Belton Val Prof

professor/Associate deputy Prinicpal (Education)

Val's principal focus of research interest for over 25 years has been Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). This research, which has focused on the theoretically and practically well founded use of MCDA methodologies, has been primarily practice-led. Integration, across MCDA methods and of MCDA with other management science methods and methodologies, is an important theme and underpins her book Multicriteria Decision Analysis: an Integrated Approach (2002), co-authored with Theo Stewart.

A particular area of interest for Val is effective problem structuring and model building as these are essential for the successful implementation of MCDA. Her work with Fran Ackermann to integrate problem structuring methods, in particular the use of cognitive mapping, with MCDA (Belton et al, 1997) was awarded the Wiley Prize in 1995.   Building on this, work with Gilberto Montibeller has sought to develop an integrated approach to problem structuring and evaluation, known as a Reasoning Map (Montibeller, Belton, Ackermann and Enslinn, 2007, and Montibeller, Belton and Lima, 2005).  Current work with Theo Stewart is focused on the notion of MCDA as problem structuring.

All problems and decisions involve multiple criteria, but few management science methods incorporate explicit modelling of this.  Val's recent work has explored potential integration with System Dynamics (Santos, Belton and Howick, 2002, 2004, 2007) and with Conflict Analysis (Losa and Belton, 2006).  Current research (with Hodgkin and Montibeller) is exploring the integration of Discrete event Simulation, Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimisation and MCDA (Belton, Montibeller and Hodgkin, 2004).   This interest has led to other work on the potential to link discrete event simulation and system dynamics in the context of system performance (sponsored by EPRSC, The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Simul8).

Val's other areas of current research interest include public sector performance measurement and management, how decision makers learn from modelling (Belton et al, 2008), and the development of reflective OR practitioners through student-centred teaching and learning (Belton, Gould and Scott, 2006).

Val was awarded the MCDM Presidential Service Award (2004) and Georg Cantor Lifetime Achievement Award (International Society for MCDM, 2008).  She has been very active in the national and international OR communities throughout her career. In 1980 she was the first woman to be elected to the Council of the UK Operational Research Society and since then has served in many roles, most recently as President of the Society (2004-2006). She became President Elect of EURO  (The European Federation of OR Societies) in January 2008, having previously been Vice-President (1996 to 2000). She played a lead role (as President of ORS) in the EPSRC International Review of research status of OR (2004) and is currently a Member EPSRC College of Peers  Mathematics.  She was President of the International Society for MCDM from 2000- 2004 and is Editor of the Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. She holds a Visiting Professorship at LSE. Recent consultancy projects have been conducted for MoD, NAO, HMRC (decision analysis). She is also Director of the Rotary Residential Care Centres.