New Feature: Automated Consistency Fixing

One of the core principles of the Analytic Hierarchy Process is the consistency ratio — a measure of how logically coherent your pairwise comparisons are. If you say that A is better than B, and B is better than C, but then rate C equal to A, you've created an inconsistency. A few of these can creep in unnoticed, especially in larger decision models.

Until now, decisionpoint.io would indicate (and raise an alert) when the consistency ratio for a scorecard exceeded the recommended 10% threshold. However, resolving the issue was far from intuitive given the nature of the AHP model. Identifying which judgments needed to change, and what their new values should be, was not always intuitive. Today, I'm pleased to announce a new premium feature: Automated Consistency Fixing.

How It Works

The new feature analyses your judgments to find inconsistencies — sets of three related comparisons that conflict with each other. When inconsistencies are detected, you'll see a Fix button appear on the affected scorecard.

Clicking the button opens an interactive dialog that:

1. Visualises the problem — A triangle diagram shows the three items and their current comparison values, making it easy to see where the logic breaks down.

2. Suggests fixes — The system calculates which adjustment would best resolve the inconsistency, with the recommended option highlighted.

3. Lets you choose — You can accept the suggestion, pick an alternative fix, or skip the inconsistency entirely if you disagree with the recommendations.

4. Updates in real-time — Watch your consistency ratio drop as you work through the fixes.

The dialog guides you through each inconsistency until your consistency ratio falls below the 10% target. You can undo any fix if you change your mind.

Why This Matters

Achieving good consistency is essential for meaningful AHP results, but manually hunting down problematic comparisons can be tedious and frustrating. This feature takes the guesswork out of the process, helping you reach valid results faster while still keeping you in control of the final judgments.

The feature is available now for all premium subscribers. If you haven't tried it yet, head over to the app and give it a go. There have also been several smaller UI improvements, primarily around entering judgment values. As always, I'm very happy to receive feedback, just use the contact form or send me an email at philip.healy@decisionpoint.io.

— Philip