Practical Decision Making ― An Introduction to the Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp) Using Super Decisions V2

This book offers a simple introduction to thefundamentals and applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) without apre-requisite for a sophisticated mathematical background. It provides a quickand intuitive understanding of the methodology using spreadsheet examples andexplains in a step-by-step fashion how to use Super Decisions, a freelyavailable software developed by the Creative Decisions Foundations. The book isintended to be a resource for decision makers with little or no exposure to thefield of Operations Research (OR); however, the book can be used as a verygentle introduction to the AHP methodology and/or as an AHP hands-on supplementfor standard OR textbooks. AHP is an intuitive and mathematically simplemethodology in the field of multi-criteria decision making. Because of this,most AHP books assume the reader has basic OR mathematical background. However,AHP simplicity suggests that decision makers from all disciplines can takeadvantage of the methodology without struggling with the mathematics behind it.To fulfill this need, this book delivers a quick and practical understanding ofthe method that can be useful for corporate executives.

Enrique Mu, Co-Chair of the MBA program at Carlow University, is anaccomplished scholar and seasoned businessman. He holds a PhD in BusinessAdministration with a concentration in Information Systems from the Universityof Pittsburgh where he is an associate of the University Center forInternational Studies. Prior to joining Carlow, he was dual-degree MBA/MISprogram director in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, where he taught for 10 years. Prior to joining theacademia, Dr. Mu was responsible for sales and marketing distributionoperations in Latin America for a U.S.-based global data communicationcorporation. He also worked as customer support vice president and seniorproject manager for Comlasa Ltd., a computing solution multinational firm(later acquired by UPS Logistics) for the Latin American banking industry.There, he led several multimillion-dollar banking automation projects in Peru,Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile. In addition to his activities in the U.S., healso regularly teaches and gives business presentations in Europe and LatinAmerica. Dr. Mu was visiting faculty in the European Business School in Germanywhere he taught for several years. His main areas of interest are themanagement of IT innovations, managerial decision making, and the interplay ofpolitics and technology. He is also founder and editor in chief of theInternational Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

Milagros Pereyra-Rojas has beenexecutive director for the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) at theUniversity of Pittsburg since 2003. She has been a research associate at CaseWestern Reserve University and President of MaestroMeetings Inc. She graduatedfrom the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve Universitywith a Ph.D. in Management (Designing Sustainable Systems). She also holds anM.S. in public policy and management, with a concentration on finance andinformation technology, from Carnegie Mellon University; and an M.S. inmanagement and technology, as well as a B.S./B.A from Carlow University,Pittsburgh, PA. She is originally from Peru where she worked as a TVjournalist, having had the opportunity to meet and interview key Peruvianpolitical figures. She also worked for La Casa de la Mujer—a non-profitorganization that promotes the rights of underprivileged women. She startedworking for LASA as assistant director for information systems and communicationsin 2000. During her tenure at LASA, she has been responsible for theimplementation of several technological initiatives such as on-line membership,professional searchable database, and on-line proposal submission. Pereyra wasinstrumental during the transfer of the Latin American Research Review (LARR) –the flagship journal of LASA from a University Press to self-publishing. Shehas also re-structured the organization and administrative processes which, incombination with the upgraded technical infrastructure, has made LASA one of themost efficient non-profit organizations of its kind.