Analysis Manager Overview Page 1 of 18

Analysis manager

Analysis Manager Overview

The purpose of the Analysis Manager is to create and compare Multi-Criteria Analyses (MCA) and Cost-Benefit
Analyses (CBA). The analyses are presented as preconfigured spreadsheets that offer all required functionality and
logic. The Analysis Manager is designed as an explorer, in which analyses are organized in folders (groups) in an
intuitively and convenient way that you design.

The Analysis Manager consist of Setups (basic configuration of MCAs and CBAs) , Sessions (stakeholder feedback),
and Comparisons (comparison of stakeholder feedback). The grouping structure of the Analysis Manager is illustrated
below.

At least two Sessions are required to make a comparison. The variation between two sessions would mostly stem from
changes in interest (‘discount’) rates in the case of a CBA and from differences in weights and limits assigned to
criteria in the case of MCA. While CBA sessions from different Setups can be compared, this is not the case for MCA
sessions.

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Analysis manager

Organizing analyses
Analyses are conveniently arranged in groups and subgroups. Groups and subgroups can be created and renamed,
and subgroups can be moved between groups, similar to the way files are managed in folders.

To create a new group, right-click on the database node, or an existing group node, and select “Add new group” from
the context menu. To rename a group, select “Rename” from the group node context menu, or select the group node,
and click F2.

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Analysis manager

Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)

A MCA provides a mechanism to an end-user (often called stakeholder) to compare, via performance criteria, two or
more simulations and to define, via the definition of criteria weights, his/her own preferred solution(s).

This section covers the steps required to perform a Multi-Criteria Analysis. This consists of first creating a MCA Setup
and then, associated with this setup, one or more MCA Sessions. Two or more MCA sessions can then be compared via
a MCA Comparison.

More:

MCA Setup

MCA Sessions

MCA Comparison

Trade-off analysis

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Analysis manager > Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) 

MCA Setup

A new MCA Setup node is created in the Analysis explorer by selecting the database-, or group node, and selecting
“New -> Multi-criteria analysis” from the context menu. The MCA Setup node can be renamed, copied, cut and
pasted between groups similar to how files are handled in the Windows explorer.

A MCA Setup is opened by double-clicking the MCA Setup node in the explorer, or selecting “Open” from the node
context menu. The MCA Setup spreadsheet view includes four worksheets: Indicators, Criteria, Normalized Criteria,
and Pre-analysis. Only the Indicators worksheet is initially enabled.

Scenarios and indicators

The indicators that will later be used to calculate the criteria on which the MCA is based are imported either as
model indicators (i.e. through models that have been registered in the Scenario manager), or by importing indicators
from a text file.

Scenarios, along with model indicators, are added by clickin the “Add scenarios” button in the toolstrip , and
selecting a model in the import pop-up dialog that appears. All scenarios and corresponding model indicators will be
imported to the MCA Setup when clicking OK. In the example below, five scenarios and two indicators were
imported.

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Analysis manager > Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) 

MCA Sessions

When the MCA Setup is complete, one or more MCA Sessions can be added simply by selecting “New session” in
the MCA Setup context menu in the Analysis explorer.

The new Sessions will be added as nodes under the parent MCA Setup

Notice that the MCA Setup is automatically saved when a new MCA Session is created. The Session nodes can be
renamed, deleted and cloned from the node context menu.

The MCA Session configuration sheet is opened either by double clicking the session node, or selecting “Open” in
the context menu.

This opens the MCA Session spreadsheet view, which includes four worksheets: General, Criteria, Normalized
Criteria, Weights, Decision Matrix, Sensitivity, and Sensitivity Chart. Of these the first four are active.

Notice that the weighting method reflects the selected Criteria weighting option in the MCA Setup. 

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Analysis manager > Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) 

MCA Comparison

To compare the outcome of two or more MCA Sessions, select the sessions of interest in the Analysis explorer, and
run the Compare sessions tool.

A new Session comparison node is created.

Open the Comparison view by double-clicking the node, or click “Open” in the context menu. The Comparison view
shows how the different stakeholders ranked the analysed scenarios.

