A New Methodology for the Hierarchical Grouping of Related Elements of a Problem

Some problems may be divided into subsystems containing elements of the problem which are strongly related to each other within a subsystem and weakly related to the elements in other subsystems. In the methodology relative weights are assigned to the relationships between the elements. These weights are simulated by resistors connected to nodes which represent the elements. Electrical network theory is used to derive grouping indices which include the direct and indirect effects of multiple relationships. A rationale for grouping the elements is developed into an algorithm. Results of empirical testing of the methodology are applied to a color television. The results of this are compared with decompositions found by factor analysis and HIDECS programs, showing that more useful results can be obtained.