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MADM method considering attribute aspirations with an application to selection of wastewater treatment technologies

Guang-Xin Gao (Department of Information Management and Decision Sciences, School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China)
Zhi-Ping Fan (Department of Information Management and Decision Science, School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.)
Yao Zhang (Department of Operations and Logistics Management, School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China)

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 5 May 2015

510

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for solving the multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) problem in which the decision maker can provide the five types of attribute aspirations, namely: benefit type with requirements; cost type with requirements; interval type; benefit type; and cost type.

Design/methodology/approach

First, for each type of attribute aspiration, the calculation formula of utility values of alternative concerning attributes is given. Then, using the calculation formulae, the attribute values are transformed into the corresponding utility values. On the basis of this, the overall ranking value of each alternative is calculated. Further, a ranking order of alternatives can be determined according to the obtained overall ranking values.

Findings

Research shows that it is necessary to develop the method for MADM with attribute aspirations. The example shows that the proposed method is applicable.

Practical implications

The proposed method can be applied to the selection of wastewater treatment technologies or other areas.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new MADM method with multiple types of attribute aspirations. It develops and enriches the existing MADM methods.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Project Nos. 71271051 and 71471032), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of MOE of China (Project No. NCET-11-0084), Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Project No. 20130042110030) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, NEU, China (Project No. N140607001).

Citation

Gao, G.-X., Fan, Z.-P. and Zhang, Y. (2015), "MADM method considering attribute aspirations with an application to selection of wastewater treatment technologies", Kybernetes, Vol. 44 No. 5, pp. 739-756. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-07-2014-0161

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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