On compatibility of uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations based on the linguistic COWGA

The aim of this work is to develop a new compatibility for the uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations and utilize it to determine the optimal weights of experts in the group decision making (GDM). First, the compatibility degree and compatibility index for the two multiplicative linguistic preference relations are proposed. Then, based on the linguistic continuous ordered weighted geometric averaging (LCOWGA) operator, some concepts of the compatibility degree and compatibility index for the two uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations are presented. We prove the property that the synthetic uncertain linguistic preference relation is of acceptable compatibility under the condition that the uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations given by experts are all of acceptable compatibility with the ideal uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relation, which provides a theoretic basis for the application of the uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations in GDM. Next, an optimal model is constructed to determine the weights of experts based on the criterion of minimizing the compatibility index in GDM. Moreover, an approach to GDM with uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations is developed, and finally, an application of the approach to supplier selection problem with uncertain multiplicative linguistic preference relations is pointed out.     

On compatibility of uncertain additive linguistic preference relations based on the linguistic COWA operator

We develop a new compatibility for the uncertain additive linguistic preference relations and study its properties which are very suitable to deal with group decision making (GDM) problems involving uncertain additive linguistic preference relations. Based on the linguistic continuous ordered weighted averaging (LCOWA) operator, we present some concepts of the compatibility degree and compatibility index for the two uncertain additive linguistic preference relations. Then, we study some desirable properties including the property that the synthetic uncertain linguistic preference relation is of acceptable compatibility under the condition that uncertain additive linguistic preference relations given by experts are all of acceptable compatibility with the ideal uncertain linguistic preference relation, which provides a theoretic basis for the application of the uncertain additive linguistic preference relations in GDM. In order to determine the weights of experts, we construct an optimal model based on the criterion of minimizing the compatibility index in GDM. Finally, we propose a new approach based on the compatibility index and the expected additive linguistic preference relation to GDM and develop an application of the optimal weights approach compared with the equal weights approach where we analyze a GDM regarding the evaluation of schools in a university.     

The induced continuous ordered weighted geometric operators and their application in group decision making

In [IEEE Trans. Syst., Man, Cybernet.––Part B 29 (1999) 141], a more general class of OWA operators called the induced ordered weighted averaging (IOWA) operators is developed. Later, Yager and Xu [Fuzzy Sets and Syst, 157 (2006) 1393–1402.] introduced the continuous ordered weighted geometric operator(COWG), which is suitable for individual decision making problems taking the form of interval multiplicative preference relation. The aim of this paper is to develop some induced continuous ordered weighted geometric (ICOWG) operators. In particular, we present the reliability induced COWG (R-ICOWG) operator, which applies the ordering of the argument values based upon the reliability of the information sources; and the relative consensus degree induced COWG (RCD-ICOWG) operator, which applies the ordering of the argument values based upon the relative consensus degree of the information sources. Some desirable properties of the ICOWG operators are studied, and then, the ICOWG operators are applied to group decision making with interval multiplicative preference relations.     

Power-Geometric Operators and Their Use in Group Decision Making

The power-average (PA) operator and the power-ordered-weighted-average (POWA) operator are the two nonlinear weighted-average aggregation tools whose weighting vectors depend on the input arguments. In this paper, we develop a power-geometric (PG) operator and its weighted form, which are on the basis of the PA operator and the geometric mean, and develop a power-ordered-geometric (POG) operator and a power-ordered-weighted-geometric (POWG) operator, which are on the basis of the POWA operator and the geometric mean, and study some of their properties. We also discuss the relationship between the PA and PG operators and the relationship between the POWA and POWG operators. Then, we extend the PG and POWG operators to uncertain environments, i.e., develop an uncertain PG (UPG) operator and its weighted form, and an uncertain power-ordered-weighted-geometric (UPOWG) operator to aggregate the input arguments taking the form of interval of numerical values. Furthermore, we utilize the weighted PG and POWG operators, respectively, to develop an approach to group decision making based on multiplicative preference relations and utilize the weighted UPG and UPOWG operators, respectively, to develop an approach to group decision making based on uncertain multiplicative preference relations. Finally, we apply both the developed approaches to broadband Internet-service selection.      

