Iranian Journal of Wargaming

Iranian Journal of Wargaming

The Application of Analytic Network Process and Game Theory in Enhancing Strategic Military Decision-Making

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Asghar Asgharzadeh
Hamid Bigdeli 1
Jafar Saadati 2
Mohammad Asadi 3
1 گروه مطالعات علم و فناوری، دانشگاه فرماندهی و ستاد آجا، تهران، ایران.
2 Imam Ali Officer University (AS), Tehran, Iran.
3 3. Master's Student, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ijwg.2025.474998.1092
Abstract
Background: Game theory-based methods, particularly two-person zero-sum games, have emerged as innovative approaches for improving military decision-making in the selection of operational courses. These methods typically involve the use of ordinal values in the payoff matrix of the zero-sum game for the involved parties.

Objective: This study proposes a novel approach that replaces ordinal values with cardinal values and incorporates the Analytic Network Process (ANP) as a multi-criteria decision-making technique to enhance the accuracy of the results.

Research Method: The new approach integrates cardinal values and ANP to achieve more precise and meaningful outcomes. This method is designed to align more closely with realistic preferences through more accurate modeling.

Findings: The results demonstrate that substituting ordinal values with cardinal values and utilizing ANP leads to more accurate and meaningful outcomes, which are better aligned with real-world preferences and conditions.

Conclusion: The proposed system can serve as an effective tool in military decision-making, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of the results and enabling the selection of more optimal strategies.
Keywords
Game Theory
Strategic Military Decision-Making
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making
Analytic Network Process (ANP)
Subjects
Iranian Journal of Wargaming
Volume 8, Issue 16
December 2025