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Dependence and independence: From linear hierarchies to nonlinear networks
Abstract
Most decisions need to be free from assumptions of independence to be faithful to the complex problems in which they arise. This paper illustrates how to generate priorities for decisions involving general types of dependence of criteria on alternatives, criteria on criteria and alternatives on alternatives. It is based on the feedback system framework of the Analytic Hierarchy Process of which a hierarchy is a special case.
... The judgments in the paired comparisons consist of answering two questions: (i) Which of the two elements is the most important concerning the desired objective, and (ii) With what intensity? For this, the nine-point scale proposed by Saaty [55,56] must be adopted, as shown in Table 4. ...
... Suppose there are a number of experts involved in this evaluation. In this case, a consensus can be achieved in a consensus-building meeting [55,56], or by employing fuzzy logic to compute the collective weightings from the individual judgements [57]. ...
... This is the ratio of the consistency index to the corresponding random value. The methodological details can be found in [55,56]. The corresponding pairwise comparison matrices are generated to obtain the corresponding eigenvectors (unweighted supermatrix). ...
In the last decades, several multidimensional models for measuring and evaluating the innovation capacity and performance of organisations have been designed by researchers and consulting firms and adopted by established innovative organisations worldwide. However, the topic of measurement and evaluation models that are designed for sustainability-oriented innovation management has remained underexplored by researchers and practitioners. From this perspective, this work proposes a conceptual model for measuring and evaluating the sustainability-oriented innovation capacity (SOIC) and performance (SOIP) of established organisations, guided by the following principles: a multidimensional structure, stakeholder goal orientation, interdependence and feedback loop analyses, innovation process orientation and ease of implementation and use. In line with these principles, the proposed model combines the balanced scorecard (BSC) framework with a hybrid multicriteria methodological approach. Furthermore, it considers the interdependencies between the key innovation indicators (KIIs), which are classified according to four perspectives of an adapted BSC framework. The proposed conceptual model, and the empirical results that demonstrate its applicability in an organisational context, may contribute to improving the current practices for measuring and evaluating the SOIC and SOIP, which could help organisations to adjust their strategies to create sustainable value for the new era of business.
... Among them, fuzzy AHP is the most popular due to its straightforward algorithms. However, fuzzy AHP assumes that the criteria and sub-criteria utilized in decision-making are independent and do not interact or influence each other [8,9,11]. In actuality, many real-world problems, such as cruise port selection, involve dependent and interconnected criteria. ...
... Where parameters l, m, and u stand for the lower limit, the mode, and the upper limit in the framework of fuzzy logic and fuzzy systems, respectively. When l = m = u,Ã will degenerate into a crisp number A [11]. ...
Improving cruise ports of call is essential for enhancing the overall cruise experience for passengers, promoting tourism, and supporting the economic development of the regions served by these ports. Therefore, this article aims to assess selection factors (SFs) for the cruise port of call from the perspective of cruise operators (COs) and port operators (POs). In doing so, this paper first identifies SFs for the cruise port of call and establishes their hierarchical structure thanks to the extensive literature and expert brainstorming. Afterwards, The Modified Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (MFAHP) is developed to gauge the discrepancy in SFs between COs and POs. Empirical results from MFAHP pinpoint two significant SFs for POs to improve and attract their customers: customs, immigration control and quarantine (CIQ), and incentive measures. Besides, theoretical and managerial implications, and potential limitations for the next research are discussed.
... Step 3. The elements at a particular hierarchical level are compared using a nine-point numerical scale to define how much more important one element is from another [92]. An example of the pair comparison numerical scale of the AHP method is shown in Table 1 [93]. If A and B are the elements at a particular hierarchical level to compare, "1/9" means that B is of absolute importance, "1" means that A and B are of equal importance, and "9" means that A is of absolute importance. ...
... Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method pair comparison numerical scale[93]. ...
This research work aimed to develop a decision support system (DSS) to select the most appropriate concrete waste management method, which is the most critical issue in the construction industry. The research process began with the study of the current situation of concrete waste management problems. Related theories and literature were reviewed, and experts were interviewed in depth. After that, the Delphi technique and the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) were used to analyze the decision-making structure and consider factors related to the waste management methods. Then, the FAHP process was analyzed, calculated, and prioritized using MS Excel until the results were obtained. Finally, decision structures were shown, evaluated, and prioritized using a case study by a group of experts belonging to the Thai circular economy construction industry (CECI). The contribution of this research line in the DSS model is by analyzing, calculating, and finding the most appropriate alternative solution for the construction waste industry. Limitations, recommendations, and future research directions are also presented.
... The ANP method is presented in a nonlinear network structure, which can be used to understand the interaction or interdependence between factors. By contrast, the traditional AHP method only has a one-way, single-dominant linear hierarchical structure [49]. The elements of each ANP level are presented in a network structure. ...
... The limit of the weighted super-matrix could be obtained using Equation (24), in which the matrix is multiplied several times by the limit (infinity), after which the matrix gradually converges, revealing the relative weight between the features. If the super-matrix limit formed two or more limit values during this change, Equation (25) is applied [49], in which the weighted value obtained after convergence is not the true overall weight and must be normalized (i.e., either element divided by the sum of the cluster). This limit super-matrix could be used to obtain the final relative weight matrix of the relationship between the dimension and criteria of OLED NPD. ...
Due to the strong demand for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display products and the highly competitive global market, OLED enterprises need to proactively make product innovations for presuming business competitive advantage, high sales, high profits, high customer consuming value, and the sustainability of the enterprise. A suitable multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for OLED new product development (NPD) can help OLED enterprises’ R&D team to minimize risks and maximize the success rate of NPD. However, the literature reviews of the MCDM model for OLED NPD are very rare. This study aims to propose the approaches for establishing an integrated MCDM model for OLED NPD that apply three methodologies which include the literature review and expert panel, Interpretive structural modeling (ISM), and Fuzzy analytic network process (FANP). Meanwhile, after the implication of the proposed approaches in the case study of Taiwan OLED NPD, this study proposes an integrated MCDM model for OLED NPD in Taiwan. The research results reveal fifteen evaluation criteria of OLED NPD and their relative weight. Furthermore, the research results reveal the top three important criteria are return on investment, expert research and industry evaluation, and R&D funding preparation. The proposed approaches can be applied in other industries for establishing an integrated MCDM model for their own NPD. The proposed integrated MCDM model for OLED NPD in Taiwan can help enterprises in the Taiwan OLED industry to develop new OLED products in an efficient way and to boost sales, profits, and competitive advantages. Besides, this study enriches the research references of MCDM model for NPD and OLED field.