Induced ordered weighted geometric operators and their use in the aggregation of multiplicative preference relations

In this article, we introduce the induced ordered weighted geometric (IOWG) operator and its properties. This is a more general type of OWG operator, which is based on the induced ordered weighted averaging (IOWA) operator. We provide some IOWG operators to aggregate multiplicative preference relations in group decision‐making (GDM) problems. In particular, we present the importance IOWG (I‐IOWG) operator, which induces the ordering of the argument values based on the importance of the information sources; the consistency IOWG (C‐IOWG) operator, which induces the ordering of the argument values based on the consistency of the information sources; and the preference IOWG (P‐IOWG) operator, which induces the ordering of the argument values based on the relative preference values associated with each one of them. We also provide a procedure to deal with “ties” regarding the ordering induced by the application of one of these IOWG operators. This procedure consists of a sequential application of the aforementioned IOWG operators. Finally, we analyze the reciprocity and consistency properties of the collective multiplicative preference relations obtained using IOWG operators. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fuzzy linguistic induced OWA Minkowski distance operator and its application in group decision making

The Minkowski distance is a distance measure that generalizes a wide range of other distances such as the Euclidean and the Hamming distance. In this paper, we develop a new decision making model using induced ordered weighted averaging operators and the Minkowski distance of the fuzzy linguistic variables. Then, the authors introduce a new aggregation operator called the fuzzy linguistic induced ordered weighted averaging Minkowski distance (FLIOWAMD) operator by defining a fuzzy linguistic variable distance. It is an induced generalized aggregation operator that utilizes induced OWA operator, Minkowski distance measures and uncertain information represented as fuzzy linguistic variables. Some of its main properties and particular cases are studied. And a further generalization that uses quasi-arithmetic means also is presented. A method based on the FLIOWAMD operator for decision making is presented. At last, we end the paper with a numerical example of the new method.     

Compatibility of interval fuzzy preference relations with the COWA operator and its application to group decision making

We develop a new compatibility for the interval fuzzy preference relations based on the continuous ordered weighted averaging (COWA) operator and use it to determine the weights of experts in group decision making (GDM). We define some concepts of the compatibility degree and the compatibility index for the two interval fuzzy preference relations based on the COWA operator. We study some desirable properties of the compatibility index and investigate the relationship between the each expert’s interval fuzzy preference relation and the synthetic interval fuzzy preference relation. The prominent characteristic of the compatibility index based on the COWA operator is that it can deal with the compatibility of all the arguments by using a controlled parameter considering the attitude of decision maker rather than the compatibility of the simply two points in intervals. To determine the experts’ weights in the GDM with the interval fuzzy preference relations, we propose an optimal model based on the criterion of minimizing the compatibility index. In the end, we give a numerical example to develop the new approach to GDM with interval fuzzy preference relations.     

An approach to group decision making with heterogeneous incomplete uncertain preference relations

For practical group decision making problems, decision makers tend to provide heterogeneous uncertain preference relations due to the uncertainty of the decision environment and the difference of cultures and education backgrounds. Sometimes, decision makers may not have an in-depth knowledge of the problem to be solved and provide incomplete preference relations. In this paper, we focus on group decision making (GDM) problems with heterogeneous incomplete uncertain preference relations, including uncertain multiplicative preference relations, uncertain fuzzy preference relations, uncertain linguistic preference relations and intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations. To deal with such GDM problems, a decision analysis method is proposed. Based on the multiplicative consistency of uncertain preference relations, a bi-objective optimization model which aims to maximize both the group consensus and the individual consistency of each decision maker is established. By solving the optimization model, the priority weights of alternatives can be obtained. Finally, some illustrative examples are used to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A study of the origin and uses of the ordered weighted geometric operator in multicriteria decision making

The ordered weighted geometric (OWG) operator is an aggregation operator that is based on the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator and the geometric mean. Its application in multicriteria decision making (MCDM) under multiplicative preference relations has been presented. Some families of OWG operators have been defined. In this article, we present the origin of the OWG operator and we review its relationship to the OWA operator in MCDM models. We show a study of its use in multiplicative decision‐making models by providing the conditions under which reciprocity and consistency properties are maintained in the aggregation of multiplicative preference relations performed in the selection process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fuzzy Linguistic Induced Euclidean OWA Distance Operator and its Application in Group Linguistic Decision Making

