Multi-criteria Decision Support Method Research Articles

Recent advances in multi-criteria decision analysis: A comprehensive review of applications and trends

In recent years, multi-criteria decision support methods have become widely used research tools by both scientists and practitioners. Theoretical works involving new multi-criteria methods and developments of existing methods immediately find applications in areas of business practice. This paper attempts to sort out the areas of application of MCDA methods. For this purpose, the relevant literature from 2018–2023 was reviewed. The inclusion selection criteria were defined as addressing multi-criteria practical issues, open accessibility, comprehensive research methodology and findings, and the use of an MCDA method in the evaluation process. Detailed research identified that the main areas of use of MCDA methods are healthcare, energy management, supplier selection, and transportation. Due to the timeliness and importance of the problem, a detailed study of the use of MCDA methods in sustainability issues was separated. The paper contributes contributions to both theory and economic practice. The article provides a series of recommendations both on the methodological side of the problems to be solved and shows the practical prism of individual decision models, offering ready-to-use decision models, and providing a comprehensive review of recent MCDA advancements, fostering informed and reliable decision-making. Additionally, this review sheds light on the latest developments in MCDA, emphasizing trends in Decision Support Systems (DSS) and prominent application areas in contemporary research.

Multi-criteria decision support methods for the selection of the optimum contractor: A case study of a passenger transfer centre

Purpose: The main purpose of the paper is to apply the TOPSIS method for selecting the optimal contractor for a passenger transfer center.
 Methodology: The methodology is based on the use of TOPSIS, which determines the distance of decision alternatives from the ideal and anti-ideal solutions using evaluation criteria.
 Results: Two different contractor rankings were obtained depending on the weights of the criteria. With equal weights, the best contractor is number 5, while with weights determined by formula (8), the best is number 4.
 Theoretical Contribution: The paper contributes to the field of investment project management by demonstrating how the TOPSIS method can aid in decision-making for optimal contractor selection, thereby reducing the risk of erroneous decisions.
 Practical Implications: The practical implications of this research are significant for investment projects, as the demonstrated methodology can be directly applied to the contractor selection process, potentially leading to more successful project outcomes.

Multicriteria decision support method CRITIC-WASPAS-N in the analysis of transportation companies on the stock exchange in the brazilian market

The aim of this article is to identify how multi-criteria decision support (MCDA) can help investment portfolios in transportation and logistics companies on the stock exchange. To develop this article, a stratification was carried out within BM&FBOVESPA with logistics and transportation companies presented on the Brazilian Stock Exchange. 16 transportation companies in the fundamentus data source. The data was collected from 5 financial indicators, selected according to the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) carried out by Basilio et al. (2018). The CRITIC method was used to generate the weights and normalize the decision matrix and the WASPAS method is used to classify assets. At the end of this stage, it was possible to classify the best alternatives for investing in transportation. After constructing portfolios, it was possible to see which company was most suitable for positive returns on investment. The result is a safe company to invest in logistics and transportation infrastructure in the Brazilian stock market through MCDA analysis and a sensitivity analysis. Research limitations/implications - Since the study is focused only on logistics and transportation companies, the study limited the alternatives with only 15 companies.  An investor in transportation infrastructure economics can apply the conclusions of this article to other segments of the stock market. This study presents a methodology by merging the CRITIC method for generating weights and normalization and WASPAS with the normalization of the CRITIC method to build efficient investment portfolios.

Non-additive robust ordinal regression: A multicriteria decision model based on hierarchical-level-bidirectional Choquet integral

In contrast to the stable development of the traditional face to face teaching, distance education has become a considerable portion in higher education today and it is still rapidly growing. The mixed modes in education promote a great challenge for the professors and administrators to accurately and fairly evaluate the performance of students. Indeed, students’ performance evaluation is a multicriteria decision problem. To obtain a robust auxiliary decision support scheme compatible with the preferences of decision maker (DM), challenges often confronted in multicriteria decision analysis include dealing with complex structure of criteria, handling interaction between criteria and reducing the cognitive efforts of the DM. Based on the disaggregation–aggregation principle, complex preference is refined into smaller, manageable modules from two dimensions of alternative evaluation and criteria hierarchy. Then, a hierarchical-level-bidirectional Choquet integral preference method is developed to reproduce the refined preference and obtain the comprehensive evaluation of the alternatives. Further, a class of non-additive robust ordinal regression is performed by utilizing the characteristic indicators of the new Choquet integral and the preference relations given by the DM. Moreover, a representative preference method is put forward to rule out some preconceived possible relations, which enriches the necessary relations among alternatives. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to verify the practicability of the above multicriteria decision support methods.

