Simplification of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Using Inter-Criteria Analysis and Belief Functions

Abstract

In this paper we propose a new Belief Function-based Inter-Criteria Analysis (BF-ICrA) for the assessment of the degree of redundancy of criteria involved in a multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problem. This BF-ICrA method allows to simplify the original MCDM problem by withdrawing all redundant criteria and thus diminish the complexity of MCDM problem. This is of prime importance for solving large MCDM problems whose solution requires the fusion of many belief functions. We provide simple examples to show how this new BF-ICrA works.