Method for controlling a powertrain system including an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states, comprising: determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state; determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state; characterized by: determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states, the numerical values of the preferability factors representing a relative preferability of the respective transmission operating range state or engine state; combining the numerical values of the preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states; preferentially weighting the combined preferability by selecting one of the combined preferability factors on the basis of a differentiable numerical attribute; and selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state based upon said selected preferability factors. determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state; determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state; characterized by: determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states, the numerical values of the preferability factors representing a relative preferability of the respective transmission operating range state or engine state; combining the numerical values of the preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states; preferentially weighting the combined preferability by selecting one of the combined preferability factors on the basis of a differentiable numerical attribute; and selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state based upon said selected preferability factors. determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states, the numerical values of the preferability factors representing a relative preferability of the respective transmission operating range state or engine state; combining the numerical values of the preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states; preferentially weighting the combined preferability by selecting one of the combined preferability factors on the basis of a differentiable numerical attribute; and selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state based upon said selected preferability factors.