Prioritization of resources in cartographic work using multicriteria methods: AHP, AHP-Gaussian and AHP-TOPSIS-2N.

The objective of the present work was to test the application of multicriteria methods for prioritizing the technical activities of the cartography sector of a military institution that produces geoinformation, aiming at increasing efficiency in productive operations and in the effective allocation of available resources. In this attempt, the multicriteria decision support methods AHP, AHP-Gaussian and AHP-TOPSIS-2N were used. In 75% of the scenarios tested, the priority alternative was A2 (Cartographic Mapping of Force Interest). In all methods, the two alternatives with the lowest priority were A6 (Survey of Heritage Areas) and A3 (COTER Simulation). The sensitivity analysis and consultation with the specialist regarding his opinion on the results obtained, allow us to state that the methods are consistent and corroborate with the expectations of the specialist who acted in the decision-making process for the prioritization of the activities in question.

A web-based software for group decision with analytic hierarchy process

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multi-criteria decision support method and is widely applied in many areas. The original AHP method proposed by Thomas L. Saaty in the 1970s requires (n²-n)/2 comparisons. The number of required comparisons can make using this method challenging for maintaining consistent judgments in problems involving many criteria and/or alternatives. Furthermore, the available software is platform-dependent and generally does not support group decision-making. In this paper, we present software for AHP that demands n-1 comparisons. Additionally, the software supports group decision-making using individual aggregation of priorities with arithmetic and geometric means. The system is available at http://ahpweb.net/ and is accessible from any internet-connected device. It currently has more than 100 users and dozens of decision problems in various areas.•The original AHP formulation requires (n²-n)/2 comparisons per cluster which makes it difficult to make consistent judgments.•AHP avaliable software does not enable group decision making.•The proposed system AHP-WEB fills these gaps. The method demands n-1 comparisons per cluster without any inconsistency and allows group decision making on a web system.

Framework to assist investment portfolio generation for financial sector

O presente trabalho estabelece, na condição de estudo de caso, uma carteira de ações do setor financeiro entre as empresas listadas na bolsa de valores de São Paulo-SP. O portfólio proposto contém 05 ativos, que em uma primeira etapa deveriam atender aos seguintes critérios de desempenho: indicador “preço sobre o lucro” mínimo de 15; e “retorno sobre o patrimônio líquido” mínimo de 10,5% a.a. Posteriormente foram utilizados outros 8 critérios para seleção final do portfólio.  O dividend yield médio foi de 7,388%, sendo o risco (beta) médio de 0,994. O presente estudo propõe um framework para auxiliar investidores na geração de um portfólio de investimento em ações de empresas do setor financeiro, utilizando para isso um método multicritério de apoio à decisão aliado a indicadores da análise fundamentalista. Os mecanismos de seleção de portfólio disponibilizados de forma gratuita por corretoras e casas de análise não demonstram claramente aos investidores o método utilizado para composição de suas carteiras indicadas. Em virtude disso, investidores carecem de uma ferramenta que apresente um método científico e exato para auxiliá-los na escolha de ações para composição de um portfólio. Os métodos multicritério de apoio à decisão possuem potencial para subsidiar o investidor nesse processo. Neste artigo, utilizou-se o método Delphi para definir, junto à investidores selecionados, os filtros de desempenho mínimo, critérios e pesos adequados para composição de um portfólio de ações do segmento financeiro. A agregação dos resultados se deu por meio do método PROMETHEE V. Como etapa posterior, foi implementado um modelo de programação linear inteira para definir a participação percentual de cada ativo no capital total da carteira.

