A Temporal Distributed Group Decision Support System Based on Multi-Criteria Analysis

Abstract

Decision support consists of proposing tasks and projects by taking into account temporal constraints and the use of resources with the aim of finding a compromise solution between several alternatives. Indeed, on the one hand, centralized resolution systems and methods are generally inappropriate to the real case because of the local unavailability of decision makers. On the other hand, the data of the decisional problem are generally poorly expressed in a negotiation environment. Other techniques and approaches treat the same decision-making problem and impose a distributed vision for coherent decisions. For this purpose, Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) allow modeling a distributed resolution of the group decision support problem. In this article, we propose a new model of a multi-criteria group decision support system based on a multi-agent system modeling a spatial problem. We consider that each decision maker is assimilated to an agent that has a decision-making autonomy, in which he interacts with other agents in the debate through a negotiation process in order to reach an acceptable compromise. In this study, we propose coordination mechanisms among agents to highlight the simulated negotiation. Therefore, the proposed system finds a solution before fixed deadlines’ time expire. We experiment the suggested negotiation model to solve the decisional problem of spatial localization in territory planning.