10.5 Assessment

Clearly, different assumptions and different algorithms yield greatly varying results. This may be discomforting, but it is important to keep in mind that each of these approaches have a slightly different way to handle the tension between attribute and locational similarity.

In the end, the results can be evaluated on a number of different criteria. The ratio of the between sum of squares to the total sum of squares considered so far is only one of a number of possible metrics that can be considered (see Chapter 12). The commonalities and differences between the various approaches highlight where the trade offs are particularly critical.

Finally, it should be kept in mind that the solutions offered by the different algorithms have no guarantee to yield global optima. Therefore, it is important to consider more than one method, in order to gain insight into the sensitivity of the results to the approach chosen.