Interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy TODIM method based on Schweizer–Sklar power aggregation operators and their applications to group decision making

Abstract

The present work proposes a novel integrated group decision making framework for decision making in IVIF setting employing Schweizer–Sklar t-conorm and t-norm (SSTT) aggregation operators, power average (PA) operators and TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese of interactive and multiple attribute decision making) methods. The SSTT aggregation operators make the aggregation process more flexible and the PA operators relive the decision making process from unreasonable data arising out due to biased evaluations. The TODIM method, on the other hand, ranks the alternatives by giving due consideration to the psychological behaviour of the expert towards risk. The extension of PA and SSTT operators to IVIF give rise to the weighted averaging and weighted geometric operators and are referred to as IVIFSSPAWA and IVIFSSPAWG operators. These operators, on integration with the TODIM method, give rise to two group decision making frameworks and are referred to as IVIFSSPWA fuzzy TODIM and IVIFSSPWG fuzzy TODIM approaches. The applicability of the proposed methods has been demonstrated through five illustrative examples from different domains: material selection, personnel selection, supplier selection, facility evaluation and technology evaluation. A comprehensive evaluation of the proposed methods with the considered illustrative examples aided to reveal the strength and weaknesses of the proposed approaches. The comprehensive analysis shows that the proposed IVIFSSPWA fuzzy TODIM and IVIFSSPWG fuzzy TODIM methods are superior to the benchmarks considered in the present work and also other MCDM methods without SSTT and PA aggregation operators and those ignoring the criticality of risk attitude of the experts. The proposed methodology, therefore, enhances the way of dealing with fuzzy information and in a way provides an improvisation of current studies.