In this paper, we will present the works carried out in the field of Group
Decision-making Systems, particularly the problems that, because they are p
oorly defined (as many of those encountered by organizations), require a pr
evious analysis as systematized as possible. The work we are presenting was
carried out in task 4.2. titled 'Negotiation Tools' of ESPRIT III Project
no. 8749. The working group by which it was developed is still trying to in
troduce efficiently Knowledge Engineering techniques and methods so as to e
ndow this system with greater flexibility and reliability. In this paper, w
e will try to describe the context of these types of problems, we will ment
ion classic approaches to these problems and then we will describe the appr
oach followed in the ORCHESTRA Project. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.