Multi-criteria decision-making using interval-valued hesitant fuzzy QUALIFLEX methods based on a likelihood-based comparison approach

QUALIFLEX is a very efficient outranking method to handle multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) involving cardinal and ordinal preference information. Based on a likelihood-based comparison approach, this paper develops two interval-valued hesitant fuzzy QUALIFLEX outranking methods to handle MCDM problems within the interval-valued hesitant fuzzy context. First, we define the likelihoods of interval-valued hesitant fuzzy preference relations that compare two interval-valued hesitant fuzzy elements (IVHFEs). Then, we propose the concepts of the concordance/discordance index, the weighted concordance/discordance index and the comprehensive concordance/discordance index. Moreover, an interval-valued hesitant fuzzy QUALIFLEX model is developed to solve MCDM problems where the evaluative ratings of the alternatives and the weights of the criteria take the form of IVHFEs. Additionally, this paper propounds another likelihood-based interval-valued hesitant fuzzy QUALIFLEX method to accommodate the IVHFEs’ evaluative ratings of alternatives and non-fuzzy criterion weights with incomplete information. Finally, a numerical example concerning the selection of green suppliers is provided to demonstrate the practicability of the proposed methods, and a comparison analysis is given to illustrate the advantages of the proposed methods.

     

Multiple attribute group decision-making methods with unknown weights in intuitionistic fuzzy setting and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy setting

To better solve the corresponding multiple attribute group decision-making problem with unknown weights, multiple attribute group decision-making methods with completely unknown weights of decision-makers and incompletely known weights of attributes are proposed in intuitionistic fuzzy setting and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy setting. In the group decision-making method, two weight models are proposed based on the score function to determine the weights of both experts and attributes from the intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices and the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices. Then, overall evaluation formulas of weighted scores for each alternative are introduced in the intuitionistic fuzzy setting and the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy setting to obtain the ranking order of alternatives and the most desirable one(s). Finally, two numerical examples demonstrate the applicability and benefit of the proposed methods.     

A simulated annealing-based permutation method and experimental analysis for multiple criteria decision analysis with interval type-2 fuzzy sets

The aim of this paper is to develop a simulated annealing-based permutation method for multiple criteria decision analysis within the environment of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The outranking methodology constitutes one of the most fruitful approaches in multiple criteria decision making and has been applied in numerous real-world problems. The permutation method is a classical outranking model, which generalizes Jacquet–Lagreze's permutation method and is based on a pairwise criterion comparison of the alternatives. Because modeling of the uncertainty in the decision-making process becomes increasingly important, an extension to the interval type-2 fuzzy environment is a useful generalization of the permutation method and is appropriate for handling uncertain and imprecise information in practical decision-making situations. This paper produces a signed-distance-based comparison among the comprehensive rankings of alternatives for concordance and discordance analyses. An integrated nonlinear programming model is constructed for estimation of the criterion weights and the optimal ranking order of the alternatives under incomplete preference information. To enhance the implementation efficiency, a simulated annealing-based permutation method and its meta-heuristic algorithm are developed to produce a polynomial time solution for the total completion time problem. Furthermore, computational experiments with notably large amounts of simulation data are conducted to test the solution approach and validate the correctness of the approximate solution compared with the optimal all-permutation-based result.     

Interval-valued fuzzy permutation method and experimental analysis on cardinal and ordinal evaluations

This paper presents interval-valued fuzzy permutation (IVFP) methods for solving multiattribute decision making problems based on interval-valued fuzzy sets. First, we evaluate alternatives according to the achievement levels of attributes, which admits cardinal or ordinal representation. The relative importance of each attribute can also be measured by interval or scalar data. Next, we identify the concordance, midrange concordance, weak concordance, discordance, midrange discordance and weak discordance sets for each ordering. The proposed method consists of testing each possible ranking of the alternatives against all others. The evaluation value of each permutation can be computed either by cardinal weights or by solving programming problems. Then, we choose the permutation with the maximum evaluation value, and the optimal ranking order of alternatives can be obtained. An experimental analysis of IVFP rankings given cardinal and ordinal evaluations is conducted with discussions on consistency rates, contradiction rates, inversion rates, and average Spearman correlation coefficients.     

Generalized Dice measures for multiple attribute decision making under intuitionistic and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environments

This paper proposes Dice measures of intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) and generalized Dice measures of IFSs and IVIFSs, and then indicates the relations of the generalized Dice measures, Dice measures, and projection measures (asymmetric measures) of IFSs and IVIFSs. Furthermore, we develop the generalized Dice measures-based multiple attribute decision-making methods with intuitionistic and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information. Through the weighted generalized Dice measures between each alternative and the ideal solution (ideal alternative) according to some parameter value selected by decision makers’ preference, all the alternatives can be ranked and the best one can be chosen as well. Finally, an actual example about the selection of manufacturing schemes is provided to demonstrate the applications of the proposed decision-making methods under intuitionistic and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environments, and then, a comparison analysis is conducted between the developed approach and other existing methods to verify the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method.

     

The inclusion-based TOPSIS method with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets for multiple criteria group decision making

The technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is a well-known compromising method for multiple criteria decision analysis. This paper develops an extended TOPSIS method with an inclusion comparison approach for addressing multiple criteria group decision-making problems in the framework of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. Considering the relative agreement degrees and the importance weights of multiple decision makers, this paper presents a modified hybrid averaging method with an inclusion-based ordered weighted averaging operation for forming a collective decision environment. Based on the main structure of the TOPSIS method, this paper utilizes the concept of inclusion comparison possibilities to propose a new index for an inclusion-based closeness coefficient for ranking the alternatives. Additionally, two optimization models are established to determine the criterion weights for addressing situations in which the preference information is completely unknown or incompletely known. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods are illustrated by a medical group decision-making problem.     

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.     

Extension of the ELECTRE method based on interval-valued fuzzy sets

Decision-making is the process of finding the best option among the feasible alternatives. In classical multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, the ratings and the weights of the criteria are known precisely. However, if decision makers cannot reach an agreement on the method of defining linguistic variables based on the fuzzy sets, the interval-valued fuzzy set theory can provide a more accurate modeling. In this paper, the interval-valued fuzzy ELECTRE method is presented aiming at solving MCDM problems in which the weights of criteria are unequal, using interval-valued fuzzy set concepts. For the purpose of proving the validity of the proposed model, we present a numerical example and build a practical maintenance strategy selection problem.     

An interval type-2 fuzzy PROMETHEE method using a likelihood-based outranking comparison approach

Based on the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE), the purpose of this paper is to develop a new multiple criteria decision-making method that uses the approach of likelihood-based outranking comparisons within the environment of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Uncertain and imprecise assessment of information often occurs in multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The theory of interval type-2 fuzzy sets is useful and convenient for modeling impressions and quantifying the ambiguous nature of subjective judgments. Using the approach of likelihood-based outranking comparisons, this paper presents an interval type-2 fuzzy PROMETHEE method designed to address MCDA problems based on interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy (IT2TrF) numbers. This paper introduces the concepts of lower and upper likelihoods for acquiring the likelihood of an IT2TrF binary relationship and defines a likelihood-based outranking index to develop certain likelihood-based preference functions that correspond to several generalized criteria. The concept of comprehensive preference measures is proposed to determine IT2TrF exiting, entering, and net flows in the valued outranking relationships. In addition, this work establishes the concepts of a comprehensive outranking index, a comprehensive outranked index, and a comprehensive dominance index to induce partial and total preorders for the purpose of acquiring partial ranking and complete ranking, respectively, of the alternative actions. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed method are illustrated with two practical applications to the problem of landfill site selection and a car evaluation problem. Finally, a comparison with other relevant methods is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

区间值模糊随机多准则决策方法

针对不完全信息的区间值模糊随机多准则决策问题,提出了两种求解方法。第一种方法利用离差最大化构建区间参数线性规划,通过区间数运算法则和定位规划求得最优准则权重向量、状态集结值区间决策矩阵与期望值区间决策矩阵,根据决策者风险偏好水平得到各方案的期望集结值从而确定排序。第二种方法将区间值模糊数决策矩阵转化为直觉模糊数决策矩阵,利用不完全的准则权重,通过规划模型求解,获取各方案在各自然状态下的加权记分函数值与加权精确函数值的区间,利用不完全的状态概率,得到各方案的记分函数期望值与精确函数期望值的区间,根据决策者风险偏好水平,求得各方案的记分函数与精确函数的期望集结值,进而确定方案的排序结果。算例分析验证了两种方法的有效性和可行性。     

用区间直觉模糊集方法对属性权重未知的群求解其多属性决策

本文首先提出群区间直觉模糊有序加权几何(groupinterval-valuedintuitionistic fuzzy orderedweighted geometric,GIVIFOWG)算子和群区间直觉模糊有序加权平均(group interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy ordered weighted averaging,GIVIFOWA)算子.利用GIVIFOWG算子或GIVIFOWA算子聚集群的决策矩阵以获得方案在属性上的综合区间直觉模糊决策矩阵(collectiveinterval-valuedintuitionistic fuzzy decision-matrix,CIVIFDM).然后定义了一个考虑犹豫度的区间直觉模糊熵(interval-valuedintuitionistic fuzzyentropy,IVIFE);通过熵衡量每个属性所含的信息来求解属性权重.最后,提出基于可能度的接近理想解的区间排序法(interval technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution,ITOPSIS)和区间得分函数法.在ITOPSIS法中,依据区间距离公式计算候选方案和理想方案的属性加权区间距离,进而采用ITOPSIS准则对各方案进行排序;在区间得分函数法中,算出CIVIFDM中各方案的得分值以及精确值,然后利用区间得分准则对各方案进行排序.实验结果验证了决策方法的有效性和可行性.     

A new preference scale mcdm method based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets and the analytic hierarchy process

The intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IF-AHP), in which intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are utilized in defining decision makers’ linguistic judgment, has been used to solve various multi-criteria decision-making problems. Previous theories have suggested that interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IVIFN) with hesitation degree can act as alternative fuzzy numbers that can handle vagueness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a new preference scale in the framework of the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IVIF-AHP). The comparison matrix judgment is expressed in IVIFN with degree of hesitation. The proposed new preference scale concurrently considers the membership function, the non-membership function and the degree of hesitation of IVIFN. To define the weight entropy of the aggregated matrix of IVIFN, a modified interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging is proposed, by considering the interval number of the hesitation degree. Three multi-criteria decision-making problems are used to test the proposed method. A comparison of the results is also presented to check the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the ranking order of the proposed method is slightly different from that of the other two methods because of the inclusion of the hesitation degree in defining the preference scale.     

Multi-criteria decision-making method based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets

Out of several generalizations of fuzzy set theory for various objectives, the notions introduced by Atanassov, 1983, Atanassov and Gargov, 1989 in defining intuitionistic fuzzy sets and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets are interesting and very useful in modeling real life problems. Ranking of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets plays a vital role in decision-making, data analysis, artificial intelligence and socioeconomic system and it was studied in Xu, 2007c, Xu and Chen, 2007a, Ye, 2009. In this paper a new method for ranking interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets has been introduced and studied. The method is illustrated by numerical examples and compared with other methods. And then a new method for handling multi-criteria fuzzy decision-making problems based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets is presented in which criterion values for alternatives are interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. The method proposed here can provide a useful way to efficiently help the decision-maker to make his decision. An illustrative example is given to verify the developed approach and to demonstrate its practicality and effectiveness.     

A projection-based compromising method for multiple criteria decision analysis with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information

The purpose of this paper is to develop a projection-based compromising method for addressing multiple criteria decision-making problems based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. The concept of projections considers not only the distance but also the included angle between evaluative ratings of alternative actions with respect to a criterion. In the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy context, this paper determines the respective projections of the evaluative ratings of each alternative on the positive-ideal and negative-ideal solutions and explores several essential properties. Next, this paper introduces the concepts of projection-based compromising indices and comprehensive compromising indices and further investigates relevant theorems for supporting the usefulness of these indices. Additionally, this paper proposes the projection-based comparative index and the comprehensive comparative index to serve as benchmark values for the comparison purpose. The improvement percentage of the comprehensive compromising value is acquired to determine the priority order of the alternatives, including the complete ranking order and the approval status for each alternative. The feasibility and the applicability of the proposed method are validated with an application problem of watershed site selection. Finally, several comparative analyses are conducted to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method over other relevant compromising decision-making methods.     

