Fuzzy TOPSIS Reinvented: Retaining Linguistic Information Through Interval-Valued Analysis

Abdolhanan Aminoroaya, Abdollah Hadi-Vencheh (), Ali Jamshidi and Amir Karbassi Yazdi
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Abdolhanan Aminoroaya: Department of Mathematics, Isf. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan 39998-8155, Iran
Abdollah Hadi-Vencheh: Department of Mathematics, Isf. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan 39998-8155, Iran
Ali Jamshidi: Department of Mathematics, Isf. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan 39998-8155, Iran
Amir Karbassi Yazdi: Departamento de Ingenieria, Industrial y de Sistemas, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Tarapaca, Arica 1010069, Chile

Mathematics, 2025, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: In real-world decision-making situations, experts often rely on subjective and imprecise judgments, frequently expressed using linguistic terms. While fuzzy logic offers a valuable tool to capture and process such uncertainty, traditional methods often convert fuzzy inputs into crisp values too early in the process. This premature defuzzification can result in significant loss of information and reduced interpretability. To address this issue, the present study introduces an enhanced fuzzy TOPSIS model that utilizes expected interval representations instead of early crisp transformation. This approach allows the original fuzzy data to be preserved throughout the analysis, leading to more transparent, realistic, and informative decision outcomes. The practical application of the proposed method is demonstrated through a supplier selection case study, which illustrates the model’s capability to handle real-world, complex, and qualitative decision environments. By explicitly linking the method to this domain, the study provides a concrete anchor for practitioners and decision-makers seeking transparent and robust evaluation tools.

Keywords: decision processes; multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM); TOPSIS; expected interval; linguistic variable; supplier selection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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