An attribute weight based feedback model for multiple attributive group decision analysis problems with group consensus requirements in evidential reasoning context

In an evidential reasoning context, a group consensus (GC) based approach can model multiple attributive group decision analysis problems with GC requirements. The predefined GC is reached through several rounds of group analysis and discussion (GAD) in the approach. However, the GAD with no guidance may not be the most appropriate way to reach the predefined GC because several rounds of GAD will spend a lot of time of all experts and yet cannot help them to effectively emphasize on the assessments which primarily damage the GC. In this paper, an attribute weight based feedback model is constructed to effectively identify the assessments primarily damaging the GC and accelerate the GC convergence. Considering important attributes with the weights more than or at least equal to the mean of the weights of all attributes, the feedback model constructs identification rules to identify the assessments damaging the GC for the experts to renew. In addition, a suggestion rule is introduced to generate appropriate recommendations for the experts to renew their identified assessments. The identification rules are constructed at three levels including the attribute, alternative and global levels. The feedback model is used to solve an engineering project management software selection problem to demonstrate its detailed implementation process, its validity and applicability, and its advantages compared with the GC based approach. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.