· Scenario/Criteria combinations that violate a stakeholder’s Acceptable Limits are highlighted red.

· Scenarios that include violating criteria are not ranked.

· The highest ranking scenarios are highlighted green

The actual scores can be compared under the “2D Column” sheet. 

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Analysis manager > Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) 

Trade-off analysis

As part of a larger project for the Nile Basin Initiative, the MCA tool in the Workbench Analysis manager has been
enhanced with an explicit trade-off analysis toolset.

The primary purpose of the trade-off analysis toolset is to help decision makers understand the consequences of
selecting a scenario in lieu of another one, i.e. understand what is being gained and lost by selecting one scenario
over another.

To enable this, the trade-off analysis toolset provides both graphical and tabular presentation of trade-offs between
selected scenarios.
Accessing the Trade-off functionality

The trade-off functionality is represented by this node under the MCA Setup . In order to perform a meaningful
trade-off analysis at least two scenarios and two criteria must have been included in the MCA Setup. Assuming that
this has been fulfilled, the trade-off functionality can be accedessed by selecting “Open” from the trade-off node
context menu, or simply by double clicking the node. This will open the trade-off functionality view, which consists
of a spreadsheet-like view with three sheets:

· Scenario selection

· Trade-off analysis charts

· Trade-off analysis tables

The configuration of the trade-off analysis is done in the Scenario selection charts, and the result of the analysis is
displayed under the Trade-off analysis charts and -tables sheets.
The scenario selection view

The scenario selection view is where the scenarios that are relevant for the analysis are selected and where
configuration of the analysis is performed.

By default the view contains a table with one row for each scenario included in the MCA Setup. A scenario is
identified by its name, and in the following columns the criteria values for the given scenario are displayed.

Show and hide criteria in the selection table



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Analysis manager

Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA)

A CBA allows for the analysis of the financial viability of a single project (scenario).

More:

Creating a new Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Setup

Viewing and editing CBA Setup Properties

Working with CBA Costs Items

Working with CBA Input Time Series

Defining CBA Conversions

Creating a new Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Session

Reviewing CBA Sessions

Working in CBA Sessions

Comparing CBA Sessions

Reviewing CBA Comparisons

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA)

Creating a new Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Setup

Right click on a Group and select

New à Cost-benefit analysis
from the context menu.

A CBA Setup:

has now been created under the

analysis group.

The CBA Setup can be copied,

cut, renamed, deleted, and
exported through the context
menu.

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Viewing and editing CBA Setup Properties

Double click or right click on a

CBA Setup and select Open
from the context menu to
view the CBA Setup
properties.

This opens the CBA Setup

spreadsheet view, which
includes four worksheets:
Costs and Benefits, Funding
and Minimums, Input Time
Series, and Conversions. Only
the Costs and Benefits
worksheet is accessible at this
point.

Note: The name in the CBA

Setup tab will only change
once it is saved.
CBA Setup properties can be
accessed by clicking into the
CBA Setup Costs and
Benefits worksheet.

This displays the associated

properties in the Properties
control.

The properties include

information about:

· First year (of

evaluation - editable)
· Last year (of
evaluation - editable)
· Monetary Units
(editable)
· Scenario (editable)


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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Working with CBA Costs Items

In the CBA Setup Costs and

Benefits worksheet click onto
the Add Item button ( ).

Note: CBA Items include

Costs, benefits, Funding, and
Minimums

This adds a new CBA Item to

the worksheet.

Note:

· CBA Items initially

have a name in the
format “CBA Item1”,
“CBA Item2”, etc.

· Additional CBA Items

can be added using the
Add Item button ( ).
Click on a CBA Item’s name
to view and edit the general
(‘Misc’) properties in the
Properties Control.

The general properties include

the following:

· Group (editable –
required)
· Name (editable)
· Significant number of
digits (editable)
Set costs and benefits
properties in the respective
groups.

These include the:


· Annual Discount rate

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA)

Working with CBA Input Time Series

Navigate to the CBA Setup

Input Time Series worksheet
to review total annual values
generated using the Cost
Item’s specified properties.

