Coalition formation metrics for decision making

Three matrices are defined, evaluated and compared for determining which coalitions are more likely to form among decision makers taking part in a conflict. Each of the three metrics uses the similarity of preferences among potential decision makers in a coalition to calculate a numerical value. However, the first two metrics are based upon ordinal preferences for the overall scenarios or outcomes that could take place whereas the third metric is defined in terms of preferences among the basic courses of actions available to the decision makers. It is concluded that the third metric, which is called the ordinal option-based metric, is the most appropriate one to employ in practical applications. Several applications are suggested where coalition metrics could be quite useful