Simulation techniques for the sensitivity analysis of multi-criteria decision models

This paper presents a simulation approach for high dimensional sensitivity analysis of the weights of multi-criteria decision models. This approach allows simultaneous changes of the weights and generates results that can easily be analyzed statistically to provide insights into multi-criteria model recommendations. In this study we consider three cases: no information, order information, and partial information regarding the weights. Our approach also allows investigation of sensitivity to the form of multi-criteria decision models. The simulation procedures we propose can also be used to aide in the actual decision process, particularly when the task is to select a subset of superior alternatives. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.