Group Decision-making Environment Research Articles

An interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy DEMATEL method combined with Choquet integral for sustainable solid waste management

The decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) is a pragmatic method used to construct the structural correlation of criteria in a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. This paper proposes modifications to DEMATEL. Different from the typical DEMATEL which utilizes crisp numbers, this modification introduces interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers to enhance judgements in group decision-making environment. We use the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging operator instead of the typical averaging operator to aggregate decision-makers’ preferences. This paper proposes a combination of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, DEMATEL and the Choquet integral to allow a strong interrelationship between the sum of rows and the sum of columns of criteria in structural correlation analysis. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed method is illustrated by a numerical example about sustainable solid waste management. The result indicates that ‘collaboration and synergy’ is the most influential criterion for sustainable solid waste management. Comparative results are presented to show the validity of the proposed method.

Decision making method based on Pythagorean fuzzy sets and its application to solid waste management

The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) has been used to solve various multi-criteria group decision-making problems where triangular fuzzy numbers are utilized in defining decision makers’ linguistic judgements. Most of the fuzzy DEMATEL modifications are built from linguistic variables based on fuzzy sets. Recent literature suggests that Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFS) can offer a better alternative particularly when fuzzy sets have some extent of limitations in handling vagueness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a modification fuzzy DEMATEL characterized by PFS for linguistic variables. Differently from the typical fuzzy DEMATEL which directly utilizes triangular fuzzy numbers with a single membership, this modification introduces membership and non-membership of PFS to enhance judgements in the group decision-making environment. The proposed method has a number of attractive features. It includes linguistic variables, expert’s weights, and score function, in which all of these features are expressed by PFS. The proposed modification is applied to a case of solid waste management (SWM) where ten criteria are considered in assessment. Six experts in SWM were invited to provide linguistic judgments with respect to the criteria, and the eleven-step computational procedure of the proposed method was implemented without losing the general structure of the DEMATEL method. The results unveiled that four criteria are identified as ‘cause group’ and six criteria are identified as ‘effect group’ in SWM. The grouping of criteria would help policy makers in identifying the criteria that could enhance the efficiency of SWM.

Dealing with group decision-making environments that have a high amount of alternatives using card-sorting techniques

Due to the appearance of Web 2.0 technologies and smartphones, the amount of information available to carry out group decision-making processes has increased dramatically. Therefore, there is a need for group decision-making methods that are capable of dealing with environments that handle a high number of alternatives. In this paper, a novel group decision-making method that can deal with these kinds of environments has been developed. Thanks to card-sorting techniques, it is possible to reduce the number of alternatives that the experts have to deal with using their own knowledge. Thanks to this, experts do not have to rely on information from any external source as it is done in other similar methods.

A symbol-based fuzzy decision-making approach to evaluate the user satisfaction on services in academic digital libraries

Academic libraries play a significant role in providing core services that include research, teaching and learning. Usersatisfaction is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of library service. This paper develops a methodfor measuring the user satisfaction in a group decision-making environment. First, the performance of service isevaluated by using questionnaire survey. The scores are recorded by using some simple symbols. Second, the symbolinformation along with nonresponse items in questionnaires are fused into an intuitionistic fuzzy information. Third, anexperimental analysis is provided to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of introduced method in this paper. Finally,the theoretical and practical implications of current model are discussed, the important limitations are recognized, andsome main advantages and future research directions of current method are shown in conclusions.

Group Decision Making Based on a Framework of Granular Computing for Multi-Criteria and Linguistic Contexts

The usage of linguistic information involves computing with words, a methodology assuming linguistic values as computational elements, in group decision-making environments. In recent times, a new methodology founded on a framework of granular computing has been employed to manage linguistic information. An advantage of this methodology is that the distribution and the semantics of the linguistic values, in place of being initially established, are defined by the optimization of a certain criterion. In this paper, different from the existing approaches, we present a novel approach build on the basis of a granular computing framework that is able to cope with group decision-making problems defined in multi-criteria contexts, that is, those in which different criteria are considered to evaluate the possible alternatives for solving the problem. In particular, it models group decision-making problems in a more realistic way by taking into account that each criterion has an importance weight and by considering that each decision maker has a different importance weight for each criterion. This approach makes operational the linguistic values by associating them with intervals via the optimization of an optimization criterion composed of two important aspects that must be taken into account in this kind of decision problems, that is, the consensus at the level of group of decision makers and the consistency at the level of individual decision makers.

