The Logic of Priorities

How does one begin to tackle a complex decision problem involving many qualitative and intangible factors? This book suggests a method, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, which integrates information from a variety of arenas – scientific, social, political and economic – any or all of which may have a bearing on the issue under consideration.

Included in the book are many case histories dealing in problems of priority setting, conflict resolution, resource allocation, prediction and portfolio selection. The step-by-step process described can reduce even the most intricate systems problems to a clear, manageable form that is accessible even to laypersons who lack sophisticated technical backgrounds.

This book will be of special interest to scholars and professionals in the areas of operations research, management science, and social and behavioural science, as well as to general students and practitioners who would like a new approach to dealing with complex decisions.