Fuzzy DEMATEL Research Articles

Investigating And Analyzing Barriers To Internet Of Things (IoT) Acceptance In The Supply Chain Of The Pharmaceutical Industry

The present article aims to investigate and analyze the barriers to IoT acceptance in the supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry. The method of data collection is library studies and the method of data collection is field through a questionnaire. The statistical population of the experts includes two groups of 25 people for screening and 6 people for specialized and final solutions of the model. Obstacles were identified by reviewing the theoretical research literature and then screened by fuzzy Delphi method. To analyze the data, a multi-criteria decision-making method was performed in a triangular fuzzy manner due to the ambiguity in answering the questionnaires. Fuzzy DEMATEL method was used to determine the relationships between barriers and Network Analysis Process (ANP) method was used to weigh and prioritize barriers and MAIRCA, F. MAIRCA, F. MOORA, WASPAS methods were used to rank barrier overcoming strategies. According to experts, six main barriers were identified, including environmental barriers, economic barriers, technical barriers, supply chain barriers, organizational barriers, and facility barriers. Among the main barriers, environmental barriers are the first effective barriers and with an intensity of 0.15 on organizational barriers, with an intensity of 0.13 on facility barriers, and with an intensity of 0.20 on technical barriers, and with an intensity of 0.16 on barriers. Economic, and with an effect intensity of 0.21 on supply chain barriers The results of data analysis through questionnaires and solutions with EXCEL software showed that environmental barriers affect other barriers and supply chain barriers affect the identified barriers. Also, the solution by F. ANP method showed that the most weight is related to the obstacles of "lack of financial investment" and gained the first priority. Also, the solution of "formulating an effective supply chain management strategy" has won the first place.

Solar power plant location selection using integrated fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy MOORA method

Nowadays, global warming is one of the biggest problems of humanity and the main reason is energy production. Therefore, renewable energies such as wind, rain, tides, waves and sunlight are an appropriate way for producing clean energy. In this study, suitable locations for solar power plant are analysed. To do this, data and information acquired from three decision-making groups are implemented to improve an analytical tool that integrates modified fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy MOORA. The weights of criteria and sub-criteria are calculated by the fuzzy DEMATEL method. Decision-making groups select five eligible regions for a solar power plant in Turkey, and the fuzzy MOORA method is used to rank regions. Also, a sensitivity analysis was performed using the fuzzy AHP method and as a result, it was observed whether there was a change in the order of the alternatives.

Developing a delay risk model for toll road construction project: A conceptual framework

In the realization of the medium-term development plan in 2014-2019 (RPJMN), toll road construction development was only reached 51 percent. construction projects had complex and dynamic nature, which caused delays, construction risk assessment that considers risk as a system was done before, for example, using techniques such as SD, Fuzzy DEMATEL, STEEP-SD, DEMATEL-ANP, and SD-DEMATEL, but the technique still has some shortcomings. in indonesia, research related to this matter is still rarely done, to address this concern, we propose a conceptual framework that can be used to develop a delay risk model for toll road construction project especially in indonesia. for this purpose, we introduce the system dynamic-fuzzy dematel-anp (sd-fdanp) method. the results of the development of the sd-fdanp method can be used as a guideline that can help achieve behavioral knowledge of delays and the success of risk assessment in toll road infrastructure development projects.

A revisited fuzzy DEMATEL and optimization method for strategy map design under the BSC framework: selection of objectives and relationships

A revisited fuzzy DEMATEL and optimization method for strategy map design under the BSC framework: selection of objectives and relationships

Examining Voluntary Engagement Barriers in Knowledge Sharing Practices for Supply Chain Innovation

Voluntary engagement (VE) creates a sense of coordination and harmonization to share knowledge. The eminence of knowledge sharing (KS) for supply chain (SC) innovation is undeniable to initiate development in products, services, and operations. However, KS process is undergoing challenges in sustaining KS engagement by SC partners. Hence, recent researchers call for the need to address this gap in the literature to assess VE barriers. This paper studies the causal relationship of VE barriers on two MNCs, i.e., Toyota and Suzuki, via the fuzzy DEMATEL approach. The case examination findings indicate culture's alignment as the prime cause of VE and leadership commitment has stronger interdependence. The core problems which need elimination are fear of losing the job, prominence and opportunistic behavior. The study concludes that companies need to instigate the natural attributes of employees’ VE by setting-up earnest guidelines to practice free information and knowledge flow.

