Decision making support for managers in innovation management: A PROMETHEE approach

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a decision making model as a support for selection of innovation management concept using multiple criteria decision making methods. Based on the specific nature of innovation management concepts a novel decision making model was designed. Ten defined innovation management concepts are firstly evaluated using set of criteria, which priorities are expertly evaluated using Saaty method and then the PROMETHEE outranking method is used for evaluating and selecting of innovation management concepts. To apply this model in the practice the Visual PROMETHEE software tool is incorporated to the model. The model was applied on a large manufacturing company. Using our approach in this company, the concept of value analysis was selected as the best. This study is limited for decision making processes in large companies. The results of Saaty method are based on expert but subjective assessment and therefore relevant for this particular company at that particular time. In addition, we suggest that this model can help managers to solve similar decision making problems using combination of Saaty method or analytic hierarchy process together with Visual PROMETHEE software. The logic and process of the decision making model elaboration as well as the decision model itself can be used as a framework for managers facing decision making problems with similar nature as innovation management concepts i.e.: ERP systems, information systems, technologies, business models.