University of St. Thomas uses AHP to grow operations management major

Our study describes how one business school department used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to identify and rank factors most influencing students' choice of business school concentrations. Using a series of pairwise comparison matrices as the survey instrument, we identified characteristics associated with a student's personal abilities and goals as the most important factor influencing a student's choice in majors. The factors were then mapped with student touch points (e.g., campus events, information sessions, etc.) in an effort to directly influence those factors most affecting students' decision making and increase departmental enrolment numbers. The result was a near 120% increase in operations management enrolment upon the completion of the project.