... The ANP advantage is that it tends to deal with problems where the relationships among decision attributes are not definite and there is a possibility that one attribute may affect directly or indirectly the other. This study tends to utilize the ANP technique as proposed by Saaty [32]. ...
... Constraint (32) shows the amount of ash being transported to landfill sites from the incineration sites. The incineration process decreases 75% by weight and 90% by volume the amount of waste. ...
Disasters can generate huge amounts of waste, based on their nature and intensity. The debris could overburden existing waste processing facilities, disrupting response and recovery phase efforts. If disaster waste is not properly managed, it can have serious public health and environmental consequences. This research develops a two-stage framework to assist disaster waste managers in making effective decisions in a post-disaster environment. The proposed framework's first stage efficiently assesses disruption risk and allocates waste to temporary waste management sites in a cost-effective manner during the response phase, while the second stage assists in waste processing following the triple lines of sustainability: economy, environment, and society during the long-term recovery phase. Further, the chaotic environment of a disaster makes it difficult to access information, compromising the effectiveness of waste management decisions; thus, a Me measure-based robust possibilistic programming solution methodology has been developed. A case study is used to validate the suggested framework and solution approach. The findings show that by incurring 15.1% greater costs, desired level of social and environmental goals may be attained. Further, it is found that the higher priority of economic objective makes a minimal number of waste processing facilities operational while the high priority of social objective makes maximum facilities operational which exponentially increases the total cost of waste management. The proposed framework will assist policymakers in developing tactical and strategic plans for disaster waste management.
... Outer dependence is the dependence between components but in a way to allow for feedback circuits. Inner dependence is the interdependence within a component combined with feedback between components [83]. The ANP technique has had only a handful of applications in the research literature [74,76,[83][84][85]. ...
... Inner dependence is the interdependence within a component combined with feedback between components [83]. The ANP technique has had only a handful of applications in the research literature [74,76,[83][84][85]. Many of the recent advances, and some additional applications, may be found in a recent book by Saaty [86]. ...
Manufacturing strategy research aims at providing a structured decision-making approach to improve the economics of manufacturing and to make companies more competitive. The overall objective of this paper is to investigate how manufacturing companies make use of different manufacturing practices or bundles of manufacturing practices to develop certain sets of capabilities, with the ultimate goal of supporting the market requirements. We propose a technique that can effectively take managerial preferences and subjective data into consideration, along with quantitative factors. The tool that is proposed here relies on the use of a more effective version of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) called the Analytical Network Process (ANP) to help integrate managerial evaluations into a more quantitatively based decision tool, data envelopment analysis (DEA). In this paper, these two techniques, when used together, can provide subjective and objective evaluations for manufacturing strategy decision makers. An illustrative example provides some insights into the application of this methodology. The research contributes to several insights to the research area of manufacturing strategy and to practitioners in manufacturing operations. A model that investigates process improvement investments, assuming that alternative process improvement initiatives exist, is then presented.
... Outer dependence is the dependence between components but in a way to allow for feedback circuits. Inner dependence is the interdependence within a component combined with feedback between components [83]. The ANP technique has had only a handful of applications in the research literature [74,76,[83][84][85]. ...
... Inner dependence is the interdependence within a component combined with feedback between components [83]. The ANP technique has had only a handful of applications in the research literature [74,76,[83][84][85]. Many of the recent advances, and some additional applications, may be found in a recent book by Saaty [86]. ...
Manufacturing strategy research aims at providing a structured decision-making approach to improve the economics of manufacturing and to make companies more competitive. The overall objective of this paper is to investigate how manufacturing companies make use of different manufacturing practices or bundles of manufacturing practices to develop certain sets of capabilities, with the ultimate goal of supporting the market requirements. We propose a technique that can effectively take managerial preferences and subjective data into consideration, along with quantitative factors. The tool that is proposed here relies on the use of a more effective version of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) called the Analytical Network Process (ANP) to help integrate managerial evaluations into a more quantitatively based decision tool, data envelopment analysis (DEA). In this paper, these two techniques, when used together, can provide subjective and objective evaluations for manufacturing strategy decision makers. An illustrative example provides some insights into the application of this methodology. The research contributes to several insights to the research area of manufacturing strategy and to practitioners in manufacturing operations. A model that investigates process improvement investments, assuming that alternative process improvement initiatives exist, is then presented.
... TIS performance in each function (for each expert group and for the average of the groups) was calculated as the weighted sum of the local priorities of the subfunctions under, i.e. depending on, their function and the TIS performance in each subfunction (Saaty and Takizawa, 1986): ...
CONTEXT: Technological innovation systems (TIS) play a key role in facilitating digital transformation (DT) in various sectors. In agriculture in particular, traditional qualitative assessments of TIS fall short of providing actionable insights. The olive sector in Andalusia, a world leader in olive cultivation, is a case where DT is essential for long-term competitiveness and sustainability.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is twofold: 1) to provide a comprehensive methodological framework for the functional analysis of a TIS, which allows a semi-quantitative assessment of the performance of a TIS at subfunctional, functional and global levels; and 2) to illustrate the application of this framework to the case of the TIS for the DT of the olive sector in Andalusia.
METHODS: Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the framework allows the performance of the TIS for the DT of the olive sector in Andalusia to be measured along different functions, providing a nuanced and actionable assessment. AHP is a multicriteria decision making methodology that allows the decomposition of a discrete decision problem into a hierarchical structure. Expert knowledge was used to evaluate the proposed AHP model of the performance of the TIS for the DT of the olive sector, in particular a panel of 34 experts.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The application of the framework identified the main weaknesses in the functions of knowledge transfer, business activities and resource mobilisation within the TIS for the DT of the olive sector of Andalusia. Conversely, strengths were identified, particularly in the areas of market formation and knowledge development. Policy recommendations are made to address these weaknesses and capitalise on the strengths identified, thereby accelerating the DT of the sector.
SIGNIFICANCE: This study adds to the TIS literature by providing a semi-quantitative, multicriteria, replicable and adaptable framework for agricultural innovation policy. The framework provides actionable insights for policy makers and stakeholders in the olive sector to foster an environment conducive to DT and thereby steer agriculture towards an innovative, competitive and sustainable trajectory. Insights from the olive case offer lessons for DT in similar contexts.
... In this study, factors and indicators to be extracted through the subsequent process were compared. The AHP cannot consider the interrelationships among elements [29]. Consequently, the ANP is an advanced version of the AHP that considers the internal relationships among elements through additional steps [30]. ...