基于区间直觉模糊数的双向投影决策模型

研究了权重不完全确定,评价信息为区间直觉模糊数的多属性决策问题。提出了方案与理想方案、临界方案形成的向量表达方式,建立了针对区间直觉模糊信息的向量投影测度方法;构建了基于Jaynes最大熵原理和方案公平竞争下的非线性规划属性权重确定模型;提出了基于理想方案与临界方案的贴近度测算公式,以此对方案进行排序。通过算例对比分析说明了该方法的有效性和可行性。     

Fuzzy multicriteria decision making method based on the improved accuracy function for interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets

A new accuracy function for the theory of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set, which overcomes some difficulties arising in the existing methods for determining rank of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, is proposed by taking into account the hesitancy degree of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. By comparing it with several proposed accuracy functions, the necessity and efficiency of our accuracy function are provided by giving related examples. A fuzzy multicriteria decision making method is established to select the best alternative in multicriteria decision making process which is taken as interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set of criterion values for alternatives. While aggregating the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information corresponding to each alternative, we utilize the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted aggregation operators. Then the accuracy degree of the aggregated interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information is computed via the new proposed accuracy function. Thus, we can rank all the alternatives according to the accuracy function and choose the optimal one(s). Finally, an illustrative example is given to demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

区间直觉模糊信息下的双向投影决策模型

研究权重完全未知、评价信息为区间直觉模糊数的多准则决策问题. 考虑犹豫度影响, 给出备选方案与正理想方案、负理想方案形成的向量表达方式, 提出一种针对区间直觉模糊信息的向量投影测度方法; 构建基于方案投影总偏差最小的非线性规划准则权重确定模型; 给出基于方案投影的相对贴近度测算公式, 并以此对方案进行排序. 最后通过算例对比分析表明了所提出方法的有效性和可行性.

     

基于IITFN输入的复杂系统关联MAGDM方法

区间直觉梯形模糊数（Interval-valued intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy number,IITFN）是刻画复杂系统不确定性的有效工具. 基于进一步完善的IITFN 运算规则,讨论其局部封闭性. 由此定义IITFN 几何Bonferroni 平均算子,并验证该算子的相关性质. 针对决策者及属性之间均存在关联作用且权重均未知的多属性群决策（Multi-attribute group decision making,MAGDM）问题,提出基于前景混合区间直觉梯形几何 Bonferroni （Prospect hybrid interval-valued intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy geometric Bonferroni,PHIITFGB）平均算子 的关联多属性群决策方法. 该方法首先通过依次定义IITFN 的前景效应、前景价值函数和前景价值,获取前景价值矩阵;其次,将前景价值矩阵转化为前景记分函数矩阵,并综合运用基于灰关联深度系数的客观属性权重极大 熵模型和基于2-可加模糊测度与Choquet 积分联合的决策者权重确定模型,获取决策者权重及属性权重;再次,利 用PHIITFGB 算子集结各决策者的方案评估信息,结合决策者权重即可获取相应于各方案的综合前景价值;最后,计算综合前景记分价值函数,基于IITFN 的序关系判别准则确定方案排序. 案例验证决策方法的有效性和可行性.     

基于区间直觉模糊集的多准则决策方法

研究基于区间直觉模糊集的多准则决策方法.首先定义了区间直觉模糊点算子,并讨论了其性质;然后对区间直觉模糊集定义了一系列得分函数,并给出两种基于区间直觉模糊集的多准则决策方法.将该方法应用于区间直觉模糊集多准则决策问题,所得结果推广了有关直觉模糊集的相关结果.     

Application of correlation coefficient to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy multiple attribute decision-making with incomplete weight information

With respect to multiple attribute decision-making problems with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information, some operational laws of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, correlation and correlation coefficient of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets are introduced. An optimization model based on the negative ideal solution and max-min operator, by which the attribute weights can be determined, is established. We utilize the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging operator proposed by Xu (Control Decis 22(2):215–219, 2007) to aggregate the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy information corresponding to each alternative, and then rank the alternatives and select the most desirable one(s) according to the correlation coefficient. Finally, an illustrative example is given to verify the developed approach and to demonstrate its practicality and effectiveness.