Robustness of the multi-objective moora method with a test for the facilities sector

Abstract

The definition of robustness in econometrics, the error term in a linear equation, was not only broadened, but in addition moved to the meaning of common language: from a cardinal to a qualitative one. These interpretations were tested by an application on the Facilities Sector in Lithuania. The application is multi-objective: like costs, experience and effectiveness at the side of the contractors; quality, duration of the work and cost price at the side of the owners. These objectives having all different units the dimensionless ratios of the MOORA method avoids the difficulties of normalization. In a first part of MOORA these ratios were aggregated and in a second one they were used as distances to a reference point. The results of both parts control each other, a test on robustness. Additionally, MOORA shows a robust domination on all other methods of multi-objective optimization. For the Facilities Sector in Lithuania, both parts of MOORA resulted in a comparable ranking. In this way a double check was made on the robustness of the results.