EDAS Method for Extended Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Multi-criteria Decision Making

Extended hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (EHFLTS) is an effective means to assess the hesitant qualitative information in multi-criteria group decision-making environment. We extend the Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) method to the extended hesitant fuzzy linguistic environment, which use average solution for appraising alternatives. The average solutions according to all the criteria are determined by the extended hesitant fuzzy linguistic center OWA operator, which is based on convex combinations of two EHFLTSs and center OWA operator. In order to calculate positive distance from average and negative distance from average, the possibility degree formula for comparing EHFLTSs is proposed. According to the appraisal score, the preference order or the most suitable alternative can be ranked. Finally, the feasibility and efficiency of the extended EDAS is demonstrated by through the example.

The determination of three-way decisions with decision-theoretic rough sets considering the loss function evaluated by multiple experts

One of the main aims of a theory of three-way decisions is to model a cohort of human ways of dealing with problems and how to go about information processing considering applications in designing and implementing intelligent systems. Three-way decision with decision-theoretic rough sets is a new model characterized by the conditional risk, the loss functions and the minimum-risk decision rules. We provide a three-way decisions approach using loss functions evaluated by multiple experts based on the Bayesian decision theory. In this paper, we propose the methodologies of the aggregation of loss functions of decision-theoretic rough sets under group decision-making environment. Then we further compare them with that of the existing papers, which focus on the aggregation of the thresholds. We also construct basic model of three-way group decisions. Finally, an empirical study of evaluating the loss functions validates the reasonability and effectiveness of the proposed models. The contributions of the study are as follows: group decision-making is regarded as a knowledge based, which makes the decision more convincing as compared to single-person methods. Considering the different situations, we mainly design the corresponding aggregation operators of loss functions. Our new approach provides the methodologies of the aggregation of loss functions which in turn are used to compute the thresholds for the determination or construction of the basic rules of three-way group decision-making.

A quality function deployment-based framework for the risk management of hazardous material transportation process

The risk management of hazardous materials (HazMats) transportation is a systematic process consisting of risk identification, evaluation, and control. A quality function deployment-based framework under fuzzy environment is proposed to effectively regulate the risks and manage the safety of HazMats transportation process. The framework includes three components. A 4D identification system, namely, “H (human) – M (material) – E (environment) – M (management),” for risk factors is constructed in the first stage, and the basic importance rating of each factor is calculated in the second stage. Subsequently, the corresponding risk control measures are proposed, and the correlation between risk factors and control measures are identified. Finally, the improved priority of each risk control measure, which is the benchmark for limited enterprise resource allocation and risk management policy development, is calculated in the third stage. In particular, this study utilizes fuzzy linguistic terms that are then transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers as evaluation tool for facilitating the expression of experts and decreasing information loss by considering the uncertainty and ambiguity of risk evaluation process. In addition, a new comprehensive weighting model is constructed to determine the influence of experts under group decision-making environment. The proposed framework is applied to explain the process of the risk management and loss prevention of a HazMats transportation company in China. Results not only provide certain acceptable recommendations to safety management of HazMat transportation process but also verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed approach.

A new DEMATEL method based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets for developing causal relationship of knowledge management criteria

The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) has been used to solve various multi-criteria group decision-making problems where triangular type-1 fuzzy sets are utilized in defining decision makers’ linguistic evaluation. Most of the fuzzy DEMATEL modifications are built from linguistic variables based on type-1 fuzzy sets (T1FS). Previous literature suggests that interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FS) can offer an alternative that can handle vagueness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a modification fuzzy DEMATEL characterized by IT2FS for linguistic variables. Differently from the typical fuzzy DEMATEL which directly utilizes triangular type-1 fuzzy numbers, this modification introduces trapezoidal IT2 fuzzy numbers to enhance evaluation in the group decision-making environment. This new modification includes linguistic variables expressed by IT2FS and an expected value method for normalizing upper and lower memberships of IT2FS to crisp numbers. The proposed modification is applied to a case of knowledge management (KM) where eleven criteria are considered. Three experts in KM were invited to provide linguistic judgments with respect to the criteria, and the eight-step computational procedure of the proposed modification was implemented without losing the originality of the DEMATEL method. The results unveiled that ‘trust’ is the most influential criteria in KM. Therefore, trust is a phenomenon that impacts on the success of KM. Comparable results are also presented to check the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the criteria weight and the causal relationship of criteria using the proposed method are consistent with the other two methods.

Group assessment of key indicators of sustainable waste management in developing countries.

