Ebook: Models, Methods, Concepts & Applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Models, Methods, Concepts and Applications of the Analytic HierarchyProcess is a volume dedicated to selected applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused on three themes: economics, the social sciences, and the linking of measurement with human values. (1) The AHP offers economists a substantially different approach to dealing with economic problems through ratio scales. The main mathematical models on which economics has based its quantitative thinking up to now are utility theory, which uses interval scales, and linear programming. We hope that the variety of examples included here can perhaps stimulate researchers in economics to try applying this new approach. (2) The second theme is concerned with the social sciences. The AHP offers psychologists and political scientists the methodology to quantify and derive measurements for intangibles. We hope that the examples included in this book will encourage them to examine the methods of AHP in terms of the problems they seek to solve. (3) The third theme is concerned with providing people in the physical and engineering sciences with a quantitative method to link hard measurement to human values. In such a process one needs to interpret what the measurements mean. A number is useless until someone understands what it means. It can have different meanings in different problems. Ten dollars are plenty to satisfy one's hunger but are useless by themselves in buying a new car. Such measurements are only indicators of the state of a system, but do not relate to the values of the human observers of that system. AHP methods can help resolve the conflicts between hard measurement data and human values.

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Models, Methods, Concepts and Applications of the Analytic HierarchyProcess is a volume dedicated to selected applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused on three themes: economics, the social sciences, and the linking of measurement with human values. (1) The AHP offers economists a substantially different approach to dealing with economic problems through ratio scales. The main mathematical models on which economics has based its quantitative thinking up to now are utility theory, which uses interval scales, and linear programming. We hope that the variety of examples included here can perhaps stimulate researchers in economics to try applying this new approach. (2) The second theme is concerned with the social sciences. The AHP offers psychologists and political scientists the methodology to quantify and derive measurements for intangibles. We hope that the examples included in this book will encourage them to examine the methods of AHP in terms of the problems they seek to solve. (3) The third theme is concerned with providing people in the physical and engineering sciences with a quantitative method to link hard measurement to human values. In such a process one needs to interpret what the measurements mean. A number is useless until someone understands what it means. It can have different meanings in different problems. Ten dollars are plenty to satisfy one's hunger but are useless by themselves in buying a new car. Such measurements are only indicators of the state of a system, but do not relate to the values of the human observers of that system. AHP methods can help resolve the conflicts between hard measurement data and human values.

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Models, Methods, Concepts and Applications of the Analytic HierarchyProcess is a volume dedicated to selected applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused on three themes: economics, the social sciences, and the linking of measurement with human values. (1) The AHP offers economists a substantially different approach to dealing with economic problems through ratio scales. The main mathematical models on which economics has based its quantitative thinking up to now are utility theory, which uses interval scales, and linear programming. We hope that the variety of examples included here can perhaps stimulate researchers in economics to try applying this new approach. (2) The second theme is concerned with the social sciences. The AHP offers psychologists and political scientists the methodology to quantify and derive measurements for intangibles. We hope that the examples included in this book will encourage them to examine the methods of AHP in terms of the problems they seek to solve. (3) The third theme is concerned with providing people in the physical and engineering sciences with a quantitative method to link hard measurement to human values. In such a process one needs to interpret what the measurements mean. A number is useless until someone understands what it means. It can have different meanings in different problems. Ten dollars are plenty to satisfy one's hunger but are useless by themselves in buying a new car. Such measurements are only indicators of the state of a system, but do not relate to the values of the human observers of that system. AHP methods can help resolve the conflicts between hard measurement data and human values.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
How to Make A Decision....Pages 1-25
The Seven Pillars of the Analytic Hierarchy Process....Pages 27-46
Architectural Design....Pages 47-70
Designing a Mousetrap....Pages 71-84
Designing the Best Catamaran....Pages 85-96
The Selection of a Bridge....Pages 97-109
Measuring Dependence Between Activities: Input-Output Application to the Sudan....Pages 111-118
Technological Choice in Less Developed Countries....Pages 119-133
Market Attractiveness of Developing Countries....Pages 135-157
An Analytic Hierarchy Process Based Approach to the Design and Evaluation of a Marketing Driven Business and Corporate Strategy....Pages 159-169
New Product Pricing Strategy....Pages 171-182
Incorporating Expert Judgment in Economic Forecasts: The Case of the U.S. Economy in 1992....Pages 183-198
A New Macroeconomic Forecasting and Policy Evaluation Method....Pages 199-217
Forecasting the Future of the Soviet Union....Pages 219-233
Abortion and the States: How Will the Supreme Court Rule on the Upcoming Pennsylvania Abortion Issue....Pages 235-244
The Benefits and Costs of Authorizing Riverboat Gambling....Pages 245-255
The Case of the Spotted Owl vs. The Logging Industry....Pages 257-262
Selection of Recycling Goal Most Likely to Succeed....Pages 263-272
To Drill Or Not To Drill: A Synthesis of Expert Judgments....Pages 273-283
Modeling the Graduate Business School Admissions Process....Pages 285-294
Infertility Decision Making....Pages 295-303
The Decision by the US Congress on China’s Trade Status: A Multicriteria Analysis....Pages 305-317
Deciding between Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery....Pages 319-330
Back Matter....Pages 331-333

