Title: Selection of a faculty member in academia: a case for verbal decision analysis

Authors: Helen M. Moshkovich; Alexander I. Mechitov

Addresses: College of Business, University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL 35115, USA ' College of Business, University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL 35115, USA

Abstract: Personnel selection problem is often viewed as a multi criteria problem and there are many examples when different multi criteria techniques support the process. The multi criteria approach was used in several studies of faculty selection in academia but not many recognised that there were peculiarities in the selection process. Most studies concentrated on rank ordering of a small number of finalists while one of the main tasks of the search committee in academia is to select a smaller number of candidates from a possibly large pool of applicants for a more thorough review. In our paper we propose a three-step approach to the problem and recommend verbal decision analysis (VDA) as a tool. Using a VDA method provides a reliable preference elicitation process and the decision rules are easy to understand and explain. Free tool ORCON_Z helps with the practical application. The proposed procedure was well received by the participants and provided valuable information during the selection process.

Keywords: multi-criteria decision making; MCDA; verbal decision analysis; VDA; ZAPROS; ORCON_Z; faculty selection; personnel selection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2018.091158

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2018 Vol.12 No.3, pp.343 - 363

Received: 12 Dec 2016
Accepted: 31 Jan 2017

Published online: 12 Apr 2018 *

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