
technology. This Special Issue will
this information among your
mainly select papers of the EWG-
students, colleagues, research
DSS London-2011 Workshop on
partners and collaborators.
Decision Systems
Guidelines an requisites for http://londonewgdss2011.wordpress.com/.
the work selection, ranking and
final choice for the “EWG-DSS Topics to be discussed in
Award” will soon be published in this special issue include (but are
the EWG-DSS Blog. not limited to) the following:
This journal promotes the
use of mathematics in general,  Distributed support systems
and operations research in  Collaborative decision making
Recent Publications particular, in the context of  Group support systems
transportation and logistics. It is a  Knowledge and resource
forum for the presentation of discovery and decision making
original mathe-matical models,  Negotiation support systems
methodologies and computational  Spatial-temporal decision
results, focussing on advanced support systems
Journal Announcements: applications in transport-tation and  Web 2.0 systems for decision
logistics. The journal publishes two support and globalization
EURO New Journals: types of document: (i) research context.
articles and (ii) tutorials. A
In 2011 the EURO research article presents original Guest Editors:
Executive Committee has methodological contributions to the Fátima C.C. Dargam
proposed to launch in field (e.g. new mathematical Boris Delibašić
collaboration with Springer three models, new algorithms, new Jorge E. Hernández
new journals volume a year, simulation tech-niques). A tutorial Shaofeng Liu
namely: provides an introduction to an
 EURO Journal on advanced topic, designed to ease This IJDSST Special Issue is still
the use of the relevant in its reviewing process. If you
Transportation and Logistics;
methodology by researchers and wish to submit a full original paper
 EURO Journal on
practitioners. to it, please contact the guest
Computational Optimization;
editors via the email: ewg-
 EURO Journal on Decision dss@fccdp.com. 
IJDSST - Special Issue on
Processes.
Networking Decision Making
Each volume will consist of and Negotiation
IJIDS - Special Issue on
4 regular issues. For the EURO
Journal on Transportation and Collaborative Decision
Logistics and the EURO Journal on Support Systems
Computational Optimization the
aim is to publish the first issue in
2012. For the EURO Journal on
Decision Processes the first issue
will be published in 2013.
The EURO Journal on
Transportation and Logistics was
already officially launched on July
15, 2011 by EURO, the
Association of European
Operational Research Societies
EURO Journal on The Special Issue on
Transportation and Logistics “Networking Decision Making and
Negotiation” of the IJDSST:
International Journal of Decision This Special Issue on
Support System Technology has “Collaborative Decision Support
the objective of gathering papers Systems” of the IJIDS:
6

7. International Journal of Information http://londonewgdss2011.files.wordpre Nov. 30th- Dec. 1st, 2011. It aims at
and Decision Sciences has the ss.com/2011/07/ewg-dss-london- collecting high quality papers,
objective of gathering papers 2011-digital-proceedings-new.pdf . which cover academics,
devoted to the following topics: practitioners and enterprises’
points of views, as well as real
 Distributed / Collaborative EWG-DSS / DASIG Paris-2011 problems and issues from the
Decision Making Joint-Workshop - EWG-DSS implementation of collaborative
 Methods, Languages and Tools Stream on Collaborative perspectives in different kinds of
to support Decision Making Decision Making – Book of environments. Hence, subjects as:
 Group support systems & Abstracts Distributed Group Support
Negotiation support systems Systems, Collaborative Decision
 Knowledge Management & Making, Supply Chain
Decision Support Systems Management, Information
 Business Intelligence and Data Technologies and Simulation to
Warehousing support real collaborative
 Spatial-temporal Decision environments are particularly
Support Systems welcome. In addition, real
 Web 2.0 systems for decision applications are highly expected.
support
Guest Editors:
Jorge E. Hernández
This Special Issue mainly
selects papers of the EWG-DSS Pascale Zaraté
London-2011 Workshop on Fátima C.C. Dargam
Decision Systems: Boris Delibašić
Shaofeng Liu
http://londonewgdss2011.wordpress.com/.
