Performance evaluation: An integrated method using data envelopment analysis and fuzzy preference relations

In a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) context, the decision maker needs to provide his preferences over a set of decision alternatives and constructs a preference relation and then use the derived priority vector of the preference to rank various alternatives. This paper proposes an integrated approach to rate decision alternatives using data envelopment analysis and preference relations. This proposed approach includes three stages. First, pairwise efficiency scores are computed using two DEA models: the CCR model and the proposed cross-evaluation DEA model. Second, the pairwise efficiency scores are then utilized to construct the fuzzy preference relation and the consistent fuzzy preference relation. Third, by use of the row wise summation technique, we yield a priority vector, which is used for ranking decision-making units (DMUs). For the case of a single output and a single input, the preference relation can be directly obtained from the original sample data. The proposed approach is validated by two numerical examples.     

A chi-square method for obtaining a priority vector from multiplicative and fuzzy preference relations

Decision makers (DMs)’ preferences on decision alternatives are often characterized by multiplicative or fuzzy preference relations. This paper proposes a chi-square method (CSM) for obtaining a priority vector from multiplicative and fuzzy preference relations. The proposed CSM can be used to obtain a priority vector from either a multiplicative preference relation (i.e. a pairwise comparison matrix) or a fuzzy preference relation or a group of multiplicative preference relations or a group of fuzzy preference relations or their mixtures. Theorems and algorithm about the CSM are developed. Three numerical examples are examined to illustrate the applications of the CSM and its advantages.     

模糊互补判断矩阵的一个通用排序公式及其保序性研究

基于模糊互补判断矩阵的一致性转化,利用行和归一化方法,得到了模糊互补判断矩阵的一个排序公式,指出目前基于模糊加性一致的排序公式大多都是所提方法的特例,并给出了在增加一个或一组新元素时的保序性条件.     

Optimal aggregation of fuzzy preference relations with an application to broadband internet service selection

This paper investigates the aggregation of multiple fuzzy preference relations into a collective fuzzy preference relation in fuzzy group decision analysis and proposes an optimization based aggregation approach to assess the relative importance weights of the multiple fuzzy preference relations. The proposed approach that is analytical in nature assesses the weights by minimizing the sum of squared distances between any two weighted fuzzy preference relations. Relevant theorems are offered in support of the proposed approach. Multiplicative preference relations are also incorporated into the approach using an appropriate transformation technique. An eigenvector method is introduced to derive the priorities from the collective fuzzy preference relation. The proposed aggregation approach is tested using two numerical examples. A third example involving broadband internet service selection is offered to illustrate that the proposed aggregation approach provides a simple, effective and practical way of aggregating multiple fuzzy preference relations in real-life situations.     

Eigenvector method,consistency test and inconsistency repairing for an incomplete fuzzy preference relation

In this paper, we extend the eigenvector method (EM) to priority for an incomplete fuzzy preference relation. We give a reasonable definition of multiplicative consistency for an incomplete fuzzy preference relation. We also give an approach to judge whether an incomplete fuzzy relation is acceptable or not. We develop the acceptable consistency ratio for an incomplete multiplicative fuzzy preference relation, which is simple and similar to Saaty’s consistency ratio (CR) for the multiplicative preference relation. If the incomplete fuzzy preference relation is not of acceptable consistency, we define a criterion to find the unusual and false element (UFE) in the preference relation, and present an algorithm to repair an inconsistent fuzzy preference relation until its consistency is satisfied with the consistency ratio. As a result, our improvement method cannot only satisfy the consistency requirement, but also preserve the initial preference information as much as possible. Finally, an example is illustrated to show that our method is simple, efficiency, and can be performed on computer easily.     

Logarithmic least squares method to priority for group decision making with incomplete fuzzy preference relations

The aim of this paper is to present a logarithmic least squares method (LLSM) to priority for group decision making with incomplete fuzzy preference relations. We give a reasonable definition of multiplicative consistent for incomplete fuzzy preference relation. We develop the acceptable fuzzy consistency ratio (FCR for short), which is simple and similar to Saaty’s consistency ratio CR for multiplicative fuzzy preference relations. We also extend the LLSM method to the case of individual preference relation with complete information. Finally, some examples are illustrated to show that our method is simple, efficient, and can be performed on computer easily.     

Some models for deriving the priority weights from interval fuzzy preference relations

Interval fuzzy preference relation is a useful tool to express decision maker’s uncertain preference information. How to derive the priority weights from an interval fuzzy preference relation is an interesting and important issue in decision making with interval fuzzy preference relation(s). In this paper, some new concepts such as additive consistent interval fuzzy preference relation, multiplicative consistent interval fuzzy preference relation, etc., are defined. Some simple and practical linear programming models for deriving the priority weights from various interval fuzzy preference relations are established, and two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the developed models.     

