Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
Washington DC, USA, September 27-29, 2018
© IEOM Society International
A Novel Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Model to Deal with Big
Data in Group Decision Making
Seyedmohammad Salehi
Computer and Information Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
salehi@udel.edu
Maghsoud Amiri
Department of Industrial Management, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
amiri@atu.ac.ir
Pezhman Ghahremani
Department of Industrial & Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Branch,
Qazvin, Iran.
pezhman.ghahremani@yahoo.com
Mohammadali Abedini
Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia
mohammadali.abedinisanigy@utas.edu.au
Abstract
This study presents an approach for ranking the alternative solutions based on ideal values of criteria.
For this purpose, a group multi criteria decision making (GMCDM) model is presented with
combination of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order of Preference by
Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. The proposed model is capable of finding optimal
solution for high-dimensional problems with simple and manual calculations. In the first stage, decision
making matrix and weight vector of criteria are calculated using AHP, and in the second stage, the
alternatives are ranked according to the least distances from ideal values of criteria. The model
contributes to the literature by considering intangible and tangible criteria, handling opinions of multiple
decision makers, solving problems with many alternatives and criteria in a short time frame, and
applying source limitations as spotted to be one of the limitations of decision makers. A numerical
example is presented to analyze proposed approach's effectiveness. Findings illustrate that proposed
algorithm is flexible against different criteria and is capable to reach similar solutions in comparison
with other MCDM methods in a short timeframe and a simplistic approach.
Keywords Group Multi Criteria Decision Making (GMCDM); Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP);
Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS);
1. Introduction
The growth of competition in today’s business requires successful firms to improve the quality and the quantity
of the provided services or products continuously. These improvements require extensive decision makings which
include selection of one decision from various alternatives based on different criteria and constraints. The
decisions, regardless of their size and time frame, should be managed and handled carefully. According to a recent
study, even small decisions and small decision changes can have cascaded impacts on the whole system, causing
significant deficiencies (Vahdat, Griffin et al. 2018, Shahraki and Noorossana 2014). In many cases, the final
decisions are long-term policies of the companies and may have vital effects on the future of their businesses.
Hence, it is important to find methods that reduce the risk of decision making.
In the last decades, many researchers have strived to mastermind systematic methods for making risk-free
decisions, or decisions with the least affiliated risks and until now, many of these methods have been used in