There would be no room for actual opinion in the model, and it would come down to which option was calculated to provide the highest return. That can actually be difficult to determine mathematically, because there are so many different factors that must be taken into account and that are sometimes not addressed properly. While it is very important to make sure that each valid factor is accounted for, some will hold more weight than others. Assigning a weight to each one is done arbitrarily, so the weights are not necessarily even, realistic, or accurate based on what the person is trying to decide.

Models are important to help managers make decisions, but good managers should know that there is much more to the job than plugging in numbers or factors to get a particular outcome. The manager who is really focused on taking good care of the company and...
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