The grey extent analysis

Purpose The aim is to present a novel approach for tackling multi‐attribute decision problems with using concepts from grey system theory and the extent analysis method. Design/methodology/approach Underlying judgment set of a multi‐attribute decision problem is modeled with employing grey numbers. Fundamental principles for comparing a set of grey numbers are established. A procedure for evaluating the decision alternatives is explained in detail and referred to as “The grey extent analysis”. Findings It is shown that the proposed procedure can be used as a decision‐making tool where the judgments of the decision maker are not exact (i.e. in terms of grey system terminology they are not “white”). Research limitations/implications The grey numbers utilized are assumed to be asynchronous and uniformly distributed over their domain. Originality/value The extent analysis is well studied as an evaluation tool under a fuzzy system. This study is set apart from the previous extent analysis research for two reasons: this paper provides basic guidelines for applying the extent analysis procedure within a grey system; the (grey) number comparison principles are totally different.