Group decision making based on intuitionistic multiplicative aggregation operators

Preference relations are the most common techniques to express decision maker’s preference information over alternatives or criteria. To consistent with the law of diminishing marginal utility, we use the asymmetrical scale instead of the symmetrical one to express the information in intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations, and introduce a new kind of preference relation called the intuitionistic multiplicative preference relation, which contains two parts of information describing the intensity degrees that an alternative is or not priority to another. Some basic operations are introduced, based on which, an aggregation principle is proposed to aggregate the intuitionistic multiplicative preference information, the desirable properties and special cases are further discussed. Choquet Integral and power average are also applied to the aggregation principle to produce the aggregation operators to reflect the correlations of the intuitionistic multiplicative preference information. Finally, a method is given to deal with the group decision making based on intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations.     

Aggregation of fuzzy preference relations to multicriteria decision making

Weighted aggregation of fuzzy preference relations on the set of alternatives by several criteria in decision-making problems is considered. Pairwise comparisons with respect to importance of the criteria are given in fuzzy preference relation as well. The aggregation procedure uses the composition between each two relations of the alternatives. The membership function of the newly constructed fuzzy preference relation includes t-norms and t-conorms to take into account the relation between the criteria importance. Properties of the composition and new relation, giving a possibility to make a consistent choice or to rank the alternatives, are proved. An illustrative numerical study and comparative examples are presented.     

基于犹豫模糊偏好关系FMEA方法的改进

为有效解决产品在研发过程中存在的一系列质量可靠性问题,本文提出了一种新的基于犹豫模糊偏好关系的改进FMEA方法。考虑到专家小组对不同失效模式评估时主要依据相关标准和自身经验,存在犹豫模糊不确定或自身偏好问题。本文首先对风险因子的评分标准进行犹豫模糊化,并用犹豫模糊偏好关系对失效模式的相对风险矩阵进行处理;其次,将得到的具有犹豫模糊偏好关系的综合偏好值与犹豫模糊评价信息相结合,得到改进的风险优先数,从而得出新的失效模式风险评估顺序对FMEA进行改进;最后,利用改进的FMEA模型对产品研发过程中的质量风险进行分析验证,使得风险结果更接近实际情况,进而提高研发成功率,显示该方法可行、有效。     

Composite indicator development using utility function and fuzzy theory

Construction companies use composite indicators (CIs) to evaluate their overall project performance. However, the conventional methodology of CIs development causes indiscrimination, relative calibration, and redundancy. To address these problems, we propose a novel methodology that uses fuzzy theories. The proposed methodology includes a utility function for normalizing, a fuzzy measure for weighting, and a fuzzy integral for aggregating. We conducted a case study to assess the quality of the proposed methodology versus the alternative methodologies on 25 real projects of a construction company. The result showed that the measurement reliability of the proposed normalization method (1.96) is greater than that of the two different normalization methods (10.44 and 2.8, respectively). In addition, the measurement accuracy of the proposed aggregation method is greater than those of the four different aggregation methods. Therefore, our proposed methodology can more consistently and accurately help evaluate the overall project performance or success.     

A method based on similarity measures for interactive group decision-making with intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations

In this paper, we study the group decision-making problem in which the preference information given by experts takes the form of intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations, and the information about experts’ weights is completely unknown. We first utilize the intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging operator to aggregate all individual intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations into a collective intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation. Then, based on the degree of similarity between the individual intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations and the collective one, we develop an approach to determine the experts’ weights. Furthermore, based on intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations, a practical interactive procedure for group decision-making is proposed, in which the similarity measures between the collective preference relation and intuitionistic fuzzy ideal solution are used to rank the given alternatives. Finally, an illustrative numerical example is given to verify the developed approach.     

基于用户感性需求的产品设计方案评估方法

目前满足用户的情感诉求和情感体验逐渐成为热销产品的关键属性,引起了产品开发者和企业决策者的关注。为了更好地贴合用户情感体验,结合信息熵、灰色关联分析和模糊TOPSIS,提出了以用户感性需求为向导的产品设计方案的评估方法。首先引入感性工学中复合感性意象量化用户的情感信息,通过对收集的产品意象进行聚类分析和主成分分析产生具有代表性的目标意象,运用语义差分调查获得代表意象的评价值;其次对规范化的意象评价值计算其熵值权重;最后结合灰色关联分析和模糊TOPSIS,产生用户情感信息指导下的产品设计备选方案的优先级排序。以智能手表设计为例,验证了该方法的可行性和有效性。信息熵和结合灰色关联分析的模糊TOPSIS可以较大限度地减少方案评估时的个人主观影响,确保了评估结果的准确性,对企业产品方案决策具有指导意义。     

A least deviation method for priority derivation in group decision making with incomplete reciprocal preference relations

In this paper, based on the transfer relationship between reciprocal preference relation and multiplicative preference relation, we proposed a least deviation method (LDM) to obtain a priority vector for group decision making (GDM) problems where decision-makers' (DMs') assessments on alternatives are furnished as incomplete reciprocal preference relations with missing values. Relevant theorems are investigated and a convergent iterative algorithm about LDM is developed. Using three numerical examples, the LDM is compared with the other prioritization methods based on two performance evaluation criteria: maximum deviation and maximum absolute deviation. Statistical comparative study, complexity of computation of different algorithms, and comparative analyses are provided to show its advantages over existing approaches.     

