Fuzzy VIsekriterijumska Optimizacija I KOmpromisno Resenje Research Articles

Risk ranking of rig up operation activities using multi-criteria decision-making methods based on fuzzy environment

The main aim of this research study is to determine the risk ranking of 29 failure modes of rig-up operations using a well-known and highly effective MCDM method i.e. Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS). This method takes into account the four criteria which comprise human impact, property damage, environmental effect and company reputation as risk criteria. Three Experts in the field were invited to present the risk ranking of the relative importance of criteria and criteria performance of each risk (as failure mode) by utilizing linguistic variables which are then integrated in triangular fuzzy numbers for further analysis using the Fuzzy TOPSIS method. The evaluation concluded that FM20 (Collision between the offshore platform and boats) is the most dangerous risk with a coefficient of closeness (CCi) equal to 0.992 while the risk level of FM26 (foggy weather) was found least having a coefficient of closeness (CCi) of 0. Subsequently, sensitivity analysis of ranks concluded that FM1 (H2S inaccurate monitoring) is the most sensitive alternative with standard deviation and frequency of rank change was 5.16 and 15 respectively whereas FM20 (Collision between offshore platform and boats) is observed to be the least sensitive alternative. Fuzzy TOPSIS results were found in excellent correlations with the other reliable MCDM methods which include Fuzzy VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) and Fuzzy COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional ASsessment) yielding correlation of around 1. This study proves to be a landmark in the petroleum industry and significantly contributes to verifying safe practices, by taking appropriate actions in minimizing the risk level associated with different activities during rig-up operations.

Evaluating green financing mechanisms for natural resource management: Implications for achieving sustainable development goals

China has made noteworthy strides in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including natural resource management. The country’s economic expansion has put more strain on its natural resources during Covid-19 pandemic, which has contributed to environmental deterioration, the extinction of species, and climate change. Consequently, green finance can create new opportunities for assisting natural resource management practices that support environmental, social, and economic sustainability. In order to realize the SDGs, this study employs a hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Visekriterijumska Optimizacija i Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) to assess and prioritize important criteria, sub-criteria, and green financing mechanisms for natural resource management in China. Therefore, this study identified six criteria, eighteen sub-criteria, and six green financing strategies for promoting sustainable development and natural resource management methods in China. According to the Fuzzy AHP findings, financial sustainability (0.192), institutional feasibility (0.176), and environmental impact (0.171) are the most crucial criteria. While, the Fuzzy VIKOR findings reveal that carbon markets, green bonds, and green investment funds are the best financial solutions for reaching sustainable development and effective resource management practices in China. This research enables policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders improve sustainable development and natural resource management in China.

A risk evaluation model of electric power cloud platform from the information perspective based on fuzzy type-2 VIKOR

With the swift progression of digital technology, the construction of electric power cloud platform is of great significance for the transformation of the electricity industry. Based on the demonstration of the State Grid Corporation of China's cloud platform, power companies should proactively encourage the establishment of cloud platforms, and the research from the perspective of information risk is imperative before finalizing any decisions related to cloud platforms. Therefore, an index system containing 15 information risk factors is established at first. Secondly, the weight of each index is determined based on GCWM (game combination weighting method). Thirdly, an MCDM (Multi-Criteria-Decision-Making) model based on the fuzzy type-2 VIKOR (from Serbian: VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) algorithm is established. Then, the validity of the model is verified through case study, which reveals that scheme 2 should become a better choice for power enterprises. Finally, sensitivity analysis, comparative analysis, and corresponding management suggestions are also put forward based on the research content. Drawing upon the foundation of the MCDM model, this paper studies the risk evaluation problem of electric power cloud platform from the information perspective, which can provide a certain reference for the development of power enterprise cloud platform in the digital technology environment, as well as bearing relevance for the implementation of associated technologies.