A Multicriteria Analysis to Support Natural Resource Governance: The Case of Chestnut Forests

Efficient natural resource management prevents and reduces negative impacts, such as environmental damage, misappropriation of resources, and conflicts; several strategies can be leveraged to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is useful in providing solutions to addressing decision choice problems. In this study, the natural resource under evaluation is the chestnut forest, with the objective of valorising its supply chains. The methodology applied is A’WOT, which allows previously identified factors, using a qualitative SWOT matrix, to be ordered through an objective quantification using the AHP (analytic hierarchy process), which is a multicriteria decision support method. The survey was conducted with a group of chestnut resource (n = 20) experts. The SWOT matrix identified a total of 20 factors: 6 strengths and 6 weaknesses and 4 factors each for opportunities and threats. The results express a clear stakeholder interest, which identifies the significant role of civil society in directing management choices for the provision and enhancement of ecosystem and vocational services. This study evaluated the adaptability of decision support tools applied to a real case of forest resource management to identify and order factors useful to enhance the resource and stimulate the supply chains to achieve greater added value. In a general sense, the methodological potential emerged to replicate or improve the research in other geographical regions, whether regional or extraregional, or even on a larger scale, such as on a national level.

USE OF A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION SUPPORT MODEL BASED ON THE AHP METHOD FOR THE SELECTION OF HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This article aims to develop a methodology in which alternative projects are prioritized and selected using appropriate methods of multi-criteria decision-making in organizations responsible for managing and developing health infrastructure. This study addresses a particular gap in implementing a systematic methodology for prioritizing and selecting projects in the health sector. The methodology developed proposes an approach based on the AHP multi-criteria decision support method for decision-makers and stakeholders to prioritize and select projects in the health sector. The problem was modeled using the Expert Choice software which allows a good “integration of the decision-maker” in the decision-making process making it possible to intervene in the research and decisions to identify the most efficient and potentially profitable health projects that are useful to the community.

Data-driven multi-criteria decision support method for electric vehicle selection

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming one of the most popular forms of low-carbon transportations due to growing awareness of environmental protection and vigorous promotion of governments. Automakers have launched a variety of EVs in an attempt to capture the market, raising the question of how to improve the competitiveness of the EVs they have launched. Meanwhile, choosing among various EVs has become a problem for consumers. This paper proposes a sentiment analysis-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. The group opinion for each alternative can be derived by transforming the sentiment analysis results of online auto reviews into hesitant intuitionistic fuzzy elements (HIFEs). A comprehensive weighting method that integrates the best-worst method and the maximizing deviation method is developed to identify the weights of criteria. Through extended ORESTE (Organísation, rangement et Synthése de données relarionnelles, in French) based on hesitant intuitionistic fuzzy Chebyshev distance, the ranking of candidate EV series can be obtained. The proposed method can help consumers make EV purchase choices, and the results of sentiment analysis can be useful for companies to explore consumers' demand for EVs.

Selection of a Suitable Material by a Multi-Criteria Decision Aid Method (Mcdm) for the Manufacture of the Buckets of a Micro Pelton Turbine

Micro hydro power plant remains a sustainable solution to meet the electrical needs of isolated populations when the potential is there. The discovery of new materials leads engineers to review the choice of material, in order to reduce the cost and facilitate the manufacture of hydromechanical components. In this study, to select the best choice of material for the manufacture of buckets of a micro Pelton turbine, we used multi-criteria decision support methods (MCDM) such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the order preference technique by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS), the compromise solution (VIKOR). Based on of the literature review on the materials usable for the manufacture of hydraulic turbines, we were able to select five alternative materials such as mild steel ; aluminum alloy ; stainless steel ; high density polyethylene ; cast iron and seven very important material evaluation criteria for manufacturing such as machinability ; ultimate tensile strength ; the density ; hardness ; the cost ; maintenance cost and corrosion resistance. It appears from results via the AHP method that the coherence index of 0.0904 and the coherence ratio of 0.0669 are usable for the practice of material selection. Considering the performance scores for the five alternatives obtained via the TOPSIS and VIKOR techniques, it appears that high density polyethylene is the best material, followed by the aluminum alloy.

Extension of the ELECTRE II method to group decision-making

Multi-criteria decision support has long been treated in a single-decision maker framework . It seems that a decision made by a single decision-maker does not reflect reality . There are multi-criteria group decision support methods in the literature . In order to find a collective aggregation method fulfilling good properties , we have in this work , used the median and the quadratic mean to make the Extension of ELECTRE II (EE-II) to the group decision . We have made numerical applications and we have obtained interesting results .

