Information reliability has a remarkable effect on decision-making outcome. Zadeh's Z-number considers information fuzziness and reliability, and can, therefore, help the decision-maker to manage complicated problems. However, due to its complex construct, several issues concerning the computation of Z-numbers require further research. This study develops a novel likelihood-based method of comparing two Z-numbers to solve multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems. Four main parts can be outlined. First, the likelihood of fuzzy restriction of Z-numbers is defined based on the conversion method of Z-number. Second, the likelihood of underlying probability distributions of Z-numbers is also proposed to compare the difference of randomness of Z-information. Third, by adding to a risk preference parameter, this study constructs a comprehensive weighted likelihood of Z-numbers. Finally, a likelihood-based qualitative flexible approach is extended to address the MCDM problems under Z-evaluation. In addition, a numerical example of the selection of ERP systems for ABC enterprise is placed to illustrate the applicability, validity, and effectiveness of the proposed method.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.