In this paper, we develop a new method for group linguistic decision making, in which the attribute values take the form of fuzzy linguistic information, namely the fuzzy linguistic induced Euclidean ordered weighted averaging distance (FLIEOWAD) operator. This operator is an extension of the IOWA operator that utilizes induce OWA operator, Euclidean distance measures, and uncertain information represented as fuzzy linguistic variables. Then, some of its main properties by utilizing some operational laws of fuzzy linguistic variables are studied. Thus, a method based on the FLIEOWAD operator for decision making is presented. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Group decision making with linguistic preference relations with application to supplier selection

Linguistic preference relation is a useful tool for expressing preferences of decision makers in group decision making according to linguistic scales. But in the real decision problems, there usually exist interactive phenomena among the preference of decision makers, which makes it difficult to aggregate preference information by conventional additive aggregation operators. Thus, to approximate the human subjective preference evaluation process, it would be more suitable to apply non-additive measures tool without assuming additivity and independence. In this paper, based on λ-fuzzy measure, we consider dependence among subjective preference of decision makers to develop some new linguistic aggregation operators such as linguistic ordered geometric averaging operator and extended linguistic Choquet integral operator to aggregate the multiplicative linguistic preference relations and additive linguistic preference relations, respectively. Further, the procedure and algorithm of group decision making based on these new linguistic aggregation operators and linguistic preference relations are given. Finally, a supplier selection example is provided to illustrate the developed approaches.     

Ratio-based similarity analysis and consensus building for group decision making with interval reciprocal preference relations

Similarity analysis and preference information aggregation are two important issues for consensus building in group decision making with preference relations. Pairwise ratings in an interval reciprocal preference relation (IRPR) are usually regarded as interval-valued And-like representable cross ratios (i.e., interval-valued cross ratios for short) from the multiplicative perspective. In this paper, a ratio-based formula is introduced to measure similarity between a pair of interval-valued cross ratios, and its desirable properties are provided. We put forward ratio-based similarity measurements for IRPRs. An induced interval-valued cross ratio ordered weighted geometric (IIVCROWG) operator with interval additive reciprocity is developed to aggregate interval-valued cross ratio information, and some properties of the IIVCROWG operator are presented. The paper devises an importance degree induced IRPR ordered weighted geometric operator to fuse individual IRPRs into a group IRPR, and discusses the derivation of its associated weights. By employing ratio-based similarity measurements and IIVCROWG-based aggregation operators, a soft consensus model including a generation mechanism of feedback recommendation rules is further proposed to solve group decision making problems with IRPRs. Three numerical examples are examined to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the developed models.     

A fuzzy group decision making model with trapezoidal fuzzy preference relations based on compatibility measure and COWGA operator

This paper proposes a fuzzy group decision-making model based on a logarithm compatibility measure with multiplicative trapezoidal fuzzy preference relations (MTFPRs) based on a continuous ordered weighted geometric averaging (COWGA) operator. New concepts are presented to measure deviation between MTFPR and its expected fuzzy preference relation. Then, an iterative algorithm is developed to help individual MTFPR reach acceptable compatibility. To determine the weights of decision makers, an optimal model is constructed using group logarithm compatibility index COWGA operator. Finally, we illustrate an example to show how it works and compare it with the existing methods. The main advantages of the proposed approach are the following: (1) The COWGA operator makes decision making more flexible; (2) an iterative and convergent algorithm is proposed to improve the compatibility of MTFPR; (3) decision makers’ weights in group decision making are determined by an optimal model based on a logarithm compatibility measure.     

Consistency and consensus measures for linguistic preference relations based on distribution assessments

In this paper, we propose the concept of distribution assessments in a linguistic term set, and study the operational laws of linguistic distribution assessments. The weighted averaging operator and the ordered weighted averaging operator for linguistic distribution assessments are presented. We also develop the concept of distribution linguistic preference relations, whose elements are linguistic distribution assessments. Further, we study the consistency and consensus measures for group decision making based on distribution linguistic preference relations. Two desirable properties of the proposed measures are shown. A consensus model also has been developed to help decision makers improve the consensus level among distribution linguistic preference relations. Finally, illustrative numerical examples are given. The results in this paper provide a theoretic basis for the application of linguistic distribution assessments in group decision making.     

