Applications of hierarchical overlapping coordination with multiple objectives

Large-scale systems can often be represented by more than one hierarchical structure (or decomposition), each of which is based on a particular aspect and data base of the system. These different decompositions may overlap one another; that is, certain of the decisions, objectives, and/or constraints of different decompositions may be identical. The purpose of the hierarchical overlapping coordination (HOC), introduced in Haimes and Macko and Macko and Haimes, among others, is to coordinate such hierarchical structures (or decompositions) and to achieve better decisionmaking for the overall system by facilitating the exchange of information among these different decompositions. The HOC is described and enlarged upon here, and its applicability is considered. Following the introduction of a methodology for a multiobjective hierarchical overlapping coordination (MHOC), a top-down decisionmaking procedure is first considered, then the applicability of the MHOC.