Decision makers in developing countries are struggling to solve the present problems of solid waste management. Prioritisation and ranking of the most important indicators that influence the waste management system is very useful for any decision maker for the future planning and implementation of a sustainable waste management system. The aim of this study is to evaluate key indicators and their related sub-indicators in a group decision-making environment. In order to gain insight into the subject it was necessary to obtain the qualified opinions of decision makers from different countries who understand the situation in the sector of waste management in developing countries. An assessment is performed by 43 decision makers from both developed and developing countries, and the applied methodology is based on a combined use of the analytic hierarchy process, from the multi-criteria decision-making set of tools, and the preferential voting method known as Borda Count, which belongs to social choice theory. Pairwise comparison of indicators is performed with the analytic hierarchy process, and the ranking of indicators once obtained is assessed with Borda Count. Detailed analysis of the final results showed that the Institutional-Administrative indicator was the most important one, with the maximum weight as derived by both groups of decision makers. The results also showed that the combined use of the analytic hierarchy process and Borda Count contributes to the credibility and objectivity of the decision-making process, allowing its use in more complex waste management group decision-making problems to be recommended.

Are group members less inequality averse than individual decision makers?

Do groups exhibit more or less inequality aversion than individuals? Although the previous literature has shown that in many environments individuals in groups make more selfish decisions than when deciding in isolation, we find that individuals express more inequality aversion when making initial proposals in a group decision-making environment compared to an individual decision-making environment. This may be driven by a change in the decision-making environment and by beliefs about the prevailing norm in the group, but we exclude that it is driven by a loss of anonymity or by efficiency concerns. By investigating how groups aggregate individual preferences under a unanimity rule, we show that the members with median social preferences lead the group decisions and a higher inequality aversion compared to the median slows down the convergence process. Overall, final decisions in groups reveal the same level of inequality aversion than individual decisions.

Supplier selection and evaluation using interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy AHP method

Supply chain management (SCM) is one of the most important competitive strategies used by modern enterprises. The main aim of supply chain management is to integrate various suppliers to satisfy market demands. To this end, supplier selection and evaluation plays an important role in establishing an effective supply chain. However, it is a hard problem since supplier selection is typically a multi criteria group decision-making problem involving several conflicting criteria on which decision-maker's knowledge is usually vague and imprecise. The current study proposes an AHP method combined with interval intuitionistic fuzzy set to select appropriate supplier in group decision-making environments. A numerical example for supplier selection has been provided to illustrate application of the proposed interval intuitionistic fuzzy AHP method.

Supplier selection and evaluation using interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy AHP method

Supply chain management (SCM) is one of the most important competitive strategies used by modern enterprises. The main aim of supply chain management is to integrate various suppliers to satisfy market demands. To this end, supplier selection and evaluation plays an important role in establishing an effective supply chain. However, it is a hard problem since supplier selection is typically a multi criteria group decision-making problem involving several conflicting criteria on which decision-maker's knowledge is usually vague and imprecise. The current study proposes an AHP method combined with interval intuitionistic fuzzy set to select appropriate supplier in group decision-making environments. A numerical example for supplier selection has been provided to illustrate application of the proposed interval intuitionistic fuzzy AHP method.

Stakeholders-based multi-criteria policy analysis in maritime transport: from theory to practice

Abstract: This paper discusses on the applicability of a combined multi-actors multi-criteria method developed to facilitate policy making in the area of maritime transport. The methodology exploits the operational synergy of two MCDA techniques (PROMETHEE and AHP) in a multi-actors evaluation environment. This combination seeks to improve both methods’ applicability and decrease their potential deficiencies and limitations while their application in a Group Decision environment facilitates the building of consensus among the involved stakeholders through the provision of a transparent participatory policy selection mechanism. The methodology is applied on a real case involving a stakeholders’ - based evaluation of 4 key policies for supporting the Greek coastal maritime sector. The results of the case study regarding the Multi-criteria evaluation of the examined policies, the experts and the individual stakeholder’ groups preferences and priorities, as well as the opinion of the Greek coastal maritime transport stakeholders in relation to the necessity, the usability and the applicability of this group decision multi-criteria mechanism are analyzed and discussed.

An integrated method for supplier selection from the perspective of risk aversion

A lot of investigations have been published in the supplier selection area. However, few papers consider the problem from the perspective of risk aversion. In this paper, generalized intuitionistic fuzzy soft set (GIFSS) combined with extending gray relational analysis (GRA) method is proposed to select an appropriate supplier from the perspective of risk aversion in group decision-making environment. The proposed approach consists of two phases. In the first phase, the weights of decision makers are determined by using an extended GRA method with intuitionistic fuzzy soft set (IFSS). In traditional GRA method, the ideal reference is expressed in a vector, while, in this paper, the ideal reference for all individual decisions is expressed in a matrix, which is suitable for risk aversion. The weight of decision makers is utilized to aggregate individual opinions of decision makers. In the next phase, to eliminate the bias of decision makers in the choice of supplier and rule out the possibility of errors occurring in the evaluation of alternatives, the general manager will further validate it by utilized the GIFSS. Finally, a numerical example for supplier selection is given to illustrate application of the method, and the comparisons with other methods are also made.

