CARVER 2.0: integrating the Analytical Hierarchy Process’s multi-attribute decision-making weighting scheme for a center of gravity vulnerability analysis for US Special Operations Forces

Abstract

This article examines the use of a weighting scheme with a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) process to improve the CARVER center of gravity analysis that is currently used by Special Operations Forces. We employ Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) pairwise comparison method to obtain initial decision maker weights for the decision-making process as an example for a generalizable mission. Firstly, we show the standard current CARVER method, as outlined in FM 34-36. Next, we apply several MADM methods using our suggested AHP weighting scheme to obtain the rankings of the alternatives. We compare the results and provide sensitivity analysis to examine the robustness of each MADM analysis. We conclude that any decision methodology for CARVER that includes a weighting scheme by each decision maker is better than not using any weighting scheme.