A novel multicriteria approach – Rough Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method (R-SWARA) and its application in logistics

Abstract

A decision-making process often requires knowledge of numerous parameters and their interaction in order to make valid decisions that will result in meeting the objectives set. Multi-criteria decision-making is an area that helps in decision-making processes considering a set of criteria and alternatives. A new MCDM approach has been developed in this paper with a view to better managing the uncertainties and the subjectivity of real decision problems. In the last few years, the integration of Rough numbers and multi-criteria decision-making methods has enjoyed a great popularity, so in this paper, the Rough Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) approach has been developed. The developed approach has been verified throughout a sensitivity analysis, which involves the comparison of the obtained results with two other methods for determining the weight values, the Rough Best Worst method (BWM) and Rough Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The correlation of obtained ranks using the Rough SWARA approach with the ranks of Rough BWM and Rough AHP is complete, i.e. the ranks are identical, which confirms the stability and credibility of the developed approach.