Linguistic continuous ordered weighted distance measure and its application to multiple attributes group decision making

This paper develops a new method for group decision making and introduces a linguistic continuous ordered weighted distance (LCOWD) measure. It is a new distance measure that combines the linguistic continuous ordered weighted averaging (LCOWA) operator with the ordered weighted distance (OWD) measure considering the risk attitude of decision maker. Moreover, it also can relieve the influence of extremely large or extremely small deviations on the aggregation results by assigning them smaller weights. These advantages make it suitable to deal with the situations where the input arguments are represented with uncertain linguistic information. Some of the main properties of the LCOWD measure and different particular cases are studied. The applicability of the new approach is also analyzed focusing on a group decision making problem.     

连续区间直觉乘法集结算子及其在群决策中的应用*

基于连续有序加权几何（C-OWG）算子提出了连续区间直觉乘法有序加权几何（C-IVIMOWG）算子。而后,基于C-IVIMOWG算子提出新的区间直觉乘法数序关系判断准则。为了集结区间直觉乘法数组,提出了加权连续区间直觉乘法有序加权几何（WC-IVIMOWG）算子,研究了其基本性质,并提出了基于WC-IVIMOWG算子与兼容测度的群决策方法。最后,通过实例分析来说明WC-IVIMOWG算子应用于群决策中的有效性和适用性。     

Compatibility measures and consensus models for group decision making with intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations

Compatibility is a very efficient tool for measuring the consensus level in group decision making (GDM) problems. The lack of acceptable compatibility can lead to unsatisfied or even incorrect results in GDM problems. Preference relations can be given in various forms, one of which called intuitionistic multiplicative preference relation is a new developed preference structure that uses an unsymmetrical scale (Saaty's 1–9 scale) to express the decision maker's preferences instead of the symmetrical scale in an intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation. This new preference relation can reflect our intuition more objectively. In this paper, we first develop some compatibility measures for intuitionistic multiplicative values and intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations in GDM. Their desirable properties are also studied in detail. Furthermore, based on compatibility measures, we further develop two different consensus models with respect to intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations for checking, reaching and improving the group consensus level. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of our measures and models.     

A consensus model for group decision making under trapezoidal fuzzy numbers environment

Natural linguistic terms can preferably express the opinions of decision makers in complicated decision environment. Group decision making with multiplicative trapezoidal fuzzy preference relations transforming from natural linguistic terms attracts the attention of researchers for its important research significant. The developed approach is based on consensus improving process by using a new similarity measure and a trapezoidal fuzzy power ordered weighted geometric averaging (TFPOWGA) operator. In order to introduce this approach, firstly, trapezoidal fuzzy power geometric averaging operator and TFPOWGA operator are presented to aggregate trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TFNs). Secondly, a new similarity measure for TFNs is introduced by combining centroids and areas of TFNs. We further propose a new consensus improving algorithm that consists of consensus measure and a dynamic feedback mechanism containing a multi-objective optimization model and some indirect rules. And then a selection stage is described to rank the alternatives. At last, an example is implemented to demonstrate effectiveness of the approach.

     

On compatibility of uncertain additive linguistic preference relations and its application in the group decision making

We develop a new compatibility for the uncertain additive linguistic preference relations and utilize it to determine the optimal weights of experts in the group decision making (GDM). Based on some operational laws for the uncertain additive linguistic preference labels, we propose some new concepts of the compatibility degree and acceptable compatibility index for the two uncertain additive linguistic preference relations. We also prove the properties that the synthetic preference relation is also of acceptable compatibility under the condition that additive linguistic preference relations provided by experts are all of acceptable compatibility with the specific linguistic preference relation, which provides a theoretic basis for the application of the uncertain additive linguistic preference relations in the GDM. Furthermore, we establish a mathematical model to obtain the weights of experts based on the criterion of minimizing the compatibility in the GDM, and we discuss the solution to the model. Finally, we give a numerical example to make comparative analysis on compatibility index using the optimal experts’ weights approach and the equal experts’ weights approach, which indicates that the model is feasible and effective.     

Group decision making based on multiple types of linguistic preference relations

In this paper, we investigate group decision making problems with multiple types of linguistic preference relations. The paper has two parts with similar structures. In the first part, we transform the uncertain additive linguistic preference relations into the expected additive linguistic preference relations, and present a procedure for group decision making based on multiple types of additive linguistic preference relations. By using the deviation measures between additive linguistic preference relations, we give some straightforward formulas to determine the weights of decision makers, and propose a method to reach consensus among the individual preferences and the group’s opinion. In the second part, we extend the above results to group decision making based on multiple types of multiplicative linguistic preference relations, and finally, a practical example is given to illustrate the application of the results.