A fuzzy characterization process for interactive multicriteria decision making

Proposes a fuzzy approach to characterize imprecise preferential information required from the decision maker (DM) operating in an interactive multiple-criteria decision support system (IMCDSS) environment. Fuzzy sets and fuzzy set operations are applied to facilitate information processing during the choice phase of such a decision process. The fuzzy characterizer permits vagueness in the expression of concepts that represent the DM's relative intensities for improvement for each criterion, and degrees of satisfaction with achievement levels of each criterion for competing alternatives. A predetermined set of fuzzy rules is applied in the process. Fuzzy set intersection operations on priority rankings and performance ratings are carried out to compute the overall performance indices for the alternatives. The alternative with the highest computed performance index is selected as a new input to the iterative multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) algorithm for generating the next set of alternatives.