Comparing (Social) Objectives For Decision-Making In Housing Corporations

Housing corporations are not after a financial gain but allocate (consciously if not unconsciously) a part of their available capital in order to achieve a range of social objectives. The real problem is that it is often very difficult to compare these objectives. Do we choose for an extra affordable house or do we spend more on liveability? Answering these types of questions stays difficult as long as there is no objective way to compare the objectives. This article explains a method by which we can compare objectives using pairwise comparisons following Saatyís AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). With the help of the AHP objectives are ordered by importance and a weight-vector is determined. To use the AHP, we have to choose an interval per objective with the minimum prerequisite level and the desired level. By using these intervals, it becomes possible to compare objectives measured in different units. This method can be used to support the decision making process at a corporation level but also to work out the sub-objectives at a district or regional level. Hereby, an optimal balance of allocated capital and the score of the objectives can be achieved at every decision making level.