Identification and prioritization of the effective factors on the choice of optimal marketing strategy in recession situations using fuzzy and Group Analytic Hierarchy Process

It is obvious that recession situation leads to demands reduction. Therefore, companies encounter challenges and weak businesses are disappeared and resistant and strength companies remain. In this situation considering the marketing department especially marketing strategy play a significant role. There are many marketing strategies. Companies use these strategies based on their needs or formulate new strategy with regard to their internal and external circumstances. This paper identify and prioritize the important factors in determination and selection appropriate marketing strategy through reviewing previous studies related to strategies used in recession condition and interviewing with experts. Thus, fuzzy and group analytic hierarchy process, which is a common and widely used decision making method, have been used in this study also the excel software was used in this study. The results of this study indicate that the major factors influencing the selection of appropriate marketing strategies, in order of preference, are price, product, distribution networks, and staff.