Interval multiplicative transitivity for consistency, missing values and priority weights of interval fuzzy preference relations

In this paper, the concept of multiplicative transitivity of a fuzzy preference relation, as defined by Tanino [T. Tanino, Fuzzy preference orderings in group decision-making, Fuzzy Sets and Systems 12 (1984) 117-131], is extended to discover whether an interval fuzzy preference relation is consistent or not, and to derive the priority vector of a consistent interval fuzzy preference relation. We achieve this by introducing the concept of interval multiplicative transitivity of an interval fuzzy preference relation and show that, by solving numerical examples, the test of consistency and the weights derived by the simple formulas based on the interval multiplicative transitivity produce the same results as those of linear programming models proposed by Xu and Chen [Z.S. Xu, J. Chen, Some models for deriving the priority weights from interval fuzzy preference relations, European Journal of Operational Research 184 (2008) 266-280]. In addition, by taking advantage of interval multiplicative transitivity of an interval fuzzy preference relation, we put forward two approaches to estimate missing value(s) of an incomplete interval fuzzy preference relation, and present numerical examples to illustrate these two approaches.     

Consistency test and weight generation for additive interval fuzzy preference relations

Some simple yet pragmatic methods of consistency test are developed to check whether an interval fuzzy preference relation is consistent. Based on the definition of additive consistent fuzzy preference relations proposed by Tanino (Fuzzy Sets Syst 12:117–131, 1984), a study is carried out to examine the correspondence between the element and weight vector of a fuzzy preference relation. Then, a revised approach is proposed to obtain priority weights from a fuzzy preference relation. A revised definition is put forward for additive consistent interval fuzzy preference relations. Subsequently, linear programming models are established to generate interval priority weights for additive interval fuzzy preference relations. A practical procedure is proposed to solve group decision problems with additive interval fuzzy preference relations. Theoretic analysis and numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed methods are more accurate than those in Xu and Chen (Eur J Oper Res 184:266–280, 2008b).     

乘型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系

毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系(PFPR)是直觉模糊偏好关系的推广,也是毕达哥拉斯模糊集的重要研究领域.相对于其他模糊偏好关系而言,毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系在表达决策者的模糊偏好时更加灵活有力.在乘型一致性区间模糊偏好关系和乘型一致性直觉模糊偏好关系研究成果的启发下,定义毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的乘型一致性,并提出利用毕达哥拉斯模糊权重向量构造乘型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的公式.以给定的毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系与构造的乘型一致性毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的偏差最小为目标函数建立并求解优化模型,从而获取毕达哥拉斯模糊偏好关系的标准化权重向量,为方案排序提供一种可行的方法.计算实例分析表明,所提出方法是可行有效的.     

Incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations

The aim of this paper is to investigate decision making problems with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference information, in which the preferences provided by the decision maker over alternatives are incomplete or uncertain. We define some new preference relations, including additive consistent incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation, multiplicative consistent incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation and acceptable incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation. Based on the arithmetic average and the geometric mean, respectively, we give two procedures for extending the acceptable incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations to the complete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations. Then, by using the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy averaging operator or the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy geometric operator, an approach is given to decision making based on the incomplete interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation, and the developed approach is applied to a practical problem. It is worth pointing out that if the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation is reduced to the real-valued intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation, then all the above results are also reduced to the counterparts, which can be applied to solve the decision making problems with incomplete intuitionistic fuzzy preference information.     

A decision support model for group decision making with intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic preferences relations

As a new preference structure, the intuitionistic fuzzy linguistic preference relation (IFLPR) was introduced to efficiently cope with situations in which the membership degree and non-membership degree are represented as linguistic terms. For group decision making (GDM) problems with IFLPRs, two significant and challenging issues are individual consistency and group consensus before deriving the reliable priority weights of alternatives. In this paper, a novel decision support model is investigated to simultaneously deal with the individual consistency and group consensus for GDM with IFLPRs. First, the concepts of multiplicative consistency and weak transitivity for IFLPRs are introduced and followed by a discussion of their desirable properties. Then, a transformation approach is developed to convert the normalized intuitionistic fuzzy priority weights into multiplicative consistent IFLPR. Based on the distance of IFLPRs, the consistency index, individual consensus degree and group consensus degree for IFLPRs are further defined. In addition, two convergent automatic iterative algorithms are proposed in the investigated decision support model. The first algorithm is utilized to convert an unacceptable multiplicative consistent IFLPR to an acceptable one. The second algorithm can assist the group decision makers to achieve a predefined consensus level. The main characteristic of the investigated decision support model is that it guarantees each IFLPR is still acceptable multiplicative consistent when the predefined consensus level is achieved. Finally, several numerical examples are provided, and comparative analyses with existing approaches are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the investigated model.

