The use of the AHP process within GD is a powerful aid for decision makers. It helps in articulating selection criteria, arriving at consistent weights for each criterion, and, when necessary, arriving at a final consensus ranking amongst the stakeholders.
It is a proven technique for providing a systematic approach to solving an inherently unstructured problem. The sophisticated and mathematically sound pair-wise comparison process allows for the simultaneous and disciplined assessment of both qualitative and quantitative criteria.
In situations where a committee is charged with making the decision, AHP offers additional unique advantages over the traditional approach. It provides a forum for the generation of discussion and clarification of the selection criteria.
GD can also serve to balance power with the selection group by managing data anonymously, so less-powerful group members have no less a voice than anyone else on the committee.
