Using harmonious houses for visual pairwise comparison of multiple criteria alternatives

The paper considers the problem of evaluating decision alternatives, which are described by means of several criteria. The present aim is to develop an approach which enables a decision-maker to present value information on the basis of a visual representation. The underlying ideas used in the approach are based on the use of symmetry and harmony. These principles are operationalized by using ‘harmonious houses’. The theoretical approach is implemented as a decision support system, which makes pairwise comparisons possible between alternatives. To perform sensitivity analysis is also possible. In the present pilot tests, the idea has proven very promising.