RESEARCH
How objectives, data, and analysis lead to better decisions
I study how people and organizations reach better decisions under uncertainty and conflicting objectives — from operational questions to strategic ones. Methodologically, I combine decision analysis, behavioral operational research, and data science.
RESEARCH PROGRAMME
Five focus areas
A single thread runs through my work: systematically improving the quality of decisions – across methods, behaviour, and data.
FOCUS AREA 01
Decision Analysis & Value-Focused Thinking
Clarifying and structuring objectives and translating them into better alternatives. How can values and objectives lead to decisions that can be justified and responsibly defended?
FOCUS AREA 02
Behavioural Decision Research
How people actually decide – and how proactive and competent decision-making can be fostered. Empirically grounded, at the interface of description and prescription (Behavioural Operational Research).
FOCUS AREA 03
Multi-Criteria Decision Support & Value-Based Management
Complex conflicts between objectives and criteria across levels – from operational decisions to strategic management: portfolio and resource allocation, Balanced Scorecard, and systems of objectives.
FOCUS AREA 04
Data Science & Artificial Intelligence in Decision Processes
How data-driven analyses, forecasts, and AI-generated information can be embedded in decision processes so that they support transparent and accountable decisions.
FOCUS AREA 05 · ONGOING RESEARCH
Behaviourally Grounded Operations and Management Decisions
A growing part of my research applies decision-analytic and behavioural methods to operations, supply chains, and enterprise-wide management questions. Several projects are currently in preparation or under review.
Supply Chains & Last-Mile Logistics
How the objectives and constraints of individual actors can be translated into flexible, behaviourally informed delivery and routing decisions.
Operations & Financial Management
How Value-Focused Thinking complements value-based management and turns functional objective conflicts into deliberate, enterprise-wide value decisions.
Biases in Evaluation
Systematic biases in weighting and selection – for example in procurement and supplier decisions – and methods that reduce their impact.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Selected Work
A selection of peer-reviewed journal articles, organised by my research focus areas. The full list of publications is available on the Publications page, ORCID, and Google Scholar.
Decision Analysis & Value-Focused Thinking
Creating More and Better Alternatives for Decisions Using Objectives
Siebert, J. U.; Keeney, R. L. · Operations Research 63(5), 2015
Fifty Years of Decision Analysis in Operational Research: A Review
Borgonovo, E.; Jose, V. R. R.; Knowlton, M.; Shachter, R.; Siebert, J. U.; Ulu, C. · European Journal of Operational Research 329(2), 2026
Identifying and Structuring the Objectives of the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL) and Its Followers
Siebert, J. U.; von Winterfeldt, D.; John, R. S. · Decision Analysis 13(1), 2016
Comparative Analysis of Terrorists’ Objectives Hierarchies
Siebert, J. U.; von Winterfeldt, D. · Decision Analysis 17(2), 2020
Behavioural Decision Research
Effects of decision training on individuals’ decision-making proactivity
Siebert, J. U.; Kunz, R. E.; Rolf, P. · European Journal of Operational Research 294(1), 2021
Effects of Proactive Decision Making on Life Satisfaction
Siebert, J. U.; Kunz, R. E.; Rolf, P. · European Journal of Operational Research 280(3), 2020
Developing and Validating the Multidimensional Proactive Decision-Making Scale
Siebert, J. U.; Kunz, R. E. · European Journal of Operational Research 249(3), 2016
Deciding for a secure tomorrow: Proactive decision-making and retirement financial planning behavior
Siebert, J.; Siebert, J. U.; Blösl, F. · European Journal of Operational Research 331(3), 2026
Multi-Criteria Decision Support & Value-Based Management
Supporting Innovation in Early-Stage Pharmaceutical Development Decisions
Methling, F.; Borden, S. A.; Veeraraghavan, D.; Sommer, I.; Siebert, J. U.; von Nitzsch, R.; Seidler, M. · Decision Analysis 19(4), 2022
Combining Value-Focused Thinking and Balanced Scorecard to Improve Decision-Making in Strategic Management
Kunz, R. E.; Siebert, J. U.; Mütterlein, J. · Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis 23(5–6), 2016
Defining and Aligning Supply Chain Objectives Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Siebert, J. U.; Brandenburg, M.; Siebert, J. · IEEE Engineering Management Review 48(4), 2020
Data Science & Artificial Intelligence in Decision Processes
ChatGPT vs. Experts: Can GenAI Develop High-Quality Organizational and Policy Objectives?
