Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Program

This Web application is designed to assist in assessing and prioritizing the relative importance of various criteria when determining the best option for a defined problem. It is based on a mathematical model that was developed in the early 1970s by Thomas Saaty (Saaty, T.L., The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Pittsburgh: RWS Publication, 1990). Saaty’s analytical hierarchy process includes and measures all tangible and intangible, quantitatively measurable and qualitative criteria, and calibrates each into a numerical scale. The process works by providing a sequence of pairs of criteria (i.e. each criterion is evaluated by comparing it with all the others in a sequence of pairings). For each pairing, participants are asked to rank, on a scale from -9 to +9, how important that criterion is compared with the other one. Continuing with this procedure, the mathematical model eventually gives a relative weight for each criterion, and the summation is normalized to 100%. The model also provides a consistency ratio, which shows how consistent the evaluation of the criteria was during the comparison. A low value (ideally below 0.10) is proof of good consistency.

You must now select a method to enter the weights for each criteria. There are two possible choices:

• The matrix method — Values are entered in a matrix. This method is ideal for entering data quickly. However, if there are a large number of criteria to evaluate, it may be necessary to shorten the names for each to just a few characters.
• The line-by-line method — Values are entered line by line. This methods allows for weights for each comparison to be entered intuitively, and also provides space for larger and more meaningful names for the criteria.

Please indicate the method you wish to use:

	Matrix method		Line-by-line method