A multi-period fuzzy group analytic network process methodology for information technology selection

Information technology (IT) selection, the process of choosing the best technology from a number of available options, is an important part of IT management. Decision makers (DMs) face several difficulties in the IT selection process, like making precise judgements about alternatives and criteria, reaching consensus with other DMs about their decision, and identifying the relative importance of interdependent criteria. In the current environment, making decisions has become even more complex: IT is constantly changing over time, as new features and improvements in quality are periodically released; at the same time, DMs' needs evolve after the acquisition of new technologies, demanding new functionalities as well. The method proposed in this paper provides a way to handle all these problems simultaneously, by combining technology roadmapping with multi-period analysis and the fuzzy group analytic network process. Finally, an example of the selection of a CRM system is presented to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach.