The induced 2-tuple linguistic generalized OWA operator and its application in linguistic decision making

We present the induced 2-tuple linguistic generalized ordered weighted averaging (2-TILGOWA) operator. This new aggregation operator extends previous approaches by using generalized means, order-inducing variables in the reordering of the arguments and linguistic information represented with the 2-tuple linguistic approach. Its main advantage is that it includes a wide range of linguistic aggregation operators. Thus, its analyses can be seen from different perspectives and we obtain a much more complete picture of the situation considered and are able to select the alternative that best fits with with our interests or beliefs. We further generalize the operator by using quasi-arithmetic means, and obtain the Quasi-2-TILOWA operator. We conclude this paper by analysing the applicability of this new approach in a decision-making problem concerning product management.linguistic decision making, linguistic generalized mean, 2-tuple linguistic owa operator, 2-tuple linguistic aggregation operator

Decision-making under risk and uncertainty and its application in strategic management

We introduce a new decision-making model that unifies risk and uncertain environments in the same formulation. For doing so, we present the induced probabilistic ordered weighted averaging (IPOWA) operator. It is an aggregation operator that unifies the probability with the OWA operator in the same formulation and considering the degree of importance of each concept in the aggregation. Moreover, it also uses induced aggregation operators that provide a more general representation of the attitudinal character of the decision-maker. We study its applicability and we see that it is very broad because all the previous studies that use the probability or the OWA operator can be revised and extended with this new approach. We briefly analyze some basic applications in statistics such as the implementation of this approach with the variance, the covariance, the Pearson coefficient and in a simple linear regression model. We focus on a multi-person decision-making problem in strategic management. Thus, we are able to construct a new aggregation operator that we call the multi-person IPOWA operator. Its main advantage is that it can deal with the opinion of several persons in the analysis so we can represent the information in a more complete way

A Linguistic Multi-Criteria Decision Making Model Applied to the Integration of Education Questionnaires

We present a model made up of linguistic multi-criteria decision making processes to integrate the answers to heterogeneous questionnaires, based on a five-point Likert scale, into a unique form rooted in the widespread course experience questionnaire. The main advantage of having the resulting integrated questionnaire is that it can be incorporated into other course experience questionnaire surveys to make benchmarking among organizations. This model has been applied to integrate heterogeneous educational questionnaires at the University of Granada.European Union (EU) TIN2010-17876Andalusian Excellence Projects TIC-05299 TIC-599

A Method Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Dependent Aggregation Operators for Supplier Selection

Recently, resolving the decision making problem of evaluation and ranking the potential suppliers have become as a key strategic factor for business firms. In this paper, two new intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation operators are developed: dependent intuitionistic fuzzy ordered weighed averaging (DIFOWA) operator and dependent intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid weighed aggregation (DIFHWA) operator. Some of their main properties are studied. A method based on the DIFHWA operator for intuitionistic fuzzy multiple attribute decision making is presented. Finally, an illustrative example concerning supplier selection is given

Intuitionistic fuzzy generalized probabilistic ordered weighted averaging operator and its application to group decision making

In this paper, we present the intuitionistic fuzzy generalized probabilistic ordered weighted averaging (IFGPOWA) operator. It is a new aggregation operator that uses generalized means in a unified model between the probability and the OWA operator. The main advantage of this new operator is that it is able to deal with probabilities (objective information) and ordered weighted averages (subjective information) in the same formulation. Moreover, it is also able to deal with uncertain environments that can be assessed with intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. Furthermore, it uses generalized means providing a very general formulation that includes a wide range of situations. We study some of its main properties and particular cases such as the generalized intuitionistic fuzzy ordered weighted averaging (GIFOWA) operator and intuitionistic fuzzy probabilistic ordered weighted averaging (IFPOWA) operator. We end the paper by applying the new operator to a group decision making problem concerning the selection of investments. First published online: 26 Jun 201