Sustainability assessment of half-sandwich panels based on alkali-activated ceramic/slag wastes cement versus conventional building solutions

This study assessed the sustainability of two partition walls and intended to contribute to the Circular Economy in the construction sector. A life cycle approach and a multi-criteria decision support method were applied to know the environmental, functional, and economic performances of the production process of half-sandwich panels based on alkali-activated ceramic/slag waste cement, choosing as system boundary the method “cradle to gate”. The proposed building solutions differ from each other in the type of insulating material used, either extruded polystyrene foam (APXPS) or expanded cork agglomerate board (APICB). Besides, a comparative analysis of the developed building solutions versus three reference constructive solutions: i) a conventional heavyweight partition wall, ii) a lightweight gypsum wall panel, and iii) a conceptual lightweight sandwich membrane building solution was performed. Results showed that the two proposed half-sandwich wall panels (APXPS and APICB) resulted in the most sustainable alternatives, of which the APXPS obtained the best overall results since it combined the best environmental, functional, and economic behavior. Besides, the environmental contribution analysis determined that the greatest environmental burden to the Global Warming Potential (GWP), in the case of the APXPS was associated with the XPS (57%), being the alkali activator (23%) placed as the second major contributor. When the ICB was used as the insulation layer, the energy used (nearly 38%) and the sodium silicate (about 17%) were the larger contributors to CO2 emissions. It is worth mentioning that the use of ICB represented a negative contribution (of about −34%) to the GWP category.

Use of the WASPAS Method to Select Suitable Helicopters for Aerial Activity Carried Out by the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Using a multi-criteria decision support method (WASPAS) to analyze and rank alternatives, this article proposes a method to assist in the selection of helicopter models that are the most suitable for police air activity in the State of Rio de Janeiro. A robust technical basis for defining the essential requirements of an aircraft is established, and solutions that can ensure the effective and safe execution of missions are indicated. Helicopter models were evaluated by considering predefined criteria, and the weights of these criteria were attributed using a questionnaire that was administered to pilots and aerostatic operators of Public Air Units (UAP) in several states of the federation. As a result of the evaluation of the 15 helicopter models used by police services in the State of Rio de Janeiro, the modeling with the WASPAS method ranked the Sikorsky UH-60 (Black Hawk) model in first place, the Leonardo AW 139 model in second place, and the Bell 412 model in third place. Based on the available data, we suggest that a comparative study integrating the Entropy and CRITIC methods be conducted to measure the weights of the criteria associated with the application of other multi-criteria techniques, such as COMET, MACAB, SPOTIS, VIKOR, SAPEVO, and PROMETHEE.

Governance Applicable to Public Organizations: An Analysis based on the Multicriteria Method (MCDM) Parsimonious AHP (PAHP) under the perspective of the Leadership Mechanism in the light of the Union Court of Audits (TCU)

Objective: This study aims to analyze and classify the best public organizations in terms of Good Public Governance Practices related to the Leadership Mechanism based on the assessment of governance carried out by the Federal Court of Accounts. Method: For this analysis, ranking and evaluation of public organizations regarding Governance, the Multicriteria Decision Support Method (MCDM) Parsimonious AHP (PAHP) was used. Results: The PAHP method was able to rank 378 public organizations that were audited by the TCU following a pre-established questionnaire by this Court of Accounts. Contributions: This work contributed to Scientific Research in the area of Operational Research applied to Public Administration, as it brought relevant issues to academia and society.

Light-Weighted Decision Support Framework for Selecting Cloud Service燩roviders

Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) is a technique used to achieve better outcomes for some complex business-related problems, whereby the selection of the best alternative can be made in as many cases as possible. This paper proposes a model, the multi-criteria decision support method, that allows both service providers and consumers to maximize their profits while preserving the best matching process for resource allocation and task scheduling. The increasing number of service providers with different service provision capabilities creates an issue for consumers seeking to select the best service provider. Each consumer seeks a service provider based on various preferences, such as price, service quality, and time to complete the tasks. In the literature, the problem is viewed from different perspectives, such as investigating how to enhance task scheduling and the resource allocation process, improve consumers’ trust, and deal with network problems. This paper offers a novel model that considers the preferences of both service providers and consumers to find the best available service provider for each consumer. First, the model adopts the best-worst method (BWM) to gather and prioritize tasks based on consumers’ and service providers’ preferences. Then, the model calculates and matches similarities between the sets of tasks from the consumer’s side with the sets of tasks from the provider’s side to select the best service provider for each consumer using the two proposed algorithms. The complexity of the two algorithms is found to be O(n3).

