Title: Multi-objective optimisation of an outranking model for public resources allocation on competing projects

Authors: Eduardo Fernandez, Luz Flerida Felix, Gustavo Mazcorro

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Ciudad Universitaria, Blvd. Las Americas s/n, Culiacan, Sinaloa, CP 80040, Mexico. ' School of Social Work, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Rosales s/n Poniente, Culiacan, Sinaloa, CP 80000, Mexico. ' UPIICSA, National Polytechnic Institute, Te 950 Granjas-Mexico, CP 08400 Mexico

Abstract: This paper develops a model for composing social-oriented project portfolios. The information concerning the quality of the projects is in the form of a project-ranking, which can be obtained by the application of a proper multi-criteria method, but the ranking does not assume an appropriate evaluation of social impact. Inspired by outranking methods, the model provides a preference relation over project portfolios related to project rank positions, single-project costs, and the Decision-Maker|s aversion to expensive projects. A best portfolio is primarily found through a multi-objective optimisation that regards violations to pre-established decision-maker|s preferences and the competing portfolios| cardinalities. The overall solution is obtained by developing an evolutionary method, which is found to perform very well in some test examples.

Keywords: public resources allocation; multi-objective optimisation; outranking methods; evolutionary algorithms; resource allocation; modelling; project ranking; decision making; competing projects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2009.025007

International Journal of Operational Research, 2009 Vol.5 No.2, pp.190 - 210

Published online: 06 May 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article