Analytic hierarcy process and an application to information technology decisions

SUMMARY The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AMP) is developed in the early 1970' s by Thomas Saaty. AHP is a multicriteria decision method that uses hierarchic or network structures to represent a decision problem and dependingly develops priorities for the alternatives based on the decision maker's judgments throughout the system. Various computer configurations are being recommended to computer buyers whose goals are different while each has the same budget In this study, the compulsory parts to make a personal computer are called "fundemental components". A hierarchic model is developed by defining various efficiency measures to determine the priorities and preferences of each fundemental component This model is applied to find the priority of each component with respect to the user's preferences and aims. The values for various users are obtained by analytical hierarchy process are used as parameters in an optimization model with the objective of utility maximization. The optimal configuration obtained by the solution of this model is discussed