A method based on linguistic aggregation operators for group decision making with linguistic preference relations

In this paper, we define some operational laws of linguistic variables and develop some new aggregation operators such as linguistic geometric averaging (LGA) operator, linguistic weighted geometric averaging (LWGA) operator, linguistic ordered weighted geometric averaging (LOWGA) operator and linguistic hybrid geometric averaging (LHGA) operator, etc., which can be utilized to aggregate preference information taking the form of linguistic variables, and then study some desirable properties of the operators. Based on the LGA and the LHGA operators, we propose a practical method for group decision making with linguistic preference relations. The method is straightforward and has no loss of information. Finally, an illustrative numerical example is also given. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.