A consensual method for multi-criteria group decision-making with linguistic intuitionistic information

Consensus reaching process (CRP) is a necessary process for achieving agreed solutions in multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM). However, the consensus thresholds are usually given directly and lack of objectivity in existing related research. Therefore, this paper proposes the concept of the lowest consensus threshold as a reference to determine the consensus threshold. Then, a new two-stage CRP method is developed for MCGDM with linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy variables (LIFVs) considering DMs' willingness of modifying preference information. In the first stage, LIFVs evaluation values with high linguistic indeterminacy degrees are modified. In the second stage, evaluation elements with high deviation elements are then modified. Simulation experiments I are designed to analyze the lowest consensus threshold whose results reveal that the more the number of DMs, the lower the value of this threshold. Simulation experiments II demonstrate that the first stage in CRP can improve the value of the lowest consensus threshold. To show the applicability of the proposed CRP method, a real-life decision example is presented. Finally, Simulation experiments III verify that the proposed method can decrease the adjustment cost and the number of adjustment elements. Simulation experiments IV further demonstrate the first stage in CRP plays an important role. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The paper introduces the concept of lowest consensus threshold and develops a new two-stage CRP method for MCGDM with LIFVs. Simulation experiments show that the value of lowest consensus threshold decreases with increasing number of decision makers, and the first stage in CRP can enhance the value of this threshold.