The AHP-TOPSIS based DSS for selecting suppliers of information resources

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to determine the possible attach a DSS as a sub-system to Voyager, based on MCDM techniques for selecting suppliers of information resources as a part of the acquisition library system. Voyager is a library management system. The host organization in this study was the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), Wellington, NZ. The MCDM methods were used as the research method. The population of the study included the system developers, subject librarians, managers, and decision-makers in the acquisition section in the libraries of VUW. Data collection tools included a review of literature, government documents and reports, questionnaires, evaluation forms, and interviews. For analyzing data used AHP and TOPSIS techniques and Inferential and descriptive statistics. Mind mapper, Excel, Expert Choice, TOPSIS, and other software employed in this research. The results of the study show which criteria are the best criteria for selecting information resources suppliers. The study produced a ranking of suppliers for the libraries. Also, it is shown that Voyager can use the recommended DSS as a sub-system to the main system. It is concluded that the priority for information resource selection criteria in VUW, is “End-Price”. It also concluded that the first grade for suppliers in VUW belongs to Oxford. Reviewing the research background, it seems that so far, no research has been done on the use of multi-criteria decision-making techniques for selecting information resource suppliers and selecting information sources. This research has been done to help library professionals and librarians in choosing the best collection and choosing the best resource suppliers. The studied techniques and methods help to design and implement a system that supports the decision-making in the selection of information sources and the selection of suppliers of information resources. This system can be used as an extension to the library system.