A New Model of Efficiency-Oriented Group Decision and Consensus Reaching Support in a Fuzzy Environment

Abstract

We present a novel comprehensive model of a consensus reaching support system in the fuzzy context. We assume the individual fuzzy preferences, a fuzzy majority in group decision making, as proposed by Kacprzyk [9], some fuzzy majority based solution concepts in group decision making, notably fuzzy cores (cf. Kacprzyk [9]) and their choice function based representations by Kacprzyk and Zadrożny [15],[16], a soft degree of consensus by Kacprzyk and Fedrizzi [10],[11]. Using as a point of departure Kacprzyk and Zadrożny's [18] approach of the use of linguistic data summaries to support the running of a consensus reaching process, we develop and implement a novel approach that synergistically combines the tools and techniques mentioned above. We assume that moderated consensus reaching process which is run in the group of agents by a special agent called a moderator, is the most effective and efficient solution. We attempt to facilitate the work of a moderator, by some useful guidelines and additional indicators. We extend this idea and finally, we present a new implementation followed by a numerical evaluation of the new model proposed. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014.