Evaluating Barriers to Supply Chain Resilience in Vietnamese SMEs: The Fuzzy VIKOR Approach

This study aimed to determine and prioritize the critical barriers to supply chain resilience (SCR) in Vietnamese small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), which play a crucial role in the global supply chain. Through a systematic literature review and expert consultation, 15 barriers to SCR were identified and evaluated by using the fuzzy VIKOR (ViseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) method. The findings provide novel insights into the challenges of enhancing resilience in the Vietnamese supply chain and categorize the barriers into three main categories: the resilience phase, strategy resilience, and the competencies required. The results indicated that a lack of financial resources and alternative sources of supply are the most pressing barriers related to the resilience phase group. In terms of strategy resilience, the lack of a skilled and competent workforce was found to be the most critical obstacle. Furthermore, government delays in supporting and enacting appropriate policies were found to be the most pressing issue related to the competencies required. These findings offer valuable recommendations for managers seeking to address these barriers and enhance the resilience of the Vietnamese supply chain after COVID-19. By prioritizing and solving these critical obstacles, Vietnamese SMEs can better prepare for and recover from potential challenges in the future.

Pythagorean Fuzzy Based AHP-VIKOR Integration to Assess Rail Transportation Systems in Turkey

Rail transit systems, one of the important public transportation (PT) systems, are widespread in large cities to satisfy passengers or commuters for their daily trips. However, rail transportation (RT) investments are costly, and the budgets are minimal. Thus assessing RT systems in big cities play a crucial role in deciding on the best RT investment. In this study, for the first time, a two-stage fuzzy set is used among the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) studies in the area of transportation. The proposed method is a unique technique integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) techniques with an extension of Pythagorean fuzzy sets. In this manner, datasets from the observations of three rail lines in Antalya, one of the largest cities in Turkey, are applied to the proposed method. Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), a commonly used MCDM method, is used to weighting four main criteria and thirteen sub-factors. AHP is strengthened by interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers (IVPFNs). The Fuzzy VIKOR (FVIKOR) approach is then applied for the prioritization of three rail line alternatives. Results are achieved by analyzing not only real RT service observations, also actual RT expenditures or costs. Consequently, the uncertainty in results is thus minimized. Outcomes of the case study reveal the most serviceable RT line in the city evaluating the main criteria, namely economy, comfort, environment, and safety. Therefore, the proposed approach methodologically contributes to adopting a new insight into the integration of MCDM methods with fuzzy set.

Quality Evaluation of Wasteless Mining in Dongguashan Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set and VIKOR

Wasteless mining has become the mainstream mode of China’s mining industry, which is an environmentally friendly and sustainable mining method. To effectively evaluate the construction of a green mine, the wasteless mining evaluation method was proposed, based on the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and the Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) decision-making method in this study. Firstly, the intuitionistic fuzzy sets for six indicators (such as waste rock utilization, tailing sand utilization and the current mining situation) of the Dongguashan Copper Mine were established, based on the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and the national standard system. Secondly, referring to the green mine evaluation system, the index weights were calculated with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Finally, the above intuitionistic fuzzy set matrix was ranked by the VIKOR method. The calculation results show that the group utility value of this mine is 0.1943 ∈ (0,0.2), which is at level I; the individual regret value is 0.0916 ∈ (0.075,0.15), which is at level II; the compromise value is 0.2193 ∈ (0.2,0.4), which is at level II. Through comprehensive assessment, the final evaluation of the wasteless mining in the Dongguashan Copper Mine is Grade II. The Dongguashan Copper Mine is one of the first mining enterprises subject to the transformation into wasteless mining in China. The results of the final evaluation are consistent with the current status of wasteless mining in the Dongguashan Copper Mine.

The role of contract incompleteness factors in project disputes: a hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision approach

PurposeContract incompleteness with deficiency, inconsistency, defectiveness, and ambiguity in contract clauses, which can cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations, may result with disputes in projects. This study aims to investigate contract incompleteness factors with a hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision approach.Design/methodology/approachContract incompleteness factors were ranked by fuzzy VIKOR (Visekriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) method, and the most significant factors were subjected to fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to examine their causal relationships. The study is not limited to ranking the identified factors solely, since their cause-effect interactions are also essential for proper risk management in construction projects.FindingsHybrid use of multi-criteria analysis reveals that ambiguity in enforceability including excessive demands and significant amendments in the scope of works are the top two causal contract incompleteness factors, while lack of implementation details and focus of focal point, and insufficient supporting and technical documents are the most affected ones.Originality/valueContractual causes of disputes due to contract incompleteness factors other than requirements of the contracts have been rarely investigated in the literature. The research is one of the first studies in the literature investigating the causal relationship among factors in construction contracts, which might lead to project disputes. Findings are expected to improve contract drafting, eventually contributing to effective risk management in construction projects.

