ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the basic concepts of problem solving and certain topics that are often ignored in traditional multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) research. Traditional MCDM research begins with a predefined problem: single or multiple goals, multiple criteria or multiple constraints. The chapter addresses two underexplored critical issues in traditional MCDM research: the initial problem definition might exert unexpected influence on the obtained results and decision making should play a more constructive role in problem solving. It provides an overview of the three building blocks of the new hybrid MCDM approach, as proposed by Professor Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng's research group. The three building blocks are hybrid multiple rules–based decision making, hybrid multiple attribute decision making (MADM) and hybrid multiple objective decision making. In hybrid MADM, two or more analytical MADM methods are combined or integrated for ranking, selection, and improvement planning, in the context of multiple attributes.
