Ranking and grouping decision alternatives by using gower plots and decision balls

This study proposes a visual tool to assist the decision maker to rank and group the alternatives. The decision maker is first asked to specify the pairwise preferences over all alternatives. A Gower plot is then depicted based on the preference matrix. The cardinal and ordinal consistencies of the alternatives can be examined from the Gower plot. When the consistency is reached, a decision ball can then be generated. By viewing the decision ball, a decision maker can directly rank and group the alternatives.