Detecting the most appropriate delay analysis methods for mega airport projects

PurposeThis study aims to detect the most appropriate delay analysis method in mega airport projects.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the criteria affecting the selection of delay analysis methods were detected through an in-depth literature review and an expert panel, which was conducted with 12 experts who have experience in delay analysis domain in mega airport projects. Later, fuzzy VIKOR (VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje) approach was conducted by considering the detected selection criteria and the most common delay analysis methods.FindingsWindows Analysis method was detected as the best option for mega airport projects. It was followed by Time Impact Analysis (TIA), collapsed as-built analysis, as-planned vs as-built method and impacted as-planned method, respectively.Originality/valueEach project has its own characteristics and thus requires specific management techniques; therefore, selecting a delay analysis method without considering the project types and size may cause conflicts between the contracting parties. On the one hand, numerous fruitful studies concerning delay analysis methods have been conducted in the literature, but on the other hand, none of them has considered project characteristics in terms of project size and type while selecting the most appropriate delay analysis method. Moreover, the larger the size of a project is, the more vulnerable it is to encounter with delays. Mega airport construction projects are complex in their nature in that they are large size and involve multi-disciplinary processes; thus, they need special attention in the process of resolving delays. This study intended to fill this gap in the literature by focusing on selection of the most appropriate delay analysis method for mega airport projects, and it is clear that considering the project type and size in the selection of delay analysis methods will provide more reliable outcomes.

Evaluating the satisfaction level of citizens in municipality services by using picture fuzzy VIKOR method: 2014-2019 period analysis

In this study, it is aimed to rank the satisfaction levels of the municipality services. For this purpose, 20 municipal services included in the Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS) that the Turkish Statistical Institution regularly applies every year are considered as alternatives. In addition, the satisfaction of citizens was evaluated not only for the last year, but also for the period of 2014-2019, and these years were considered as a set of criteria. LSS statistics contains the citizens' responses which involve such opinion as abstain and refusal besides yes or no answers. For analyze the effect of all types of opinions on decision process, the participant responses constituting the dataset were converted into Picture Fuzzy Numbers (PFNs) consisting of 4 parameters (positive, neutral, negative, and refusal). Finally, we apply utilize VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) method by using PFNs arithmetic operators and evaluate the citizens’ satisfaction levels of the municipality services. As a result, it was determined that the municipal services with the highest satisfaction were graveyard (A18) and fire-fighting (A17) activities, while the services with the lowest satisfaction were zoning and city planning (A10) and control of food producing facilities (A20).

Adoption of a multi-criteria approach for the selection of operational measures in a maritime environment

In recent times, there have been developments in the maritime industry that underscore the need to optimise operations to yield maximum productivity. Apart from this, stakeholders in this industry have also advocated improvements in seaport operations' critical areas. However, there is no known study in which the relationship between performance criteria and seaport operation measures is investigated. This study proposes a framework for selecting operation measures for the maritime industry. It uses stakeholders' expectations for operational criteria and fuzzy logic to design the framework. Nine criteria were considered in the framework, while Fuzzy VIKOR (VIsekriterijumska optimizacija I KOmpromisno Resenje) and fuzzy Shannon entropy were incorporated into it. The framework's applicability was tested using information that was obtained from Tin can port, Lagos, Nigeria. During this process, hinterland traffic diversion (A1), congestion pricing (A2), off-dock container yards (A3), Fast rail shuttles (A4), expanded rail connections (A5) were considered as alternatives for seaport operational measures. When the developed framework was used to analyse the collected information from Tin Can port, Lagos, Nigeria, the fuzzy VIKOR index ranked the alternatives as A1 » A2 » A3 » A5 » A4. Therefore, this study's insights show that mathematical models can be used to make informed seaports decisions.

