Publisher's Synopsis
In almost every engineering, business or personal decision there are several conflicting objectives or criteria to be considered. The choice of objectives unavoidably involves subjective judgements, yet it is possible to embed many aspects of subjective judgements into a rigorous mathematical framework. Although there is a wide-ranging literature on the subject, there are relatively few books which attempt to present multi-objective decision making techniques in a comprehensive, unified and rigorous manner as this book does.;It contains a wide spectrum of multiobjective decision making techniques based on quantitative, as well as qualitative, criteria. In addition to the description of the algorithms, their mathematical properties and practical applications are discussed. Of particular interest is the discussion of the relationship between the traditionally used concept of the efficient (non-dominated) solution and the equilibrium point used in game theoretical models. Other valuable features of the book are that it presents, for the first time, a rigorous mathematical framework for the multiobjective models and that it also includes the recently emphasized area of model choice, including a prescriptive algorithm. A complete set of clear examples illustrates each of the models and detailed case studies show the practical application of the models.;Researchers and practitioners in decision making will find this a very useful book. It is an ideal learning and teaching aid for courses on multiple criteria decision making in the management of large scale systems. In comparing projects, plans or alternatives on the basis of a set of quantitative and/or qualitative criteria, the principles and techniques discussed will be useful, if not indispensable, tools.
