A parsimonious outranking method for individual and group decisionmaking and its computerized support

A simple multifaceted outranking multiple attribute decision making (MADM) method based on holistic and heuristic ideas is outlined in the paper. It makes use of preference assessment of discrete alternatives at (i) specified criteria nonconcurrently, (ii) direct expert judgments, or (iii) both. The “Dichotomy-Cut” method matches the merits of voting mechanisms with new decisive information-theoretical findings. The elimination of that half of the preference ordered matrix of the alternatives (pom), which contains less preferred ones, assures an optimum/minimum decision information in the preserved dichotomic part of pom (dpom). Next, applying a majority rule to its alternatives brings about the decision outcome sought for. Group decision making emerges as logical transition of the individual decision making. The dichotomy-cut idea is embodied in a simple computerized decision support. The (G)DSS UNIDAS 2 can exploit varied collective decision making conducts of the experts and the user in ill- and nonstructured decision problems of nonrepetitive type, as well as well-structured problems. The method and UNIDAS 2 are well adapted for initial screening and fast diagnostics. The illustrations given highlight the philosophy and the feasibility of the content exposed