Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory Research Articles

Change Management and Advanced Wireless Network Implementation: Detection of Monetization Opportunities and Challenges

This study focuses on the interconnection between two topics: change management and advanced wireless networks. Advanced wireless networks can generate turmoil at the deepest level of all sectors of activity by offering the possibility of new connectivity through these networks&#x2019; assets, which would require new business models and introduce novel features into purchasing processes and consumer experiences. In addition, telecommunications companies play a fundamental role in developing and implementing these new technologies to ensure they fulfil their promise. Change management practices are critical to ensuring successful advanced wireless network implementation, especially at a strategic and operational level. This research sought to contribute to a more holistic view of the interconnections between these two topics. The multiple-criteria decision analysis approach was used to conduct analyses of the relationships between the associated monetization opportunities and challenges, which included applying the decision-making trial evaluation laboratory technique to clarify their cause-effect links. A multidisciplinary expert panel was recruited to facilitate the method&#x0027;s application. The insights obtained during two panel meetings allowed the proposed process-oriented approach to assist decision makers in analyzing monetization opportunities and challenges related to advanced wireless network adoption according to the following five clusters: <i>service offer</i>; <i>vendor value proposition</i>; <i>operational management</i>; <i>strategic management</i>; and <i>external factors</i>. Contributions and limitations are also examined.

Critical factors of multi-agent technology influencing manufacturing organizations: an AHP and DEMATEL-oriented analysis

ABSTRACT The current research aims to analyse the critical factors of Multi-Agent Technology (MAT) which influence manufacturing organizations to enhance quality and reduce maintenance costs by implementing a combined approach of Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). A framework has been developed in which AHP is used to quantify the relative importance of each MAT variable and DEMATEL is used to capture the MAT variable interaction. The hybrid approach of AHP and DEMATEL concludes that ‘integration of manufacturing systems with maintenance’ is the highest weight factor, followed by ‘manufacturing processes’, ‘fault detection’, ‘organizational productivity’, and ‘organizational control’. This suggests that efficient MAT deployment in industrial firms could improve product quality by decreasing maintenance efforts. This study provides a tested and validated framework to motivate the decision-makers, professionals, and researchers of a variety of manufacturing organizations to implement this framework in a customised way for improving quality and cutting maintenance costs.

Developing an Alternate Mineral Transportation System by Evaluating Risk of Truck Accidents in the Mining Industry—A Critical Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach

The innovative transportation system is a pertinent need for the mining industry. Truck haulage is currently the most common mode of mineral transportation between the excavation sites and end use plants. However, besides being resource-intensive and inefficient, this mode of transportation accounts for a high number of accidents and injuries. In order to reduce the occurrence of accidents, it is important to first understand the primary contributors to truck-related occupational risks and then develop strategies to eliminate such risks. The available literature predominantly advocates for the use of statistical or probabilistic methodologies that suffer from considerable limitations. This paper utilizes the Fuzzy DEMATEL (Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory) approach to conduct an in-depth assessment of the critical factors that result in mining accidents involving trucks and the relationships between these factors, presented using a cause-and-effect diagram. The study also includes a sensitivity analysis for validating the robustness of the fuzzy model. The results show that high speed and aggressive driving is the most important causal factor behind accidents. The negative impact on socio-economic conditions of local community members is also discussed. Among other preventive measures, the paper emphasizes the pipe conveyor system as an alternate and safer mineral transportation system.

Evaluating Industry 4.0 technology and sustainable development goals – a social perspective

Organisations are having difficulty in determining and integrating Industry 4.0 technologies (I4.0T) to improve social dimensions of sustainable performance. We address this issue by showing how to identify the impact degree and path of I4.0T using the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). First, we identify the SDGs associated with I4.0 and establish an evaluation framework. Second, we introduce an evaluation method that integrates hesitant fuzzy sets, rough sets, decision-making, trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and interpretative structural modelling methods to identify the impact degree and path of I4.0T on SDGs. Third, we confirm the effectiveness of our framework and method using secondary case data from World Economic Forum reports. The case results show that I4.0T have varying direct and indirect influences on SDGs. Policy makers should consider that ‘Big Data and Analytics’ and ‘Cloud Computing’ are central I4.0T that link other technologies and SDGs. The prioritisation of I4.0T can lead to contributions to addressing ‘Responsible consumption and production’ and indirectly improve SDGs. The findings set an initial stage to help sequence investment in various technologies depending on SDGs. We identify sequential paths that can aid in planning for and investing in adopting I4.0T to better achieve SDGs.

