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Inducement of Nonexistent Order by the Analytic Hierarchy Process *
Author(s) -
Schenkerman Stan
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1997.tb01319.x
Subject(s) - analytic hierarchy process , pairwise comparison , order (exchange) , ideal (ethics) , hierarchy , computer science , decision maker , operations research , decision problem , process (computing) , mathematical economics , mathematics , business , economics , artificial intelligence , algorithm , political science , law , market economy , operating system , finance
An apparently unreported problem facing decision makers who use AHP is described. It is demonstrated that conventional AHP and some of its variants (the ideal mode, and the pairwise aggregated approach, PAHAP) can induce ordering even when no order exists. It is also shown that all three approaches can induce different orderings and that the orderings are sensitive to innocuous changes. Thus, even absent addition or deletion of alternatives, the decision maker relying on AHP or these variants can be seriously misled.