A fuzzy rough number extended AHP and VIKOR for failure mode and effects analysis under uncertainty

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is one of the most popular reliability analysis techniques due to its outstanding capabilities in identifying, assessing, and eliminating potential failure modes in a wide range of industrial applications. It provides a comprehensive view for investigating potential failures, causes, and effects in designs, products, and processes. However, traditional FMEA is extensively criticized for its defects in determining the criteria weights, identifying the risk priority of failure modes, and handling the uncertainty during the risk evaluation. To resolve these problems, this study proposes a novel fuzzy rough number extended multi-criteria group decision-making (FR-MCGDM) strategy to determine a more rational rank of failure modes by integrating the fuzzy rough number, AHP (analytic hierarchy process), and VIKOR (Serbian: VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje). Above all, a fuzzy rough number is introduced to characterize experts’ judgment, aggregate group risk assessments, and tackle the uncertainty and subjectivity in the risk evaluation. Then a fuzzy rough number enhanced AHP is presented to determine the criteria weights. A fuzzy rough number enhanced VIKOR is proposed to rank the failure modes. A practical case study of the check valve is provided to validate the applicability of the proposed FMEA. Comparative studies demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed FR-MCGDM, with remarkable advantages in handling the uncertainty and subjectivity during failure modes evaluation.

Identifying the Strategic Priorities of the Technical Factors for the Sustainable Low Carbon Industry Based on Macroeconomic Conditions

This study aims to find out the strategic priorities of the technical factors to have sustainable low carbon industry. For this purpose, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is proposed that contains three different stages. First, the economic criteria required for sustainable development and the technical needs of the low carbon industry are defined by making a comprehensive literature review. After that, economic criteria are weighted by using the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology. Finally, technical factors are ranked with the help of the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach. Moreover, another analysis is also performed by considering fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) to evaluate the consistency of the analysis results. The main motivation of this study is to define the primary technical factors to minimize carbon emission problem by proposing a hybrid MCDM model. The findings indicate that research and development for renewable sources has the greatest importance for low-carbon industry. In addition, the analysis results of fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy VIKOR are quite similar. This situation demonstrates the consistency and coherency of the ranking results. Hence, it is recommended that countries should mainly give importance to the research and development investments so that the costs of renewable energy problems can be minimized. This situation can attract the attentions of the companies to invest in these projects. In this way, it will be possible to use a cleaner energy in industrial production.

A Hybrid Fuzzy Decision Model for Evaluating MEMS and IC Integration Technologies.

Integrated devices incorporating MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) with IC (integrated circuit) components have been becoming increasingly important in the era of IoT (Internet of Things). In this study, a hybrid fuzzy MCDM (multi-criteria decision making) model was proposed to effectively evaluate alternative technologies that incorporate MEMS with IC components. This model, composed of the fuzzy AHP (analytic hierarchy process) and fuzzy VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) methods, solves the decision problem of how best to rank MEMS and IC integration technologies in a fuzzy environment. The six important criteria and the major five alternative technologies associated with our research themes were explored through literature review and expert investigations. The priority weights of criteria were derived using fuzzy AHP. After that, fuzzy VIKOR was deployed to rank alternatives. The empirical results show that development schedule and manufacturing capability are the two most important criteria and 3D (three-dimensional) SiP (system-in-package) and monolithic SoC (system-on-chip) are the top two favored technologies. The proposed fuzzy decision model could serve as a reference for the future strategic evaluation and selection of MEMS and IC integration technologies.