A causal eco-industrial park hierarchical transition model with qualitative information: Policy and regulatory framework leads to collaboration among firms

Eco-industrial parks promise to reduce environmental and social impacts and improve the economic performance of industrial parks. However, the transition from industrial parks to eco-industrial parks is still not well understood. This study contributes to developing valid hierarchical eco-industrial park transition attribute sets with qualitative information, as prior studies lack an exploration of the attributes in the transition of eco-industrial parks in Hungary. In nature, eco-industrial park transition attributes have causal and hierarchical interrelationships and are described with qualitative information. The assessment involves an analysis of the industrial symbiosis principles by using linguistic preferences. However, multiple attributes are involved in the assessment; therefore, this study proposes the Delphi method to develop a valid attribute set and applies fuzzy set theory to translate qualitative information into crisp values. The fuzzy decision-making trial evaluation laboratory method is used to visualize the attributes’ causal interrelationships under uncertainties. The results indicate that the policy and regulatory framework leads to collaboration among firms in the eco-industrial park transition model. In practice, price reforms, management commitment, strategic planning, cognitive barriers and the integration of external information are the practical criteria for improvement. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Mapping Generation Y Tourists’ E-Loyalty: A Sustainable Framework through Hierarchical Structure and Fuzzy Set Theory

Generation Y (Gen Y) travel spending is set to soar and has enormous implications for hospitality firms’ economic sustainability. However, previous studies have failed to examine the hierarchical interrelationship between e-loyalty attributes in the presence of a hierarchical structure and linguistic preferences. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to identify a list of e-loyalty attributes and to examine each attribute’s importance to Gen Y consumers’ e-loyalty intentions in the context of tourism. Drawing on an ad hoc survey of 230 graduate students in Taiwan, the study employs exploratory factor analysis to analyze the method’s validity and reliability. Furthermore, 30 Gen Y consumers are invited to evaluate the identified measures using fuzzy linguistic scales. The fuzzy set theory is then employed to translate the qualitative responses into crisp values. The decision-making trial evaluation laboratory is used to understand the interrelationships between the e-loyalty attributes. The empirical findings reveal that trust, utilitarian features, and hedonic features all play essential roles in Gen Y tourists’ e-loyalty. In addition, perceived enjoyment, website competency, emotional connection, candid and authentic site information, and delightful experiences are crucial factors in the formation of customer e-loyalty. Both theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Analysis of Environmental Activities for Developing Public Health Investments and Policies: A Comparative Study with Structure Equation and Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Hybrid Models.

The design of elements which exert pivotal effects on leisurely physical activity (LPA) in open space is an important part of urban development. However, little research has been done about the influence and discrepancies of those elements in different types of open space. To research these issues and to guide the design of urban open space, a survey from 8 open spaces (2 curtilage, 2 neighborhood squares (NS), 2 parks, and 2 campus) is conducted and a questionnaire is administered. Simultaneous analysis of several groups (SASG) of Structure equation model (SEM) is used, and the effects and discrepancies are acquired. In addition to this situation, interval type 2 (IT2) fuzzy hybrid decision making model is proposed in the second analysis. In this framework, IT2 fuzzy decision-making trial, evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and IT2 fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods are used. The results show that the influence relationships between elements and LPA did exist in four groups. Another important conclusion is that there were discrepancies of influence among different space groups. Physical environment (PE) has the greatest influence on LPA in the curtilage, whereas facilities exert the most effect in NS group. Additionally, amenities only have significant impact in parks and facilities only exercise remarkable influence on duration on campus. In addition to them, it is also identified that key design elements are presented for different types of space and that design strategy is provided through 4 specific examples.

Improving sustainable supply chain capabilities using social media in a decision-making model

This study contributes to the construction of sustainable supply chain capabilities in the textile industry. Previous studies are lacking with regard to sustainable supply chain capabilities; specifically, there are hierarchical structures and measures in qualitative information and quantitative data in nature. In addition, previous studies do not integrate social media with qualitative information and quantitative data, even though social media is an important reference for decision-making. Hence, this study applied the fuzzy synthetic evaluation and decision-making trial evaluation laboratory to address linguistic preferences and provide a strategic approach for the proposed attributes. The results present the integration of qualitative information and quantitative data for building a hierarchical structure with sustainable supply chain capabilities and indicate that social, dynamic and information capabilities are simultaneously strongly affected. The top seven criteria that most influence sustainable supply chain capabilities are outbound logistics flexibility, supply chain reconceptualization, information quality, coevolution, market-oriented perception, partner development and knowledge acquisition and absorptive capacity. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Defect- and component-based assessment model for manholes