基于模糊—冲突熵的风险性大群体应急决策方法

针对应急决策信息的模糊性以及大群体偏好的冲突性引起决策风险的问题,提出了一种基于模糊—冲突熵的风险性大群体应急决策方法。首先,依据决策者偏好将大群体进行聚类,得到聚集偏好矩阵;其次,提出一个直觉模糊形式的区间直觉模糊距离以减少偏好信息的丢失,同时定义广义直觉模糊数,将二者与前景理论相结合,通过转换得到聚集的直觉模糊前景决策矩阵;再次,构建以决策风险最小化为目标的大群体模糊—冲突熵应急决策模型,计算准则权重,将大群体的前景决策矩阵和准则权重相结合得到方案的综合前景值,并以此对应急方案排序;最后,通过案例的分析与对比验证了所提方法的合理性与有效性。     

A new method for ranking fuzzy numbers and its application to group decision making

In this paper, a new method for comparing fuzzy numbers based on a fuzzy probabilistic preference relation is introduced. The ranking order of fuzzy numbers with the weighted confidence level is derived from the pairwise comparison matrix based on 0.5-transitivity of the fuzzy probabilistic preference relation. The main difference between the proposed method and existing ones is that the comparison result between two fuzzy numbers is expressed as a fuzzy set instead of a crisp one. As such, the ranking order of n fuzzy numbers provides more information on the uncertainty level of the comparison. Illustrated by comparative examples, the proposed method overcomes certain unreasonable (due to the violation of the inequality properties) and indiscriminative problems exhibited by some existing methods. More importantly, the proposed method is able to provide decision makers with the probability of making errors when a crisp ranking order is obtained. The proposed method is also able to provide a probability-based explanation for conflicts among the comparison results provided by some existing methods using a proper ranking order, which ensures that ties of alternatives can be broken.     

Fuzzy Ideal Based Computational Approach for Group Decision Making Problems

In this paper, we present a computational method to fuzzy group decision making problems. A function that satisfies the properties of fuzzy ideal of semiring of positive integers is also investigated in the present paper and is used for idealizing the group preference matrix obtained by different decision makers. The proposed method appears in form of simple computational algorithms to idealize the group preference matrix and calculating total order of preference relation. Finally, the suitability of the proposed method is shown by taking an example of a human resource development (HRD) event, where it is used to select the best possible candidate by different decision makers.     

Stochastic preference analysis in numerical preference relations

Numerical preference relations (NPRs) consisting of numerical judgments can be considered as a general form of the existing preference relations, such as multiplicative preference relations (MPRs), fuzzy preference relations (FPRs), interval MPRs (IV-MPRs) and interval FPRs (IV-FPRs). On the basis of NPRs, we develop a stochastic preference analysis (SPA) method to aid the decision makers (DMs) in decision making. The numerical judgments in NPRs can also be characterized by different probability distributions in accordance with practice. By exploring the judgment space of NPRs, SPA produces several outcomes including the rank acceptability index, the expected priority vector, the expected rank and the confidence factor. The outcomes are obtained by Monte Carlo simulation with at least 95% confidence degree. Based on the outcomes, the DMs can choose some of them which they find most useful to make reliable decisions.     

Derivation of intuitionistic fuzzy weights based on intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations

This paper proposes linear goal programming models for deriving intuitionistic fuzzy weights from intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations. Novel definitions are put forward to define additive consistency and weak transitivity for intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations, followed by a study of their corresponding properties. For any given normalized intuitionistic fuzzy weight vector, a transformation formula is furnished to convert the weights into a consistent intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation. For any intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation, a linear goal programming model is developed to obtain its intuitionistic fuzzy weights by minimizing its deviation from the converted consistent intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation. This approach is then extended to group decision-making situations. Three numerical examples are provided to illustrate the validity and applicability of the proposed models.     

加型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系

在模糊偏好关系两种等价的加型一致性概念基础上,通过简单的数学证明,分析了区间值模糊偏好关系、直觉模糊偏好关系的相应的两种加型一致性并不是等价的.然后,在加型一致性直觉模糊偏好关系的启发下,构造了可以与毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系相互转换的两个区间值模糊偏好关系,并利用它们的加型一致性,定义了加型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系,并分析了其与杨艺等定义的加型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的关系.其次,研究了加型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的性质以及毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的满意一致性,并给出满意一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系下的方案优劣排序算法.最后,通过两个计算实例说明了排序算法可行有效.