A DEMATEL-Based Method for Linguistic Multiple Attributes Group Decision Making Using Strict t-Norms and t-Conorms

Abstract

To evaluate fuzzy information precisely, researchers and practitioners are apt to use linguistic variables to model vague or uncertain contexts in natural language. In this paper, some new operation laws for continuous linguistic terms using strict t-norms and t-conorms are defined. Significantly, these operation laws have some desirable properties and are closed on the restricted continuous linguistic term set. On the basis of these new linguistic operation laws, a series of triangular t-(co)norm-based linguistic generalized power geometric operators are developed. In order to consider the interactive influence and interrelationship of decision makers (DMs) and attributes, a decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based method for linguistic multiple attributes group decision making (MAGDM) is proposed. In the method, the weighting information for DMs and attributes are dependent on the initial direct-relation matrices among DMs and attributes, respectively. Finally, a numerical example is provided. In comparison with the existing methods, two aspects of the DEMATEL-based method for linguistic MAGDM in the work can be highlighted: the underlying operators for linguistic terms using strict t-norms and t-conorms that are closed on the set of the restricted continuous linguistic term set; and the techniques in determining the weighting information, with which the weighting information for DMs and attributes are determined by the interactive influence and interrelationship among DMs or attributes.