Although manholes are significant assets in sewer networks, their assessment is receiving little attention compared to sewer pipelines. It was reported that more than three-million manholes in the United States (US) were structurally weak and prone to collapse. To avoid sudden failure, systematic manhole condition assessment model is required. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to develop a component-based condition assessment model for sewer access holes. The methodology was based on integrating the Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) techniques to study the causality relationship between the defects in the nine identified components of the manhole. The relative importance weights of the components were found by deploying the Analytic Network Process (ANP) and were used to compute the overall condition of the asset. Based on the results, the roots were the highest influence power in many of the components. In addition, the wall, cone, cover and frame, and seals components were higher importance weights compared to the remaining components. This model was tested on an actual case study from the city of Edmonton in Canada and compared with actual values. The model produced an average validity percentage (AVP) of 76.24%. The developed model is expected to enhance the assessment of manholes and therefore provide robust conclusions. Besides, the model offers a backward analysis to pinpoint critical components in the manhole. Consequently, better decisions are made pertinent to maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement interventions.

A study for project risk management using an advanced MCDM-based DEMATEL-ANP approach

Adopting the multidimensional balanced scorecard approach to improve project management and organizational performance can help reduce project risks and potential disasters in order to maximize the investment benefits and security of IT projects with high risks. We adopted the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) research context, whose stimulus, organism, and response refer to project risk, project management, and organizational performance, respectively. Furthermore, a questionnaire survey of project management experts was conducted. We then utilized the DANP model, which combines the Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and the analytical network process, to explore the relationships among project risks, project management, and organizational performance. We observed the following: (a) effective project management can reduce project risk and improve organizational performance; (b) project risk is most influenced by the user; (c) senior manager support significantly influences project management; (d) organizational learning and growth has a significant impact on organizational performance; and (e) the criteria with the largest relative weight is generally considered to pose a risk, which indicates that the experts seriously consider that project risk. Our results can provide a valuable reference for project management to reduce risk and improve organizational performance.

An integrated assessment approach to prevent risk of sewer exfiltration

Regular inspection, assessment, and rehabilitation are necessary to maintain the performance levels of sewer pipelines. The primary objective of this research is to develop a causality-based model by incorporating twenty-two sewer defects, including erosion voids. The Decision Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) was used to study the causality relationship between the defects, based on a designed questionnaire, to conclude the influencing and influenced distress. The results suggested that 59% of the sewer structural and operational defects were influencing ones. Besides, the existing state of the sewer pipelines was evaluated on a scale from 1 (Excellent) to 5 (Critical) by integrating the DEMATEL technique with the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. The QFD-DEMATEL model was implemented on a case study to compare the model’s classifications of the pipelines’ states with the actual ones. Based on the comparison, the average accuracy and true negative rate (TNR) of the classifications were 74% and 79% respectively. Also, the average invalidity percentage (AIP) was 41.32%, causing the validity percentage to exceed 50%. The integrated approach keeps decision-makers informed about their sewer pipelines to prioritize pipelines rehabilitation. Thus, defective sewers are reduced and so are the exfiltration cases.

A DEMATEL method in identifying design requirements for mobile environments: students’ perspectives

The understanding of the design of mobile phones is somewhat different from other devices and products. This is properly due to the limited design capacity of mobile phones which need to be maintained within a small screen. One aspect for consideration is the relationship between certain design elements and users’ usage behavior and perception of the device. This study examined the feasibility of multiple-criteria decision making, known as the decision-making trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), for identifying the key design patterns necessary for promoting users use of mobile devices. Precisely, we studied users’ direct, indirect, and interdependent behaviors in relation to seven mobile design patterns, including dealing with data, providing input, navigation, notification, personalization, screen interaction, and social activity. A DEMATEL model was generated for 75 students using these dimensions. The results showed that patterns corresponding to users’ interactions with the screen, dealing with data, and navigation were the core factors that can potentially aid the design of mobile environments. Our findings can be used by educational designers of mobile applications to form better design scenarios that are closely connected to a specific task and setting.

Measuring and improving customer retention at authorised automobile workshops after free services

Customer retention is vital for businesses with much research literature now available. But nothing has been investigated regarding measuring and improving customer retention at authorised automobile workshops after free services. Even after providing extensive warranties and other free service benefits, customers don't use authorised workshops although their vehicles are still under warranty. By not arranging regular maintenance services, customers lose warranty benefits, with product performance and safety related awareness undermined; companies lose huge business potential. Therefore, this study aims to measure and improve customer retention at authorised automobile workshops after free services. To achieve this, a four-phased study has been conducted. In phase one, a combination of a literature review and expert opinions is used to identify customers' retention factors. The second and third phases describe how data is collected from industry experts and customers. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Decision Making Trial & Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) are used to prioritise and examine inter-relationships among factors. In the last phase, the study recommends three business strategies to help a company to improve customer retention and make their Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) product more customer friendly.

