Comparing apples and oranges how to select the most probable targets
George Markowsky · 2009
There are several target selection systems that use multiple factors to select the most probable targets. Factors can be such things as replacement costs, strategic importance, and psychological importance. These systems use these factors to rank potential targets in some order. It is clear that comparing disparate factors is very much like comparing apples and oranges. We show that in general, you can't compare apples and oranges and maintain logical consistency. Thus, every multi-factorial target rating system is limited in the accuracy of its rankings. We illustrate our results using the CARVER2trade program. We conclude with a discussion of how these multi-factor systems may best be used by planners despite their limitations.