Cost-Based Graph Model for Conflict Resolution Under Time Constraints

To comprehensively investigate the impact of decision cost and time constraints on the decision process of decision-makers (DMs), a cost-based graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR) under time constraints is pioneered, which can be regarded as a paradigm to study DMs’ concerns under the GMCR framework. Specifically, decision cost is assumed to consist of some initial cost and transfer cost (TC), which can quantitatively analyze the preferences of DMs. Time of preparing for unilateral movement (UM) and time of executing UM are introduced to describe the time constraints. An evaluation function combining decision cost and time constraints is proposed to describe the utility of DMs. Three stability concepts involving rational behavior are defined. This improved GMCR methodology is employed to study a potential military conflict to deduce conflict outcome and simulate conflict evolution, where the validity and feasibility of the new model are demonstrated. Compared with previous studies, the important factors of the decision-making process, cost and time, are considered to obtain preference sequence and to improve the competitiveness of DMs in conflict. Through simulation of the real-world conflict scenarios, the proposed model can not only acquire more authentic preferences of DMs but also be used as a conflict analysis tool to efficiently deduce the evolution of complex conflicts.