Dissent and games as a consideration in decision making: Case of Solar Photovoltaic Technologies

Research in decision modeling has mainly focused on the ranking of alternative choices based on a consensus or combined judgments of experts and decision makers. However, a decision model can also be used to form the basis of rational conflict and dissent. This is a novel approach. This paper examines the case of a hierarchical decision model that is used to assess alternative solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies under multiple perspectives. The perspectives include: social, technical, economic, environmental, and political. Dissent is evident if only one dominant perspective is considered to evaluate the alternate PV technologies. By using such a decision modeling approach we are able to observe outcomes for both consensus and dissent scenarios. In recent times game theory is defined as the science of interactive decision making. We can also consider a more general definition of game theory as a field of strategic decision making utilizing mathematical models that represent rational decision-makers for conflict and cooperation. This study could be developed further to form a basis of game theory with a large number of players and preferences.