A fuzzy ANP approach to evaluate computer simulation packages

In this study, an intelligent approach is presented to help any simulation practitioner to evaluate simulation software alternatives and determine the best satisfying one based on his/her needs. On the other hand, this evaluation process is a typical multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem in the presence of evaluation criteria and a set of possible alternatives, and there are many methods in the literature, which have been used to successfully carry out this difficult and time-consuming process. In this paper, one of these methods, the analytic network process (ANP) method integrated with alpha-cut fuzzy logic is used because it can accommodate the variety of interactions, dependencies and feedback between higher and lower level elements, rather than analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In addition, an alpha-cut fuzzy extension of ANP uses uncertain human preferences as input information in the decision-making process. Instead of using the classical eigenvector prioritisation method in AHP, only employed in the prioritisation stage of ANP, an alpha-cut fuzzy logic method providing more accuracy on judgements is applied. The resulting alpha-cut fuzzy ANP enhances the potential of the conventional ANP for dealing with imprecise and uncertain human comparison judgements.