A2.66 Complex, unmonetisable trade-offs occur where there are a number of important unmonetisable costs or benefits in different options that need to be balanced. Such trade-offs are often strategic in nature and involve the design of solutions based around alternative benefits against a limited budget.
A2.67 Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) using swing weighting is a technique that can be employed, in certain circumstances, at the long-listing stage to consider unmonetised trade-offs. MCDA should not be confused with simple weighting and scoring, which is sometimes referred to as Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA)34 which is not a recommended Green Book approach. MCDA should not be used as a substitute for cost benefit analysis in appraising the short-list. Supplementary Green Book guidance, the Multi-Criteria Analysis Manual, provides detailed guidance on how to undertake MCDA.
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34 Although MCA can sometimes go beyond simple weighting and scoring.