Rita Ribeiro
Guest Editors: This Book of Abstracts is available Call for Papers:
Jason Papathanasiou online as pdf file under the link: http://londonewgdss2011.files.wordpress.com/2
Shaofeng Liu http://ewgdssparis2011.files.wordpres 011/05/20110517_ewg-
Pascale Zaraté s.com/2011/05/ewg-dss-dasig- dss_cfp_springer_vjeh.pdf
workshop-proceedings-online-
This IJIDS Special Issue is still in version.pdf . This LNBIP Book is still in its
its reviewing process. If you wish editorial process. If you wish to
to submit a full original paper to it, submit a full original paper to it,
please contact the guest editors LNBIP – Springer Book on please contact the guest editors
via the email: ewg- Collaborations in Real via the email: ewg-
dss@fccdp.com. dss@fccdp.com.
Environments
EWG-DSS London-2011 Publications from members of
Workshop on Decision the EWG-DSS:
Systems – Book of Abstracts
 Delibašić B, Jovanovic M,
Vukicevic M, Suknovic M, Obradovic Z
(2011) Component-based decision
trees for classification, Intelligent Data
Analysis 15(5), 671-693,
http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/IDA-2011-
0489
 Hernández, J.E., Mula, J., Poler,
R., Pavón, J (2011). A multiagent
negotiation based model to support
the collaborative supply chain
planning process. Studies in
Informatics and Control vol 20 issue 1
This Book of Post-Proceedings of pp 43-54.
the Springer Series LNBIP –
Lecture Notes in Business  Hernández, J.E., Poler, R., Mula,
Information Processing, consists J., Lario, F.C. (2011). The reverse
mainly of revised and extended logistic process of an automobile
This Book of Abstracts is available supply chain network supported by a
final papers selected from the
collaborative decision-making model.
online as pdf file under the link: “EWG-DSS London-2011 Group Decision and Negotiation vol 20
Workshop” and from the “EWG- issue 1 pp 79-114.
DSS Paris-2011 Workshop” in
7

8.  Shaofeng Liu, Bob Young and Lian This Action’s main mission is to The DITIA Action COST
Ding, 2011.A decision support system facilitate via the established proposal is under its preliminary
for global manufacturing co-ordination network, highly qualified joint- evaluation period. If it succeeds,
in the automotive industry. research among its collaborators then a final detailed Action
International Journal of Computer and promote the necessary proposal will have to be prepared
Integrated Manufacturing 24(4): 285-
process of technology transfer up to January 2012. You can read
301.
from Decision Sciences to more about the DITIA proposal in
 Shaofeng Liu, Mike Leat and industry. the EWG-DSS Blog.
Melanie Hudson Smith, 2011.State-of- The main objective of this
the-art sustainability analysis Action is to establish a network
methodologies for efficient decision
and support a forum of excellence
support in green production EWG-DSS
operations. International Journal of
among Decision Sciences
researchers to guide advanced Social-Academic
Sustainable Engineering 4(3): 236-
250. research towards an innovative Network
distributed interoperable paradigm
 Suknovic M, Delibasic B, for Decision Systems for the How do we proceed?
Jovanovic M, Vukicevic M, Becejski- Internet. As a benefit, DITIA Action
by Fátima Dargam, Pascale Zaraté
Vujaklija D, Obradovic Z, 2011, will facilitate and promote research
Reusable Components in Decision
& Rita Ribeiro
towards the specification of an
Tree Induction Algorithms, innovative web-based In the EWG-DSS London-
Computational Statistics. DOI: collaborative decision-making 2011 Workshop on Decision
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00180-011- paradigm. This benefit adds value Systems, we presented the
0242-8
to the area of Information current status of this project, with
Technology by complementing the abstract entitled: “The EWG-
Thanks to all group members who efforts of other networks, like DSS Social-Academic Network:
contributed to this section. Agreement Technologies; whereas How do we proceed?”.
