Using the analytic hierarchy process in evaluating decision alternatives

In this paper the method of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is described. At the beginning the general assumptions of the method are characterized and discussed. These are related to assumptions held within General Systems Theory. Then the problems of pairwise comparison of elements, with its use of a specific scale, as well as the resulting reciprocal matrix are presented. There are many ways of estimating the eigenvectors of this matrix. These eigenvectors reflects weights of preferences. Despite the fact that we are able to evaluate the consistency of our judgments, the problem of acceptable weights still remains. Therefore, by way of an illustration, a method for the sensitivity analysis of preferences is also discussed in the paper.