Comprehensive understanding of smart product service system from multi-dimension and multi-perspective: An innovative service model for Customer-product Interaction Life Cycle (CILC)

With the improvement of living standards and the rapid development of the Internet, customers gradually pursue personalized smart products and services. Traditional smart product service system is mainly aimed at the service of customers and products in one or several interactive links. Furthermore, in the mass personalization model, in order to give full play to the customer experience and participation satisfaction, it is necessary to study the smart product service system based on the interaction between customers and products. However, there is a gap in the research on integrating the whole life cycle of customer-product interaction. In order to meet this industrial need, the innovation of this paper is to construct an innovative service model for Customer-product Interaction Life Cycle (CILC) and analyse the service impact factors and countermeasures using fuzzy DEMATEL method. The study can provide enterprises with the top-level framework and decision-making of smart product service system based on CILC, and realize the effective integration, expansion and value-added of service resources. At the same time, the application of this research methods can shorten the distance between customers and products, improve customer satisfaction.

Providing a Model of Workforce Development and Agility Using a Mixed Method of Meta-Analysis and Fuzzy DEMATEL in Maskan Bank of Iran

هدف از انجام این پژوهش، شناسایی پیشامدها و مؤلفه¬های چابکی و توسعه منابع انسانی و نیز ارائه الگویی ترکیبی از روش¬ فراتحلیل و دیمتل فازی در بانک مسکن است. بدین منظور، پس از مطالعه ادبیات پژوهش و شناسایی پیشامدها و مؤلفه-های چابکی توسعه منابع انسانی به طبقه¬بندی و تفکیک آن¬ها و استخراج مؤلفه¬های کمی پرداخته شد. سپس با انجام فراتحلیل مطالعات کمی ناظر به پیشایندهای چابکی توسعه منابع انسانی با نرم¬افزار CMA3 اندازه اثر ترکیبی پیشایندها که برآیند مؤلفه¬های این پژوهش بودند، محاسبه گردید. از 19 پیشایند شناسایی شده در ابتدای پژوهش، 3 پیشایند (در هم تنیدگی و ارتباط آموزش با نظام جذب و بکارگیری ، استفاده از کارشناسان متخصص آموزش و بهسازی و نظام حقوق و پاداش) دارای اندازه اثر مساوی یا بیشتر از 5/0 بودند، استخراج شد. سپس با انجام مصاحبه با خبرگان پژوهش برای شناسایی دیگر مؤلفه¬های موثر در چابکی توسعه منابع انسانی، پرسشنامه اول به منظور بررسی و غربال¬گری مؤلفه¬های کیفی و مؤلفه¬های حاصله از مصاحبه در اختیار خبرگان قرار گرفت. در مرحله آخر مؤلفه¬های 3 پیشایند مستخرج از نرم¬افزار فراتحلیل که شامل: مؤلفه¬های هوشمندی و آگاهی، مهارت ادراکی، توانمندی حل مسئله، تاب¬آوری، سازگاری، انعطاف¬پذیری، پیش¬فعالی، پاسخ¬گویی، سرعت عمل و جبران خدمات عادلانه، به همراه سایر مؤلفه¬های مستخرج از پرسشنامه غربال شده نخست، از طریق پرسشنامه دوم به منظور تحلیل فازی در اختیار خبرگان قرار داده شد و در نهایت با استفاده از فن دیمتل فازی تاثیرگذاری و تاثیرپذیری مؤلفه‌ها تعیین گردید. بر این اساس؛ 4 مؤلفه هوش سازمانی، رسمی¬سازی اندک، مهارت ادراکی و توانمندی حل مسئله، بیشترین تاثیرگذاری را بر سایر مؤلفه‌ها داشته و مؤلفه¬های سرعت عمل، تعهد سازمانی، پاسخگویی و انعطاف¬پذیری، تاثیرپذیرترین مؤلفه¬ها در این پژوهش هستند. از نظر اهمیت، مؤلفۀ سازگاری، با اهمیت¬ترین و مؤلفۀ پیش¬فعالی کم اهمیت¬ترین مؤلفۀ این پژوهش شناسایی شدند.

Causal analysis of accidents on construction sites: A hybrid fuzzy Delphi and DEMATEL approach

Though some studies have explored the causes of accidents on construction sites, the interdependency among the underlying causes remains elusive. This undermines the efficacy of any decision made by safety experts in reducing accidents’ impact. To fill this gap, a hybrid fuzzy-based framework is developed in this study to comprehensively identify and prioritize critical causes, as well as map interrelationships among these causes. The proposed framework is based on the infusion of the Pentagonal Fuzzy Delphi Method (PFDM) and Fuzzy DEMATEL techniques. Findings show that six main causes and twenty-three corresponding sub-causes (out of forty-seven identified ones) are the major culprits for the occurrence of related accidents. Furthermore, it was revealed that “organizational” and “workplace and environmental” causes turn out to be the most influential causes, while inappropriate safety guidelines and policies, poor safety management system, poor safety culture, poor safety knowledge of management team, the financial instability of firms, and corruption were the predominant sub-causes affecting the related accidents’ impact. To validate findings, several interviews with senior experts are undertaken. The outcomes of this study are vital for the concerned safety decision-makers by highlighting the influential causes debilitating the safety and health of involved workers.

Multi-criteria decision-making methods for the evaluating of a real green supply chain in companies with fast-moving consumer goods

ABSTRACT This research aims at determining the main criteria of the green supply chain management (GSCM) and providing a framework to assess and compare the greenness of dairy industries. There has been a research gap in evaluating the greenness of this industry in Iran to be bridged. In the first phase, through studying literature and acquiring academics and experts’ opinions, the framework is classified into 8 criteria and 32 sub-criteria as enablers and relevant to the GSCM, considered as base subjects in preparing questionnaires. The second phase uses experts' opinions and through the Fuzzy Delphi method, 26 sub-criteria are screened, confirmed, and employed. Also, the cause-and-effect criteria and sub-criteria (C&SC) are identified by the Fuzzy DEMATEL method. In this context, the fuzzy best-worst multi-criteria decision-making method (FBWM) indicates the most and least important C&SC. Then, by using a Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment Method (WASPAS), the considered companies are evaluated and ranked in terms of greenness, followed by some analyses over the results of real case studies. Ultimately, some managerial insights are extracted, which are fundamental for being regarded green and play the central role in making the companies much more functional with lots of amazing and needful results for them..

Analysis of barriers to adopt electric vehicles in India using fuzzy DEMATEL and Relative importance Index approaches

Electric vehicles (EVs) are introduced to mitigate air pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. But the present EV sales are not impressive in India compared with other countries. Previous studies have attempted to identify the challenges to EV adoption based on the opinions of experts or road users. But it is essential to study both expert and users’ perspectives to understand the actual scenario. In addition, the government of India announced a revised FAME II subsidy for EV purchase in 2021, which has an additional incentive on the purchase cost. Thus, this study aims to identify the key potential barriers based on expert and customers’ perspectives. For this purpose, data were collected from the potential experts who have rich experience in EV, and 361 samples were collected from the customers who visited the EV showroom for an inquiry and test drive in Ahmedabad city, India. This study adopted the fuzzy DEMATEL method to identify the potential barriers based on expert opinion data and the Relative Importance Index (RII) method for prioritizing the barriers based on customers’ perspectives. The results show that the Higher initial purchase cost of a vehicle, Many EV manufacturers are new companies, Technical specification of the vehicle (power, acceleration, etc.), Less Mileage on a full charge of a battery, Non-Reliable battery technology, Lesser Adaptive competitive vehicle design, Limited availability of local technician, Limited availability of public charging stations, Higher waiting time at charging station if many vehicles are there, Safety concern while charging, Non-availability of charging facility on a long trip, and lack of understanding of subsidy policies (vehicle purchase subsidy and other EV incentives by government) are the major significant barrier in each group. Also, the revised FAME II subsidy policy and improvement on charging facilities have a significant positive effect on EV adoption. The outcome of this study will help the transport planners to develop necessary infrastructure facilities to boost EV. Also, this study outcome will help the EV policy makers and manufacturers to understand the consumer requirements.