A cause-effect strategy map for lean process transformation

Lean process improvement has revolutionised complex global manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare systems, along with many others; however, there is a high rate of failure among organisations that attempt to implement lean. Research suggests, poor lean implementation strategy and misunderstanding of lean are root causes of lean implementation failure. This study is focused on reducing the rate of lean implementation failure by identifying causal relationships that drive successful lean implementation. The decision making trial evaluation laboratory method (DEMATEL) is used to determine cause-effect relationships. Data is collected through a survey of lean practitioners, researchers, and a review of the lean literature. The resulting strategy map is a guide for principle-driven lean implementation.

A cause-effect strategy map for lean process transformation

Lean process improvement has revolutionised complex global manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare systems, along with many others; however, there is a high rate of failure among organisations that attempt to implement lean. Research suggests, poor lean implementation strategy and misunderstanding of lean are root causes of lean implementation failure. This study is focused on reducing the rate of lean implementation failure by identifying causal relationships that drive successful lean implementation. The decision making trial evaluation laboratory method (DEMATEL) is used to determine cause-effect relationships. Data is collected through a survey of lean practitioners, researchers, and a review of the lean literature. The resulting strategy map is a guide for principle-driven lean implementation.

Building an effective system for carbon reduction management

The objective of this study is to introduce an evaluation system that allows firms to recognize the significant factors/criteria of carbon management and to develop strategies for carbon reduction. The evaluation criteria were developed from a literature review and consultations with practitioners in the electronics industry. We applied the Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to construct the causal relationship among the evaluation system and the concepts of Analytic Network Process (ANP) to derive the influenced weights of criteria. This method can map out the structural relations among diverse factors in a complex system and identify the key factors for carbon management. The results indicate that carbon risk assessment is the most important criterion within the system, and manager commitment has the largest net influence degree viewed as the causal factor. Some management implications are provided in the discussion.

Influence Factors Identification of the Effective of Human Capital Allocation on Fuzzy DEMATE

With the development of Knowledge Economy and the transforming of economic growth pattern, human capital has aroused extensive attention, particularly the effective of human capital, has been the academic focus of the study in recent years. First, the index system of factors of the effective of human capital allocation is constructed; then, corresponding analysis model is suggested based on the Fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory) method. Finally, the total degrees of given and received influences, the degree of cause and the importance grade are analyzed.

Extracting key performance indicators (KPIs) new product development using mind map and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods

In an era focusing on performance management, finding the right key performance indicators (KPIs) can aid the implementation of company goals. By monitoring and managing these indicators, the effects of prevention, continual improvements, and innovations are achieved to shape the core competitiveness. This study used the Delphi method to interview 18 field experts. Through their rich experiences and ideas, the study investigated the KPIs of new product development (NPD). Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, this study provides managers with effective management suggestions, including communication and contacts, information sharing, analysis and judgment, decision-making, goal planning, improved control, and pay-for-performance. After empirical analysis, the NPD process was found to have a total of 9 constructs with 43 important in relation to KPIs. To analyze the cause and effect relationships and importance of these constructs, decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) was utilized. The order of importance was as follows: Project schedule management, operational risk management, total quality management and life cycle cost management, demonstrating that the schedules, risks, quality and costs are valued team aspects during product research and development. Therefore, the results can provide the manager to build a more complete KPIs system and reduce product development risks. Key words: Key performance indicators, new product development, Delphi method, knowledge maps, decision-making trial evaluation laboratory

圃場整備事業の効果波及メカニズム 岡山県奈義町の事例分析

Effects of Agricultural Improvement Projects can be divided into twogroups. One group is direct effects toward the agricultural production and the other is indirect effects toward the local community and national economy. In this paper, the author clarifies the extension mechanism of the direct effects from a land consolidation project with an analytical tool of DEcision MAking Trial & Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) . A rural town, Nagi in Okayama prefecture is chosen as a case study area. The results from the DEMATEL analysis shows that the total extension mechanism of the direct effects consists of the following four sub-mechanisms.(1) Reduction of agricultural labor and labor shift from agricultureto non-agricultural sectors, (2) Effective and intensive use of agricultural land resource, (3) Changes of cultivation techniques and improvement of yields and qualities of agricultural products, and (4) Organization of farm households linking the above three sub-mechanisms into closer relations with each other. Based on this results, the author points out that three factors, such as 1) land consolidation project, 2) adequate organization policy extended by the local government/the extension service station, and 3) subjecthood of local community capable of group adaptation, have enlarged the total amount of effects from the project to farm households in this study area.