OWA aggregation operators and multi-agent decisions with [formula omitted]-soft sets

Abstract

This work improves the theoretical basis of N-soft sets and insists on their practical applications in a multi-agent context. N-soft sets characterize the alternatives in terms of multinary descriptions by attributes. We argue that unlike the basic example of soft set theory, N-soft sets are amenable to various interesting approaches in relation to aggregation. However the literature has not provided mechanisms for the aggregation of N-soft sets. And there exists no multi-agent decision making procedure based on N-soft sets either.Therefore, the goal of this work is twofold. We present a novel theory of aggregation of N-soft sets. The fundamental tools for this purpose are OWA operators. We produce the first scores of alternatives defined by multi-agent, multinary evaluations. Then we apply this theory to multi-agent decision-making. In this way we produce the first algorithms for multi-agent decisions based on N-soft sets. We support our findings with real examples that illustrate the application and versatility of these flexible approaches.