A position paper on the agenda for soft decision analysis

In this position paper, we shall undertake a critical scrutiny of the decision analysis (DA) paradigm on the basis of experience we gained from working on the bullwhip effect. We had some success with sorting out the complexities of the bullwhip by using fuzzy numbers in the bullwhip models, and we found out that this points the way to a more viable approach to sort out complex decision problems. As a positive criticism of the DA paradigm we have collected the insights we have gained in an agenda for soft decision analysis (SDA), which we hasten to add is not complete but—hopefully—an opening for focused research and continuing development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]