Fuzzy Branch-and-Bound Algorithm with OWA Operators in the Case of Consumer Decision Making

Abstract

The ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator is one of the most used techniques in the operator’s aggregation procedure. This paper proposes a new assignment algorithm by using the OWA operator and different extensions of it in the Branch-and-bound algorithm. The process is based on the use of the ordered weighted average distance operator (OWAD) and the induced OWAD operator (IOWAD). We present it as the Branch-and-bound algorithm with the OWAD operator (BBAOWAD) and the Branch-and-bound algorithm with the IOWAD operator (BBAIOWAD). The main advantage of this approach is that we can obtain more detailed information by obtaining a parameterized family of aggregation operators. The application of the new algorithm is developed in a consumer decision-making model in the city of Barcelona regarding the selection of groceries by districts that best suit their needs. We rely on the opinion of local commerce experts in the city. The key advantage of this approach is that we can consider different sources of information independent of each other.