Discover the most common questions and answers about the SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) method, including its principles, calculation steps, and practical applications. Learn how to determine the importance of criteria easily using our online SWARA software.
Basic Concepts
What is the SWARA method?
SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method used to determine the relative importance (weights) of evaluation criteria based on expert judgment.
Who developed the SWARA method?
The SWARA method was developed by E.K. Keršuliene, Z. Turskis, and E. Zavadskas in 2010.
What is the main goal of SWARA?
The goal is to calculate the weights of criteria through a step-by-step process based on expert preferences and relative importance.
Why is SWARA popular in decision-making?
Because it’s simple, structured, and allows experts to express their opinions directly without complex calculations.
Is SWARA a weighting or ranking method?
SWARA is a weighting method — it determines the importance of criteria but does not directly rank alternatives.
Methodology and Steps
What are the main steps in the SWARA method?
- Identify the evaluation criteria
- Rank the criteria by importance
- Determine the comparative importance coefficient
- Calculate the recalculated weight for each criterion
- Normalize the weights
How are criteria ranked in SWARA?
Experts order the criteria from most to least important based on their knowledge and preferences.
What is the comparative importance coefficient?
It reflects how much less important each criterion is compared to the previous one.
How is the coefficient (k_j) calculated?
kj=sj+1k_j = s_j + 1kj=sj+1, where sjs_jsj is the comparative importance value assigned by the expert.
How are the recalculated weights determined?
Each criterion’s weight is divided by the previous coefficient to find its relative importance.
Interpretation and Use
What does the final result of SWARA show?
The normalized weights of all criteria, showing their relative importance in the decision-making process.
How are these weights used later?
They can be applied in ranking methods like SAW, TOPSIS, or VIKOR to evaluate alternatives.
Can SWARA handle qualitative criteria?
Yes, as long as experts can express relative importance using numerical scales.
Is SWARA suitable for group decision-making?
Yes, the method allows combining opinions from multiple experts.
Does SWARA require pairwise comparisons like AHP?
No, SWARA uses a sequential ranking and coefficient approach, which is simpler than AHP.
Applications
In what fields is SWARA used?
It’s widely used in engineering, business, supply chain management, sustainability assessment, and strategic planning.
Why is SWARA preferred in expert-based evaluations?
Because it directly uses experts’ judgments with minimal computational complexity.
Can SWARA be used with other MCDM methods?
Yes, it’s often used in hybrid approaches, such as SWARA-TOPSIS, SWARA-VIKOR, or SWARA-WASPAS.
Can SWARA be integrated with fuzzy logic?
Yes, Fuzzy SWARA extends the method to handle uncertainty in expert opinions.
Is SWARA suitable for both benefit and cost criteria?
Yes, it can assign weights to any type of criterion, as long as normalization is handled later.
Using the Software
Can SWARA be applied online?
Yes, you can perform all steps of the SWARA method easily using the online SWARA software at OnlineOutput.com.
What input data are needed for the software?
- List of criteria
- Ranking order
- Comparative importance coefficients
What outputs does the SWARA software provide?
- Recalculated weights
- Normalized weights
- Step-by-step calculation table
Does the software support group decision-making?
Yes, it allows combining weights from multiple experts.
Can results be exported or printed?
Yes, you can export your results for further analysis or reporting.
Advanced Topics
What is the difference between SWARA and AHP?
AHP uses pairwise comparisons, while SWARA uses a sequential weighting process — SWARA is simpler and faster.
What is the difference between SWARA and Fuzzy SWARA?
Fuzzy SWARA uses fuzzy numbers to handle uncertainty in expert judgments, whereas classic SWARA uses crisp values.
Can SWARA be combined with DEMATEL?
Yes, DEMATEL can first identify relationships among criteria, and SWARA can then assign weights.
Is SWARA sensitive to the ranking order?
Yes — changing the order of criteria can affect the final weights, so careful ranking is important.
Why use SWARA for weighting?
Because it’s simple, efficient, transparent, and suitable for both individual and group evaluations.
Experience the Swara online software: