Usefulness of Crisp AHP/ANP Rating Scales to Risk Assessment Differentiation

Abstract

In construction practice, all decisions are made in the context of imperfect information. The awareness of this means that efforts are made already during the preparation of decisions to limit the degree of risk and uncertainty resulting from such a nature of the available information. A risk assessment may prove particularly useful for this purpose. It can be carried out in a number of available ways. Such methods are usually based on the use of a specific methodology, expressing the complexity of the subject of the decision with the help of a specific – not sharp – representation of the available information and therefore requiring the use of advanced tools for its appropriate processing. However, it seems that there are also tools that provide appropriate, and at the same time much simpler, methods of risk assessment. Such tools undoubtedly include pairwise comparisons, in particular – the standard AHP/ANP method, using sharp data representation. In the context of risk assessment, a specific feature of this method is considered, consisting in the availability of various sharp rating scales. Their suitability for expressing different attitudes towards risk was assessed. Ultimately, it turned out that the conscious use of such scales enables the proper fulfillment of the needs related to risk assessment.