Ann Oper Res (2012) 197:14

DOI 10.1007/s10479-012-1104-7
Editorial: Multiple criteria decision making and
operations research
Yi Peng Yong Shi
Published online: 23 February 2012
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
Multiple criteria decision making, as dened by the International Society on Multiple Crite-
ria Decision Making (MCDM), is the study of methods and procedures by which concerns
about multiple conicting criteria can be formally incorporated into the management plan-
ning process. Since the 1970s, MCDM has evolved as an important eld of OR. The Inter-
national Society of MCDM has played a vital role in the development of the MCDM eld.
It has about 1600 members in 87 countries. The International Conference on Multiple Cri-
teria Decision Making is a bi-annual conference, organized by the Society of MCDM since
1975. The conferences have served as a global forum for sharing original research results
and practical development experiences among researchers and applications developers from
different multiple criteria decision making related areas. The theme of the 20th MCDM,
which was held in June 2009, was New State of MCDM in the 21st Century. The confer-
ences seek solutions to challenging problems facing the development of multiple criteria
decision making and shape future directions of research by promoting high quality, novel,
and daring research ndings.
This special volume focuses on theoretical and practical issues in multiple criteria deci-
sion making and operations research. About 250 papers out of more than 600 submissions
were presented at the 20th MCDM conference and workshops. Extended versions of 49
Y. Peng ()
School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China,
Chengdu, 610054, China
e-mail: pengyi@uestc.edu.cn
Y. Shi
Research Center of Fictitious Economy and Data Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing,
China
e-mail: yshi@gucas.ac.cn
Y. Shi
College of Information Science and Technology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182,
USA
e-mail: yshi@unomaha.edu
2 Ann Oper Res (2012) 197:14
top-quality conference papers were submitted to this special volume. After ve rounds of
peer-review, 11 papers were accepted. These papers were contributed by 28 authors from 8
countries and regions: China, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan, and
the USA.
In an unconventional emergency decision making process using the analytic hierarchy
process (AHP), it is important to collect and process experts opinions quickly to make a
rapid decision. Questionnaire surveys are a commonly used to collect opinions and views in
the AHP. In Ergu and Kous paper, a scale format is used to design the score items for a com-
parison matrix in a questionnaire survey. Besides, an induced bias matrix model (IBMM) is
proposed to estimate the missing item scores of the reciprocal pairwise comparison matrix.
The survey questionnaire can be improved according to the importance of score items and
emergency degree of the surveyed questions.
Diversication is one of the most effective approaches to defend multitier systems
against attacks, failure, and accidents. However, designing such a system with effective
diversication is a challenging task because of stochastic user and attacker behaviors, the
combinatorial-explosive solution space, and multiple conicting design objectives. Wang,
Sharman, and Zionts present a systematic framework for exploring the solution space, and
consequently help the designer select a satisfactory system solution. A simulation model is
employed to evaluate design solutions, and an articial neural network is trained to approx-
imate the behavior of the system based on simulation output. Guided by a trained neural
network, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) is proposed to search the solu-
tion space and identify potentially good solutions.
Ruiz, Luque, and Miettinen present a new general formulation for multiobjective opti-
mization that can accommodate several interactive methods of different types. This formu-
lation provides a comfortable implementation framework for a general interactive system
and allows the decision maker to conveniently apply several interactive methods in one so-
lution process. The generality of the new improved formulations is supported by the fact that
they can accommodate six interactive methods more, that is, a total of fourteen interactive
methods, just by adjusting parameter values.
Project portfolio selection is one of the most important decision-making problems for
most organizations in project management and engineering management. In order to solve
this complex decision-making problem, Yu, Wang, Wen, and Lai rst formulated a multi-
criteria project portfolio selection problem considering project interactions in terms of mul-
tiple selection criteria and decision makers preferences. Then a genetic algorithm (GA)-
based nonlinear integer programming (NIP) approach is used to solve the multi-criteria
project portfolio selection problem. Finally, two illustrative examples are presented for
demonstration and verication purposes.