     

Additive consistency-based priority-generating method of q-rung orthopair fuzzy preference relation

The q-rung orthopair fuzzy set, whose membership function and nonmembership function belong to the interval [0,1], is more powerful than both intuitionistic fuzzy set and Pythagorean fuzzy set in expressing imprecise information of decision-makers. The aim of this paper is to investigate a method to determine the priority weights from individual or group q-rung orthopair fuzzy preference relations (q-ROFPRs). To do so, firstly, a new definition of additively consistent q-ROFPR is presented based on the preference relation of alternatives given by decision-makers. Afterward, according to individual and group q-ROFPRs, two kinds of goal programming models are proposed, respectively, to generate the q-rung orthopair fuzzy priority weight vector of the given q-ROFPR(s). Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of the method proposed in this paper.     

A new procedure for hesitant multiplicative preference relations

Hesitant information is powerful and flexible to denote decision maker's judgments. Hesitant multiplicative preference relations (HMPRs) own the advantages of preference relations and hesitant fuzzy sets that permit the decision makers (DMs) to compare objects by using several values. Just as other types of preference relations, how to derive the priority weight vector is a crucial step. According to the principle of the consistency concept for multiplicative preference relations, this paper first introduces a new consistency concept for HMPRs, which avoids the disadvantages of the previous ones. Using the new concept, models to judge the consistency of HMPRs are built. Then, a consistency probability-based method to derive the hesitant fuzzy priority weight vector from HMPRs is offered. Considering the incomplete case, consistency-based programming models to determine the missing values are constructed. To address group decision making with HMPRs, a distance measure is defined to determine the weights of the DMs, and a consensus index is proposed. Then, a consistency and consensus-based group decision-making algorithm is performed. Finally, two practical examples, an investment problem and a water conservancy problem are offered to illustrate the feasibility and efficiency of the new algorithm. Comparison analysis from the numerical and theoretical aspects verifies the potential application of the new procedure.     

Goal programming approaches to obtain the priority vectors from the intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations

The priority method on the intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation (IFPR) is proposed. In order to avoid the operational difficulty in dealing with the intuitionistic sets, the equivalent interval matrices of the IFPR are introduced. Based on the multiplicative consistent definition of the fuzzy interval preference relation (FIPR), the goal programming models for deriving the priority vector of the IFPR have been put forward by analyzing the relation between the IFNPR and the IFPR. This goal programming method is generalized to the case of group decision making with the weight information defined by each DM. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed models.     

Deriving the priority weights from hesitant multiplicative preference relations in group decision making

In this paper, we investigate the deviation of the priority weights from hesitant multiplicative preference relations (HMPRs) in group decision-making environments. As basic elements of HMPRs, hesitant multiplicative elements (HMEs) usually have different numbers of possible values. To correctly compute or compare HMEs, there are two principles to normalize them, i.e., the α-normalization and the β-normalization. Based on the α-normalization, we develop a new goal programming model to derive the priority weights from HMPRs in group decision-making environments. Based on the β-normalization, a consistent HMPR and an acceptably consistent HMPR are defined, and their desired properties are studied. A convex combination method is then developed to obtain interval weights from an acceptably consistent HMPR. This approach is further extended to group decision-making situations in which the experts evaluate their preferences as several HMPRs. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the validity and applicability of the proposed models.     

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.     

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.     

Group consensus algorithms based on preference relations

In many group decision-making situations, decision makers’ preferences for alternatives are expressed in preference relations (including fuzzy preference relations and multiplicative preference relations). An important step in the process of aggregating preference relations, is to determine the importance weight of each preference relation. In this paper, we develop a number of goal programming models and quadratic programming models based on the idea of maximizing group consensus. Our models can be used to derive the importance weights of fuzzy preference relations and multiplicative preference relations. We further develop iterative algorithms for reaching acceptable levels of consensus in group decision making based on fuzzy preference relations or multiplicative preference relations. Finally, we include an illustrative example.     

Multiple-attribute group decision making with different formats of preference information on attributes.

Interval utility values, interval fuzzy preference relations, and interval multiplicative preference relations are three common uncertain-preference formats used by decision-makers to provide their preference information in the process of decision making under fuzziness. This paper is devoted in investigating multiple-attribute group-decision-making problems where the attribute values are not precisely known but the value ranges can be obtained, and the decision-makers provide their preference information over attributes by three different uncertain-preference formats i.e., 1) interval utility values; 2) interval fuzzy preference relations; and 3) interval multiplicative preference relations. We first utilize some functions to normalize the uncertain decision matrix and then transform it into an expected decision matrix. We establish a goal-programming model to integrate the expected decision matrix and all three different uncertain-preference formats from which the attribute weights and the overall attribute values of alternatives can be obtained. Then, we use the derived overall attribute values to get the ranking of the given alternatives and to select the best one(s). The model not only can reflect both the subjective considerations of all decision-makers and the objective information but also can avoid losing and distorting the given objective and subjective decision information in the process of information integration. Furthermore, we establish some models to solve the multiple-attribute group-decision-making problems with three different preference formats: 1) utility values; 2) fuzzy preference relations; and 3) multiplicative preference relations. Finally, we illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the developed models with two practical examples.     