Analysis of factors affecting the implementation of green human resource management using a hybrid fuzzy AHP and type-2 fuzzy DEMATEL approach

The topic of green human resource management has attracted considerable attention during this last decade. Despite this interest, little research has been conducted to explore the successful implementation of green human resource management to achieve environmental sustainability goals. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors affecting the effective implementation of green human resource management in petrochemical companies in Bushehr City. This research is the first article that has evaluated green human resource management measures in petrochemical industries, and on the other hand, it can be stated that it is the first paper to perform green measures of human resource management using the combined method of fuzzy hierarchical analysis and type-2 fuzzy DEMATEL. The present study seeks to identify these factors and examine their relationships based on existing theoretical foundations and expert opinions. Based on results, factors affecting green human resource management implementation were divided into five categories: recruitment and employment, training and development, performance appraisal, service compensation and reward, and green organizational culture management. In other words, a total of five criteria and twenty green sub-criteria were identified for the implementation of green human resource management. Fuzzy AHP and type-2 fuzzy DEMATEL were applied to determine the weights of the criteria. The results showed that the process of green training and development is the most critical factor in the effective implementation of green human resource management. Also, training and development processes, service compensation, and green organizational culture management are affecting factors to achieve this critical issue. In order to implement green human resource management, this study has proposed the priority of green measures for petrochemical industry managers.

Estimating Driver Behavior Measures Related to Traffic Safety by Investigating 2-Dimensional Uncertain Linguistic Data—A Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach

Human behavior has been estimated as a factor too uncertain and complex to investigate road safety issues. By utilizing recent expansions of ordinary fuzzy sets, experts in the field have intended to handle the vagueness of human behavior in sustainable transport systems by using linguistic terms for assessment. Pythagorean Fuzzy sets (PFSs) are considered a superior method that has been developed for multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), which enables assigning of both membership and non-membership functions in a large domain area. A novel Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (PF-AHP) is performed to assess and prioritize critical driver behavior criteria designed into a hierarchical model based on data gathered from observed driver groups in Budapest city. Accordingly, based on the aggregated weights, the criterion ‘lapses’ is prioritized as the most critical factor connected to road safety. The criterion ‘disobey speed limits’ is found to be the least critical factor, followed by ‘disobey overtaking rules’ as the second least. For a comparative analysis, the case of dependent criteria has been considered. Pythagorean Fuzzy DEMATEL method has been applied to determine dependencies between the criteria. Through the dependencies, a network of criteria has been constructed and the Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (ANP) conducted to interpret the results. Moreover, sensitivity analyses have been carried out to examine its robustness by applying different case scenarios.

Using Fuzzy DEMATEL Method to Evaluate the Success Rate of Higher Education Graduation with Excellent Achievement (SGDHE)

The aim of this paper is the evaluation of the success of graduating with distinction in higher education (SGDHE) using the fuzzy DEMATEL method. The observation has been done using cause and effect criteria. 11 cause and 14 effect clusters have been used in this study. The study result of this work shows that all the effects are connected to the given causes and a cause-effect graph has been generated for each connection. This proposed approach is demonstrated with the empirical case of Dire Dawa University students in Dire Dawa Ethiopia.

Modeling the blockchain readiness challenges for product recovery system.