Although group decision-making is often adopted by many organizations in todays
highly complicated business environment, the multiple criteria sorting (MCS) problem in
the context of group decision-making has not been studied sufciently. To this end, Cai,
Liao, and Wang propose a new interactive method to assist a group of decision makers
with different priorities. A practical example featuring MBA programs is also presented to
demonstrate the proposed method.
Wangs paper considers ranking decision alternatives under multiple attributes with im-
precise information on both attribute weights and alternative ratings. It is demonstrated that
regret results from the decision makers inadequate knowledge about the true scenario to oc-
cur. Potential optimality analysis is a traditional method to evaluate alternatives with impre-
cise information. The analysis shows that potential optimality analysis is optimistic in nature
and may lead to a signicant loss if an unfavorable scenario occurs. The author suggests a
Ann Oper Res (2012) 197:14 3
robust optimization analysis approach that ranks alternatives in terms of their worst-case
absolute or relative regret.
The developments in the World Wide Web and the advances in digital data collection and
storage technologies during the last two decades allow companies and organizations to store
and share huge numbers of electronic documents. The purpose of Kou and Lous study is to
propose a hierarchical clustering method that combines multiple factors to identify clusters
of web pages that can satisfy users information needs. The clusters are primarily envisioned
to be used for search and navigation and potentially for some form of visualization as well.
An experiment on Clickstream data from a processional search engine was conducted to
examine the results and it is shown that the clustering method is effective and efcient, in
terms of both objective and subjective measures.
Yu, Chu, Chen, and Chus paper aims to solve a large scale multi-period SIRP with split
delivery (SIRPSD) where a customers delivery in each period can be split and satised
by using multiple vehicle routes if necessary. In order to tackle the SIRPSD with notori-
ous computational complexity, an approximate model, which signicantly reduces the num-
ber of decision variables compared to its corresponding exact model, is rst proposed. The
authors then develop a hybrid approach that combines the linearization of nonlinear con-
straints, the decomposition of the model into sub-models with Lagrangian relaxation, and a
partial linearization approach for a sub model.
Tzeng and Huangs research aims to resolve the above-mentioned global manufactur-
ing and logistics strategy selection as well as a system reconguration issue. A Decision
Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique based novel multiple cri-
teria decision making (MCDM) method with Analytic Network Process (ANP), Grey Rela-
tional Analysis (GRA), as well as VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje
(VIKOR) is proposed for selecting and reconguring the aspired global manufacturing and
logistics system. An empirical study based on the global manufacturing and logistics sys-
tem design of a semiconductor company is provided for verifying the effectiveness of this
proposed methodology.
Wu and Liangs paper proposes an approach to evaluate and rank alternatives in MCDM
via an extension of a DEA method, namely the DEA game cross-efciency model, in which
each alternative is viewed as a player who seeks to maximize its own score, under the con-
dition that the cross-evaluation scores of each other alternative does not deteriorate. The
game cross-evaluation score is obtained when the alternatives own maximized scores are
averaged. The obtained game cross-evaluation scores are unique and constitute a Nash equi-
librium point.
Yu and Chens article introduces the behavior mechanism that integrates the ndings
of neural science, psychology, system science, optimization theory, and multiple criteria
decision making. Unless extraordinary events occur or special effort exerted, the dynamic
processes will be stabilized in certain domains, known as Habitual Domains. Habitual Do-
mains, which play a vital role in upgrading the quality of our decision making and lives, is
explored. In addition, as important consequential derivatives, concepts of Competence Set
Analysis and Innovation Dynamics are discussed. Note that these concepts involve transi-
tions between dynamic and static states.
The guest editors hope that the papers published in this special volume will be of in-
terest to academic and industrial communities. Promoting high quality, novel, and daring
research ndings, and providing solutions and tools to challenging problems faced by fel-
low researchers, practitioners, and students, they also point the way to research challenges
and initiatives for further research.
4 Ann Oper Res (2012) 197:14
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief, Endre Boros, for giving us the chance to
edit this special volume and the Managing Editor, Katie DAgosta, for providing guidance and facilitating
the whole process. We would also like to thank all reviewers for their time, energy, and efforts to review the
submissions. Last but not least, the guest editors would like to thank the authors of all the submissions to
this special volume for their contribution. Without the support of all of you, it would have been impossible to
compile this special volume for our readers.