it also adds value to the European
ICT industry by presenting a new We discussed about its open
EWG-DSS Projects DSS framework for the Web issues in order to motivate some
2.0/3.0 technologies to be members of the group to
DITIA - Decisions in the collaborate with its further
considered for technology transfer
Internet Age and further development within an development.
open source distributed software
basis. Another expected benefit
that can be identified is the
dissemination of interdisciplinary
Action COST Proposal competences through qualified
by Fátima Dargam, Pascale Zaraté cross-joint-research production and
& Rita Ribeiro continuing education, involving
young researchers for sustained
This Action proposal supports capacity building, within the
a forum of excellence among existing European community of
Decision Science researchers to Decision Sciences and
guide advanced research in the Technologies.
field of Decision Systems,
The DITIA network counts
currently developed by nationally-
with over 20 interested European
funded institutions of European This work analyses the social
participants. Most of them come
COST member countries and network, created for the EWG-
from two existing working groups:
worldwide, towards an innovative DSS to represent the various
the EURO Working on Decision
distributed interoperable Decision academic relationships that link its
Support Systems – EWG-DSS and
Systems paradigm for the Internet members. This study shows how
the IFIP TC8/WG8.3 group on
Age. This paradigm will deliver the group’s collaboration dynamics
DSS. Those DSS working groups
solutions for web-based decision- has evolved since its foundation: a
will provide DITIA with a
making by promoting the period of over 20 years.
consolidated background on their
appropriate interaction of three key
expertise areas. Thus, The project now requests the
components: the ever-growing
complementing this COST Action participation and collaboration of
availability and changeability of
to successfully promote an the members of the EWG-DSS to
data; the growing complexity and
augmented network within update its database of publications
uncertainty of decision
European countries and worldwide for its next version. At the current
environments; as well as
to tackle the open and missing stage, the project’s network
ubiquitous high-speed information
issues within Decision-Making in analysis needs to be optmized to
flow. This way, it supports spatial-
the Internet Age. better explain the concluding
temporal decisions including
collaborative decision-making. factors about the group, so that
8

9. easy checking of cooperation can Through targeting at  Strengthening the role of SMEs
be performed. This will help to delivering “the knowledge-based through this collaboration scenario,
promote further collaboration process decision platform”, PIKES addressing an area of forefront
among the academic members of addresses a number of strategic technological development in
the group in common projects and objectives relevant to the manufacturing process
joint-publications. European Manufacturing industry optimisation and innovation, as a
as well reflected in the sustainable means to gaining and sustaining
We hope that some other
development campaign. The European manufacturing industry’s
researchers of the EWG-DSS
proposed research aims at in competitiveness and leadership.
group get interested in joining us in
particular: This effect is particularly prominent
the implementation of the new
in the proposal as PIKES partners
version of our Social-Academic  Increasing the
include a group of SMEs, leading
Network and we already thank you competitiveness of the European
manufacturers and consultants,
all in advance for your support in manufacturing industry through an
supplying services to other major
sending us links to your updated enhanced system of process
players in the field of machinery,
publications data! resource efficiency analysis and
electronics and aerospace
optimisation. Resource energy
manufacturing/maintenance.
efficiency analysis is expected to
PIKES: Providing Integrated be more precise through macro- Resource efficiency
Knowledge Management and and micro-level process-resource performance of processes is
Decision Making Approaches mapping. Decision maker’s becoming the decisive factor for
judgement on process optimisation economic growth, environmental
for Resource Efficient Process and innovation will be improved friendliness and employee’s well-
Simulation and Innovation when underpinned by a well- being in manufacturing. Analysis
EU FP7 FoF.NMP.2012-6 Proposal developed dedicated knowledge and optimisation of process
base, a collaborative approach and performance or behaviour of
by Univ.of Plymouth; multi-criteria decision analysis. decision making is often a lengthy
Univ. of Liverpool; Lean process simulation will time-consuming task, rarely
Univ. of Toulouse;
reduce potential risks of resource- supported by modern knowledge-
Univ. of Macedonia;
oriented process innovation and based computational techniques.
