Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods are effective in solving complex selection problems with numerous conflicting criteria. However, the traditional methods may not succeed in structurally modeling the decisionmaker’s psychological dynamics related to satisfaction and dissatisfaction. This study proposes a novel MCDM method inspired by Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory, which categorizes the employed criteria into two types: hygiene factors, whose absence causes dissatisfaction, and motivation factors, whose presence enhances satisfaction: the Dual-Factor Decision Making (DFDM) method. This method incorporates a strict threshold-based veto mechanism for hygiene factors and a dynamic contribution analysis for motivation factors. This approach distinguishes itself from the traditional compensatory methods (e.g. TOPSIS, AHP) by completely eliminating the alternatives that violate the threshold values, a feature which is reminiscent of the veto mechanism in the context of the ELECTRE methods. Furthermore, if a hygiene factor exceeds its threshold by a specified margin (δ), it will act as a motivation factor, enabling a dynamic evaluation. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated through a supplier selection case study. The obtained results indicate that the DFDM method can effectively identify and exclude the alternatives that violate critical constraints, such as budget limits, while providing a ranked list of feasible options. The DFDM method stands out as a human-centered decision support tool, making it particularly useful in domains with critical thresholds where psychological satisfaction is also important, such as public procurement, supply chain management, and human resources.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, Dual-Factor Decision Making (DFDM), Veto Mechanism, Threshold Analysis, Decision Support Systems, Psychological Satisfaction.
Kadir Kaan GÖNCÜ, "Dual-Factor Decision Making (DFDM) Method Inspired by Herzberg’s Theory", Studies in Informatics and Control, ISSN 1220-1766, vol. 35(1), pp. 67-76, 2026. https://doi.org/10.24846/v35i1y202606
All articles published by Studies in Informatics and Control (SIC) are published in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).