Analytic Hierarchy Process

An Overview

Methodology• The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

– How AHP Structures Decision Problems • Overall Goal• Criteria• Alternatives

– Facilitates Decision Analysis

• Measures the Extent to Which Each Alternative Achieves Each of the Criteria

• Determine the Relative Importance of the Criteria in Meeting the Goal

Analytic Hierarchy Process

Complex Decisions Conflicting Multiple Objectives Differing Perspectives

The Recommendations Offered by Decision Analysis Should Not be Blindly Accepted.

Methodology

1. Determine the Weights of the Alternatives for Each Criterion

2.Determine the Priorities or Weights of the Criteria in Achieving the Goal

3.Determine the Overall Weight of Each Alternative in Achieving the Goal. This is Accomplished by Combining the Results of the First Two Stages and is Called Synthesis

The Analytical Hierarchy Process Using Expert Choice

• Expert Choice is a decision-making software program that utilizes AHP

• Certain Criteria are chosen based on relevant importance and personal preference

• Example: What is the Best Car to Buy?

Expert Choice

Pairwise Comparison

Volvo Wins!

Web Web Portal Portal ProjectProject

The Portal Group• Faculty Advisors

– Robert Nydick– Stephen Andriole

• Expert Advisors– Timothy Ay– Steve Fugale

• Criteria Group– TJ Czyzewski– Anne Kanouff– Dom Pinelli– Mike Rogers

• Alternative Groups– Pat Beirne– Katie D’Angelo– Jack Dertadian– Peter Earle– Dan Farino– Pat Gaffney– Wade Hardie– Pete Hamm– Chris Klenk– Dan Massamini– Travis McMenimon– Caitlin Moore– Sean Ryan– Matt Savini

What is the Problem?• A new technological revolution

– Is it good for the University?• One-stop access to the University

– Connect each individual with his/her information from several systems (Novasis, Webmail, WebCT, WildCard, News, Calendars)

• Attract prospective students

Topics to be Covered

•What is a portal?• Goal• Criteria• Alternatives• The Results• Sensitivity Analysis

What is a portal?

• A portal is a web based interface that combines information and content from a variety of sources into a single view. It also allows for user personalization.

What is a portal?

Benchmarking

• Peer – University of

Richmond – Drexel University– Lehigh University – Boston College – Bucknell University

• Pure Technology– Wake Forest

University– Carnegie Mellon

University– Dartmouth College– University of

Delaware

Benchmarking

• Peer– Boston College –

“Agora”• Oracle

– Drexel University – “DrexelOne Mobile”• Microsoft .NET

– Lehigh University • SCT

• Pure Technology– Wake Forest –

“WIN”• IRISLink (SRN)

– University of Delaware – “UD&me”• UPortal

– Carnegie Mellon – “Digital Dashboard”• WebISO

Topics to be Covered

• What is a portal?

•Goal• Criteria• Alternatives• The Results• Sensitivity Analysis

Goal

•The ideal portal product that best first the current and future requirements and needs of the University

Topics to be Covered

• What is a portal?• Goal• Criteria

•Alternatives• The Results• Sensitivity Analysis

Topics to be Covered

• What is a portal?• Goal• Criteria • Alternatives• Results• Sensitivity Analysis

Original Alternatives

Oracle Application Server

Alternative 1

• Good Scalability• Secure Architecture• Lots of Supporting Applications Work with

Portal AS• Easy to Customize• Good Integration & Interoperability with

Other Applications & Architectures …

Alternative 1

Alternative 2

• Developed By JA-SIG• Java In Administration Special Interest

Groups

• Java 2 Implementation (J2EE)• Focused on the requirements of higher

education institutions• “FREE”

• Pure Open Source• Support – UNICON Inc.

Alternative 2

Sun Java System Portal Server

Alternative 3

Portal Server• Web Browsers• Personalization • Portable Devices• Discounted Price• Scalability• Instant Messaging• Portlets

Alternative 3

Comparison MatrixOracle SUN Uportal

Open Source

Proprietary

Cost $ $ $ $ $ $

IM

Own Content Mgt

SSO

Scalability

3rd Party Portlets

All Alternatives

Topics to be Covered

• What is a portal?• Goal• Criteria• Alternatives• The Results• Sensitivity Analysis

The Results

33.8%

33.3%

32.8%

Topics to be Covered

• What is a portal?• Goal• Criteria• Alternatives• The Results• Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis

• Architecture changed from 34.5% to 25%– UPortal is ranked first

• Cost changed from 27.2% to 31.9%– UPortal is ranked first

• Security changed from 19.3% to 37.9%– SUN is ranked first

• Vendor Stability– Only changes slightly rankings when the

weight approaches zero• Features – no change

Questions

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