UNINOVA; Univ. of
Belgrade; EADS; SimTech; AMF
total production cost. The This element which is prominent in
Engineering; INOVAX; Emerson integrated knowledge-based the process innovation is a limiting
Control Tech. & Advisory Board: process decision platform is factor for the overall performance
MAS; Stenum. expected to improve process- of the manufacturing industry. In
resource performance in terms of parallel the planned work on
The PIKES project proposal energy consumption by as much improved risk analysis will
has been initiated in response to as 20% (indicated by pilot study influence production costs mainly
the “Factories of the Future” work from previous projects). This figure by providing reliable evaluation
programme, answering the call for may appear small; there will be a through the lean process
a collaborative project on: significant contribution to simulation. Thus, PIKES will have
Knowledge-based tools and European wide energy savings direct as well as indirect – via
approaches for process planning given the total numbers of reducing resource waste to
and integrated process simulation manufacturing companies, not to become greener manufacturers –
at factory level (FoF.NMP.2012-6). mention the considerable cost influences on the products and
The overall goal of PIKES is savings to the process owners. production costs of the European
to develop an integrated The project provides a whole new manufacturing industry. As the
knowledge-based decision support perspective on process proposal also addresses a variety
platform that assembles advanced optimisation and innovation of operational issues, the
process, resource, simulation (traditionally resource energy European manufacturing industry
methods and decision support efficiency was not a criterion in will equally benefit from the
technologies to tackle the process process decision making). results.
optimisation and innovation issue  Contributing to advanced The PIKES project proposal is
in the emerging resource efficient technological developments and under its final preparation and will be
st
manufacturing. It will equip factory integration of disparate production submitted by Dec.1 , 2011 to the EU
shop floor practitioners with a management and ICT support for Program Call FP7 FoF.NMP.2012-6. If
comprehensive approach and decision making activities aiming it succeeds, PIKES will be a
holistic tool with a view to collaboration project of 3 years,
for facilitating the use of innovative
substantially enhancing all aspects starting in October 2012, involving the
process techniques and methods.
of the current process innovation partners: Univ.of Plymouth; Univ. of
 Promoting a truly European Liverpool; Univ. of Toulouse; Univ. of
decision making, which to a large
collaboration which is expected to Macedonia; UNINOVA; Univ. of
extent is based on production
have a structuring and integrating Belgrade; EADS; SimTech; AMF
engineers and managers’ intuition Engineering; INOVAX; Emerson
and experience. effect.
Control Tech. & Advisory Board:
MAS; Stenum. For further information
9

10. about this project, please contact the In order to submit your the dissertation should be a
EWG-DSS Board via the email abstract to one of those sessions, member of a member society of
address: ewg-dss@fccdp.com. you need to login in the conference EURO. The prize consists in an ad
site, select the “Abstract hoc certificate and reward of
submission” menu option and then €1000,00. The three finalists will
enter the session code (see above) have to register for the EURO
Call for Papers to which you wish to place your 2012 conference (they will only
submission. Contributors are pay the early registration fees).
requested to submit their Abstracts EURO will contribute, if necessary,
(no more than 600 characters) in to their travel and journey
English. The Call for Papers for expenses. Further details about
EURO XXV, Vilnius, the EURO XXV – DSS Stream can the EDDA-2012 are available at
th be downloaded via the link: the EURO XXV Homepage:
Lithuania. July 8-11 , http://ewgdss.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/cfp- http://www.euro-2012.lt/awards.
2012. euro-xxv-vilnius2012-dss-stream.pdf General information about this
award can be found at the EURO
The 25th European Important Dates
Homepage: http://www.euro-
Conference on Operational Dealines for Abstracts: March 1st, 2012 online.org/web/pages/242/guidelines .
Research "EURO XXV", with the
special subject "OR - Connecting Acceptance Deadline for early
notification registration
Sciences" will take place in March 31st, 2012 April 1st, 2012
Vilnius, organized by the Deadline for EURO XXV
DSS2012: The 16th IFIP
Lithuanian OR Society, during the author registration Conference dates WG8.3 International
period of July 8th-11th, 2012. More May1st, 2012 July 8th-11th, 2012 Conference on Decision
information about it can be found
the Conference Homepage:
In order to ease the Support Systems.
organisation of the DSS Stream
www.euro-2012.lt.
sessions, please keep us informed
about your contributions to the Anávissos, Greece,
DSS Stream
DSS Stream, by sending a copy of June 28-30th, 2012.
your submitted papers to ewg-
dss@fccdp.com. Thanks! Conference
Special theme:
"Fusing DSS into
As usual, the EWG-DSS the Fabric of the
EDDA 2012 Context”
Coordination Board, under the
representation of F. Dargam; R. The EURO Doctoral
Ribeiro and P. Zaraté, will Dissertation Award
organize in this Conference a The aim of the IFIP
Decision Support Systems Stream, The EDDA (EURO Doctoral Working Group 8.3 DSS’2012
to which you are all welcome to Dissertation Award) is a EURO open conference is to explore the
participate and submit your instrument. It consists of a prize modern perspective of the fusion
research work. that is awarded at each EURO-K view on information systems
conference. The purpose of the identity and the implications of this
The DSS Stream at EURO XXV is prize is to distinguish an view for decision support systems.
composed of four sessions: outstanding PhD thesis in The conference solicits
- DSS Session 1 (code: Operational Research defended in papers that describe the
ea286cb6): Group Support the countries having an OR society application of fusion principles on
Systems / Distributed / that is member of EURO. decision support systems research
Collaborative Decision Making The EDDA 2012 will be and practice. It is timely to explore
awarded for the sixth time at the the socio-technical approaches for
- DSS Session 2 (code:
closing session of the EURO-2012 fusing decision support, as well as
b22bd4a2): Web-based Spatial-
conference (Vilnius, July 8 - 11, opportunities and obstacles for
temporal Decision Support
2012). The EDDA 2012 jury will achieving a total fusion of DSS
Systems
only consider PhD theses in systems in various contexts.
- DSS Session 3 (code: Operational Research defended Submissions from academics and
c3be9e37): Knowledge between 15 January 2010 (i.e., the practitioners are invited. Papers
Management & Decision deadline for the preceding edition describing real case studies will be
Systems of the prize) and 15 January 2012 most welcomed. All submitted
(the deadline for the present manuscripts will be double blind
- DSS Session 4 (code: peer-reviewed in full by at least
edition). The dissertation should
16ca0674): Applications in two reviewers and members of the
have been defended in a
Decision Making & Decision Program Committee. The
University located in a member
Analysis acceptance of the contributions will
country of EURO. The author of
be based on the originality of the
10

11. work, the relevance for the London, within the EWG-DSS meeting in Paris Dauphine
conference theme and overall London-2011 Workshop on University.
quality. Decision Systems. It was
organized in cooperation with The EWG-DSS / DASIG
The Call for Papers for this
Philip Powell, Executive Dean and Paris-2011 Joint-Workshop has
conference can be found in the
Professor of Management in the attracted the participation and the
hompepage.(http://www.psych.lse.ac.uk/ifi
School of Business, Economics interest of many professionals of
p-dss/page1/styled/index.html) and also in
and Informatics at Birkbeck Univ. the decision-making research area.
the DSS2012 Homepage at:
of London, where the EWG-DSS It presents a total of 23 research
http://www.lml.lse.ac.uk/DSS2012/. DSS-
Workshop took place. We are contributions, 2 special talks and 1
2012 Paper submission opens on 1
deeply grateful to the support plenary discussion. The EWG-DSS
December 2011.