A sustainability evaluation framework for WET-PPP projects based on a picture fuzzy similarity-based VIKOR method

Abstract This paper aims to construct a sustainability evaluation framework based on the extended VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method under a picture fuzzy environment. First, a sustainability evaluation index system for water environment treatment public-private-partnership (WET-PPP) projects is constructed from the perspectives of the economy, engineering, environment, management, and society, including five criteria and 20 sub-criteria. The constructed index system considers engineering sustainability and management sustainability, and can thus more comprehensively evaluate the “sustainability” of the project and meet the requirements of the new economic environment. Second, a corresponding method for the sustainability evaluation of WET-PPP projects is proposed based on the picture fuzzy similarity-based VIKOR method. The main advantages of the proposed method include the following: (1) the sustainability evaluation process for WET-PPP projects involves linguistic terms and picture fuzzy numbers (PFNs), which can not only more comprehensively describe the uncertainty of human cognition and decision-making processes in the form of positive, neutral, and negative membership functions, but can also reduce the difficulty for decision-makers (DMs) to provide evaluation information; (2) the proposed evaluation method combines picture fuzzy similarity and the traditional VIKOR method, and can therefore not only obtain compromise solutions but can also ensure the stability and feasibility of the evaluation results. Finally, a case study of WET-PPP projects in China is provided to testify the feasibility and effectiveness of the constructed framework. The results indicate that the proposed framework can improve the accuracy of decision-making and can be applied for handling evaluation problems.

A Fuzzy VIKOR method to analyze the risks in lean manufacturing implementation

Lean manufacturing is a theory, widely identified to gain more profits, reduce waste, and deliver valued products for customers without harming productivity. Albeit, it is a lucrative business trick, but implementation possesses a massive hurdle for success in any organization. Therefore, for the successful implementation of a lean manufacturing system, the factors and the risks involved should be identified and eliminated. This research is a case study of such risks involved in the implementation of Lean Manufacturing system in medical equipment manufacturing firms located in the southern part of India. The identification of risks was made by a literature survey as well as inputs from industry experts and analysis of risk using MCDM methods like Fuzzy Nominal Group Method (NGM) and VIKOR (VIseKriterijumskaOptimizacija I KompromisnoResenje) methods. The outcome of this paper is a selection of the best medical equipment manufacturing firms among a list of firms, based on the implementation of a lean manufacturing system. The proposed outcome of this research work was verified with case companies, existing literature, and consultation with experts. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was used to validate the results from the above methods.

Environmental risk assessment of E-waste in developing countries by using the modified-SIRA method

Electronic waste (E-Waste) is a progressively increasing problem for all developing nations. Developing nations like Pakistan, India and China are well renowned for the business of e-waste recycling. With the current rudimentary techniques of recycling used in Pakistan, e-waste presents different risks to the environment and the society with nominal financial gain. The study looks to answer how the e-waste makes its way to Pakistan, what are the risks of the industry and how they affect the population of Pakistan. For this purpose, a method called Modified-Safety Improve Risk Assessment (Modified-SIRA) was used. Modified-SIRA has identified six risks which are a severe hazard to a developing nation such as Pakistan. Each individual risk has been quantified by assigning it with an individually calculated Total Risk Priority Number (TRPN). Furthermore, the risks have been prioritized by the use of Fuzzy-VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (FVIKOR) to assess their impact on the sustainability of the e-waste recycling industry. This study provides evidence that among various risks air pollution from the e-waste recycling process is a severe hazard to the population of a developing country like Pakistan. It further helps to highlight the fact that the population of a developing country tend to ignore e-waste emanating from their expanded use of electronics. Additionally, the present use of rudimentary and non-standardized techniques of material extraction does not possess the capability of sustainably financing the industry. The study further concludes as to which practices and methods can be applied to reduce the impacts and improve the overall sustainability of the industry.

A New Decision Model Approach for Health Technology Assessment and A Case Study for Dialysis Alternatives in Turkey.

Background: This paper presents a generic Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision-making, which can be applied to a wide range of HTA studies, regardless of the healthcare technology type under consideration. Methods: The HTA Core Model® of EUnetHTA was chosen as a basis for the development of the MCDA model because of its common acceptance among European Union countries. Validation of MCDA4HTA was carried out by an application with the HTA study group of the Turkish Ministry of Health. The commitment of the decision-making group is completed via an online application of 10 different questionnaires. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to determine the weights. Scores of the criteria in MCDA4HTA are gathered directly from the HTA report. The performance matrix in this application is run with fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), and goal programming MCDA techniques. Results: Results for fuzzy VIKOR, fuzzy TOPSIS, and goal programming are 0.018, 0.309, and 0.191 for peritoneal dialysis and 0.978, 0.677, and 0.327 for hemodialysis, respectively. Conclusions: Peritoneal dialysis is found to be the best choice under the given circumstances, despite its higher costs to society. As an integrated decision-making model for HTA, MCDA4HTA supports both evidence-based decision policy and the transparent commitment of multi-disciplinary stakeholders.