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Models, Methods, Concepts and Applications of the Analytic HierarchyProcess is a volume dedicated to selected applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused on three themes: economics, the social sciences, and the linking of measurement with human values. (1) The AHP offers economists a substantially different approach to dealing with economic problems through ratio scales. The main mathematical models on which economics has based its quantitative thinking up to now are utility theory, which uses interval scales, and linear programming. We hope that the variety of examples included here can perhaps stimulate researchers in economics to try applying this new approach. (2) The second theme is concerned with the social sciences. The AHP offers psychologists and political scientists the methodology to quantify and derive measurements for intangibles. We hope that the examples included in this book will encourage them to examine the methods of AHP in terms of the problems they seek to solve. (3) The third theme is concerned with providing people in the physical and engineering sciences with a quantitative method to link hard measurement to human values. In such a process one needs to interpret what the measurements mean. A number is useless until someone understands what it means. It can have different meanings in different problems. Ten dollars are plenty to satisfy one's hunger but are useless by themselves in buying a new car. Such measurements are only indicators of the state of a system, but do not relate to the values of the human observers of that system. AHP methods can help resolve the conflicts between hard measurement data and human values.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
How to Make A Decision....Pages 1-25
The Seven Pillars of the Analytic Hierarchy Process....Pages 27-46
Architectural Design....Pages 47-70
Designing a Mousetrap....Pages 71-84
Designing the Best Catamaran....Pages 85-96
The Selection of a Bridge....Pages 97-109
Measuring Dependence Between Activities: Input-Output Application to the Sudan....Pages 111-118
Technological Choice in Less Developed Countries....Pages 119-133
Market Attractiveness of Developing Countries....Pages 135-157
An Analytic Hierarchy Process Based Approach to the Design and Evaluation of a Marketing Driven Business and Corporate Strategy....Pages 159-169
New Product Pricing Strategy....Pages 171-182
Incorporating Expert Judgment in Economic Forecasts: The Case of the U.S. Economy in 1992....Pages 183-198
A New Macroeconomic Forecasting and Policy Evaluation Method....Pages 199-217
Forecasting the Future of the Soviet Union....Pages 219-233
Abortion and the States: How Will the Supreme Court Rule on the Upcoming Pennsylvania Abortion Issue....Pages 235-244
The Benefits and Costs of Authorizing Riverboat Gambling....Pages 245-255
The Case of the Spotted Owl vs. The Logging Industry....Pages 257-262
Selection of Recycling Goal Most Likely to Succeed....Pages 263-272
To Drill Or Not To Drill: A Synthesis of Expert Judgments....Pages 273-283
Modeling the Graduate Business School Admissions Process....Pages 285-294
Infertility Decision Making....Pages 295-303
The Decision by the US Congress on China’s Trade Status: A Multicriteria Analysis....Pages 305-317
Deciding between Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery....Pages 319-330
Back Matter....Pages 331-333
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