2012 Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 349-355
Objective. Life cycle assessment（LCA）and decision analysis were compared with each other, in order to clarify the effectiveness of decision support methodologies for establishing sustainable society based on biomass utilization. First, conjoint analysis applied to life cycle impact assessment（LCIA）and multi-attribute value theory（MAVT）in decision analysis were compared to distinguish the differences in weighting. Second, conjoint analysis in LCIA and the group decision support technique（decision conferencing）were compared to find the dissimilarities in approaches to multiple participant decision making.
Results and Discussion. Six differences were identified between conjoint analysis in LCA and MAVT in decision analysis; they include preference models, existence of decision problems, owners of preferences, approaches to preferences, timing to derive preferences, and the distinction between individual and group decisions. In addition, six differences were revealed between conjoint analysis and decision conferencing; fundamental approaches, approaches to weighting, the method to collect/construct preferences, existence of decision support techniques, existence of facilitators, and the size of organizations. These results indicate that there are fundamental differences between the derivation of a single integrated indicator in LCA and decision support based on preference construction.
Conclusions. Preference construction will play an important role in supporting decisions to establish sustainable society based on biomass utilization. Further studies are needed in this direction.
