Papers

Decision making, scaling, and number crunching

Author(s)
Thomas Saaty
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh
United States

Publication date: Jun, 1989

Journal: Decision Sciences
Vol.: 20- Issue: 2- Pages: 404-409

Abstract: The purpose of this note is to comment on the artificiality of using known scales of measurement (or conveniently improvised numbers) to make decisions. In particular, the pitfalls of trying to please the decision maker and of using normalization as a number crunching tool are discussed. Finally, an example is given to show what is needed to develop a workable and theoretically sound theory for multi‐criteria decisions and to show that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) meets these demands.

Keywords: Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP, Multi-criteria decision

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.1989.tb01887.x