International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making (8 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Strengthening Preference Ranking Organisation MeTHod for Enrichment Evaluation with Features of Paraconsistent Pavelka Style Fuzzy Logic  
  by Inusah Abdulai 
  Abstract: In this study, a new technique of complete ranking is proposed to augment the efficiency of the Preference Ranking Organisation MeTHod for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) methodology. The technique employs some ideas of the PROMETHEE method, and paraconsistent Pavelka style fuzzy logic. To illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of this novel technique, data on the performance of five mobile phone operators in Ghana is analysed and the results compared with the ranking of the conventional PROMETHEE I and II.
  Keywords: Paraconsistent logic; Pavelka logic; Leaving and entering flows; Evidence couple; Evidence matrices; PROMETHEE; Paraconsistent Pavelka style fuzzy logic; MV-algebra; Complete ranking.
  
  
• Multiplicative aggregation in managerial multi-attribute decision making  
  by Maksim Goman, Stefan Koch 
  Abstract: Purpose -- This paper focuses on measuring the performance of alternatives for management decision making. A multiplicative approach is suggested for aggregation of criteria estimates assuming that the criteria are measured in non-comparable units of measure. We extensively compare weighted average (WA) and newly proposed composite index (CI) in a real-world example of strategic decision making problem of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system upgrade. In addition, user preference on decision support method complexity was examined. Design -- The method uses a CI based on weighted product (WP) instead of commonly applied WA. We develop the CI, illustrate its application and performance with an ERP upgrade decision making problem. A survey of potential users was performed to evaluate comprehension of the CI method in the context of the current WA practice and availability of other decision support methods, and willingness to use it as compared with WA and a number of other formal decision support methods. Findings -- Application of the proposed CI method to the decision problem of ERP system upgrade shows its robustness to data scale change. Empirical evaluation of user acceptance revealed that users are more likely to understand simple methods and apply them in practical work rather than methods that they do not comprehend, with the proposed approach rated "statistically not worse" than simple WA, thus making the new approach a viable alternative for managers. Originality/Value -- The findings of this paper should help managers in practical multi-attribute problems where ranking of alternatives based on a number of their properties having non-comparable values is required. The overall value of each alternative is obtained in mathematically correct way, and the aggregation of the overall value is simplified due to absence of necessary data normalization. At the same time, application of the method in management decision making is as simple as traditional WA. And because ease of understanding and use is important for users, multiplicative aggregation technique deserves much attention in practical applications.
  Keywords: multiple criteria analysis; weighted product; weighted average; multi-attribute decision making; strategic decision making; software selection.
  
  
• MAOAM: Multiple-Aspect Outstandingness Appraisement Methodology  
  by IMEN ZGHIDI 
  Abstract: In this contribution, we devise and apply a method for ranking multi-attribute alternatives. The suggested method is founded, inter alia, on the so-called positive and negative outstandingness predicates. This method, herein called MAOAM (Multiple-Aspect Outstandingness Appraisement Method), employs in the aggregation phase a family of multivariate generalized weighted Heronian means having as special cases the Beliakov et al. 2007's generalized Heronian means as well as that of Chu and Liu (2015). With positive and negative outstandingness predicates and multivariate generalized weighted Heronian means, we are better equipped to rank rationally pre-specified alternatives. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method are shown in a practical application.
  Keywords: MCDM; Positive Outstandingness Predicate; Negative Outstandingness Predicate; Weighted Generalized Heronian Mean Operator.
  
  
• Participatory multi-criteria decision analysis for sustainable energy planning  
  by Apostolos Arsenopoulos, Vangelis Marinakis, Haris Doukas 
  Abstract: Public participation is constantly gaining attention in the context of decision-making process at local level, given that citizens are the main beneficiaries of the implemented policy measures. In this respect, stakeholder engagement has found itself at the core of the dialogue process for integrating multiple perspectives in sustainable energy planning, with the minimum social disruption. This paper aims to present a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework for enhancing stakeholder engagement in the policy-making process, enabling decision-makers together with experts, citizens and other beneficiaries to jointly prioritise sustainable energy and climate actions to be implemented. The proposed framework allows marginalised population groups to express their views on issues of the everyday life, which are eventually incorporated in an MCDA analysis along with the experts assessments. The proposed methodology is applied in a Greek municipality to showcase its functionalities and highlight future challenges that will make it even more integrated.
  Keywords: Stakeholder engagement; Public participation; Sustainable energy planning; Decision-making; Multi-criteria analysis; TOPSIS.
  
