Pub Date : 2016-01-01DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081390
Erin K. Doolittle, Garrett M. Dranichak, Karyn Muir, M. Wiecek
The challenge of using scalarising methods in multi-objective optimisation results from the choice of the method, which may not be apparent, and given that a method has been selected, from the choice of the values of the scalarising parameters. In general, these values may be unknown and the decision maker faces a difficult situation of making a choice possibly under a great deal of uncertainty. Due to its effectiveness, the robust optimisation approach of Ben-Tal and Nemirovski is applied to resolve the uncertainty carried in scalarised multi-objective linear programs (MOLPs). A robust counterpart is examined for six different scalarisations of the MOLP yielding robust (weakly) efficient solutions to the original MOLP. The study reveals that the min-max optimal solution emerges as a robust (weakly) efficient solution for five out of the six scalarisations. The implications of this result are also discussed.
{"title":"A note on robustness of the min-max solution to multi-objective linear programs","authors":"Erin K. Doolittle, Garrett M. Dranichak, Karyn Muir, M. Wiecek","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081390","url":null,"abstract":"The challenge of using scalarising methods in multi-objective optimisation results from the choice of the method, which may not be apparent, and given that a method has been selected, from the choice of the values of the scalarising parameters. In general, these values may be unknown and the decision maker faces a difficult situation of making a choice possibly under a great deal of uncertainty. Due to its effectiveness, the robust optimisation approach of Ben-Tal and Nemirovski is applied to resolve the uncertainty carried in scalarised multi-objective linear programs (MOLPs). A robust counterpart is examined for six different scalarisations of the MOLP yielding robust (weakly) efficient solutions to the original MOLP. The study reveals that the min-max optimal solution emerges as a robust (weakly) efficient solution for five out of the six scalarisations. The implications of this result are also discussed.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"6 1","pages":"343-365"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081390","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66696269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-01DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081381
Elisabeth Ekener, Aron Larsson, G. Finnveden, P. Sandin
In this study, an existing method for ethical analysis was extended by adding aspects of human rights and global distributional issues as framed by the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A procedure for incorporating these issues together with environmental, safety and cost considerations into a decision making framework using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was devised. This includes a scoring system to convert qualitative ethical issues into semi-quantitative issues. The refined framework tool was tested in an illustrative case on the destruction of ammunition. The results showed that the extended framework for ethical analysis added value, for example as a way of highlighting ethical considerations in decision making. Use of the DecideIT software with its integrated MCDA improved the analysis by allowing for uncertain and imprecise values and estimations. The illustrative case results indicated that a combined alternative including recycling of metals and energetic materials had clear advantages over open detonation.
{"title":"Operationalising and incorporating ethical considerations into a tool for multi-criteria decision making","authors":"Elisabeth Ekener, Aron Larsson, G. Finnveden, P. Sandin","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081381","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081381","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, an existing method for ethical analysis was extended by adding aspects of human rights and global distributional issues as framed by the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A procedure for incorporating these issues together with environmental, safety and cost considerations into a decision making framework using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was devised. This includes a scoring system to convert qualitative ethical issues into semi-quantitative issues. The refined framework tool was tested in an illustrative case on the destruction of ammunition. The results showed that the extended framework for ethical analysis added value, for example as a way of highlighting ethical considerations in decision making. Use of the DecideIT software with its integrated MCDA improved the analysis by allowing for uncertain and imprecise values and estimations. The illustrative case results indicated that a combined alternative including recycling of metals and energetic materials had clear advantages over open detonation.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"23 1","pages":"290-315"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2016.081381","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66696205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-19DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071251
B. Aouni, C. Colapinto, D. Torre
Many models in economics, management and finance can be described in terms of nonlinear dynamical systems which usually depend on some unknown parameters. To conduct a long-run behaviour analysis of these models it is of paramount importance to establish efficient and accurate parameter estimation techniques. Today many sophisticated nonlinear model estimation, selection and testing approaches are available and reliable. However, when the nonlinear dynamical systems take the form of differential equations, many of them fail and it is required to use more advanced techniques. The aim of this paper is to present a weighted goal programming formulation for estimating the unknown parameters of dynamical models described in terms of differential equations. The method is illustrated through two different applications to population dynamics (Malthus model) and innovation diffusion (Bass model).
{"title":"Parameter estimation through the weighted goal programming model","authors":"B. Aouni, C. Colapinto, D. Torre","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071251","url":null,"abstract":"Many models in economics, management and finance can be described in terms of nonlinear dynamical systems which usually depend on some unknown parameters. To conduct a long-run behaviour analysis of these models it is of paramount importance to establish efficient and accurate parameter estimation techniques. Today many sophisticated nonlinear model estimation, selection and testing approaches are available and reliable. However, when the nonlinear dynamical systems take the form of differential equations, many of them fail and it is required to use more advanced techniques. The aim of this paper is to present a weighted goal programming formulation for estimating the unknown parameters of dynamical models described in terms of differential equations. The method is illustrated through two different applications to population dynamics (Malthus model) and innovation diffusion (Bass model).","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"263-273"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071251","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-19DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071246
C. Colapinto, D. Torre
Goal programming (GP) and its variants are well-known aggregating methodologies for solving multi-objective decision aid processes and they have been widely applied to marketing problems in the last decades. In this paper, we present a fuzzy GP model with integer variables for media planning. The proposed model is applied to a real case study concerning a marketing/media campaign for a mature product in Italy.
