A common framework for describing some outranking methods

Outranking methods such as ELECTRE have been proposed for aggregating preference information on several criteria into an overall preference structure in cases where the multiattribute utility approach is not appropriate or feasible. This paper presents a framework in which such methods may be described and, hopefully in the future, axiomatically characterized. It points out several characteristics such as independence and semiordinality which seem to be pertinent to delineate the field of application of these procedures.