AHP

Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be characterized as a multi-criteria decision technique in which qualitative factors are of prime of importance. A model of the problem is developed using a hierarchical representation. At the top of the hierarchy is the overall goal or prime objective one is seeking to fulfill. The succeeding lower levels then represent the progressive decomposition of the problem. The knowledgeable parties complete a pair-wise comparison of all entries in each level relative to each of the entries in the next higher level of the hierarchy. The composition of these judgments fixes the relative priority of the entities at the lowest level (the alternatives) relative to achieving the top-most objective.

The pairwise comparison between criteria A and criteria B with respect to the next higher criteria (the goal/focus if topmost level):

1- A has the same importance as B with respect to U.
3- A has slightly more importance than B with respect to U.
5- A has more importance than B with respect to U.
7- A has a lot more importance than B with respect to U.
9- A totally dominates B with respect to U.
1/3- B has slightly more importance than A with respect to U.
1/5- B has more importance than A with respect to U.
1/7- B has a lot more importance than A with respect to U.
1/9- B totally dominates A with respect to U.

Intermediate values can be used for finer graduation.

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