ExpTODIM-EDAS Framework for Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making Under Z-Number Environment and Applications to Comprehensive Quality Evaluation of Swimmers’ Specific Competencies

Abstract

The importance of a comprehensive assessment of swimmers’ specific abilities lies in offering both athletes and coaches a scientific and all-encompassing evaluation framework. By thoroughly examining multiple dimensions such as physical conditioning, technical proficiency, mental state, and tactical knowledge, it helps pinpoint areas of strength and those requiring further improvement. This method facilitates the development of more personalized and targeted training regimens, which in turn contributes to enhancing the athlete’s overall performance and competitive prowess. Furthermore, it assists in injury prevention, prolongs athletes’ careers, and encourages continuous growth. The evaluation of swimmers’ comprehensive qualities involves multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM). Recently, the Exponential TODIM (ExpTODIM) and EDAS approaches have been applied to tackle MADM issues. To address the comprehensive evaluation of swimmers’ abilities, the Z-number concept was introduced to manage uncertain information. This research introduces the Z-number Exponential TODIM-EDAS (ZN-ExpTODIM-EDAS) method, designed to effectively manage MADM within the Z-number framework. Moreover, a numerical case study is provided to demonstrate the application of the ZN-ExpTODIM-EDAS approach in assessing swimmers’ overall abilities. The key contributions of this study include: 1) Expanding the ExpTODIM and EDAS methods to integrate the Z-number; 2) Applying Information Entropy to manage weight assignments within the Z-number framework; 3) Proposing the ZN-ExpTODIM-EDAS model for MADM under the Z-number; 4) Presenting a numerical example to evaluate swimmers’ competencies comprehensively; 5) Conducting a comparative analysis to validate the effectiveness of the ZN-ExpTODIM-EDAS approach