A Hierarchical Decision Model Based on Pairwise Comparisons

Pairwise comparisons (PC) method is an efficient technique and hierarchical analysis is a popular means coping with complex decision problems. Based on two proposed theorems, this paper shows that the PC-based hierarchical decision models stem from the weighted average methods (including the arithmetic form and the geometric form). Some issues (including the rank reversal, the criterion for acceptable consistency and the method for deriving priorities, etc) associated with the current PC-based hierarchical models (including the AHP, the multiplicative AHP and the FPR-AHP) are investigated. Another PC-based hierarchical decision model, which is different from the Saaty's AHP, is introduced for applications by virtue of its desirable traits (such as the rank preservation, the isomorphic correspondence, etc).