Major Challenge For Decision Makers Research Articles

A model for optimal bus routes packaging in a competitive contracting environment: A case study of Tehran

Transit authorities often prefer to outsource the bus routes to the private sector through a competitive tendering or negotiation procedure. A major challenge for decision-makers in this area is the optimal arrangement of routes among contracts which directly impacts the operating costs, labor costs, vehicle resources, level of competition between private operators, required subsidy, contract price, and system efficiency. Therefore, this study proposes a new model to find optimal route packages considering the parameters including package size, package revenue, the geographic distribution of routes, and terminal locations. The methodology relies on a genetic algorithm equipped with innovative methods, making it applicable to large-scale urban networks. We programmed both the model and the solution approach in C++ programming language and applied them to the city of Tehran as a real case study, which involved 169 routes and 2,215 bus fleets. In the main scenario, 10 packages were identified and compared with the current packages. The results demonstrated a 7.6% reduction in revenue deviation among the packages, indicating improved balance. Additionally, the routes within each package exhibited geographical concentration, aligning with the common terminal approach. By applying the proposed methodology to the bus network in Tehran, the study highlights the potential of the model in outsourcing bus routes to the private sector in similar real-world practices. It is worth noting that the Tehran Bus Organization has utilized the proposed packages derived from this study in their recent tender processes. Evaluation of the new packages' effectiveness demonstrated a notable decrease of 17% in average bid prices. This reduction directly corresponds to a decrease in operating costs and the required subsidy.

A new ranking index to identify the work-related psychosocial factors most impacting mental health: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesIn modern professional life, mental health prevention and promotion have become a major challenge for decision-makers. Devising appropriate actions requires better understanding the role played by each work-related psychosocial factor...

Decision support tools, systems and indices for sustainable coastal planning and management: A review

Coasts worldwide are facing enormous challenges relating to extreme water levels, inundation and coastal erosion. These challenges need to be addressed with consideration given to the need for infrastructure such as for ports and other socio-economic developments, especially for coastal tourism. Choosing the optimal decision support tools (DSTs) for coastal vulnerability and resilience assessment is a major challenge for decision-makers and coastal planners. The robustness and flexibility of coastal decision-making can be improved by using effective DSTs, particularly for the management of coastal hazards. This study provides an overview of the construction and use of decision support systems (DSSs) as combinations of DSTs, such as the commonly used multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods and an artificial neural network (ANN), integrated with a geographical information system (GIS). The experience of many researchers is that the combination of MCDA techniques based on fuzzy logic, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted linear combination (WLC), with GIS, and possibly also incorporating ANN, provides decision-makers with a comprehensive tool for efficiently calculating decision support indices (DSIs). Hybrid tools are becoming more popular and relevant among experts due to their multiple functionalities that facilitate decision-making. An integration of DSTs in a DSS and further development of DSIs provides a path for the integration of quantitative and qualitative parameters into the decision-making process, and providing materials to be used in consultation processes. An integrated DSS is more likely to produce high-quality results for decision-makers, handle the uncertainty of analysis, and extend the long-term applicability of tools employed by coastal managers.

The Battle Against COVID-19 in Jordan: An Early Overview of the Jordanian Experience.

Since the initial spark of the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2019, which was later declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a global pandemic, all affected countries are implementing various preventive and control measures to mitigate the spread of the disease. The newly emerging virus brings with it uncertainty—not only regarding its behavior and transmission dynamics but also regarding the current lack of approved antiviral therapy or vaccines—and this represents a major challenge for decision makers at various levels and sectors. This article aims to provide an early overview of the COVID-19 battle within the Jordanian context, including general reflections and conclusions on the value of collaborative efforts in crises management.