Note:

· Total annual values

for all cost items are
listed.

· By default, cells for all

item types but ‘Yearly
Values’ are locked
(highlighted grey).

Enter total annual values for

cost item components of type
‘Yearly Values’

Note: The corresponding cells

in the Time Series worksheet
table are not locked (white
background).

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA)

Defining CBA Conversions

Navigate to the CBA Setup

Conversions worksheet to
define conversion factors to
the CBA Setup units.

Note:

· Conversion factors
are only required for
cost item components
that are specified in
units other than the
CBA Setup units.

· By default, cells for all

components that do
not require
conversions are locked
(highlighted grey).
Enter conversion factors for
all required cost item
components.

Note:

· The corresponding
cells in the Conversions
worksheet table are
not locked (white
background).

· Conversion factors
can vary over time.

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Creating a new Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Session

Right click on a CBA Setup node

and select New Session from the
context menu.

A CBA Session:

has now been created under the

CBA Setup.

Note:

· One or more CBA

Sessions can be created
under any CBA Setup.

· The CBA Setup is

automatically saved when
a new CBA Session is
created

· A CBA Setup cannot be

edited if it contains one or
more CBA Sessions
The CBA Session can be cloned,
deleted, renamed, and exported
through the context menu.

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Reviewing CBA Sessions

Double click or right click on a

CBA Session and select Open
from the context menu to
view CBA Session properties.

This opens the CBA Session

spreadsheet view, which
includes four worksheets:
Input Time Series,
Conversions, Time Series
(actual), Time Series (PV),
Annual CBA, CBA Summary,
and CBA Graphs. All of these
are active.

Note:

· The name in the CBA

Session tab will only
change once it is
saved.

· Only cost items of

type ‘Yearly values’ can
be edited.

· All annual values

appear in their original
units.
Navigate to the CBA Session’s
Conversions worksheet to
review conversion factors.

Note: All conversion factors

can be edited.

Navigate to the CBA Session’s

Time Series (actual)
worksheet to review actual
monetary values.

Note: All values are now

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Working in CBA Sessions

Navigate to the CBA Session’s

Time Series (PV) worksheet to
review monetary values in
present terms.

Select a costs, benefits, funding or

benefits minimums component to
edit the discount rate in the
Properties control.

Note:

· The present values are

updated automatically for
the entire CBA Session.

Navigate to the CBA Session’s

Annual CBA worksheet to
review annual CBA metrics.

Note:

· The following metrics are

provided:

· Benefit Cost Ratio

years (cells) with a

benefit cost ratio less
than one are highlighted

· Funding Ratio

years (cells) with a

funding ratio larger than
one are highlighted

· Benefits above
Minimum (original
units)

benefits amount (original units) -

minimum benefits amount (original units)


years (cells) where

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA)

Comparing CBA Sessions

In the Analysis manager, select

two or more CBA Sessions, then
right-click on the Compare
sessions tool in the Tools
Explorer’s AnalysisSession Tools
and select Run from the context
menu.

Note:

· The CBA Sessions included

in the CBA Comparison can
be from different CBA
Setups.

A CBA Comparison:

has now been created under each of

the involved CBA Setups.

The CBA Comparison can be

renamed, deleted, and exported
through the context menu.

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Analysis manager > Performing Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) 

Reviewing CBA Comparisons

Double click or right click on a

CBA Comparison and select
Open from the context menu
to view CBA and marginal
CBA metrics.

Note:

· CBA metrics that

indicate negative
returns are highlighted
pink.

· CBA metrics that

cannot be computed
are highlighted orange.

· Marginal CBA metrics

are presented to the
right. These values are
computed relative to
the first CBA Session
listed in the CBA
Comparison.

Navigate to the CBA

Comparison’s Graphical
worksheet to review
comparison plots.

· The following graphs

are available, plotted
by group:

· Costs Comparison
(bar chart)

· Benefits
Comparison (bar
chart)

· Net Benefits
Comparison (bar
chart)

· Benefit Cost Ratio 

Comparison (bar

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