Multiple criteria hierarchy process for sorting problems under uncertainty applied to the evaluation of the operational maturity of research institutions

Despite the availability of highly qualified research personnel, up-to-date facilities and experience in developing applied innovation, many worldwide institutions face challenges when managing contracted Research Development (R&D) projects. These difficulties are mainly due to expectations from Industry (private sector), particularly regarding development procedures, managerial processes timing. Such have motivated funding agents create evaluation check whether operational procedures funded sufficient provide timely answers demand innovation industry, also identify aspects that require quality improvement development. For this purpose, several multiple criteria decision-making approaches can be applied. In context, considered as alternatives for their decision criteria. Among available approaches, sorting methods one prominent tool evaluate capacity. However, first difficulty may applying is need hierarchically structure order represent intended process. Additional include elicitation preference information definition evaluation, since these frequently affected by some imprecision. most all critical points neglected, or, at best, only partially considered. paper, a new method proposed deal with those simultaneously. To consider levels criteria, FlowSort extended account hierarchical imprecise data, integrated fuzzy approaches. yield solutions fluctuations weights, Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis (SMAA) used. Finally, institutions, classifying them according maturity research.