The uncertain ordered weighted averaging adequacy coefficient operator

Abstract

This article introduces the uncertain ordered weighted averaging adequacy coefficient (UOWAAC) operator. This novel operator uses the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator, the adequacy coefficient, and the interval numbers in a single formulation. This article also extends the UOWAAC operator by using order-inducing variables in the reordering process of the input arguments. This new extension is called the uncertain induced ordered weighted averaging adequacy coefficient (UIOWAAC) operator. The article also presents an application of the new approach in a multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) problem about international expansion. In addition, a comparative analysis is conducted with the purpose of demonstrating the superiority of the UOWAAC and UIOWAAC aggregation operators in specific situations. Likewise, the use of basic uncertain information (BUI) is discussed. The results show the usefulness of these new aggregation operators in real-life decision making problems under uncertainty, particularly when the decision maker wants to compare different alternatives with an ideal but without giving any penalty or reward in the case that the ideal levels are exceeded.