Industrial crises exert considerable influence on a wide range of industries, national economies, and global economic landscapes. The primary objective of this study is to devise a crisis index specifically tailored for the petroleum sector—a vital component of South Korea’s energy industry. An exhaustive analysis of the existing literature was conducted to extract pertinent elements and indicators, and indicator weights were determined using the analytic network process (ANP). Moreover, a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was employed to rigorously evaluate the validity of the proposed crisis index. The implications derived from this study offer critical insights for stakeholders into the petroleum industry and demonstrate the potential applicability of a crisis index framework for other industries.
... AHP is indeed conceptually easy to use; however, its strict hierarchical structure cannot deal the complexities of many real-world problems. As a solution for these complex problems, Saaty created ANP as generalized form of AHP [22,77]. ANP also applied based on PC survey, however, the PC survey was constructed of 276 PCs which represent all interrelations and feedbacks between the twenty-four criteria, and Saaty's scale was used by the experts to perform the comparisons and the final score determination was calculated through equation (7). ...
This paper delves into the realm of public transport system enhancement, a critical consideration for decision makers due to its profound impact on citizens' lives and government investments. The primary objective is to assess the quality of public bus transport supply and identify the most effective improvements to heighten passenger satisfaction and attract new users. To accomplish this goal, two prominent multi-criteria decision-making approaches, namely the Analytical Network Process (ANP) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), were employed, leveraging a dynamic questionnaire survey. The ANP method, recognized for its robustness, takes into account the interrelationships and feedback among various criteria levels, offering a systematic evaluation framework. In contrast, the AHP method overlooks these factors. The adoption of both methods was crucial in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of experts' perceptions regarding public transport service quality. To illustrate the practical implementation of these approaches, an empirical study was conducted using a real life case. This study serves as a testament to the efficacy of these decision-making methods and underscores their value in the decision-making process. Ultimately, this paper underscores the significance of prioritizing public transport system improvements as a means to enrich citizens' lives and bolster government investments.
... Following the disclosure of the SWOT analysis constraints, efforts were made to deal with these shortcomings. Kurtilla et al. (2000) proposed a hybrid approach to deal with the weaknesses of the SWOT's measurement and evaluation steps, first introduced by Thomas Alsaati in 1980 and known as SWOT (Kurttila et al., 2000;Leskinen et al., 2006;Saaty & Takizawa, 1986). This technique can analytically prioritize the SWOT factors for decision-making and their measurements by analyzing the SWOT analysis and analysis of the hierarchy (Moradi & Papzan, 2014). ...
The high capacity of the agricultural sector in Kermanshah
Province needs more attention for some reasons including
weather and climate conditions, access to fertile lands, and
ready-made labor force. The current research seeks to achieve
a major strategy for the development of entrepreneurship
activities in the agricultural sector of Kermanshah Province.
To reach end a mixed research method was used in which the
content analysis and survey methods were used in the quali�tative and quantitative phases, respectively. The content
analysis and “Analysis of Hierarchy Process (AHP) were
applied by using Expert Choice software for data analysis. In
the quantitative part, the study population was comprised of
agricultural entrepreneurs inKermanshah Province, ofwhich
27participatedinsemi-structuredinterviews.Inthequantitative
part, a pairwise comparison questionnaire was administered
to 10 entrepreneurs who were entrepreneurship experts.
Based on the results obtained from the current research, the
development strategy, namely “regional market development,
paving the way for the development of entrepreneurial com�panies, and presentation of products fabricated by agricultural
entrepreneurs in Kermanshah Province in regional, national,
and international exhibitions”, was chosen as the best con�servative strategy with the final priority of 0.347. In addition,
another strategy, i.e. “the formulation of policies and estab�lishment of appropriate support platforms for agricultural
entrepreneurs by the state and organizations, such as subsi�dizing producers and providing facilities to entrepreneurs to
facilitate access to suitable land for their activities”, with the
final priority of 0.270% was chosen as the alternative strategy
for thedevelopmentof entrepreneurial activities inKermanshah
province.
... Supplementary Material contains details of monitoring stations, breakpoint concentration of criteria pollutants and other statistical details of the estimated data. References [51,52] are cited in the supplementary materials. ...
Fourteen Indian cities, including urban and rural locations, were chosen for the present study across India, with unhealthy air quality based on National Air Quality Index (NAQI > 100). However, it was found that NAQI values over the locations are driven by the undifferentiated mass concentration of particulate matter (PM, both PM10 and PM2.5) than other criteria pollutants. The PM2.5 and PM10 concentration during the winter violated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of India by two to five times at six urban locations, with the mean daily PM2.5 concentration averaged over the month; the the largest being at Patna (353 µg m−3) during the winter and lowest at Bengaluru (27 µg m−3) during the summer. The analysis of chemical species, in general, indicated NO2 (SO2, CO) as having a 25% to 70% (16% to 50%, 16% to 85%) increase in concentration from the summer to winter, which is adequately reflected in higher fuzzy scores during the winter. Thus, to provide a realistic approach to air quality management, the present study focuses on identifying priority-based locations requiring immediate mitigation measures by developing a Prioritized Clean Air Assessment Tool (PCAT). The tool utilizes a fuzzy-based algorithm to incorporate the cumulative effect of all six criteria pollutants, taking into consideration the severity of their expected health implications. Using PCAT, Delhi and Varanasi cities are identified for prioritized mitigation considering the NAAQS of India, unlike all cities (except Bengaluru) during the winter and nine out of fourteen cities during the summer, considering the NAQI. Using more stringent WHO guideline values in PCAT, six cities out of fourteen were identified requiring immediate mitigation during the winter and summer months; locations such as Solapur and Patna are identified to need season-specific mitigation measures during the summer and winter, respectively. The tool is simplistic, user-friendly, and quickly evaluates multiple locations simultaneously to provide priority sites.
... Volume of aquifer Satellite imagery has been used extensively and successfully to map regional groundwater potential zones, which is a cost-effective method. Identification of groundwater potential zones is improved when remote sensing and GIS are used together [21][22][23][24][25]. Pudukottai is a drought-prone, arid district in southern India. ...