received from Philip Powell and Stream on “Collaborative Decision
his team in the London Workshop. Making” is composed of 2 invited
speakers’ presentations and 14
EWG-DSS Meetings We can certainly say that the papers short presentations related
London-2011 Workshop was a to various aspects of Decision
List of all EWG-DSS Meetings, great success! There were 45 Making approaches. The Stream
Workshops & Mini-Conferences: registered participants and 39 on “Policy Analytics”, organized by
presentations. All presentations the DASIG Decision Analysis
. Fontainebleau (France) – 1990; were very interesting and there Special Interest Group, includes 9
. Bruges (Belgium) – 1991; was a high level of information presentations and 1 plenary
. Nagycenk (Hungary) – 1992;
exchange for further cooperation discussion about its main topic.
. Sintra (Portugal) – 1993;
among the participants. Complete
. Turku (Finland) – 1994; details about the Workshop The special talks of the
. Samos (Greece) – 1995;
Program and its Special Talks can EWG-DSS Stream on
. Ispra (Italy) – 1996; be found at its Homepage: “Collaborative Decision Making”
. Bruges (Belgium) – 1997; are presented by Denis Bouyssou,
http://londonewgdss2011.wordpress.com/.
. Granada (Spain) – 1998; a Senior Researcher at the CNRS
. Turku (Finland) – 1999;
The digital version of the in Paris, about the topic: “Should
. Toulouse (France) – 2000;
Workshop Proceedings can be you believe in the Shanghai
. Caiscas (Portugal) – 2001;
downloaded via the link: EWG-DSS ranking ?”; and Sihem Amer-
. Bruges (Belgium) – 2002;
London-2011 Digital Proceedings. Yahia, Principal Research Scientist
. Luxembourg – 2003; at Qatar Computing Research
. Istanbul, (Turkey) – 2003;
The Workshop Photos can be Center, who speaks about: “Social
. Prato, (Italy) – 2004;
seen and downloaded via the link: Analytics to Encourage Collabo-
. Graz (Austria) – 2005; ration on the Social Web of News”.
. London (UK) – 2006; http://www.fccdp.com/EWG-
. Reykavik (Iceland) – 2006; DSS%20London-2011/album/index.html.
The rich diversity of topics
. Montreal (Canada) – 2007;
and approaches of Decision
. Prague (Czech Republic) – 2007; The EWG-DSS / DASIG Making presented in this
. Toulouse (France) – 2008; Paris-2011 Joint-Workshop Workshop is itself an invaluable
. Bonn (Germany) – 2009; on Policy Analytics and on source of inspiration for further
. Lisbon (Portugal) – 2010; Collaborative Decision Making investigations in the area. We are
. London (UK) – 2011; Nov.30 - Dec1, 2011 extremely proud to be able to co-
. Paris (France) – 2011. organize jointly with the DASIG
and CNRS-LAMSADE such an
interesting event. Complete details
Meetings in 2011 about the Workshop Program and
The EWG-DSS jointly with
its Special Talks can be found at
the DASIG Decision Analysis
In 2011, the EWG-DSS had its Homepage:
Special Interest Group from the
the great opportunity to organize http://ewgdssparis2011.wordpress.com/
British OR Society and CNRS-
two Workshops, which allowed the
LAMSADE, in cooperation with
group to have two official annual The digital version of the
Paris Dauphine University, had the
meetings! Workshop Proceedings can be
pleasure to co-organize the EWG-
DSS / DASIG Paris-2011 Joint- downloaded via the link:
The EWG-DSS London-2011 http://ewgdssparis2011.files.wordpress.co
Workshop on Workshop on Policy Analytics and
on Collaborative Decision Making m/2011/05/ewg-dss-dasig-workshop-
Decision Systems proceedings-online-version.pdf . 