Identificação e priorização de indicadores de desempenho para decisões comerciais: uma aplicação de Value Focused Thinking e Analytic Network Process

Abstract The development of a Performance Measurement System (PMS) in an organization is essential in order to adequately monitor operations and enable correct and timely decision-making. However, many organizations implement PMSs and are not successful, mainly because they neglect the design phase, which informs what has to be measured. Designing a PMS is a complex decision problem that involves multiple stakeholders. The objective of this research is to identify and prioritize the commercial performance indicators most valued by the stakeholders in this area in a company in the metal-mechanical segment. The research was divided into two stages, the first being a PO Soft (constructivist) approach: Value Focused Thinking - VFT, to identify performance indicators; and, in the second stage, the application of the PO Hard (Rationalist) Multicriteria Decision Support Method: Analytic Network Process - ANP, for modeling and prioritizing these. As a result, 30 performance indicators were identified, the most important ones being: percentage of target achievement, sales to new customers and percentage of growth for each customer. The results found proved to be capable of assisting the definition of strategy and business management in addition to the identification of indicators not monitored by the organization.

Multi-criteria Decision Support Method AHP-TOPSIS-2N applied in bids to improve the control of public expenses

Everywhere in the world, in various scenarios and situations, it is necessary to deal with the need to make decisions. In the context of public management, this need is often seen. However, this process is not always finished with satisfactory and positive results. It was proposed to use the hybrid method to support decision-making AHP-TOPSIS-2N, which is the combination of the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method with the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method to assist the decision maker to improve the control of public spending. Several studies were presented that prove the veracity and effectiveness of the method being used in different contexts. The present study proved to be effective in presenting the method as a great tool that can assist public management in the bidding processes, and thus ensure results with greater transparency and effect, in addition to presenting to society favorable results with the use of this systematized and structured method.

Green Economy Mega-Project Selection with TODIM: avoiding the Hindsight Bias

Hindsight bias is a common problem in project management decision making. Past events are easily interpreted as more predictable than they were, influencing the course of new decision-making. This article explores and analyzes the adoption of the TODIM method to minimize the negative effects of hindsight bias in the selection of alternatives in a multipath logistic mega-infrastructure project. The study involved identifying potential sources of bias, identifying, and developing criteria for evaluating alternatives to the best course of action for the project. Finally, the study highlights benefits and limitations of the decision-making support method to deal with hindsight bias in project management. Identifies that MCDA methods can be a valuable tool for project managers to overcome hindsight bias and make sustainable decisions. Overall, this article adds to the growing literature on the use of multi-criteria decision support methods in project management and offers practical insights for practitioners seeking to minimize the effects of hindsight bias.

Apoio Logístico às Organizações Militares da Marinha do Brasil por meio da Navegação de Cabotagem

The Brazilian Navy (MB) has military organizations distributed throughout the national territory, both in the coastal zone and in the most inland areas of the country. Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, it is necessary to provide logistical support to the most distant units through the provision of dry and refrigerated items in addition to those purchased in the local market. In order to evaluate the use of cabotage navigation as an alternative to exclusively road transport for large consolidated cargo, the article aims to use the SAPEVO-M method to choose the location to be used in the pilot test. The methodology used is exploratory in character through a case study. Four locations (Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará and Santa Catarina) were compared using logistical criteria. For the interview, three Officers from the Brazilian Navy (MB) were selected, all of them with experience in logistics and cargo transportation. The work contributes to society in terms of reducing public spending, mitigating the impact on the environment. In addition, it contributes to the academy by presenting the use of a relevant multicriteria decision support method in a case study. Keywords: SAPEVO-M. Sapevoweb. Multicriteria Decision Aid. Logistics; Transport.