Product Recovery System (PRS) transfers products from their typical final place to their source to arrest some value on the product. There are obstructions, such as costs, associated with the modification of accounts and assessment of products and refunds associated with the implementation of PRS. Blockchain Technology (BCT) emerged as an innovative approach to constructing trust in a trust less environment and assures the availability, traceability, and security in data management. It also presents a valuable solution to PRS. This study aims to analyze the Blockchain Readiness Challenges (BRCs) to PRS in the context of manufacturing industries. The study observes 20 readiness challenges linked with the implementation of BCT in PRS. The BRCs are identified from the literature survey and confirmed after consequent examinations with industry experts and researchers. The study employed a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) i.e., the Decision-Making Trial And Evaluation Laboratory (Fuzzy DEMATEL) approach to find the cause-and-effect interactions to prioritize BRCs. The Maximum Mean De-Entropy (MMDE) algorithm was adopted to establish the threshold value based on the information entropy of the interactions among the BRCs for PRS. The fuzzy set theory was adopted to tackle the uncertainty and vagueness of personnel biases and data deficiency problems. The findings from this study reveal that inadequate financing for PRS exercises, lack of governance and standards, and security challenges to BCT implementation are the most influential readiness challenges for the adoption of blockchain in PRS. The study is useful to manufacturing organizations for identifying the potential BRCs to implement PRS among all existing readiness challenges so that they can take suitable measures before proceeding to adopt blockchain in PRS. The managers are suggested to eliminate the readiness challenges and widen the blockchain technology adoption in PRS.

The logistics service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The prominence and the cause-effect structure of uncertainties and risks

Uncertainties and risks play a central role in creating vulnerabilities for logistics service operations. Over the years, Logistic Service Providers (LSPs) have learned how to ensure resilience to confront uncertainties and risks triggered by adverse events. However, quite unlike any seen in recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic brings about unavoidable uncertainties and risks for the logistics industry. Yet, there is no common approach to contextualize how they interact together. We incorporate an empirical research design and make a threefold contribution: first, we identify uncertainties and risks that LSPs encounter during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate their prominence. Second, we unveil intertwined schemes of afore-identified uncertainties and risks and augment the understanding of their cause-effect structure. Third, we provide an uncertainty and risk assessment guideline for LSPs affected by threats emerging from unforeseeable crises.In this study, we combine qualitative work and the fuzzy DEMATEL method. Qualitative thematic analysis of in-depth interviews reveals the most important uncertainties (COVID-19 measures, employee welfare, forecast horizon, demand change, and government regulations) and risks (COVID-19 risk, delivery delays, supply chain disruptions, financial failure, and product returns) for LSPs. The fuzzy DEMATEL method shows that COVID-19 measures and COVID-19 risk are highly prominent and influence other factors. The results indicate that demand change, government regulations, and supply chain disruptions are net causers, and employee welfare, financial failure, forecast horizon, delivery delays, and product returns are net receivers. Distinctly, employee welfare is the most affected factor, empirically confirming that major risks for LSPs are related to the human factor. More investigation in our results suggests that supply chain disruptions and demand change, two factors triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, influence financial failure and forecast horizon, two factors associated with operational performance.

Applying the Delphi and fuzzy DEMATEL methods for identification and prioritization of the variables affecting Iranian citrus exports to Russia

Foreign trade is one of the important components in economic development and a source of foreign exchange earnings. In Iran, the government desires to develop foreign trade with a focus on non-oil exports. One of the substantial non-oil products is agricultural products. Iran is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of producing agricultural products, especially citrus, but it does not have suitable conditions in terms of exports. Mazandaran province is a considerable source of citrus production in Iran, and the main produced citrus in the province is exported to Russia. Worth bearing in mind that although the production rate of citrus in the province is very well, the amount of export is not very appropriate. Therefore, the government struggles to adopt an appropriate approach to improve the conditions and taking the right approach is not possible without identifying the variables affecting exports. In this regard, in this study, first, the variables affecting citrus exports regarding the case are determined using literature review and the most related those to the case study are selected using the Delphi method. Then, the identified variables are ranked using the fuzzy DEMATEL method. Focusing on the results, it can be observed that “exchange rate fluctuation” and “marketing” have the most and the least impact on the development of citrus exports from the province to Russia, respectively. Moreover, to better analyze the gained results, the determined variables are divided into two main categories based on stages of trade, and each category’s variables are discussed in detail.

