An integrated fuzzy approach to solving multi-criteria decision making problems / Nor Hanimah Kamis

Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). Method is a technique where alternatives or options are assessed based on a set of criteria. Criteria weights determination and ranking of alternatives are two important aspects in solving MCDM problems. The evaluation of criteria importance by decision makers and performance rating towards alternatives often involve subjective preferences, which are normally vague and imprecise. This study proposed an improvised algorithm in criteria weights determination based on consistent fuzzy preference relations (CFPR). CFPR requires only (n-l) pair-wise comparisons from a given n criteria as compared to other some existing pairwise-based comparison approaches. We improvised Herrera-Viedma's et. al (2004) algorithm by introducing fuzzy numbers to represent input values for the entries of decision matrix. However, application of fuzzy numbers in representing importance of criteria requires tedious calculation. Therefore, centroid-index formula (Chen & Chen, 2000, 2003) was utilized in order to transform fuzzy numbers into crisp values, which indirectly gives lesser computation. The generalized Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method by Wang and Lee (2007) with some modification on criteria weights determination procedure using our proposed algorithm was employed in ranking the alternatives. An example problem on new staff selection in the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia is given to demonstrate the computational parts of this proposed model. This model can be used as an alternative tool in solving MCDM problems.