Pairwise comparison matrices and the error-free property of the decision maker

Pairwise comparison is a popular assessment method either for deriving criteria-weights or for evaluating alternatives according to a given criterion. In real-world applications consistency of the comparisons rarely happens: intransitivity can occur. The aim of the paper is to discuss the relationship between the consistency of the decision maker—described with the error-free property—and the consistency of the pairwise comparison matrix (PCM). The concept of error-free matrix is used to demonstrate that consistency of the PCM is not a sufficient condition of the error-free property of the decision maker. Informed and uninformed decision makers are defined. In the first stage of an assessment method a consistent or near-consistent matrix should be achieved: detecting, measuring and improving consistency are part of any procedure with both types of decision makers. In the second stage additional information are needed to reveal the decision maker’s real preferences. Interactive questioning procedures are recommended to reach that goal

Intelligent synthesis mechanism for deriving streaming priorities of multimedia content

We address the problem of integrating user preferences with network Quality of Service parameters for the streaming of media content, and suggest protocol stack configurations that satisfy user and technical requirements to the best available degree. Our approach is able to handle inconsistencies between user and networking considerations, formulating the problem of construction of tailor-made protocols as a prioritization problem, solvable using fuzzy programming

Intelligent synthesis mechanism for deriving streaming priorities of multimedia content

We address the problem of integrating user preferences with network quality of service parameters for the streaming of media content, and suggest protocol stack configurations that satisfy user and technical requirements to the best available degree. Our approach is able to handle inconsistencies between user and networking considerations, formulating the problem of construction of tailor-made protocols as a prioritization problem, solvable using fuzzy programming

On the priority vector associated with a fuzzy preference relation and a multiplicative preference relation.

We propose two straightforward methods for deriving the priority vector associated with a fuzzy preference relation. Then, using transformations between multiplicative preference relations and fuzzy preference relations, we study the relationships between the priority vectors associated with these two types of preference relations.pairwise comparison matrix; fuzzy preference relation; priority vector

Multicriteria decision making for enhanced perception-based multimedia communication

This paper proposes an approach that integrates technical concerns with user perceptual considerations for intelligent decision making in the construction of tailor-made multimedia communication protocols. Thus, the proposed approach, based on multicriteria decision making (MDM), incorporates not only classical networking considerations, but, indeed, user preferences as well. Furthermore, in keeping with the task-dependent nature consistently identified in multimedia scenarios, the suggested communication protocols also take into account the type of multimedia application that they are transporting. Lastly, this approach also opens the possibility for such protocols to dynamically adapt based on a changing operating environment and user's preferences

PriEsT: an interactive decision support tool to estimate priorities from pairwise comparison judgments

Pairwise comparison (PC) is a well-established method to assist decision makers (DMs) in estimating their preferences. This paper considers the rationale, design, and evaluation of an open-source priority estimation tool, PriEsT, which has been developed to offer new features related to the PC method. PriEsT is able to assist DMs in interactively identifying and revising their judgments based on different consistency measures and graphical aids. When inconsistency cannot be improved due to practical limitations, PriEsT offers a wide range of Pareto-optimal solutions based on multiobjective optimization, unlike other tools that offer only a single solution. DMs have the flexibility to select any of these nondominated solutions according to their requirements. The features of PriEsT have been demonstrated and evaluated through its application to a real-world case study: the selection of the most appropriate telecom infrastructure for rural areas. This case study using PriEsT has highlighted the presence of intransitive judgments in the acquired data, and the correction of these judgments has led to a different ranking of the available alternatives

Multicriteria decision making for enhanced perception-based multimedia communication

This paper proposes an approach that integrates technical concerns with user perceptual considerations for intelligent decision making in the construction of tailor-made multimedia communication protocols. Thus, the proposed approach, based on multicriteria decision making (MDM), incorporates not only classical networking considerations, but, indeed, user preferences as well. Furthermore, in keeping with the task-dependent nature consistently identified in multimedia scenarios, the suggested communication protocols also take into account the type of multimedia application that they are transporting. Lastly, this approach also opens the possibility for such protocols to dynamically adapt based on a changing operating environment and user’s preferences

Consistent completion of incomplete judgments in decision making using AHP

Decision making (DM) processes are becoming increasingly complex. The reasons are manifold. DM usually involves many aspects; some are purely technical, while others are subjective and derived from social, political, and environmental factors, among others. As a result, they involve items that are not easily comparable under the same units of measurement. Problems are made even more complex by the fact that current governance processes tend to involve all the stakeholders in the DM process. In this paper we consider the AHP methodology (analytic hierarchy process), which is used to build consistent aggregate results from data provided by decision makers. As some of the actors involved may not be completely familiar with all the criteria under consideration, it is common that the body of opinion, expressed in terms of pairwise comparison, is incomplete. To overcome this weakness, we propose a framework that enables users to provide data on their preferences in a partial and/or incomplete way and at different times. This article is an advance towards a dynamic model of AHP. The authors have addressed the problem of adding a new criterion or deleting obsolete criteria. Here, we address the consistent completion of a reciprocal matrix as a mechanism to obtain a consistent body of opinion issued in an incomplete manner by a specific actor. This feature is incorporated into a process of linearization previously introduced by the authors, which is concisely presented. Finally, we provide an application for leakage control in a water supply company. The adoption of suitable control leakage policies in water supply is a problem of enormous interest in the water industry, particularly in urban hydraulics.This work has been funded as part of project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591 by the Direccion General de Investigacion del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain); with supplementary support from ACOMP/2011/188 from the Conselleria d'Educacio of the Generalitat Valenciana. The first author also received support from Spanish project PAID-06-12. The use of English in this paper was revised by John Rawlins.Benítez López, J.; Delgado Galván, XV.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2015). Consistent completion of incomplete judgments in decision making using AHP. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics. 290:412-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cam.2015.05.023S41242229