**2. Preliminaries**

#### **2.1 Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM)**

**Definitions 1:** Decision can be defined as the rationale conclusions after evaluating the circumstances.

**Definition 2:** In perspective of cognitive science, selection of a particular action or a certain belief that is a subset of the alternatives is knows as Decision Making.

The process of selection of an action that belong to the subset of the alternatives is done by considering all criteria's which can either alter the judgement of same or dissimilar extent is called as Multi-Criteria Decision Making. In MCDM technique, the existing possibilities are the subset of alternatives or else, these are the choices out of which the finest possibility is to be selected by analysing various factors which could influence the outcome. All the alternatives are ranked in ascending order beginning from the finest to the worst and on the basis of factors which can influence the conclusions, these factors are known as criteria. Criteria can be defined as the factors which have direct influence on decision. In MCDM technique, there are number of criteria and which each of them effects the judgement and conclusion either to the similar or dissimilar extent.

#### **2.2 Steps involved in decision making**

#### *2.2.1 GOFER method for taking decision*

During 1980s, psychologist Leon Munn and some of his colleagues developed a technique called GOFER specifically for decision making [29]. The acronym for GOFER stands for a 5 decision making steps.

**G**: Goal - Selection of material


#### *2.2.2 DECIDE method for taking decision*

In the year 2008, another decision making technique was developed by Kristina Guo known as DECIDE [30]. This method consist of six parts namely:

*Comparison of Cross-Entropy Based MCDM Approach for Selection of Material in Sugar… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98242*

**D**: Define the problem i.e. selection of material.

**E**: All the criteria and factors are established on basis of which the decision is made i.e. enlisting the criteria.

**C**: Enlisting the various available materials.

**I**: Discard the materials having high cost to benefit ratio.

**D**: A plan is developed for selecting the finest alternative.

**E**: Select the best material.
