Novel multiple attribute group decision-making methods based on linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy information

Abstract

As an effective technique to qualitatively depict assessment information, a linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy number (LIFN) is more appropriate to portray vagueness and indeterminacy in actual situations than intuitionistic fuzzy number (IFN). The prominent feature of a Muirhead mean (MM) operator is that it has the powerful ability to capture the correlations between any input-data and MM operator covers other common operators by assigning the different parameter vectors. In the article, we first analyze the limitations of the existing ranking approaches of LIFN and propose a novel ranking approach to surmount these limitations. Secondly, we propound several novel MM operators to fuse linguistic intuitionistic fuzzy (LIF) information, such as the LIF Muirhead mean (LIFMM) operator, the weighted LIF Muirhead mean (WLIFMM) operator and their dual operators, the LIFDMM operator and the WLIFDMM operator. Subsequently, we discuss several desirable properties along with exceptional cases of them. Moreover, two novel multiple attribute group decision-making approaches are developed based upon these operators. Ultimately, the effectuality and practicability of the propounded methods are validated through dealing with a global supplier selection issue, and the comparative analysis and the merits of the presented approaches are demonstrated by comparing them with existing approaches.