Applying consistent fuzzy preference relations to partnership selection

Partnership selection has been important to the formation of a virtual enterprise. Based on the fuzzy preference programming (FPP) method proposed by Mikhailov [Fuzzy analytical approach to partnership selection in formation of virtual enterprises. Omega 2002;30:393-401], this investigation presents a consistent fuzzy preference relations method to select partners. Human thoughts are full of uncertainty, so the decision-makers cannot make exact pairwise comparisons. The FPP method solves this problem using an interval value instead of Saaty's 1-9 scale. In this study, the FPP method is reviewed, and then the consistent fuzzy preference relations method is elucidated. Finally, the presented method is applied to the example addressed by Mikhailov [Fuzzy analytical approach to partnership selection in formation of virtual enterprises. Omega 2002;30:393-401]. This study reveals that the proposed method yields consistent decision rankings from only n-1 pairwise comparisons--the same number as in Mikhailov's research. Briefly, the presented consistent fuzzy preference relations method is an easy and practical way to provide rankings of partnership in making decision.