The value with the highest probability is displayed in the grid, but all appropriate values are used in reasoning and may be edited with graphic distribution aids. Dissenting opinions show the users the range of opinion about a decision, not just the top rated list, and give decision makers confidence that the top rated alternatives are sound choices or point out areas of disagreement for further exploration. Canard helps generate and structure complex alternatives in a possibility table. Figure 27 shows a Canard possibility table for a portion of a network design problem. The thick horizontal line is a partial solution path linking component alternatives.
Shaded cells show hard and soft constraints associated with the path.
The left-most column shows classes of solutions associated with paths. Repertory grid reasoning methods help rank the components in a column. Automated methods combine ranking information with constraints to produce a set of best possible solutions.