Title: AHP as an effective consensus-based selection tool: a case of personnel selection for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia

Authors: Asma M. Bahurmoz; Syeda-Masooda Mukhtar; Laila M. Al-Sharqi

Addresses: Department of Business, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Business, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Business, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: While merits of normative judgements may be questionable when objectivity is the desired criterion in management decisions, which tend to be inherently unstructured such as personnel selection, evidence suggests that the perspective of traditional personnel selection methods remains relatively restrictive and subjective. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has emerged as a powerful addition to the decision-support tools for providing a systematic approach to solving an inherently unstructured problem. However, despite its relevance to personnel selection, application of the AHP has been surprisingly missing in this decision area. This paper develops the AHP model as an alternative approach to the traditional personnel selection methods that minimises subjective judgements. The model is illustrated by its implementation in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The paper concludes with implications for managerial decision-making.

Keywords: AHP; analytical hierarchy process; multicriteria decision making; MCDM; consensus-based selection; personnel selection; Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2015.069527

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2015 Vol.8 No.2, pp.138 - 156

Published online: 21 May 2015 *

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