A utilização da inteligência competitiva na seleção de mercados para exportação: Uma análise comparativa de quatro métodos

A inserção no mercado internacional através das exportações é uma importante etapa no crescimento de uma organização, mas, sobretudo para pequenas e médias empresas, é um grande desafio para os tomadores de decisão. Este trabalho verifica como a Inteligência Competitiva auxilia nesta escolha através de quatro métodos de seleção de mercados para exportação. A partir da análise de dados primários e secundários, quatro métodos foram investigados. Foram identificadas quatro dimensões estratégicas para o desenvolvimento da seleção de mercado para exportação: distância psíquica, análise setorial, etapas de seleção e indicadores. Foram identificadas as semelhanças e as diferenças entre estes métodos a partir da análise destas dimensões. Dentre os resultados obtidos, é verificada a grande diversidade de indicadores utilizados, a atenção fornecida à distância psíquica e a importância de uma análise setorial.

Simulation of the earthquake-induced collapse of a school building in Turkey in 2011 Van Earthquake

Collapses of school or dormitory buildings experienced in recent earthquakes raise the issue of safety as a major challenge for decision makers. A school building is ‘just another structure’ technically speaking, however, the consequences of a collapse in an earthquake could lead to social reactions in the complex aftermath of a seismic tremor more than any other type of structure may possibly cause. In this paper a school building that collapsed during 2011 Tabanli, Van Earthquake in eastern Turkey, is analysed in order to identify the possible reasons that led to collapse. Apart from the inherent deficiencies of RC buildings built in Turkey in the 80's and 90's, its structural design exhibits a strikingly high asymmetry. In the analyses conducted, much attention has been given to the direction of the earthquake load and its coincidence with the bi-axial structural response parameters. The failure of the structure to comply with the 1975 Code, in vigor at the time of construction, has also been evaluated with respect to the structure’s collapse. Among the parameters that controlled the collapse, the high plan asymmetry and the coincidence of the vulnerable directions with the dominant shaking direction were critical, as well as the underestimation of the seismic hazard and the lateral design force level, specified by the then Turkish Earthquake Code.

AN INTEGRATED AHP-QFD APPROACH FOR EVALUATING COMPETING TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES

<p>A major challenge for decision makers in business organization is making appropriate choices among competing high-tech projects. The objective of this paper is to explore a multi-criteria analytical model that can be used for the selection and management of competing manufacturing technologies. The model uses an integrated approach combining Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) as the basis for selecting a preferred alternative from a set of competing projects. Integration of the two techniques helps to provide a more effective selection process. Two competing chemical processes to produce drugs are used as a case study to demonstrate and validate the AHP – QFD model. The policy makers of pharmaceutical and chemical organizations can use this model as a part of their strategic planning and decision-making process.</p>

Healthcare Use and Voluntary Health Insurance After Retirement in Thailand

The dramatic changes occurring in the age structure of the Thai population make providing healthcare services for the elderly a major challenge for decision makers. Because the number of the elderly will be increasing, together with the number of retired workers, under the Social Health Insurance (SHI) scheme, there will be the unmet needs for healthcare use after retirement. The SHI scheme does not cover workers after retirement unless they could use free healthcare for the elderly. In addition, the government budget is tight regarding the support of universal healthcare and long-term care services for all of the elderly. Therefore, the government could support retired workers who have the ability to pay by facilitating voluntary health insurance. The main objectives of the present study are to analyze the characteristics of workers that need health insurance after retirement and to identify the factors explaining healthcare use to offer healthcare services to meet the workers' needs and expectations. Four hundred insured workers under the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Scheme in Thailand were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The Anderson-Newman model of healthcare use is the conceptual framework used in this study to understand the factors that explain healthcare use patterns of workers. Multiple regressions are employed extensively to evaluate the variables that predict healthcare use. According to the survey, a person that purchases voluntary health insurance is likely to be female, have a higher personal income, and healthy. The characteristics related to healthcare use were poor health status, a high personal income, and peeople afflicted by chronic illness. There is a gap between healthcare service use and the demand for voluntary health insurance. People that have a high income are more likely to purchase voluntary health insurance, while people in worse health and afflicted by chronic illness may have greater difficulty purchasing voluntary health insurance because they face higher premiums or are denied coverage by insurers.