Structuring problems for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in practice: A literature review of method combinations

Abstract

Structuring problems for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) has attracted increasing attention over the past 20 years from both a conceptual and a practical perspective. This is reflected in a significant growth in the number of published applications which use a formal approach to problem structuring in combination with an analytic method for multi-criteria analysis. The problem structuring approaches (PSMs) include general methodologies such as Checkland's Soft Systems Method (SSM), Eden and Ackermann's Strategic Options Design and Analysis (SODA) and other methods that focus on a particular aspect. We carried out a literature review that covers eight PSMs (Cognitive and Causal Maps, DPSIR, Scenario Planning, SSM, Stakeholder Analysis, Strategic Choice Approach, SODA and SWOT) and seven MCDA methods (AHP, ANP, ELECTRE, MAUT, MAVT, PROMETHEE and TOPSIS). We first identified and analysed 333 articles published during 2000-2015, then selected 68 articles covering all PSM-MCDA combinations, which were studied in detail to understand the associated processes, benefits and challenges. The three PSMs most commonly combined with MCDA are SWOT, Scenario Planning and DPSIR. AHP was by far the most commonly applied MCDA method. Combining PSMs with MCDA produces a richer view of the decision situation and enables more effective support for different phases of the decision-making process. Some limitations and challenges in combining PSMs and MCDA are also identified, most importantly relating to building a value tree and assigning criteria weights.

Application of Multi‐Attribute Value Theory to Improve Cargo Delivery Planning in Disaster Aftermath

“…Other MCDA methods have been recently applied to facility-location decisions faced by humanitarian logisticians, as the hybrid AHP-based heuristic presented in the works of [20,24,25], without documenting the processes used for alternative generation and criteria definition. As far as MCDA methodologies go, to the authors' knowledge this is the first work to combine VFT with SMARTER and AIDA and, most importantly, to cover all phases of MCDA (see, e.g., literature reviews [14,17,26]). Hence, our contribution to the MCDA literature is twofold: we expand the MAVT's applicable fields, as to the best of our knowledge no earlier application to aid distribution has been made; and we propose a combination of problem-structuring and MCDA techniques that are especially suited for policy designing problems, covering all phases of MCDA modeling.…”

“…Controversially, MCDA methodologies do not cover all steps for defining these three aspects of decisionmaking, perhaps because problem-structuring had not been given much attention until recently. In fact, in a recent literature review [14], problem-structuring methods are separated from MCDA methodologies, although the authors mention a few holistic methodologies, like Keeney's [11] Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) approach.…”

MOORA under Pythagorean Fuzzy Set for Multiple Criteria Decision Making

“…Nevertheless, these methods by themselves in addition to the hybrids with fuzzy sets still have some drawbacks and there is an imperative demand to present new MCDM methods [3,[19][20][21].…”

Wastewater treatment systems selection inside watersheds by using multiobjective analysis

“…The multiobjective analysis constitutes a set of techniques that aid the decision-making process, taking into account the influential factors complexity and society interests (SOUZA; CORDEIRO; SILVA, 2009). The different perspectives, values and preferences of those responsible and impacted by the decisions are important factors that add complexity to the decision-making process (MARTTUNEN; LIENERT; BELTON, 2017).…”

“…Based on different principles and applying different procedures for punctuation, weighting and aggregation, many multiobjective analysis methods were developed (MARTTUNEN; LIENERT; BELTON, 2017). In general, in environmental problems, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Analytic Network Process (ANP), Elimination Et Choix Traduisant la Realité, (ELECTRE), Multi-Attribute Value Theory / Analysis (MAVT), Multi -Attribute Utility Theory / Analysis (MAUT), Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE), and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) (HUANG; KEISLER; LINKOV, 2011) are the most used methods.…”