Dynamic adaptation of user profiles in recommender systems

In a period of time in which the content available through the Internet increases exponentially and is more easily accessible every day, techniques for aiding the selection and extraction of important and personalised information are of vital importance. Recommender Systems (RS) appear as a tool to help the user in a decision making process by evaluating a set of objects or alternatives and aiding the user at choosing which one/s of them suits better his/her interests or preferences. Those preferences need to be accurate enough to produce adequate recommendations and should be updated if the user changes his/her likes or if they are incorrect or incomplete. In this work an adequate model for managing user preferences in a multi-attribute (numerical and categorical) environment is presented to aid at providing recommendations in those kinds of contexts. The evaluation process of the recommender system designed is supported by a new aggregation operator (Unbalanced LOWA) that enables the combination of the information that defines an alternative into a single value, which then is used to rank the whole set of alternatives. After the recommendation has been made, learning processes have been designed to evaluate the user interaction with the system to find out, in a dynamic and unsupervised way, if the user profile in which the recommendation process relies on needs to be updated with new preferences. The work detailed in this document also includes extensive evaluation and testing of all the elements that take part in the recommendation and learning processes

An Influence-Driven Feedback System for Preference Similarity Network Clustering Based Consensus Group Decision Making Model

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Consensus group decision making (CGDM) allows the integration within this area of study of other advanced frameworks such as Social Network Analysis (SNA), Social Influence Network (SIN), clustering and trust-based concepts, among others. These complementary frameworks help to bridge the gap between their corresponding theories in such a way that important elements are not overlooked and are appropriately taken into consideration. In this paper, a new influence-driven feedback mechanism procedure is introduced for a preference similarity network clustering based consensus reaching process. The proposed influence-driven feedback mechanism aims at identifying the network influencer for the generation of advices. This procedure ensures that valuable recommendations are coming from the expert with most similar preferences with the other experts in the group. This is achieved by adapting, from the SIN theory into the CGDM context, an eigenvector-like measure of centrality for the purpose of: (i) measuring the influence score of experts, and (ii) determining the network influencer. Based on the initial evaluations on a set of alternatives provide by the experts in a group, the proposed influence score measure, which is named the sigma-centrality, is used to define the similarity social influence network (SSIN) matrix. The sigma-centrality is obtained by taking into account both the endogenous (internal network connections) and exogenous (external) factors, which means that SSIN connections as well as the opinion contribution from third parties are permitted in the nomination of the network influencer. The influence-driven feedback mechanism process is designed based on the satisfying of two important conditions to ensure that (1) the revised consensus degree is above the consensus threshold and that (2) the clustering solution is improved

Fuzzy Techniques for Decision Making 2018

Zadeh's fuzzy set theory incorporates the impreciseness of data and evaluations, by imputting the degrees by which each object belongs to a set. Its success fostered theories that codify the subjectivity, uncertainty, imprecision, or roughness of the evaluations. Their rationale is to produce new flexible methodologies in order to model a variety of concrete decision problems more realistically. This Special Issue garners contributions addressing novel tools, techniques and methodologies for decision making (inclusive of both individual and group, single- or multi-criteria decision making) in the context of these theories. It contains 38 research articles that contribute to a variety of setups that combine fuzziness, hesitancy, roughness, covering sets, and linguistic approaches. Their ranges vary from fundamental or technical to applied approaches

Modeling Influence In Group Decision Making

Group decision making has been widely studied since group decision making processes are very common in many fields. Formal representation of the experts’ opinions, aggregation of assessments or selection of the best alternatives have been some of main areas addressed by scientists and researchers. In this paper, we focus on another promising area, the study of group decision making processes from the concept of influence and social networks. In order to do so, we present a novel model that gathers the experts’ initial opinions and provides a framework to represent the influence of a given expert over the other(s). With this proposal it is feasible to estimate both the evolution of the group decision making process and the final solution before carrying out the group discussion process and consequently foreseeing possible actions