Introducing a novel revenue-sharing contract in media supply chain management using data mining and multi-criteria decision-making methods

Despite all the advances in supply chain coordination, some businesses are still coordinated traditionally, including the media supply chain, in which the actor’s efficiency or deficiency is not considered in their wage determination. It means the success or failure of the project is nothing to do with the actor’s revenue. This article proposes a novel revenue-sharing coordination contract that benefits from text mining and the best–worst method to address this problem. We aim to determine a fair share of profit or loss of a movie for each of its actors based on their performance and efficiency on the success or failure of the project. One of the Iranian latest movies is considered as a case study, and its lead actor’s wage is determined under this contract. The sentiment analysis technique investigated the viewers’ opinions about the movie and the actor’s performance. Since the reviewers mainly are the people who have no expertise in cinematography, they cannot discern the influence of other participants on the actor’s performance. So the proposed method used experts’ opinions through the fuzzy DEMATEL method to consider the overlapping effect besides enhancing the validity of the reviewers’ opinions. The results of this paper assert that the actor’s performance will improve under the proposed method and therefore the movie will be more successful and profitable.

Prioritizing Multi‐Interwoven Factors in the Project Management Office Using Delphi and Fuzzy DEMATEL

This study aims to evaluate the cause‐and‐effect relationships of potential PMO functions at project‐oriented organizations. In this research, the Delphi technique was first employed to identify the potential PMO functions, and DEMATEL technique was conducted to evaluate the cause‐and‐effect relationships. According to the research findings, structure determination and project organization were the most effective PMO functions, whereas counseling and training through PMO was identified as the most important function. Moreover, participation in project implementation through PMO was the most affected function. To improve the PMO performance, project‐oriented organizations can focus on effective functions and causes in order to modify and improve them.

Optimal Planning of University Technology Transfer Measures With FDANP-F-FlowSort and an Extended Multiobjective PROMETHEE V

This work offers an integrated methodological framework for decision support in planning the implementation of measures that address the barriers of university technology transfer. The planning problem consists of two parts: (1) identifying the high priority measures, and (2) optimally implementing these measures over a specified planning horizon subject to resource constraints. Treated as a multiple criteria sorting problem under uncertainty, the high priority measures are determined via fuzzy DEMATEL and ANP for evaluating the barriers, and the fuzzy FlowSort for classifying the priority of the various measures. Then, an extended multi-objective extension of the PROMETHEE V is offered to determine the degree of implementation of the high priority measures over multiple periods. Demonstrated in an actual case study with 29 identified measures under 24 previously known barriers, findings reveal six high priority measures, which include designing a sustained partnership, engaging in joint research ventures, establishing partnerships from international financial institutions, streamlining objectives to full support of the technology readiness levels, establishing a holistic system approach towards technology readiness levels, and establishing agreements to have access to the industry laboratory facilities. The implementation plan, represented as a set of Pareto optimal solutions, is obtained through the AUGMECON algorithm for the ϵ-constrained multi-objective linear programming formulation of the extended PROMETHEE V. A layer of sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the results to changes in the parameters. Finally, policy insights are provided to key decision-makers for advancing UTT.

A Fuzzy DEMATEL‐ANP‐Based Approach to Prioritize Activities in Enterprise Architecture

Prioritization of activities is a multicriteria problem that includes both quantitative and qualitative factors. Moreover, due to the nature of organizations and activities, the impact of activities on each other is fuzzy. Prioritizing activities in real and fuzzy situations will help an organization’s decision makers to make the right decisions. In this paper, a new fuzzy hybrid methodology is proposed to describe and prioritize the activities of the organization in fuzzy conditions. First, the activities of the organization are described in a new fuzzy format based on activity model (OV‐5) of the C4ISR framework. Furthermore, fuzzy DEMATEL is used to calculate the interdependencies between activities, and then fuzzy ANP is used to calculate the weight of each activity. Finally, by combining the results of the two methods, the priority of activities was calculated. Additionally, an empirical study is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed method.