Consumer choice modeling: comparing and contrasting the MAAM, AHP, TOPSIS and AHP-TOPSIS methodologies

• Main Author: Zhang, Yan
• Other Authors: Bhatnagar, Namita (Marketing)
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: MAAM; AHP; TOPSIS; AHP-TOPSIS Mixed Model
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23888

While making decisions, consumers are often confronted with choosing between multiple product and brand alternatives that may be viewed as specific bundles of attributes/criteria. Researchers, attempting to understand this decision-making process, employ multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) models in numerous ways for predicting ultimate brand choice. This thesis compares and contrasts four types of MCDM models within a laptop brand choice context—specifically, the Multi Attribute Attitude Model (MAAM; Fishbein 1967), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP; Saaty, 1980), Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS; Hwang & Yoon, 1981), and a mixed AHP-TOPSIS model (Ghosh, 2011; Bhutia & Phipon,2012). While Fishbein’s MAAM model evaluates brand choice by multiplying attribute belief ratings with their importance weights, the AHP does a pair-wise comparison to elicit relative weights of brand attributes and alternatives. The TOPSIS method, on the other hand, proposes that consumers choose brands that are nearest to (i.e., the shortest distance from) their ideal brand solution as well as the farthest from (i.e., the greatest distance from) their worst solution. Advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods are reviewed, and a mixed AHP-TOPSIS method that addresses some of the drawbacks is proposed here. The results attained via TOPSIS and AHP-TOPSIS are the same. However, it is coincidental in the chosen laptop choice example. By applying the two models within an alternative hotel choice scenario, the rankings obtained are demonstrated as being different. Sensitivity analyses conducted also demonstrate these differences across models. This thesis has both theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, it brings the knowledge of decision making methodologies from the supply chain management field to further the understanding of marketing related issues. Furthermore, this research is the first to apply a mixed AHP-TOPSIS model that demonstrates greater accuracy in predicting consumer brand choice. In terms of practical significance, it allows companies to improve the impression that customers hold about its performance on specific attribute types.