Software selection: a case study of the application of the analytical hierarchical process to the selection of a multimedia authoring system

This paper discusses the multimedia processing environment, the applicabili ty of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in problem solving, and how AHP can be applied to the selection of multimedia authorizing systems (MAS) in a gr oup decision environment. A MAS selection model is proposed to facilitate t he group's decision making in the selection of MAS. Six software engineers, who are technically competent and experienced, participated in our study. They were trained to use AHP and then applied this technique to evaluate th ree MAS products for adoption decision. The results indicated that AHP offe rs chances for evert participant to fully understand, discuss, and objectiv ely evaluate all MA products before identifying and selecting the must effi cient MAS. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.