{"title":"Media planning and preferences: a fuzzy goal programming model","authors":"C. Colapinto, D. Torre","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071246","url":null,"abstract":"Goal programming (GP) and its variants are well-known aggregating methodologies for solving multi-objective decision aid processes and they have been widely applied to marketing problems in the last decades. In this paper, we present a fuzzy GP model with integer variables for media planning. The proposed model is applied to a real case study concerning a marketing/media campaign for a mature product in Italy.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"167-181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071246","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-08-19DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071249
Aruldoss Martin, T. Lakshmi, V. Venkatesan
Reporting is very important in the enterprise information processes and it is very much essential for decision making. Finding the user's current requirements and preference and then providing information accordingly could be a challenging task. An efficient information delivery strategy should provide the suitable information to suitable user according to various criteria. The information which is customised based on the criteria should be delivered at the right time for decision making. Bankruptcy prediction analysis (BPA) consists of different number of users with requirement to different levels of information. The proposed information delivery strategy customises the information, resolves inconsistency and uncertainty issues and finds the suitable user to receive the information with respect to criteria using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP). The different level user preference (most suitable user to least suitable user) has been identified according to the criteria using this strategy to deliver the multi criteria reporting.
{"title":"An information delivery strategy for multi criteria reporting: a case study on bankruptcy prediction analysis","authors":"Aruldoss Martin, T. Lakshmi, V. Venkatesan","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071249","url":null,"abstract":"Reporting is very important in the enterprise information processes and it is very much essential for decision making. Finding the user's current requirements and preference and then providing information accordingly could be a challenging task. An efficient information delivery strategy should provide the suitable information to suitable user according to various criteria. The information which is customised based on the criteria should be delivered at the right time for decision making. Bankruptcy prediction analysis (BPA) consists of different number of users with requirement to different levels of information. The proposed information delivery strategy customises the information, resolves inconsistency and uncertainty issues and finds the suitable user to receive the information with respect to criteria using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP). The different level user preference (most suitable user to least suitable user) has been identified according to the criteria using this strategy to deliver the multi criteria reporting.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"211-246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.071249","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-03-11DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067940
L. Berrah, V. Clivillé
Industrial decision-making generally involves more than one decision-maker, with regard to the different implied decision criteria on the one hand, and the numerous deployed decision levels on the other hand. Structures of control based on the notion of decision centre (DC) are organised for dealing with these industrial decision-making aspects. Coherence problems, between the different interacting DCs, in their decision-making processes, are thus raised. This article investigates the answers allowed by the MCDM (multicriteria decision-making) field for handling such coherence problems. This aspect is situated within the problem of the group decision, where two or more decision-makers are involved in the decision process. Three types of collaboration between the DCs are highlighted, namely the communication link, the coordination and the cooperation links. A DC preference model, based on the outranking ELECTRE method, is proposed first. This model is then adapted to take into account the previous types of collaboration.
{"title":"Decision–making in a coordinated control structure","authors":"L. Berrah, V. Clivillé","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067940","url":null,"abstract":"Industrial decision-making generally involves more than one decision-maker, with regard to the different implied decision criteria on the one hand, and the numerous deployed decision levels on the other hand. Structures of control based on the notion of decision centre (DC) are organised for dealing with these industrial decision-making aspects. Coherence problems, between the different interacting DCs, in their decision-making processes, are thus raised. This article investigates the answers allowed by the MCDM (multicriteria decision-making) field for handling such coherence problems. This aspect is situated within the problem of the group decision, where two or more decision-makers are involved in the decision process. Three types of collaboration between the DCs are highlighted, namely the communication link, the coordination and the cooperation links. A DC preference model, based on the outranking ELECTRE method, is proposed first. This model is then adapted to take into account the previous types of collaboration.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"39-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067940","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-03-11DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067943
Z. Nivolianitou, B. Synodinou, D. Manca
This paper presents the development of a decision-making tool for emergency planning and response particularly for flood accidents. The proposed tool is a simulator (i.e., computer based software) capable of identifying the 'emergency machine' lacks, allowing also for improvement of specific areas of the emergency system, such as technical equipment, human factors, protocols, response time and actions sequence. The present work contributes to the ongoing effort for better protecting human life, land, property and the environment by improved flood management techniques and was elaborated within the pre-emergencies EC funded project. The developed tool can be used as a technical instrument to simulate the organisational and inter-organisational asset of a multi-actor civil protection group with the aim of highlighting strong and vulnerable elements of the civil protection structures. This is achieved through the use of a number of indices pertaining to characteristic parameters of the specific emergency operation distributed on four sub-layers of detail, which are categorised through the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP approach supports decision making in emergency preparedness through alternatives structured into a weighed multi-criteria framework.
{"title":"Flood disaster management with the use of AHP","authors":"Z. Nivolianitou, B. Synodinou, D. Manca","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067943","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067943","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the development of a decision-making tool for emergency planning and response particularly for flood accidents. The proposed tool is a simulator (i.e., computer based software) capable of identifying the 'emergency machine' lacks, allowing also for improvement of specific areas of the emergency system, such as technical equipment, human factors, protocols, response time and actions sequence. The present work contributes to the ongoing effort for better protecting human life, land, property and the environment by improved flood management techniques and was elaborated within the pre-emergencies EC funded project. The developed tool can be used as a technical instrument to simulate the organisational and inter-organisational asset of a multi-actor civil protection group with the aim of highlighting strong and vulnerable elements of the civil protection structures. This is achieved through the use of a number of indices pertaining to characteristic parameters of the specific emergency operation distributed on four sub-layers of detail, which are categorised through the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP approach supports decision making in emergency preparedness through alternatives structured into a weighed multi-criteria framework.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"104 1","pages":"152-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067943","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-03-11DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067944
M. Hernández, Edgar Enrique Pérez Pantoja, B. Reyes
This work presents the development of a framework for the multicriteria design of a network of small hydro turbines. The framework is applied to the case in which some of the rivers available for turbine installation are polluted and several towns, with varying urges for electricity, are present in the area. Based on a decision analysis-value focused thinking approach, and through objective clarification and attribute construction, the proposed framework aims to include social, environmental and economical concerns into the evaluation. The approach should be useful for a public or governmental entity in charge of the design of a network of small hydro turbines. Finally, the framework is applied to a case-study region, and its usefulness as a way of representing and clarifying the objectives of the deciding entity is discussed.
{"title":"A framework for the optimal multicriteria design of networks of small hydro turbines in polluted streams","authors":"M. Hernández, Edgar Enrique Pérez Pantoja, B. Reyes","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067944","url":null,"abstract":"This work presents the development of a framework for the multicriteria design of a network of small hydro turbines. The framework is applied to the case in which some of the rivers available for turbine installation are polluted and several towns, with varying urges for electricity, are present in the area. Based on a decision analysis-value focused thinking approach, and through objective clarification and attribute construction, the proposed framework aims to include social, environmental and economical concerns into the evaluation. The approach should be useful for a public or governmental entity in charge of the design of a network of small hydro turbines. Finally, the framework is applied to a case-study region, and its usefulness as a way of representing and clarifying the objectives of the deciding entity is discussed.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"109-128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067944","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-03-11DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067945
Vikas Kapoor, Shyam Singh Tak
This paper proposes a facility layout generation model based on hierarchical clustering for problems with multiple objectives. Deploying the proximity score, the proposed model addresses all three stages of a typical block layout generation procedure viz., selection of departments to be placed; 'construction' or placement of each department and evaluation of the alternatives generated. The model is explained using a numerical example each for single and multiple objective type layout problems. Finally, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the heuristic, a set of problems solved by various researchers is put together and solved and the results compared with their best solutions.
{"title":"A multicriteria clustering approach to facility layout generation","authors":"Vikas Kapoor, Shyam Singh Tak","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067945","url":null,"abstract":"This paper proposes a facility layout generation model based on hierarchical clustering for problems with multiple objectives. Deploying the proximity score, the proposed model addresses all three stages of a typical block layout generation procedure viz., selection of departments to be placed; 'construction' or placement of each department and evaluation of the alternatives generated. The model is explained using a numerical example each for single and multiple objective type layout problems. Finally, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the heuristic, a set of problems solved by various researchers is put together and solved and the results compared with their best solutions.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"59-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067945","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-03-11DOI: 10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067942
D. Rolando
During the first phase of complex plans it is necessary to analyse uncertainties and risks associated with the project, to define strategic decisions as well as concrete solutions. The strategic choice approach (SCA) is a methodology that adopts a multicriteria approach to shape decision problems, design and compare solutions and control uncertainties, in order to assist decision makers from the involved organisations. Recently SCA has been tested on a complex public project in Turin (Italy), to support the decisions to be made, the criteria for an ELECTRE application and the uncertainties to be analysed by all the stakeholders.
{"title":"Multicriteria decision problem structuring: the strategic choice approach in the context of public projects in Italy","authors":"D. Rolando","doi":"10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067942","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067942","url":null,"abstract":"During the first phase of complex plans it is necessary to analyse uncertainties and risks associated with the project, to define strategic decisions as well as concrete solutions. The strategic choice approach (SCA) is a methodology that adopts a multicriteria approach to shape decision problems, design and compare solutions and control uncertainties, in order to assist decision makers from the involved organisations. Recently SCA has been tested on a complex public project in Turin (Italy), to support the decisions to be made, the criteria for an ELECTRE application and the uncertainties to be analysed by all the stakeholders.","PeriodicalId":38183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making","volume":"5 1","pages":"4-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1504/IJMCDM.2015.067942","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66695941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}