Groundwater is critical to the socioeconomic development of any region. Infiltration of
surface water into the ground is influenced by a variety of factors such as soil pores, folds, fractures,
faults, and joints, all of which contribute to groundwater recharge. Groundwater is an important
source of freshwater in the drought-prone Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. Therefore,
the search for groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) is critical. The present study focuses on the
investigation of potential groundwater zones using geospatial techniques. Geology, land use and
land cover, geomorphology, soil, drainage density, lineament, and groundwater levels were obtained
from state and non-state associations. ArcGIS version 10.8 was used to create all thematic layers and
classified grids. The intensive use of groundwater in arid and semiarid regions is becoming a problem
for the public to meet their freshwater needs. The condition of arid and semi-arid regions due to
intensive groundwater extraction has become one of the most important environmental problems for
the public. In this study, a powerful groundwater potential mapping technique was developed using
integrated remote sensing data from GIS-AHP. Using AHP techniques, thematic layers for geology,
geomorphology, and soil followed by drainage, drainage density and lineament, lineament density,
slope, water level, and lithological parameters were created, classified, weighted, and integrated into
a GIS environment. According to the results of the study, it is estimated that 14% of the groundwater
potential in the study area is good, 49% is moderate and 36% is poor. A groundwater level map
was used to verify the groundwater potential. In addition, the model was validated with a singlelayer
sensitivity analysis, which showed that geology was the most influential layer and water
level was the least influential thematic layer. The low-potential areas identified on the groundwater
potential map can be used for further study to identify ideal locations for artificial recharge. In
low potential areas, the groundwater potential map can be used to find ideal locations for artificial
recharge. The water table in the area must be raised by artificial recharge structures such as infiltration
basins, recharge pits, and agricultural ponds. Artificial recharge structures such as infiltration basins,
recharge pits, and agricultural ponds can be used for groundwater development in the low potential
zones. The GWPZ map was successfully validated with three proxy data, such as the number of
wells, groundwater level, and well density, obtained from well inventory information. The results of
this study will improve our understanding of the geographic analysis of groundwater potential and
help policy makers in this drought-prone area to create more sustainable water supply systems.
... Volume of aquifer Satellite imagery has been used extensively and successfully to map regional groundwater potential zones, which is a cost-effective method. Identification of groundwater potential zones is improved when remote sensing and GIS are used together [21][22][23][24][25]. Pudukottai is a drought-prone, arid district in southern India. ...
Groundwater is critical to the socioeconomic development of any region. Infiltration of surface water into the ground is influenced by a variety of factors such as soil pores, folds, fractures, faults, and joints, all of which contribute to groundwater recharge. Groundwater is an important source of freshwater in the drought-prone Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. Therefore, the search for groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) is critical. The present study focuses on the investigation of potential groundwater zones using geospatial techniques. Geology, land use and land cover, geomorphology, soil, drainage density, lineament, and groundwater levels were obtained from state and non-state associations. ArcGIS version 10.8 was used to create all thematic layers and classified grids. The intensive use of groundwater in arid and semiarid regions is becoming a problem for the public to meet their freshwater needs. The condition of arid and semi-arid regions due to intensive groundwater extraction has become one of the most important environmental problems for the public. In this study, a powerful groundwater potential mapping technique was developed using integrated remote sensing data from GIS-AHP. Using AHP techniques, thematic layers for geology, geomorphology, and soil followed by drainage, drainage density and lineament, lineament density, slope, water level, and lithological parameters were created, classified, weighted, and integrated into a GIS environment. According to the results of the study, it is estimated that 14% of the groundwater potential in the study area is good, 49% is moderate and 36% is poor. A groundwater level map was used to verify the groundwater potential. In addition, the model was validated with a single-layer sensitivity analysis, which showed that geology was the most influential layer and water level was the least influential thematic layer. The low-potential areas identified on the groundwater potential map can be used for further study to identify ideal locations for artificial recharge. In low potential areas, the groundwater potential map can be used to find ideal locations for artificial recharge. The water table in the area must be raised by artificial recharge structures such as infiltration basins, recharge pits, and agricultural ponds. Artificial recharge structures such as infiltration basins, recharge pits, and agricultural ponds can be used for groundwater development in the low potential zones. The GWPZ map was successfully validated with three proxy data, such as the number of wells, groundwater level, and well density, obtained from well inventory information. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the geographic analysis of groundwater potential and help policy makers in this drought-prone area to create more sustainable water supply systems.
... Among them, Analytical Network Process (ANP), proposed by Saaty [53] in 1996, has been confirmed by many studies and is one of the most complete of these techniques in many fields [54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. Many scholars [61,62] mentioned that the ANP method asks questions in the form of a network and considers the qualitative and quantitative criteria in question. In the meantime, ANP allows decision makers to involve any relationship in the structure. ...
The blended educational method has become a common way of teaching and learning in the post-COVID-19 era. However, the related research on the selection model for the blended design teaching service quality solution is still an important research gap during this period. Therefore, this study proposed a hybrid method of fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to analyse the dimensions, indicators and alternatives of blended design teaching service quality. As for the findings of this research, the dimension of assurance is the most vital factor, followed by responsiveness, reliability and empathy. Meanwhile, this research discovered that the top three significant alternatives are “Employees are trustworthy”, “Safe transaction mechanism and environment” and “Personalised needs of customers”. Also, we found that dimensions utilised to evaluate the quality of education service are similar whether in the post COVID-19 era, in the COVID-19 epidemic or prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main contribution of this study is to establish a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for the ranking of the blended design teaching service quality index and solution under a fuzzy environment. Finally, the research findings of this study have a guiding role, thereby becoming a guide for the industries related to hybrid design education to maintain good service quality in similar scenarios in the future.
... where λ max denotes the largest eigenvalue of A. Several algorithms have been proposed to approximate the w i value (Meade & Sarkis, 1999;Saaty, 2004;Saaty & Hu, 1998;Saaty & Takizawa, 1986). There are also several MCDM software that has been designed to aid with the computation of the relative importance weights, such as Web-HIPRE3+ (http://hipre.aalto.fi/) ...
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain (PSC) plays a critical role in the healthcare sector. This study identifies, validates, and prioritises the factors that play a crucial role in PSC performance, adopting a threefold approach. In the first stage performance, indicators were identified through an extensive review of the literature. With the help of expert opinion, the identified factors were validated and then categorised based on technological—organisational—environmental (TOE) and supply chain (SC) theories to propose a framework. The Pakistani Pharmaceutical sector firms were selected to investigate the cause and effect relationship among the factors, their interdependencies, and impact on overall PSC performance. This investigation was supported by a novel integrated analytic model composed of best worst method (BWM), decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and analytical network process (ANP) methods. The results indicate that ‘human resource skills, competencies, and involvement’, ‘process improvement and healthcare reform, and manufacturing’, and ‘distribution and inventory management’ are the top three factors that have a high impact on the overall PSC performance. This study outcome help inform decision‐makers and managers in the healthcare sector in formulating strategies to improve their SC performance.
