An interactive multi-user decision support system for consensus reaching processes using fuzzy logic with linguistic quantifiers

摘要

We present an interactive user-friendly microcomputer-based decision support system for consensus reaching processes. The point of departure is a group of individuals (experts, decision makers,…) who present their testimonies (opinions) in the form of individual fuzzy preference relations. Initially, these opinions are usually quite different, i.e., the group is far from consensus. Then, in a multistage session a moderator, who is supervising the session, tries to make the individuals change their testimonies by, e.g., rational argument, bargaining, etc. to eventually get closer to consensus. For gauging and monitoring the process a new ‘soft’ degree (measure) of consensus is used whose essence is the determination to what degree, e.g., ‘most of the individuals agree as to almost all of the relevant options’. A fuzzy-logic-based calculus of linguistically quantified propositions is employed.