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.     

Aggregating information and ranking alternatives in decision making with intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations

The intuitionistic multiplicative preference relation (IMPR), whose all elements are measured by an unsymmetrical scale (Saaty's 1–9 scale) instead of the symmetrical scale in the intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation (IFPR), is suitable for describing the asymmetric preference information. In decision making process, one of the most crucial issues is how to rank alternatives from the given preference relation constructed by the decision maker. In this paper, two approaches are proposed for deriving the ranking orders of the alternatives from two different angles. To do it, a transformation mechanism is developed to transform an IMPR to a corresponding IFPR, and then all alternatives depicted by the given IMPR can be ranked via solving a familiar IFPR. In addition, the generalized intuitionistic multiplicative ordered weighted averaging (GIMOWA) and the geometric (GIMOWG) operators are given by taking fully account of the different weights associated with the particular ordered positions and their desirable properties are also discussed. After that, through a practical example, the proposed approaches are compared with the previous work and a numerical analysis of the results is also given.     

Group decision making based on incomplete multiplicative and fuzzy preference relations

The main aim of this paper is to investigate the group decision making on incomplete multiplicative and fuzzy preference relations without the requirement of satisfying reciprocity property. This paper introduces a new characterization of the multiplicative consistency condition, based on which a method to estimate unknown preference values in an incomplete multiplicative preference relation is proposed. Apart from the multiplicative consistency property among three known preference values, the method proposed also takes the multiplicative consistency property among more than three values into account. In addition, two models for group decision making with incomplete multiplicative preference relations and incomplete fuzzy preference relations are presented, respectively. Some properties of the collective preference relation are further discussed. Numerical examples are provided to make a discussion and comparison with other similar methods.     

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.     

Incomplete Fuzzy Preference Matrix and Its Application to Ranking of Alternatives

A fuzzy preference matrix is the result of pairwise comparison of a powerful method in multicriteria optimization. When comparing two elements, a decision maker assigns the value between 0 and 1 to any pair of alternatives representing the element of the fuzzy preference matrix. Here, we investigate relations between transitivity and consistency of fuzzy preference matrices and multiplicative preference ones. The obtained results are applied to situations where some elements of the fuzzy preference matrix are missing. We propose a new method for completing fuzzy matrix with missing elements called the extension of the fuzzy preference matrix. We investigate some important particular case of the fuzzy preference matrix with missing elements. Consequently, by the eigenvector of the transformed matrix we obtain the corresponding priority vector. Illustrative numerical examples are supplemented.     

A goal programming approach to group decision-making with three formats of incomplete preference relations

This paper proposes a goal programming approach to solve the group decision-making problem where the preference information about alternatives provided by decision makers can be represented in three formats, i.e., incomplete multiplicative preference relations, incomplete fuzzy preference relations and incomplete linguistic preference relations. In the approach, a transformation function is introduced to transform the incomplete linguistic preference relation into an incomplete fuzzy preference relation. To narrow the gap between the collective opinion and each decision maker’s opinion, a liner goal programming model is constructed to integrate the three different formats of incomplete preference relations and to compute the collective ranking values of the alternatives. Thus, the ranking order of alternatives or selection of the most desirable alternative(s) is obtained directly according to the computed collective ranking values. A numerical example is also used to illustrate the feasibility and the applicability of the proposed approach.     

Multi-criteria group decision making with incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relations

In order to simulate the hesitancy and uncertainty associated with impression or vagueness, a decision maker may give her/his judgments by means of hesitant fuzzy preference relations in the process of decision making. The study of their consistency becomes a very important aspect to avoid a misleading solution. This paper defines the concept of additive consistent hesitant fuzzy preference relations. The characterizations of additive consistent hesitant fuzzy preference relations are studied in detail. Owing to the limitations of the experts’ professional knowledge and experience, the provided preferences in a hesitant fuzzy preference relation are usually incomplete. Consequently, this paper introduces the concepts of incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relation, acceptable incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relation, and additive consistent incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relation. Then, two estimation procedures are developed to estimate the missing information in an expert's incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relation. The first procedure is used to construct an additive consistent hesitant fuzzy preference relation from the lowest possible number, (n − 1), of pairwise comparisons. The second one is designed for the estimation of missing elements of the acceptable incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relations with more known judgments. Moreover, an algorithm is given to solve the multi-criteria group decision making problem with incomplete hesitant fuzzy preference relations. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the solution processes of the developed algorithm and to verify its effectiveness and practicality.