... Once the network has been described and the possible relationships between its elements established, the next step is to evaluate these relationships quantitatively. That is, to determine the relative priorities (or contributions) of the different elements (criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives) with respect to the element that dominates them, i.e., on which they depend (Saaty and Takizawa, 1986). In ANP questionnaires, elements are normally compared in pairs when the model has between 5 and 9 elements to compare. ...
Assessing, designing and implementing more sustainable agri-food systems has become a high priority in scientific research and political agendas worldwide. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is highlighting the fragility of globalised food distribution systems, and there is a need to focus on alternatives. This manuscript assesses the sustainability of two largely opposing marketing alternatives, namely Territorial Short Food Supply Chains (TSFSCs) and Large-Scale Food Distribution (LSFD). Specifically, the cases of Bogota (Colombia) and Cordoba (Spain) are analysed, where the development of TSFSCs has very significant in recent years but which are of a very different nature. For this purpose, a multi-criteria model based on the Analytic Network Process (ANP) methodology has been developed, considering multiple economic, social and environmental criteria. The model has been evaluated by four interest groups. The results show that the social sub-criterion – distribution of added value – is highly prioritised, and that the TSFSCs are the most sustainable alternatives globally in both cities. In Bogota, direct sales (farmers market) are prioritised, whilst in Cordoba, chain with a local retail (specialised shops). The contribution of TSFSCs to ecosystem services, equity, territorial cohesion and the revitalisation of the economy is highlighted. By interest groups, civil society, academia and public administration prioritise TSFSCs. However, the market players in Cordoba prioritise LSFD with national product. The results indicate that TSFSCs have the potential to contribute to the consolidation of sustainable and resilient food systems.
... Proposed operators can be used to deal with multi-criteria group decision-making problems [44] or two-sided matching decision-making problems [45]. In the future, we will also try to model outer dependency relationship [46] among the criteria of different layers of a hierarchical system. To do so, we could make an attempt to adapt the concept of a heterogeneous relationship [47] to a hierarchical system of criterion set. ...
In this article, we propose the generalized version of the extended, partitioned Bonferroni mean (EPBM) operator with a systematic investigation of its behavior and properties. It can aggregate data of various dimensions in one formulation by modeling mandatory conditions along with partitioned structure interrelationships amongst the criterion set. In addition, we generate the condition for weight vectors satisfied by the weighting triangle associated with the proposed extended aggregation operator. We employed the proposed operator to aggregate a dataset following a hierarchical structure. We found that by implementing the proposed operator one can even rank the alternatives more intuitively with respect to any intermediate perspective of the hierarchical system. Finally, we present an application of the proposed extended aggregation operator in a case-based example of a child’s home environment quality evaluation with detailed analysis.
... One option is to apply statistical methods to eliminate unimportant relationships in the network. Saaty and Takizawa (1986) suggested a simplified structure, including three steps, to deal with the dependence on elements. The first step, as in traditional AHP, only processes the influences without considering dependence. ...
This paper is in memory of Professor Thomas L. Saaty, who died on the 14th of August 2017. In a problem-solving process, the first step is to model a real-world problem. The modeling effort is one of the hardest parts of the process, and there is no universal way to do it. The initial step involves structuring the problem and obtaining a simplified problem so that any multi-criteria or statistical models can be applied. This paper intends to explain the modeling process through subjective geometry. Although creative thinking is critical in developing the hierarchies and networks in the Analytic Hierarchy or Network Process (AHP/ANP), models from business management and information theories can supply a verified ready-to-use relationship among elements and their clusters. We hope the exploration offers a guideline for utilizing the AHP/ANP in more detail.
... The AHP simplifies a problem artificially due to its hierarchical structure, so the results and the resulting decisions do not fully reflect the real problem [38]. ANP addresses network components' structural dependence in several relative comparisons [39]. There are outer dependencies between different components and inner dependencies between elements within a component [38]. ...
Challenges related to sustainable development require companies to align their strategies to meet stakeholder interests systematically. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are guiding objectives for sustainable development on an international level up to 2030. This article links the goals of the SDGs to a recognized strategic management tool: the sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC). So far, few approaches exist in this field. Consequently, this article presents a framework for developing and applying an SBSC that takes an integrative view of the SDGs. For this purpose, the analytic network process (ANP) and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution are applied (TOPSIS). The article concludes that the solution approach presented has considerable potential to support organizations in systematically integrating the SDGs into their strategy. Also, this article proposes interesting future research directions.
... The AHP simplifies a problem artificially due to its hierarchical structure, so the results and the resulting decisions do not fully reflect the real problem [38]. ANP addresses network components' structural dependence in several relative comparisons [39]. There are outer dependencies between different components and inner dependencies between elements within a component [38]. ...
Challenges related to sustainable development require companies to align their strategies to meet stakeholder interests systematically. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are guiding objectives for sustainable development on an international level up to 2030. This article links the goals of the SDGs to a recognized strategic management tool: the sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC). So far, few approaches exist in this field. Consequently, this article presents a framework for developing and applying an SBSC that takes an integrative view of the SDGs. For this purpose, the analytic network process (ANP) and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution are applied (TOPSIS). The article concludes that the solution approach presented has considerable potential to support organizations in systematically integrating the SDGs into their strategy. Also, this article proposes interesting future research directions.
... Over the last two decades, combinations of RS-GIS with MCDM frameworks have become quite suitable ways of addressing spatial data management (Murmu et al. 2018). The AHP is one such MCDM method conceptualized for effectively choosing the best possible alternative under conflicting criteria with absolute and relative measurements (Saaty 1986) and a feedback system framework (Saaty and Takizawa 1986). It is a method wherein problems are divided into different variables, arranging them into relative hierarchical structures and thereafter harmonizing the results derived (Saaty 1986). ...
This paper delineates the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) within the Tadri River Basin in the Western Ghats of India, using analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and geoinformatics-based techniques. Eight discrete parameters (slope, rainfall, drainage density, lineament density, lithological units, geomorphological units, soil types and land use, and land cover classes) were selected and weighted according to their influence on groundwater availability and combined in a hierarchical manner to obtain the resulting GWPZ map. This was classified into five classes (very good, good, moderate, low and very low) depending upon the relative groundwater availability within each. Excellent GWPZ were present in the lower part of the Tadri Basin and along the Western Ghats’ foothills beside the coast while the pediment-pediplain complex had less viability. The GWPZ map was validated using the area’s average groundwater depth and well density, via the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC), which elicited an accuracy of 79% and 82.1%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the basin’s lithology, land use/land cover, drainage density and lineament density had the most impact in GWPZ delineation.
... Therefore, traditional approaches to integrated coastal management are generally linear and often cyclical ( Figure 2). Living Labs, on the other hand, takes a design-based approach with a focus on loop development ( Figure 3) [20][21][22][23][24]. ...
Living Labs are an innovative concept that combines research, governance, and citizens,
using technology and knowledge. Using design thinking techniques as a method of approach, this innovative idea builds a bridge between decision makers and stakeholders, promoting a shared vision of growth and innovation at the community level. The coastal zone is an extremely dynamic area in terms of human and natural activities. This is a particularly sensitive area to climate change, necessitating ongoing adaptation and mitigating action. This paper aims to introduce the application of the Living lab concept in the management of the coastal area of Constanta (Romania). The concept
of the Living Lab means involving citizens along with public bodies and research structures. This new coastal management model will use the design thinking approach and will consider the pressures that exist between the activities that occur in the examined coastal zone. In the study, “Multi-Criteria Analysis of the Mass Tourism Management Model Related to the Impact on the Local Community in
Constant, a (Romania)”, published in MDPI Inventions on 28 June 2021, a coastal management model was built that took into consideration only the data given by the government. In this paper, the authors aim to expand their research by including data from independent sources, using the concept of a Living Lab.
... AHP'de temel varsayım karar hiyerarşisinin üst kısmının tüm alt kısımlarından bağımsız oluşudur. Birçok karar verme problemi AHP'deki gibi hiyerarşik olarak yapılandırılamaz, çünkü bu problemler üst seviye elemanların daha alt seviye elemanlarla etkileşim ve bağımlılığını içerir [26,27]. Saaty, alternatif ya da kriterler arasında bağımlılıkların dikkate alınmaması durumunda AHP'nin, alternatif ya da kriterler arasında bağımlılıkların dikkate alındığı durumda ise Analitik Ağ Prosesinin (AAP) kullanılmasını tavsiye etmektedir [28]. ...
The most important factor in aircraft flight safety is the interfaces, which provide human-machine interaction. There is a close relationship between flight safety and interface usability with pilot-cockpit interaction quality. The consequences of crew errors in interacting with cockpit interfaces are catastrophic. Interaction quality and flight safety can be improved with a user-friendly interface design. Different usability evaluation techniques are applied for interface design and usability in literature. Subjectivity within most usability evaluation techniques may lead to inaccurate results. In this study, a multi-criteria approach is offered for the usability evaluation, improvement and ranking of cockpit interfaces. Alternative interfaces, used in this study, are the results of quantitative, qualitative and unified design approaches. More satisfactory results were obtained from the unified design.
... Once the complete list of criteria is determined, weights are computed for each criterion; then the judgement with respect to the criteria is quantified and collected from multiple experts. The AHP [3][4][5][6][7] and the ANP [8][9][10][11] have been widely used to determine the weights of the criteria [12][13][14]. The AHP organizes the criteria in a multilevel hierarchy and uses ratio scales to derive relative priorities for elements at the same level by making pairwise comparisons [3]. ...
The evaluation of government data sustainability is a multicriteria decision making problem. The analytic network process (ANP) is among the most popular methods in determining the weights of criteria, and its limitation is the un-convergence problem. This paper proposes a hybrid ANP (H-ANP) method, which aims to improve the ANP by combining the weights obtained from the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The proposed method is proved to be convergent since the network of the H-ANP is strongly connected. According to the simulation experiments, H-ANP is more robust than ANP under different settings of parameters. It also shows a higher Kendall cor-relationship and lower MSE with respect to AHP, compared with the existing method (e.g., the averagely connected ANP method). An empirical example is also provided, which uses H-ANP to evaluate the government data sustainability of a city.
... A continuación, se deben sintetizar las prioridades de las funciones y subfunciones (para un grupo de expertos o para todos los grupos) en función de su satisfacción del objetivo (prioridades globales, ω G ). Las prioridades globales de subfunciones con respecto al objetivo pueden calcularse mediante la suma ponderada de las prioridades locales de las funciones y subfunciones que dependen de él (Saaty and Takizawa, 1986) . Así se tendría: ...
La economía mundial, y el sector agrario en particular, se enfrentan a importantes retos y presiones de transformación. Un reto importante, y una oportunidad, es la transformación digital (TD). El objetivo de esta comunicación es analizar el funcionamiento del Sistema de Innovación Tecnológica (SIT) asociado a la TD del sector olivarero en Andalucía, es decir, del ecosistema de agentes implicados en la TD del sector olivarero. Para ello, se valorará el desempeño de una serie de funciones clave, de acuerdo a la visión de 3 grupos de interés que forman parte del SIT (administración pública, empresas agroalimentarias y otras organizaciones de apoyo al sector olivarero). La evaluación del desempeño se realizará mediante la metodología de toma de decisiones multicitero Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Los resultados indican que el SIT de la TD del sector olivarero andaluz presenta un desempeño de sus funciones medio/bajo, variable según la visión de cada grupo de interés. Así, el grupo de empresas de administración pública indica el desempeño más alto del SIT, teniendo por tanto una visión más positiva, mientras que el grupo de empresas agroalimentarias es el que tiene una visión más negativa. Las funciones que destacan por su mejor desempeño en el SIT son la 2 ‘Desarrollo de conocimiento’, y la 5 ‘Formación del mercado’. En cuanto a la función con el desempeño más bajo existen algunas diferencias entre grupos, aunque todos coinciden en señalar a la función 3 ‘Transferencia de conocimiento’.
... 2. Assessment of ANP model: Once the network has been defined and the possible relationships between its elements established, the next step is to assess these relationships quantitatively. That is, to determine the relative priorities (or contributions) of the different elements (factors and sub-factors in our study) with respect to the element that dominates them, that is, on which they depend (Saaty and Takizawa, 1986). Due to the high number of elements to be compared in some cases (higher than 7 ± 2, as recommended in ANP), the evaluation of the priorities by the experts was based on the 'direct rating' method (Bottomley and Doyle, 2001;Calabrese et al., 2019;Larichev et al., 1995;Oliveira et al., 2018). ...