Simon, J.; Siebert, J. U. · Decision Analysis, Articles in Advance, 2025
APPLIED RESEARCH
Research on Real-World Decisions
Selected collaborations in which decision-analytic methods were applied to real-world investment, portfolio, and management decisions.
Bayer AG
Pharmaceutical Development
A prioritisation model for the early-stage development pipeline, enabling holistic portfolio management. Publication ↗ · Project background →
Energie Baden-Württemberg
Strategic Management
Development of a comprehensive system of strategic objectives as a basis for identifying sustainable strategic measures; advising the Executive Board. Project background →
Nordbayerischer Kurier
Media Company · Strategic Management
Development of a media-specific Balanced Scorecard based on Value-Focused Thinking for the strategic management of a regional media company. Publication ↗
California Department of Transportation
Infrastructure & Resources
Methodological advice on structuring and evaluating infrastructure and resource decisions. Caltrans report (PDF) ↗ · Project background →
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
In the Research Community
Editorial Boards
Boards and Committees
Executive Committee — International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
Board Member — INFORMS Section on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
Coordinating Board — EURO Working Group on Behavioural Operational Research
Reviewing
Management Science · Operations Research · European Journal of Operational Research · Omega
Roles in Professional Societies (12)
INFORMS
2025–2027
MCDM Society
2024–2028
INFORMS
since 2022
Reflektiert Entscheiden
since 2022
Alliance for Decision Education
since 2020
EURO WG BOR
2017–2026
Inaugural Member of the Management Board — EURO Working Group on Behavioural Operational Research
Entscheidungsnavi
since 2017
INFORMS
2016–2018
Editorial Roles (7)
EJOR
since 2025
JMCDA
since 2024
Decision Analysis
since 2019
Scientific, Programme and Organising Committees (18)
MOPGP 2027
December 2027
INSID 2026
November 2026
MCDM 2026
May 2026
MCDM 2024
June 2024
EWG BOR 2023
September 2023
Programme Committee and Organising Committee — Fall Workshop of the EURO Working Group on Behavioural OR “Behavioural OR – The Way Forward”, Delft, Netherlands
EMO 2023
March 2023
MCDM 2022
June 2022
MOPGP 2021
December 2021
BOR Summer School
August 2021
EMO 2021
March 2021
INSID 2020
December 2020
MCDM 2019
June 2019
Scientific Committee — 25th International Conference on Multiple Criteria Decision Making, Istanbul, Turkey
EMO 2019
March 2019
MCDM 2017
July 2017
Programme Committee — 24th International Conference on Multiple Criteria Decision Making, Ottawa, Canada
EMO 2017
March 2017
MCDM 2015
August 2015
EMO 2015
March 2015
Juries and Nominating Committees (7)
INFORMS
2025–2027
Judging Committee, MCDM Junior Researcher Best Paper Award — INFORMS Section on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
INFORMS
2025
Nominating Committee for Section Elections — INFORMS Section on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
MCDM Society
2024–2026
Alliance for Decision Education
since 2024
External Review Board, Research Grant — Alliance for Decision Education
Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre
since 2024
Reviewer — Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre
INFORMS
2018
Judging Committee, MCDM Junior Researcher Best Paper Award — INFORMS Section on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
Tyrolean Science Fund
since 2018
Reviewer — Tyrolean Science Fund (Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung)