Multiple attribute group decision making: A generic conceptual framework and a classification scheme

The research activities in group decision making have dramatically increased over the last decade. In particular, the application of multiple attribute decision-making methods to group decision-making problems occupies a vast area in the related literature. However, there is no systematic classification scheme for these researches. This paper presents a generic conceptual framework and a classification scheme for multiple attribute group decision-making methods. The proposed framework consists of three main stages: the structuring and construction stage, the assessment stage, and the selection/ranking stage, providing not only an outline for classification but also a road map for the researchers working on this topic. Furthermore, top cited papers are classified based on this classification scheme in order to clarify the state of the art and to identify future research directions. As a result, eight significant suggestions for future research are identified.