Generalized ordered modular averaging operator and its application to group decision making

In this paper, we propose a new class of operators called the ordered quasi-modular averaging (OQMA) operators based on the ordered modular averaging (OMA) operators. It is shown that the OQMA operators are monotonic, bounded, idempotent, commutative and quasi-comonotone modular. Moreover, we introduce the generalized ordered modular averaging (GOMA) operator, which is a special case of the OQMA operator. Some special cases of the GOMA operator are discussed. An orness measure to reflect the or-like degree of the GOMA operator is proposed. We further extend the GOMA operator to the generalized ordered hybrid modular (GOHM) operator, which focuses not only on the degree of importance with respect to input arguments but also their serial positions. Finally, a new method based on the GOHM operator for multi-attribute group decision making is presented and a numerical example shows that the developed approach is feasible. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.