Urban food policies (UFP) have emerged as a key mechanism to drive the transition towards more sustainable food systems, with cities as the appropriate scale for their implementation. The aim of the paper is analysis of the boost that UFPs have given to one of the most widespread forms of Alternative Food Networks, these are Territorial Short Food Supply Chains (TSFSCs). For this, the territorial factors that strengthen TSFSCs in the cities of Bogotá (Colombia) and Córdoba (Spain), one being UFP, are prioritised using a multi-criteria model based on the Analytic Network Process. Based on this prioritisation, the way the UFPs interrelate with the other prioritised territorial factors in both cities is identified. Consequently, the influence of UFP implementation on social capital of TSFSCs is analysed through Social Network Analysis. The results indicate that there are four types of priority territorial sub-factors on which UFPs should have an impact in order to promote TSFSCs in the two cities. The first group is classified as means to achieve the other sub-factors. The other sub-factors are classified as ends. The main means are UFPs and partnership linkages. The territorial sub-factors included in the PAU are in the design and implementation phases of the policy cycle. Furthermore, UFPs foster bridging social capital, with actors connecting unconnected nodes. Finally, some of the reflections on the implications of UAPs indicate that the promotion of participatory governance mechanisms involving civil society is an important element to include in UFPs, given their influence on strengthening collective action and social capital in cities. This shows that a territorial approach in UFPs can have greater results in policy implementation. In this way the paper contributes, at the theoretical and empirical level, to recent debates on UFP approaches and the integration of key factors for food transformation in cities.
... Even though the AHP model is popular, the evidence in the field of social sciences has indicated that the characteristics of internal complex correlation in the evaluation of optimal solution issues are unable to be represented satisfactorily with a hierarchical, linear model because of the dependence relationships rather than the up-down relationships. The meaning is that there are network-like relationships [56,58]. Hence, the ANP algorithm is proposed to resolve such complex problems as a suitable instrument for implementation in various applications [59][60][61]. ...
During enterprise foundation and development, internal finance and debt finance are of vital importance to start-up entrepreneurs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is mainly to focus on how start-ups can make the optimal evaluation among different external equity crowdfunding solutions and to establish a network decision support model that evaluates the optimal financing solution of start-ups for external equity crowdfunding based on decision science and network architecture. The Lending Company in Financial Technology Industry (LCFTI) was taken as an example. The results indicate that equity crowdfunding is the optimal financing plan in LCFTI. Academically, the results of this study not only help propose a network decision support model using decision science methods and implementing the network analysis to establish an architecture to evaluate the optimal financing plans of start-ups for external equity crowdfunding, they also makes up for the gap in the optimal financing plans of entrepreneurs or start-ups for external equity financing, which has not been specified in the POT theory in the past. Practically, this study provides a useful tool for the entrepreneur of LCFTI to understand the key factors affecting the optimal financing plans for external equity financing and enables LCFTI to measure the optimal financing plans for external equity financing to improve the success rate of finance.
Adaptive security activities are a list of recommended security activities to be integrated smoothly with the software development life cycle (SDLC) to produce a secure application software. Adaptive security activities are needed due to the emergence of factors and constraints which have been determined as one of the reasons for the underutilisation of security activities implementation, especially in the earlier phase of software development process. Security activities selection models were proposed to select and recommend security activities but the models were focused on certain factors or as a solution for specific constraints, and thus the recommended security activities were not adaptive. Consequently, an adaptive security activities selection (ASAS) model was proposed by combining the factors and constraints faced by the development team in selecting security activities. The model consisted of two integrated multi-criteria decisionmaking (MCDM) methods, namely Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Reference Ideal Method (RIM). ANP was used to prioritise and weight the criteria while RIM was used to measure and evaluate the security activities with the value of constraints in regard to each criterion. To validate the model a case study was performed on four inhouse web application development teams in the Malaysian public sector. The proposed model was able to recommend security activities in the requirement and design phase based on different constraints faced by each of the development teams. The model was adaptive due to its flexibility and ability to change and suit different evolved conditions when recommending the security activities.
Probabilistic linguistic term set (PLTS), which consists of multiple linguistic terms and their probabilities, has been proposed to tackle qualitative information in informs of linguistic expressions. Since experts are inclined to compare alternatives in pairs, the probabilistic linguistic preference relation (PLPR), a matrix whose elements are PLTSs, has attracted wide attention since it was first introduced in 2016. Fruitful research achievements regarding PLPRs have been generated, especially in group decision making (GDM). This paper reviews 88 selected articles published from 2016 to June 4, 2023 regarding PLPRs, and presents a review of researches on theory and applications of PLPRs. First, we conduct a bibliometric study of these selected articles in terms of publication and citation trends, most productive countries/regions, categories of publications and keyword co-occurrence relationships. Next, the theory of PLPRs including definition, missing element deduction, consistency checking, prioritization, and decision-making analysis methods are recalled. We also review real-world applications of these publications and find that PLPRs have been mainly applied in four areas, including healthcare management, project evaluation, environment and energy management, and emergency management. In the end, we propose future research directions related to the probabilistic linguistic decision-making theory and provide insights for researchers and practitioners who have an interest in complex linguistic decision making.
Entering the realm of analyzability, the chapter begins with a debate surrounding the philosophy of analyzability (PoA) around essential issues such as, assumptions and stances. Afterwards, it specifies the scope of a business environment analyzability project (BEAP). Herein, the phases and the criteria surrounding the factor selection are depicted. Moreover, it covers the types of criteria and the notions of balance and dominant criterion.
Subsequently, it elaborates on other more specific domains of analyzability. For instance, the phases of the strategic decisions which lead to the choice of criteria; the selection of sources of data, the use of models for analysing the external business environment (EBE); and the applicability of indexes, ratios, and benchmarks.
Purpose
The purpose of this study paper is to identify and prioritize the factors affecting the knowledge flow in high-tech industries.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection method. This research has been done in a qualitative–quantitative method. In the qualitative part, due to the nature of the data in this study, expert interviews have been used. The sample studied in this research includes 35 managers and expert professors with experience in the field of knowledge management working in universities and high-tech industries who have been selected by the method of snowball. In the quantitative part, the questionnaire tool and DANP multivariate decision-making method have been used.
Findings
In this study, a multicriteria decision-making technique using a combination of DEMATEL and ANP (DANP) was used to identify and prioritize the factors affecting the knowledge flow in high-tech industries. In this study, the factors affecting the knowledge flow, including 8 main factors and 31 subfactors, were selected. Human resources, organizational structure, organizational culture, knowledge communication, knowledge management tools, knowledge characteristics, laws, policies and regulations and financial resources were effective in improving knowledge flow, respectively.