Analyzing the Investments Strategies for Renewable Energies Based on Multi-Criteria Decision Model

The purpose of this study is to determine appropriate innovative strategies for the renewable energy investments. For this purpose, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model is proposed based on interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy sets and alpha cut levels. Within this context, hesitant IT2 fuzzy DEMATEL-Based Analytic Network Process (DANP) with alpha cut levels is applied for weighting the customer requirements. Moreover, hesitant IT2 fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) with alpha cut levels is used for ranking the TRIZ-based strategies priorities of renewable energy investments based on house of quality technique. These strategies are also ranked with hesitant IT2 fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) approach to make a comparative evaluation. The results illustrate that ease of access and security are among the most prominent factors of customer requirements for renewable energy investments. It is also identified that innovative technical requirement entitled cushion in advance has the best choice for the sustainable renewable energy projects. Furthermore, the results of proposed model using hesitant IT2 fuzzy DANP and hesitant IT2 fuzzy TOPSIS are identical for the different levels of alpha cut. In addition, it is also defined that the results of hesitant IT2 fuzzy TOPSIS and hesitant IT2 fuzzy VIKOR are quite coherent. This is a clear evidence that the proposed model is coherent and could provide comprehensive results for the future studies. It is strongly recommended that a detailed analysis is required to identify the risks in renewable energy investment projects. Hence, necessary actions can be taken appropriately so that it can be possible to prevent problems before they grow.

Evaluation of Influenza Intervention Strategies in Turkey with Fuzzy AHP-VIKOR.

In this study, a fuzzy AHP-VIKOR method is presented to help decision makers (DMs), especially physicians, evaluate and rank intervention strategies for influenza. Selecting the best intervention strategy is a sophisticated multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem with potentially competing criteria. Two fuzzy MCDM methods, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) and fuzzy VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje (F-VIKOR), are integrated to evaluate and rank influenza intervention strategies. In fuzzy AHP-VIKOR, F-AHP is used to determine the fuzzy criteria weights and F-VIKOR is implemented to rank the strategies with respect to the presented criteria. A case study is given where a professor of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, an internal medicine physician, an ENT physician, a family physician, and a cardiologist in Turkey act as DMs in the process.

Evaluating mobile services using integrated weighting approach and fuzzy VIKOR.

Mobile services’ rapid evolution and development has meant that their evaluation has become a more and more pressing issue, and from both the practical and theoretical standpoints. The significant previous work in the field of multiple-criteria decision-making based evaluation of mobile services has some practical limitations that should be noted. First, there has been insufficient research that has utilized both objective and subjective weighting. Second, the investigations that have employed Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), a well known practical tool for use in multi-criteria decision making, did not consider the fuzzy environment. In order to fill these gaps in the literature, the present study developed fuzzy VIKOR for use with an integrated weighting approach that combines subjective and objective weighting to account for mobile services’ various characteristics and, thereby, evaluate their quality. For subjective weighting, Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) was employed for simple determination of the weighting and causal relationships. For objective weighting of evaluation criteria, Shannon entropy was utilized. This study has a unique contribution in that it reflects the special circumstances of the mobile service evaluation that have not been considered in the previous studies. Especially, in this study, not only the subjective weighting method but also the objective weighting method are used for more accurate importance weight of evaluation criteria. In the novelty aspect, this is the first study trying to utilize fuzzy VIKOR in concert with a novel combined subjective/objective weighting method in order to integrate objective decision-matrix-derived information with subjective decision-maker preferences. Additionally, a supplemental, empirical mobile-service-evaluation case study was conducted that enables researchers and practitioners to better understand the overall, practical evaluation process. Validation of the case study results by comparison with other, representative multiple-criteria decision-making methods verified the proposed method’s robustness.