  
• A new threshold for the detection of possible rank reversal occurrences in Promethee II rankings  
  by Gilles Dejaegere, Yves De Smet 
  Abstract: Multicriteria decision aid consists in helping decision makers to compare (rank, choose, sort, etc.) different alternatives which are evaluated on conflicting criteria. A well-known family of decision aid methods is the Promethee family. It has been highlighted that these methods may suffer from rank reversal occurrences. However, Mareschal et al. and later Verly & De Smet have pointed out that rank reversal could only occur between alternatives having similar flow scores. In this work, a stricter threshold on the difference of net flow scores is proposed. It is shown using real datasets that the new threshold significantly reduces the pairs of alternatives subject to rank reversal. A comparison of the different thresholds according to the information on which they are based is also given. These new insights suggest to reconsider carefully the definition of the indifference and the incomparability relation in the context of Promethee methods.
  Keywords: Multicriteria; Decision aid; Promethee; Rank Reversal; Parameters; Threshold; Net flow score; Indifference; Incomparability.
  
  

Special Issue on: Composite Indicators and Multicriteria Decision Making New Developments and Applications

• A Non-linear Multivariate Method for Constructing Profiles of Country Performance  
  by Sara Casacci, Adriano Pareto 
  Abstract: Composite indices for measuring multi-dimensional phenomena such as sustainable development, quality of life, and competitiveness, are based on individual indicators that have no common unit of measurement. As a rule, individual indicators are normalized by univariate methods, independently of each other. However, normalization has a strong impact on results since it creates a correspondence system among different variables. Thus the normalization method should take into account the relationships existing in the data. In this paper, a non-linear multivariate method is proposed for normalizing a set of individual indicators in order to aggregate them into a composite index and construct profiles of country performance. An application to the measurement and analysis of socio-economic development is also shown.
  Keywords: composite index; indicators; normalization; non-linear relationship.
  
  
• Development and Evaluation of a New Tool for Multiple Criteria Decision Making  
  by Majid Jangi, Seyyed Hadi Ghasemi, Mahin Ghorban Sabbagh, Hamed Tabesh, Sayyed Mostafa Mostafavi, Mahmood Tara 
  Abstract: Multi-Criteria Decision making is intricate in the medical domain. The purpose of this study was to develop a new software tool called Expository-Posthaste-Effective-Resembling-Tool (ExPERT) for multi-criteria decision making in 2018-2019 in multi-stages. First, scenario and MCDM steps were determined. Then MCDM steps were implemented in HTML/CSS/JavaSript and the query was sent to the server using a PHP script. After that, the tool was evaluated in real clinical settings. The developed tool included dynamic interconnected weight assignment of factors, visualization of implicit knowledge, incorporating written descriptions, and instant feedback to change implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge. As such, the tool enables the user to produce visual presentations, simultaneously display multi-criteria decisions, and provide written feedback on user-assigned weightings. Using a visual presentation, this tool can potentially reduce the time required to assign weightings to different criteria, easy to use, and eliminating the need for specific training of participants.
  Keywords: Multi Criteria Decision Making; Implicit Knowledge; Feedback; Factor Weighting; Visualization;.
  
  

Special Issue on: MCDM for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth

• An Integrated CRITIC-VIKOR Model for Overtourism Assessment in Spain: Post-COVID-19 Sustainable Actions  
  by JOSEFA GARCIA MESTANZA, R.I.M. BAKHAT 
  Abstract: The tourism industry has developed rapidly in recent decades. This boom has led to overtourism in some tourist areas of Spain. The COVID-19, on the other hand, has paralyzed the sector and must be reactivated without reproducing past errors. Faced with this period of uncertainty, economic reactivation, and tourism sustainability, overtourism has become one of the most discussed topics in debates and scientific articles. However, overtourism is at a very early stage in its empirical measurement and remains open to subjective interpretations due to the paucity of precise measurements. This emanates from the fact that overtourism lacks a realistic set of indicators to quantitatively measure its negative impact and inherent risk on the host community. In this way, the main objective of this paper is to provide a set of indicators that allow reviewing and redirecting decision-making at the business and political levels. An integrated MCDM approach has been applied, namely the CRITIC method (CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) for calculating the weights of the indicators and the VIKOR method (VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje) for assessing the alternatives. The case study of Spain provides useful insights, and the obtained results demonstrated that the economic indicators hinder sustainable development and contribute to worsening the tourist attitude more than the social factor do. In this regard, a need remains for determining valid public policies to improve territorial planning, manage the carrying capacity, and further implement sustainable actions in the affected communities during this exceptional health crisis as suggested in the discussion section.
  Keywords: Overtourism; Sustainable Indicators; MCDM; CRITIC; VIKOR; COVID-19.