Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 15, 491±503, 2004 # 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Manufactured in The Netherlands. Using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to improve human performance: An application of multiple criteria decision making problem ESRA ALBAYRAK Galatasaray University, Industrial Engineering Faculty, C Ëiragan Cad. No: 102, 80840 Ortako Èy, Istanbul, Turkey E-mail: albayrak@gsunv.gsu.edu.tr YASEMIN CLAIRE ERENSAL Dogus University, Industrial Engineering Faculty, Acibadem, Kadiko È 34722, Istanbul, Turkey E-mail: yerensal@dogus.edu.tr Received February 2003 and accepted December 2003 In the global economy, the modern commercial and industrial organization needs to develop better methods of assessing the performance of the human resource than simply using performance measures such as ef®ciency or effectiveness. As organizations seek more aggressive ways to cut costs and to increase global competitiveness, the importance of establishing and sustaining high levels of employee performance increases. The main purpose of this paper is to solve the human performance improvement problem by employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Decision makers (DMs) often deal with problems that involve multiple criteria. At given moments in time, companies will display characteristics that make certain factors; key factors in their competences. In this paper, we present a model, which illustrates the relations and importance between human performance improvement and the style of management. In using the AHP to model this problem, we developed a hierarchic structure to represent the problem of human performance management and made pairwise comparisons. In this paper, the AHP is suggested as a tool for implementing a multiple criteria performance improvement scheme. The AHP was used for the purpose of structuring and clarifying the relations and importance between human performance improvement and the style of management. The study found that in terms of company culture, participation, human capability, and attitudes the best management style in improving human performance is management by values. Keywords: Decision making, performance management, analytic hierarchy process, human performance 1. Introduction The focus on globalization, and subsequent changes in organizational directions and goals are realities that managers and workers are facing every day. As organizations seek more aggressive ways to cut costs and to increase global competitiveness, the impor- tance of establishing and sustaining high levels of employee performance increases. In light of this increasingly competitive world market, the future survival of most companies would depend on their ef®ciency of operation and production of state-of-the- art products of high quality. In the ®nal analysis, the primary difference between successful and unsuc- cessful competitors would be the quality of their products and of their total work organization, and the