Use of compromise ranking method for supervisor selection: A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach

S. Datta¹*, G. S. Beriha¹, B. Patnaik² and S. S. Mahapatra¹

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa-769008, India.

²Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa-769008, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sdattaju@gmail.com , gouri_1979@yahoo.co.in , pbhaswati03@yahoo.co.in , mahapatrass2003@yahoo.com

Accepted 21 April, 2009

   Abstract

In the present reporting a strategic methodology adapted from multi-criteria-decision making (MCDM) has been proposed to select a suitable research guide. There are several criteria that influence the efficacy of a quality researcher while guiding his/her scholar towards a positive and effective research outcome. Often scholars are asked to give their preference or to opt for a supervisor under whom he/she wishes to work in future. In this situation, the students may face some problem in selection of the appropriate guide because there is no specific guideline on the said selection procedure. It is felt that research is nothing but an academic association and the extent of cooperation as well as interaction from both end are to be the key factors for achieving good research output. It is nothing but a mutual knowledge sharing process between supervisor and the scholar. Sometimes improper selection may cause depression as well as de-motivation of the research scholar. To solve this problem, the present study highlights evaluating means by which quality and acceptability of a supervisor can be estimated quantitatively which would be helpful to select the best one prior to starting research career under the guidance of a supervisor. In this paper a study has been made by applying COPRAS-G method for quality evaluation of a supervisor. Application feasibility as well as efficiency of this method and guidelines in solving such a multi-attribute decision making problem in supervisor selection has been described illustratively in this paper.

Key words: Multi-criteria-decision making (MCDM), COPRAS-G method.