Abstract
Dear Colleagues,
The substantial increment in the applications of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques observed in recent years illustrates both their malleability and acceptance as problem-solving methods when dealing with conflicting criteria. Despite the impressive evolution of this research area, there is still ample room for additional improvements dealing with unexplored—though essential—research aspects. The induction of standard MCDM methods within the domain of dynamical systems is one of the most immediate ones.
When dealing with conflicting objectives, the design of specific algorithms and heuristic methods seems restricted to their implementation within multiobjective optimization problems, particularly when analyzing complex structures involving dynamic or strategic interactions across variables. The current Special Issue aims at integrating MCDM methods, such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, PROMETHEE and ELECTRE, within the domain of dynamical systems. In particular, it aims at bridging the gap existing between standard MCDM methods—generally implemented within static environments—and the dynamic interactions taking place across variables in many real-life settings.
An intuitive example regarding the preferred type of research is provided by the different dynamic extensions of data envelopment analysis (DEA) introduced in the operational research literature. In addition to the inclusion of a temporal dimension across MCDM methods, any potential development in techniques such as dynamic DEA or novel extensions of multiobjective optimization problems involving dynamic interactions across variables are welcome as contributions to the current Special Issue.