Multi-stage ranking of emergency technology alternatives for water source pollution accidents using a fuzzy group decision making tool

Due to the increasing number of unexpected water source pollution events, selection of the most appropriate disposal technology for a specific pollution scenario is of crucial importance to the security of urban water supplies. However, the formulation of the optimum option is considerably difficult owing to the substantial uncertainty of such accidents. In this research, a multi-stage technical screening and evaluation tool is proposed to determine the optimal technique scheme, considering the areas of pollutant elimination both in drinking water sources and water treatment plants. In stage 1, a CBR-based group decision tool was developed to screen available technologies for different scenarios. Then, the threat degree caused by the pollution was estimated in stage 2 using a threat evaluation system and was partitioned into four levels. For each threat level, a corresponding set of technique evaluation criteria weights was obtained using Group-G1. To identify the optimization alternatives corresponding to the different threat levels, an extension of TOPSIS, a multi-criteria interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy decision making technique containing the four arrays of criteria weights, to a group decision environment was investigated in stage 3. The effectiveness of the developed tool was elaborated by two actual thallium-contaminated scenarios associated with different threat levels.

Selection of the best maintenance approach in the maritime industry under fuzzy multiple attributive group decision-making environment

Many maintenance approaches have been developed and applied successfully in a variety of sectors such as aviation and nuclear industries over the years. Some of those have also been employed in the maritime industry such as condition-based maintenance; however, choosing the best maintenance approach has always been a big challenge due to the involvement of many attributes and alternatives which can also be associated with multiple experts and vague information. In order to accommodate these aspects, and as part of an overall novel Reliability and Criticality Based Maintenance strategy, an existing fuzzy multiple attributive group decision-making technique is employed in this study, which is further enhanced with the use of Analytical Hierarchy Process to obtain a better weighting of the maintenance attributes used. The fuzzy multiple attributive group decision-making technique has three distinctive stages, namely rating, aggregation and selection in which multiple experts’ subjective judgments are processed and aggregated to be able to arrive at a ranking for a finite number of maintenance options. To demonstrate the applicability in a real-life industrial context, the technique is exemplified by selecting the best maintenance approach for shipboard equipment such as the diesel generator system of a vessel. The results denote that preventive maintenance is the best approach closely followed by predictive maintenance, thus steering away from the ship corrective maintenance framework and increasing overall ship system reliability and availability.

Personality and persuasion in computer-mediated communication

When a group faces a barrage of information pieces for a decision, persuasion is important for reaching a consensus. However, there is lack of related research in systems and technology domain regarding whether individuals characterised by having different personalities exhibit differences. To fill the gap, this work investigates the interactive impact of communication modes and personality on persuasion. Need-for-cognition, extraversion, and agreeableness are hypothesised to interact with use of face-to-face and text technology used in decision making to influence the process of persuasion. A task survival game featuring various pieces of information used in order to simulate the group decision environment. Based on the results, no significant interactions have been found for agreeableness or need-for-cognition. A group using text-based communication technology appears to be similarly effective in reaching a decision as using face-to-face in workspaces. Findings indicate that even though there is no significant change in persuasion based on extraversion in text communication mode, in face-to-face decision making mode, extraverted individuals are less persuaded. These findings provide practitioners with the necessary insights for improving the design of technology devices.

Group Decision Making Using Intuitionistic Hesitant Fuzzy Sets

Dealing with uncertainty is always a challenging problem. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets was presented to manage situations in which experts have some membership and non-membership value to assess an alternative. Hesitant fuzzy sets was used to handle such situations in which experts hesitate between several possible membership values to assess an alternative. In this paper, the concept of intuitionistic hesitant fuzzy set is introduced to provide computational basis to manage the situations in which experts assess an alternative in possible membership values and non-membership values. Distance measure is defined between any two intuitionistic hesitant fuzzy elements. Fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution is developed for intuitionistic hesitant fuzzy set to solve multi-criteria decision making problem in group decision environment. An example is given to illustrate this technique.

P.2.b.036 Attachment style, alexithymia and social support affect emotional states and experiences

In this paper, we investigate the deviation of the priority weights from hesitant multiplicative preference relations (HMPRs) in group decision-making environments. As basic elements of HMPRs, hesitant multiplicative elements (HMEs) usually have different numbers of possible values. To correctly compute or compare HMEs, there are two principles to normalize them, i.e., the α-normalization and the β-normalization. Based on the α-normalization, we develop a new goal programming model to derive the priority weights from HMPRs in group decision-making environments. Based on the β-normalization, a consistent HMPR and an acceptably consistent HMPR are defined, and their desired properties are studied. A convex combination method is then developed to obtain interval weights from an acceptably consistent HMPR. This approach is further extended to group decision-making situations in which the experts evaluate their preferences as several HMPRs. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the validity and applicability of the proposed models.