on the period of November 30th to
December 1st, 2011. We are very
grateful to the support received
from our colleague and EWG-DSS
founding member Alexis Tsoukias Upcoming Events:
The first meeting of the from LAMSADE, in organizing this
EWG-DSS in 2011 took place in EURO XXV - 2012
11

12. The 25th European The purpose of the EWG-
DSS Liverpool-2012 Workshop is
Further details about the
Workshop Program and
Conference on to bring together professionals of Publications, Special Talks,
Operational Research the research areas related to Venue, Registration and
Decision-Making in the Operations Accommodation will be available
Management context, as well as at the Workshop Homepage:
their respective areas of http://ewgdssliverpool2012.wordpress.com/ .
EURO XXV Vilnius, Lithuania. applications. Particular focus will
th
July 8-11 , 2012. be given to recent developments,
their methodologies, concepts and The EWG-DSS Coordinators are
EWG-DSS Stream implementation details, specially in looking forwards to welcome
at the EUROXXV the Industry. you in Liverpool next year!
in Vilnius, We are very grateful to the
Lithuania in 2012. support of Jorge Hernández, one
of our EWG-DSS Coordination
EWG-DSS Stream: Board Assistants, in locally
“Decision Support System“ organizing this meeting in the
School of Management of the
Organizers: University of Liverpool in April
Pascale Zaraté, 2012.
Fátima Dargam &
Rita Ribeiro Members of the EWG-DSS
working group are expected to
Dealines for Abstracts: March 1st, participate and to encourage the EWG-DSS Coordinators:
2012. Call for papers available participation of other related Pascale Zaraté (Coordinator)
online via the link: professionals, so that further IRIT / Toulouse University , France
collaboration can be promoted on Fátima Dargam (Coordinator)
http://ewgdss.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/cfp- a larger scale. Proposals for
euro-xxv-vilnius2012-dss-stream.pdf. SimTech Simulation Technology,
panels or demo presentations in Austria; ILTC, Brazil
special sessions are very Rita Ribeiro (Board Chair)
welcome. As in previous years,
We hope to see you in Vilnius!  UNINOVA - CA3, Portugal
Special Issues of International
Jorge Hernández (Board Assistant)
Editorials will be published with
selected papers presented during University of Liverpool, UK
the Workshop. Boris Delibašić (Board Assistant)
Assisting the EWG-DSS University of Belgrade, Serbia
Workshop Call for Participation: Shaofeng Liu (Board Assistant)
http://ewgdssliverpool2012.wordpress.com University of Plymouth, UK
The EWG-DSS Coordination Board
/call-for-papers/
is constantly looking for volunteers EWG-DSS EURO Homepage - EWG-
to assist its members with some The workshop publication will DSS Blog - EWG-DSS LinkedIn - EWG-
management activities. consider a book abstracts which, in DSS IRIT Server
this opportunity, will be addressed
within its corresponding ISBN
If you are interested, contact us: number. In addition, one Special Contacting the EWG-DSS
ewg-dss@fccdp.com issue and one special joint
Thank you! publication, based on the The EURO-WG on Decision
Production Planning & Control and Support Systems is currently
the European Journal of Operatioal head by the Coordination
Research Journals, respectively, Board:
EWG-DSS will be produced from the usual Pascale Zaraté, Fátima Dargam,
best papers selection. Rita Ribeiro, Boris Delibašić, Jorge
Liverpool-2012 Hernández & Shaofeng Liu.
For updates or for joining the
EWG-DSS, please send an e-
mail to ewg-dss@fccdp.com
Workshop on
Decision Support Systems & If you need more information
about the group, please contact us
Operations Management or visit our EURO web-site or our
Trends and Solutions in Wordpress EWG-DSS Blog.
Industries
PP&C ISSN: EJOR ISSN:
th
April 12-13 , 2012 0953-7287 0377-2217
12