Information fusion for intuitionistic fuzzy decision making: An overview

Intuitionistic fuzzy decision making is to find the suitable method for ranking alternatives based on the provided intuitionistic fuzzy information or some related attributes. To date, many studies have focused on intuitionistic fuzzy decision making problems and various decision making methodologies and approaches have been proposed. To provide a clear perspective on the information fusion for intuitionistic fuzzy decision making, this paper presents an overview on the existing intuitionistic fuzzy decision making theories and methods from the perspective of information fusion, involving the determination of attribute weights, the aggregation of intuitionistic fuzzy information and the ranking of alternatives. Some potential challenges in future research are meanwhile pointed out. In addition, we provide a survey of recent applications of the discussed theories and methods in various fields.     

An interactive method for dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making

This paper investigates the dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making (DIF-MAGDM) problems, in which all the attribute values provided by multiple decision makers (DMs) at different periods take the form of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs), and develops an interactive method to solve the DIF-MAGDM problems. The developed method first aggregates the individual intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices at different periods into an individual collective intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrix for each decision maker by using the dynamic intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging (DIFWA) operator, and then employs intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method to calculate the individual relative closeness coefficient of each alternative for each decision maker and obtain the individual ranking of alternatives. After doing so, the method utilizes the hybrid weighted averaging (HWA) operator to aggregate all the individual relative closeness coefficients into the collective relative closeness coefficient of each alternative and obtain the aggregate ranking of alternatives, by which the optimal alternative can be selected. In addition, the spearman correlation coefficient for both the aggregate ranking and individual ranking of alternatives is calculated to measure the consensus level of the group preferences. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the developed method.     

Multicriteria fuzzy decision making based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets

In this paper, we present a new method for multicriteria fuzzy decision making based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets, where interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values are used to represent evaluating values of the decision-maker with respect to alternatives. First, we propose a new method for ranking interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values. Based on the proposed fuzzy ranking method of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values, we propose a new method for multicriteria fuzzy decision making. The proposed multicriteria fuzzy decision making method outperforms Ye’s method (2009) due to the fact that the proposed method can overcome the drawback of Ye’s method (2009), where the drawback of Ye’s method is that it can not distinguish the ranking order between alternatives in some situations. The proposed method provides us with a useful way for dealing with multicriteria fuzzy decision making problems based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets.     

A possibility degree method for interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making

The ranking of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) is very important for the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision making. From the probability viewpoint, the possibility degree of comparison between two interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IVIFNs) is defined by using the notion of 2-dimensional random vector, and a new method is then developed to rank IVIFNs. Hereby the ordered weighted average operator and hybrid weighted average operator for IVIFNs are defined based on the Karnik–Mendel algorithms and employed to solve multi-attribute group decision making problems with IVIFNs. The individual overall attribute values of alternatives are obtained by using the weighted average operator for IVIFNs. By using the hybrid weighted average operator for IVIFNs, we can obtain the collective overall attribute values of alternatives, which are used to rank the alternatives. A numerical example is examined to illustrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method in this paper.     

A novel group decision making method with intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations for RFID technology selection

A more scientific decision making process for radio frequency identification (RFID) technology selection is important to increase success rate of RFID technology application. RFID technology selection can be formulated as a kind of group decision making (GDM) problem with intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs). This paper develops a novel method for solving such problems. First, A technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) based method is presented to rank intuitionistic fuzzy values (IFVs). To achieve higher group consensus as well as possible, we construct an intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming model to derive experts’ weights. Depending on the construction of membership and non-membership functions, the constructed intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming model is solved by three kinds of approaches: optimistic approach, pessimistic approach and mixed approach. Then to derive the ranking order of alternatives from the collective IFPR, we extend quantifier guided non-dominance degree (QGNDD) and quantifier guided dominance degree (QGDD) to intuitionistic fuzzy environment. A new two-phase ranking approach is designed to generate the ordering of alternatives based on QGNDD and QGDD. Thereby, the corresponding method is proposed for the GDM problems with IFPRs. Some generalizations on the constructed intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming model are further discussed. At length, the validity of the proposed method is illustrated with a real-world RFID technology selection example.     

Soft computing based on maximizing consensus and fuzzy TOPSIS approach to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making

Multi-attribute group decision making (MAGDM) is an important research topic in decision theory. In recent decades, many useful methods have been proposed to solve various MAGDM problems, but very few methods simultaneously take them into account from the perspectives of both the ranking and the magnitude of decision data, especially for the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision data. The purpose of this paper is to develop a soft computing technique based on maximizing consensus and fuzzy TOPSIS in order to solve interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy MAGDM problems from such two aspects of decision data. To this end, we first define a consensus index from the perspective of the ranking of decision data, for measuring the degree of consensus between the individual and the group. Then, we establish an optimal model based on maximizing consensus to determine the weights of experts. Following the idea of TOPSIS, we calculate the closeness indices of the alternatives from the perspective of the magnitude of decision data. To identify the optimal alternatives and determine their optimum quantities, we further construct a multi-choice goal programming model based on the derived closeness indices. Finally, an example is given to verify the developed method and to make a comparative analysis.     

Intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator for multi-criteria decision making

For the real decision making problems, most criteria have inter-dependent or interactive characteristics so that it is not suitable for us to aggregate them by traditional aggregation operators based on additive measures. Thus, to approximate the human subjective decision making process, it would be more suitable to apply fuzzy measures, where it is not necessary to assume additivity and independence among decision making criteria. In this paper, an intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral is proposed for multiple criteria decision making, where interactions phenomena among the decision making criteria are considered. First, we introduced two operational laws on intuitionistic fuzzy values. Then, based on these operational laws, intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator is proposed. Moreover, some of its properties are investigated. It is shown that the intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator can be represented by some special t-norms and t-conorms, and it is also a generalization of the intuitionistic fuzzy OWA operator and intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging operator. Further, the procedure and algorithm of multi-criteria decision making based on intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator is given under uncertain environment. Finally, a practical example is provided to illustrate the developed approaches.     

Nonlinear optimization models for multiple attribute group decision making with intuitionistic fuzzy information

Intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are very useful for experts to depict in depth their fuzzy preference information over objects. In this work, we investigate multiple attribute group decision‐making problems in which the attribute values provided by experts are expressed in intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, each of which is composed of a membership degree, a nonmembership degree and a hesitancy degree, and the weight information about both the experts and the attributes is to be determined. We first make different types of attribute values uniform so as to facilitate interattribute comparisons and employ the simple additive weighting method to fuse all the individual opinions into the group one. We then develop two nonlinear optimization models, one minimizing the divergence between each individual opinion and the group one, and the other minimizing the divergence among the individual opinions, from which two exact formulae can be obtained to derive the weights of experts. Similarly, from the viewpoint of maximizing group consensus, we establish a nonlinear optimization model based on all the individual intuitionistic fuzzy decision matrices to determine the weights of attributes. The simple additive weighting method is used to aggregate all the intuitionistic fuzzy attribute values corresponding to each alternative, and then the score function and the accuracy function are employed to rank and select the given alternatives. Moreover, we extend all the above results to interval intuitionistic fuzzy situations, and finally apply the developed models to an air‐condition system selection problem. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于组合模型的直觉模糊集多属性决策方法

针对直觉模糊集是对模糊集理论的一种扩充,能够更好地处理模糊概念,研究了基于直觉模糊集的多属性决策问题.提出了直觉指数加权平均最大化和最小化组合模型,通过线性规划模型得到了属性的最优权重和相应的方案排序.数值例子表明,该方法是可行而有效的.     

Identifying and eliminating dominated alternatives in multi-attribute decision making with intuitionistic fuzzy information

Multi-attribute decision making under uncertainty is a usual task in our daily life. In the decision making process, the decision information provided by the decision maker (or expert) over alternatives may take the form of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, and the weight information on attributes is usually incomplete. To this issue, we first transform the original decision matrix, whose elements are intuitionistic fuzzy numbers expressed by pairs of satisfaction degrees and dissatisfaction degrees, into its expected decision matrix, whose elements are composed of satisfaction degrees and hesitation degrees. We introduce the concept of dominated alternative, and give a method to identify the dominated alternatives. Then we develop an interactive method for eliminating any dominated alternatives by updating the decision maker's preferences gradually so as to find out the optimal one eventually. A further extension of the interactive method to interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy situations is given, and the solution process of this interactive method is shown in detail through an illustrative example.     

Study on the ranking problems in multiple attribute decision making based on interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers

This paper puts forward a new ranking method for multiple attribute decision‐making problems based on interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (IIFS) theory. First, the composed ordered weighted arithmetic averaging operator and composed ordered weighted geometric averaging operator are extended to the IIFSs in which they are, respectively, named interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy composed ordered weighted arithmetic averaging (IIFCOWA) operator and interval‐valued intuitionistic composed ordered weighted geometric averaging (IIFCOWG) operator. Afterwards, to compare interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers, we define the concepts of the maximum, the minimum, and ranking function. Some properties associated with the concepts are investigated. Using the IIFCOWA or IIFCOWG operator, we establish the detailed steps of ranking alternatives (or attributes) in multiple attribute decision making. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to show that the proposed ranking method is feasible in multiple attribute decision making.     

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.     