Originality/value
By studying the research, it was found that the study area is limited, and the previous work has remained at the level of documentation and little practical use has been done. In previous research, the discussion of knowledge flow has not been very open, and doing incomplete work causes limited experiences and increases cost and time wastage, and parallel work may also occur. Therefore, to complete the knowledge management circle and fully achieve the research objectives, as well as to make available and transfer the experiences of people working in this field and also to save time and reduce costs, the contents and factors of previous models have been counted. It is designed for high-tech industries, a model for the flow of knowledge.
After four decades, numerous TOPSIS variants have been introduced. This chapter includes nine sections, one for each of the individual variants, as: normalization processes, weights on criteria, distance functions, selection of PIS/NIS, relative closeness formula, ordinal input, weights on separation measures, dependentSeeSeedependent criteria criteria, and incremental analysis. All of them are reviewed with illustrative examples. These contents could provide deep insights into the TOPSIS algorithm.
ERP systems are changeable and adjustable information systems that integrate information and information-based processes in the organization within organizational units and between them. In other words, ERP are computer-based systems that are designed to process the organization's transactions and their purpose is to facilitate planning, production and
Timely response to customers in an integrated environment
Given its widespread potential and technological advancements, it is critical to use the greatest amount of wind power in reaching the 100% renewable energy target in power grids. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis is frequently used to evaluate alternative strategies in multi-criteria decision issues. This paper employs a hybrid Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP) approach based on SWOT to assess the future development of wind power capacities in Turkey in light of the sectoral effects of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. To validate the proposed approach, the results are compared to the results of the SWOT-based Analytic Network Process (ANP), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and fuzzy AHP (FAHP). According to the findings, “Development of domestic and efficient technologies (ST1)" and “Sustaining support mechanisms in investments and technological research (SO2)" are the best alternative strategies in all analysis models. While the priority ranks of other alternative strategies are the same in AHP and FAHP hierarchical techniques, FANP differs from ANP when the linguistic assessment process is taken into account. This study proposes long-term strategies for increasing wind power capacity and sector sustainability, and it demonstrates that FANP could be an appropriate approach for prioritizing these strategies in current scenarios.
Decision making problem is the process of finding the best option from all of the feasible alternatives. In almost all such problems the multiplicity of criteria for judging the alternatives is pervasive. That is, for many such problems, the decision maker wants to solve a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. A survey of the MCDM methods has been presented by Hwang and Yoon. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is one of the extensively used multi-criteria decision-making methods One of the main advantages of this method is the relative ease with which it handles multiple criteria. In addition to this, AHP is easier to understand and it can effectively handle both qualitative and quantitative data. The use of AHP does not involve cumbersome mathematics. AHP involves the principles of decomposition, pair wise comparisons, and priority vector generation and synthesis. Though the purpose of AHP is to capture the expert's knowledge. In the present research, combination of indexing system Method with Analytical Hierarchy Process has been applied to assess locating Fire stations. By this process, classification and qualification of the numerous types of regions would be accessible The findings of the research show that Region 2 with (0/352) point promotes in first rank among 5 studied Regions and thus it is the most appropriate Region , in contrast Region 5 with (0/112) point goes down to the last rank. Regions (1, 3, 4) with (0/191,0/171, 0/170) points are located in next ranks
Decision making problem is the process of finding the best option from all of the feasible alternatives. In almost all such problems the multiplicity of criteria for judging the alternatives is pervasive. That is, for many such problems, the decision maker wants to solve a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. A survey of the MCDM methods has been presented by Hwang and Yoon. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is one of the extensively used multi-criteria decision-making methods One of the main advantages of this method is the relative ease with which it handles multiple criteria. In addition to this, AHP is easier to understand and it can effectively handle both qualitative and quantitative data. The use of AHP does not involve cumbersome mathematics. AHP involves the principles of decomposition, pair wise comparisons, and priority vector generation and synthesis. Though the purpose of AHP is to capture the expert's knowledge. In the present research, combination of indexing system Method with Analytical Hierarchy Process has been applied to assess locating Fire stations. By this process, classification and qualification of the numerous types of regions would be accessible The findings of the research show that Region 2 with (0/352) point promotes in first rank among 5 studied Regions and thus it is the most appropriate Region , in contrast Region 5 with (0/112) point goes down to the last rank. Regions (1, 3, 4) with (0/191,0/171, 0/170) points are located in next ranks
Understanding innovation system of industry is a requirement for progress in the knowledge-based economy. On the other hand, each industry plays a special role with specific importance, and some parent industries, such as oil industry, take a special position in the Iranian economy. This research is intended to provide policy recommendations for the country's oil industry after drawing an institutional map of the Iranian oil industry innovation system, with the pathology of the role of institutions based on a functional approach. Hence, analysis of the innovation system on the basis of active institutions in the innovation system of the oil industry was carried out through institutional mapping by the participation of ten experts in the oil industry through Delphi method. Then, the functional network of the innovation system was identified by reviewing the literature, and the weights of functions were determined by seventeen innovation experts. Afterwards, the matrix of the functional institution for the Iranian oil industry was designed with the participation of nine experts in innovation and the oil industry. It can be concluded from the functional-institutional analysis of the oil industry innovation system that, although research and educational institutions such as the University of Petroleum Industry, International Institute for Energy Studies, Petroleum Industry Research Institute, Expropriation Research Institute, etc. are active in the development of knowledge development and dissemination, they play little role in entrepreneurial projects which are highly important, only support knowledge-based companies. As a result, it seems that in order to improve the functioning of the oil industry innovation system, institutions must be designed to strengthen this aspect.
The process of setting priorities in systems with a network structure is more complex than it is in a hierarchy which is essentially linear. The composition of priorities in a hierarchy is a special case of composition in a system. Simple examples of composition in hierarchies with cycles between adjacent levels and cyclic hierarchies called holarchies are given. More generally suppose we have a network whose nodes are components of a system. These components can interact in a designated manner according to a variety of criteria whose priorities derive from a separate hierarchy. The object is to compose priorities for the elements of a system with respect to each criterion by examining the reducibility and primitivity characteristics of a column stochastic matrix which represents the interactions of the components of the system and then synthesize the results obtained for each criterion over the entire set of criteria by appropriate weighting with the priorities of each.
This paper contains a first attempt to axiomatize the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The set of axioms corresponding to hierarchic structures are a special case of axioms dealing with the general case of systems with feedback which are under study. The axioms given here are followed by theorems, several of which have already appeared in the literature.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field:
ID - 52
The Process of Cognition
- Blumenthal
- L Arthur
References (11 Blumenthal, Arthur L., The Process of Cognition, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1977.