Some problems of evaluating multicriteria decision methods

Abstract

This paper considers the constraints imposed on the values of particular criteria used in calculations by multicriteria methods of evaluating the alternatives in decision making. Simple but effective methods including sum of ranks and geometrical mean of the criterion value are analysed. The transformation and normalisation of non-positive data, their dependence on shift constants as well as stability of the transformed data are considered. The comparative analysis of the simplest multicriteria method – Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and more sophisticated techniques is performed. The calculations made by applying simple and complex (TOPSIS, VIKOR) methods have shown good agreement of the results obtained.