Intuitionistic preference relations and their application in group decision making

Intuitionistic fuzzy set, characterized by a membership function and a non-membership function, was introduced by Atanassov [Intuitionistic fuzzy sets, Fuzzy Sets and Systems 20 (1986) 87-96]. In this paper, we define the concepts of intuitionistic preference relation, consistent intuitionistic preference relation, incomplete intuitionistic preference relation and acceptable intuitionistic preference relation, and study their various properties. We develop an approach to group decision making based on intuitionistic preference relations and an approach to group decision making based on incomplete intuitionistic preference relations respectively, in which the intuitionistic fuzzy arithmetic averaging operator and intuitionistic fuzzy weighted arithmetic averaging operator are used to aggregate intuitionistic preference information, and the score function and accuracy function are applied to the ranking and selection of alternatives. Finally, a practical example is provided to illustrate the developed approaches.     

An intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making method using entropy and association coefficient

Group decision making is a process in which experts rank and choose the most desirable alternatives based on some accepted criteria. The aim of this paper was to introduce a method to solve group decision making problems with Atanassov’s intuitionistic fuzzy sets. First, the weight of each criterion is calculated using intuitionistic fuzzy entropy. Then, the total criteria weight vector is calculated by aggregating the calculated weights. Using the obtained weight vector, the alternatives are ranked based on the association coefficient of the performance of alternatives related to each criterion and the positive ideal intuitionistic fuzzy set value and the negative ideal intuitionistic fuzzy set value. Finally, to show the application of the proposed method, it is implemented in software vendor selection.     

Extension of VIKOR method in intuitionistic fuzzy environment for robot selection

Decision making is the process of finding the best option among the feasible alternatives. In classical multiple-criteria decision making methods, the ratings and the weights of the criteria are known precisely. However, if decision makers are not able to involve uncertainty in the defining of linguistic variables based on fuzzy sets, the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory can do this job very well. In this paper, VIKOR method is extended in intuitionistic fuzzy environment, aiming at solving multiple-criteria decision making problems in which the weights of criteria and ratings of alternatives are taken as triangular intuitionistic fuzzy set. For application and verification, this study presents a robot selection problem for material handling task to verify our proposed method.     

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.     

Interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy mathematical programming method for hybrid multi-criteria group decision making with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy truth degrees

As an important component of group decision making, the hybrid multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) is very complex and interesting in real applications. The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) mathematical programming method for hybrid MCGDM considering alternative comparisons with hesitancy degrees. The subjective preference relations between alternatives given by each decision maker (DM) are formulated as an IVIF set (IVIFS). The IVIFSs, intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs), trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs), linguistic variables, intervals and real numbers are used to represent the multiple types of criteria values. The information of criteria weights is incomplete. The IVIFS-type consistency and inconsistency indices are defined through considering the fuzzy positive and negative ideal solutions simultaneously. To determine the criteria weights, we construct a novel bi-objective IVIF mathematical programming of minimizing the inconsistency index and meanwhile maximizing the consistency index, which is solved by the technically developed linear goal programming approach. The individual ranking order of alternatives furnished by each DM is subsequently obtained according to the comprehensive relative closeness degrees of alternatives to the fuzzy positive ideal solution. The collective ranking order of alternatives is derived through establishing a new multi-objective assignment model. A real example of critical infrastructure evaluation is provided to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of this method.     

A multi-criteria interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making with Choquet integral-based TOPSIS

An extension of TOPSIS, a multi-criteria interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy decision making technique, to a group decision environment is investigated, where inter-dependent or interactive characteristics among criteria and preference of decision makers are taken into account. To get a broad view of the techniques used, first, some operational laws on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values are introduced. Based on these operational laws, a generalized interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy geometric aggregation operator is proposed which is used to aggregate decision makers’ opinions in group decision making process. In addition, some of its properties are discussed. Then Choquet integral-based Hamming distance between interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy values is defined. Combining the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy geometric aggregation operator with Choquet integral-based Hamming distance, an extension of TOPSIS method is developed to deal with a multi-criteria interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making problems. Finally, an illustrative example is used to illustrate the developed procedures.     

A method based on distance measure for interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making

In this paper we introduce some relations and operations of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers and define some types of matrices, including interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy matrix, interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy similarity matrix and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy equivalence matrix. We study their properties, develop a method based on distance measure for group decision making with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy matrices and, finally, provide an illustrative example.     

An application of soft computing technique in group decision making under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment

In this paper, we investigate the group decision making problem, in which the each decision maker (DM) provides his/her preferences over alternatives with respect to attributes in interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy number. To determine the weights of DMs, inspired by the idea of TOPSIS technique, combining an optimistic coefficient, we first define a positive ideal decision as the average of all individual decisions and three negative ideal decisions, which have the maximum separations from the positive ideal decision. This method is suitable for cautious (avoiding risk) decision, since each negative ideal decision can effectively avoid a risk.By employing the derived weights of DMs, we aggregate all the individual decisions into a collective decision. After that, we aggregate all attribute values of each alternative of the collective decision into an overall evaluation of the alternative. Then rank all alternatives according to their score and accuracy degree and select the most desirable one.We compare this model with other methods and illustrate this method by a numerical example and a sensitivity analysis about the optimistic coefficient.