Diploma Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Computer Science - Commercial Information Technology, grade: 1,3, University of Bayreuth (Lehrstuhl für Wirtschaftsinformatik (BWL VII)), language: English, abstract: This work is concerned with the conduct of Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) by intelligent software agents trading digital commodities in Application Layer Networks (ALN) such as grids or clouds. These agents consider trustworthiness in their course of negotiation and select offers with respect to product price and seller reputation. To automate the selection process, we seek an appropriate MCDM method that provides clear advice for an agent prior to negotiating. We compare eleven well-known MCDM methods and choose the TOPSIS approach of Hwang and Yoon since it produces comprehensible and plausible results with a justifiable amount of effort. We modify the method and present a draft named xTOPSIS that promises intertemporal performance analysis for further automatation. The resulting tool is finally tested and evaluated in the context of a scenario similar to the eRep - Social Knowledge for e-Governance project.

This book introduces the step-by-step processes involved in using MCDM methods, starting from problem formulation, model development, and criteria weighting to the final ranking of the alternatives. The authors explain the different MCDM methods that can be used in specific manufacturing environments. The book explains the conceptual frameworks of how these methods are applied with special focus on their applicability and usefulness. The authors begin with an introduction to multi-criteria decision-making, followed by explanations of 29 MCDM methods and their applications. The final sections of the book describe helpful normalization techniques and criteria weight measurement techniques. The collection of diverse range of manufacturing applications and case studies presented here will aid readers in applying cutting-edge MCDM methods to their own manufacturing projects. As both a research and teaching tool, this book encourages critical and logical thinking when applying MCDM methods for solving complex manufacturing decision-making problems.

With contributions from some of the top academics and scientists in the field, Advanced Studies in Multi-Criteria Decision Making presents an updated view of the landscape of Decision Sciences, current research topics, the interaction with other sciences and fields, as well as the prospects and challenges at an international level. Given that Decision Sciences are recognized today as indispensable for confronting the major societal challenges in science and technology, this book would be of interest to decision-makers, managers, and researchers from academia, and industrial/services companies that would like a fresh insight into MCDM. Features Integrates a wide range of scientific fields with a general reader approach, including applied researchers from the social, business, enterprise sciences Suitable for academics and professionals Presents a broad coverage of MCDM tools either in industry or in services companies and systems Provides a fresh overview on MCDM studies promoted by prestigious R&D institutions

The organizers of the 12th International Conference on Multiple Cri teria Decision Making (MCDM) held June 19-23, 1995 in Hagen received the second time the opportunity to prepare an international conference on MCDM in Germany; the first opportunity has been the 3rd International Conference on MCDM in Konigswinter, 1979. Quite a time ellapsed since then and therefore it might be interesting to compare some indicators of the development of the International Society on MCDM, which has been founded in Konigswinter. Stanley Zionts has been elected first president and all 44 participants of that Conference became founding members. Today our Society has over 1200 members and its own Journal (MCDM World Scan). In Hagen, 1996, we had 152 participants from 34 countries. It is interesting to mention that also other Groups established their organi zation, like the European Working Group on Multiple Criteria Decision Aid, the German Working Group on Decision Theory and Applications, the Multi Objective Programming and Goal Programming Group, ESIGMA, and some others. It is also interesting to note that the intersection of members of all these Groups and Societies is not empty and there is quite a cooperation among them.

Multiple criteria decision-making research has developed rapidly and has become a main area of research for dealing with complex decision problems which require the consideration of multiple objectives or criteria. Over the past twenty years, numerous multiple criterion decision methods have been developed which are able to solve such problems. However, the selection of an appropriate method to solve a particular decision problem is today's problem for a decision support researcher and decision-maker. Intelligent Strategies for Meta Multiple Criteria Decision-Making deals centrally with the problem of the numerous MCDM methods that can be applied to a decision problem. The book refers to this as a `meta decision problem', and it is this problem that the book analyzes. The author provides two strategies to help the decision-makers select and design an appropriate approach to a complex decision problem. Either of these strategies can be designed into a decision support system itself. One strategy is to use machine learning to design an MCDM method. This is accomplished by applying intelligent techniques, namely neural networks as a structure for approximating functions and evolutionary algorithms as universal learning methods. The other strategy is based on solving the meta decision problem interactively by selecting or designing a method suitable to the specific problem, for example, the constructing of a method from building blocks. This strategy leads to a concept of MCDM networks. Examples of this approach for a decision support system explain the possibilities of applying the elaborated techniques and their mutual interplay. The techniques outlined in the book can be used by researchers, students, and industry practitioners to better model and select appropriate methods for solving complex, multi-objective decision problems.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Autonomous Infrastructure, Management and Security, AIMS 2011, held in Nancy, France, in June 2011. The 11 revised full papers presented together 11 papers of the AIMS PhD workshops were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on security management, autonomic network and service management (PhD workshop), policy management, P2P and aggregation schemes, and monitoring and security (PhD workshop).

The use of a multi-criteria, decision-making theory was first studied in the 1970s. Its application in civil and environmental engineering is a new approach which can be enormously helpful for manufacturing companies, students, managers, engineers, etc. The purpose of this book is to provide a resource for students and researchers that includes current application of a multi-criteria, decision-making theory in various fields such as: environment, healthcare and engineering. In addition, practical application are shown for students manually. In real life problems there are many critical parameters (criteria) that can directly or indirectly affect the consequences of different decisions. Application of a multi-criteria, decision-making theory is basically the use of computational methods that incorporate several criteria and order of preference in evaluating and selecting the best option among many alternatives based on the desired outcome.

This volume, edited as a Festschrift in honor of Prof. Milan Zeleny, reflects and emulates his unmistakable legacy: the essential multidimensionality of human and social affairs. There are many levels of this multidimensionality presented in this volume: 1. Multidisciplinarity of contributed papers 2. Multinationality of their authors, extending even to the editors and the publisher and 3. Multicultural and multilevel exposition, ranging from empirical studies to philosophical foundations. Generally, these papers can be divided into three parts: Multiple Criteria Decision Making; Social and Human System Management; and Information, Knowledge and Wisdom Management. It is the recognition of multidimensionality in decision making, economics, optimization, systems, cybernetics and the pursuit of knowledge that bear the stamp of specific Zeleny’s contributions. His life-long dedication to multidimensionality has produced an ultimate multidimensional being, living in academic ‘multiverse’, functioning in a boundaryless world of all continents, cultures and countries. This book is as diverse and as multidimensional as the man and his work.

The TOPSIS method is extended with entropy-AHP weights, and entropy-AHP weights are used instead of subjective weights. A novel decision-making model of TOPSIS integrated entropy-AHP weights is proposed to select the appropriate supplier. Finally, we take the selection of building material suppliers as an example and use sensitivity analysis to show that the combination of the TOPSIS method based on entropy-AHP weights can effectively select the appropriate supplier.

When people or computers need to make a decision, typically multiple conflicting criteria need to be evaluated; for example, when we buy a car, we need to consider safety, cost and comfort. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) has been researched for decades. Now as the rising trend of big-data analytics in supporting decision making, MCDM can be more powerful when combined with state-of-the-art analytics and machine learning. In this book, the authors introduce a new framework of MCDM, which can lead to more accurate decision making. Several real-world cases will be included to illustrate the new hybrid approaches.