Value functions and trade-offs associated with the analytic hierarchy process composition law
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Value functions and trade-offs associated with the analytic hierarchy process composition law
zbMATH Open document ID: 1176.90323
DOI: 10.1504/IJMOR.2009.022877
author: Marvin D. Troutt
author: Suresh K. Tadisina
author: Parag C. Pendharkar
published in: International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research
publication date: 2009-10-12T00:00:00Z
review text: Summary: We provide a fresh bridge between the original formulation of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the more classical theory of value functions. We focus on the hierarchic composition law (HCL) as a device for aggregation. Multi-attribute value functions can be similarly described. We derive a class of fundamental functional equations which relate the priorities construct of the AHP to a particular value function. It is therefore possible to associate a class of trade-off or indifference curves to the HCL by this technique. Our results indicate that the number of alternatives being compared in the AHP is the main cause of rank reversal. We show that different numbers of alternatives determine different trade-off curve systems, and hence necessarily, different value functions. Two classical cases of rank reversal, on account of alternative addition and deletion, respectively, are reexamined for illustration. The rank reversal can be resolved in both cases by this methodology. The results obtained here establish a link between the original AHP formulation using the HCL and multi-attribute value function theory, with promise of more positive mutual benefit between the topics in the future. In particular, the value function class associated with the HCL has a number of desirable features.
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 90B50
zbMATH DE Number: 5613386
zbMATH Keywords: AHP
zbMATH Keywords: analytic hierarchy process
zbMATH Keywords: functional equations
zbMATH Keywords: hierarchic composition law
zbMATH Keywords: mathematics
zbMATH Keywords: multi-criteria decision making
zbMATH Keywords: trade-offs
zbMATH Keywords: utility/preference
zbMATH Keywords: value functions
MaRDI profile type: MaRDI publication profile
full work available at URL: ijmor.2009.022877
OpenAlex ID: W2160183304
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5613386