Analysis of heuristic validity, efficiency and applicability of the profile distance method for implementation in decision support systems

作者：Bernroider Edward; Obwegeser Nikolaus^*; Stix Volker

来源：Computers & Operations Research, 2011, 38(5): 816-823.

DOI：10.1016/j.cor.2010.09.017

• Profile distance method
• Decision support systems
• Multi-criteria decision making
• Heuristics
• Usability

This article seeks to enhance acceptance of the profile distance method (PDM) in decision support systems. The PDM is a multiple attributive-based decision making as well as a multiple method approach to support complex decision making and uses a heuristic to avoid computationally complex global optimization. We elaborate on the usability of the method and question the heuristic used. We present a bi-section algorithm, which efficiently supports the discovery of transition profiles needed in a user-friendly and practical application of the method. Additionally, we provide empirical evidence showing that the proposed heuristic is efficient and delivers results within 5% of the global optimizer for a wide range of datasets.

• 出版日期2011-5