Temporal interdependence in fuzzy multi criteria decision-making problems

Contemporaneous MCDM methodology is based on the simplifying assumption of independent objectives. This restriction was partly relaxed through the concept of (static) interdependent objectives introduced by C. Carlsson and R. Fuller. Most real world managerial decision problems involve interdependent objectives, yet in a temporal setting. In the paper we generalize the static concept to temporal fuzzy multiobjective programming problem. We introduce the concepts temporal support and temporal conflict in the objective set within both infinite and finite planning horizons. We also formulate dynamic versions of membership functions for interdependent objectives in crisp and fuzzy multiobjective programming problems. The new concepts are used to describe and model temporal goal conflicts in numerical illustrations.