Best Worst Method with Sorting
Best Worst Method with Sorting (BWM-Sort) · Also known as: BWM-Sort
BWM-Sort is a variant of the Best Worst Method introduced by Jafar Rezaei around 2015. It combines pairwise comparison of criteria with alternative sorting, enabling decision-makers to prioritize both evaluation dimensions and final ranked outcomes in a single integrated framework.
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When to use it
Use BWM-Sort when you need both criteria weighting and alternative ranking in a coherent decision framework. It is particularly suitable for problems with 5–15 criteria and where the decision-maker can reliably identify the most and least important dimensions. Prefer it over full pairwise comparison methods when cognitive load is high or when consistency reduction is critical.
Strengths & limitations
- Reduces cognitive load by requiring only best–worst comparisons instead of full pairwise matrices
- Produces a linear programming model with mathematically guaranteed optimal weights
- Integrates criteria weighting and alternative ranking in a single coherent step
- Handles inconsistent judgments gracefully through a minimization objective
- Identifies only one best and one worst criterion; ambiguity can arise if multiple criteria are equally important
- The linear optimization model assumes transitivity properties that may not hold in all problem contexts
- Sorting output is only as reliable as the weight derivation; errors in best–worst assessments propagate
Frequently asked
How does BWM-Sort differ from standard AHP?
AHP requires a full pairwise comparison matrix; BWM-Sort needs only best–worst comparisons. This reduces from O(n²) pairwise judgments to O(2n), making it cognitively lighter and often more consistent.
What if I cannot clearly identify a single best criterion?
If multiple criteria are nearly equally important, run sensitivity analysis on the best–worst designation. Alternatively, cluster criteria and apply BWM-Sort separately to each cluster, then aggregate results.
Can I use BWM-Sort with fuzzy numbers or interval preferences?
Yes. Fuzzy BWM and interval BWM variants exist, replacing crisp preference scales with fuzzy membership functions or confidence intervals. These require solving interval linear programs instead of standard LP.
Sources
- Rezaei, J. (2015). Best-worst multi-criteria decision-making method: Some properties and a linear model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 229, 976-985. DOI: 10.1016/j.omega.2015.12.001 ↗
- Rezaei, J., Wang, J., & Tavasszy, L. (2015). Linking supplier development to supplier segmentation using Best Worst Method. European Journal of Operational Research, 255(2), 357-368. DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2015.07.073 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Best Worst Method with Sorting (BWM-Sort). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/decision-making/bwm-sort
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- AHP-BOCRDecision-making↔ compare
- BWMDecision-making↔ compare
- Lexicographic Best Worst MethodDecision-making↔ compare
- Non-linear Best Worst MethodDecision-making↔ compare
- Stratified Best Worst MethodDecision-making↔ compare
- SWARA IIDecision-making↔ compare