Integration of qualitative and quantitative data for decision aiding in production planning

structural interrelations among phenomena, concepts, and ideas, whatever their character might be.” (Zwicky, 1969, p. 34). Essentially, general morphological analysis (MA) is a method for identifying and investigating the total set of possible relationships or “configurations” contained in a given problem complex. Typology construction (Bailey, 1994; Doty & Glick, 1994) is a special case of morphological analysis. MA, however, is more generalized in form and conceptual range. In his main work on the subject, Zwicky (1966) summarizes the five (iterative) steps of the process: “First step: The problem to be solved must be very concisely formulated. Second step: All of the parameters that might be of importance for the solution of the given problem must be localized and analyzed. Third step: The morphological box or multidimensional matrix, which contains all of the potential solutions of the given problem, is constructed. Fourth step: All the solutions contained in the morphological box are closely scrutinized and evaluated with respect to the purposes that are to be achieved.