Network Relation Map Research Articles

Establishing the Digital Transformation Strategies for the Med-Tech Enterprises Based on the AIA-NRM Approach

The medical technology (Med-Tech) industry turnover has reached a record high, attracting a great deal of capital investment, while mergers and acquisitions continually increase. In order to move to a higher value-added segment, traditional Med-Tech manufacturers have to transform into digital smart manufacturers. This development trend promotes industrial operators of Med-Tech to consider how to strengthen professional competence, expand their market, and determine the future direction. This study proposed the value-driving forces of Med-Tech enterprise, based on five aspects: Professional competence (PC), operation management (OM), critical resources (CR), regulatory system (RS), and market expansion (ME). Then, the acquisition and importance analysis (AIA) and the network relation map (NRM) approaches were proposed and implemented to find an optimal pathway for a Med-Tech enterprise to implement digital transformation. Our findings suggest that Med-Tech enterprises should treat RS as the priority in transformation. Finally, based on small- and medium-sized Med-Tech enterprise scenarios, we propose four development strategies (direct acquisition, strategic alliance, maintenance status, and in-house development) should be decided in the digital transformation process.

A Hybrid MADM Model for Product Design Evaluation and Improvement

Global warming and climate change are the most pressing issues in the world. This is the inevitable result of human beings pursuing a better quality of life and materials. If the green design concept is used in the design and manufacture of products, the impact of production on the environment will be greatly reduced. Because of this, green product design assessment and improvement activities play an important role in achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals. Product design is the forefront of the entire product development process, and it plays a very critical role. The purpose of this study is to develop a decision-making model for helping decision makers to evaluate and improve the performance of product design systematically. The model combines the design standard of the iF world design guide and multi-attribute decision-making methods. First, the DEMATEL-based analytic network process is used to establish the influential relationship and weights of attributes. Next, the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno with aspiration-level method is used to obtain the gap between each evaluation attribute and the aspiration level of each design. Finally, this evaluation result uses the influential network relationship map (INRM) to propose various improvement strategies with causal influence. This study uses products from a Taiwanese furniture design company as an empirical case, which is a leading brand and benchmark in Taiwan’s furniture industry. The research results show that the proposed model can help decision makers to choose the most appropriate design scheme (i.e., the design with the smallest gap from expectations); designers can also improve the gap between product design and expectations.

An evaluation framework for developing green infrastructure by using a new hybrid multiple attribute decision-making model for promoting environmental sustainability

With the expansion of urbanization caused by the growth of population and industrial activities, the urban/city and suburban areas are facing a variety of environmental threats. Although more research and urban policy has advocated and practiced the development of green infrastructure (GI) to support urban sustainable environment, the evaluation framework for the development of GI for promoting environmental sustainability is still insufficient. Moreover, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) commonly applied in published literature, makes an unrealistic assumption of independent relationships among dimensions/criteria in decision making for satisfying the real-world problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to construct the evaluation framework, including four dimensions and related ten criteria, using a new hybrid-modified multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) model for developing and improving the GI for promoting environmental sustainability. This MADM model is combined with three different methodologies of MADM, including the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) for constructing the influential network relation map (INRM) to explore the complex influential inter-relationships and DEMATEL based on Analytic Network Process (DANP) for determining the influential weights with the VIse Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) for evaluating and presenting improvement strategies for six different GIs. The empirical study indicates that DEMATEL and DANP Results suggest that decision-makers should pay more attention to the improvement of Design (D4) and Materials (D2) in terms of dimensions when utilizing the GI to promote environmental sustainability. Because these dimensions are enhanced, Species (D1) and Energy (D3) will be improved in synchronization. From the perspective of criteria, five are key core criteria and need to be focused on first: increasing the green coverage rate (B9), utilizing sustainable materials (B4), using ecological engineering (B8), shaping species biodiversity (B1), and reducing energy consumption (B5). Modified VIKOR reveals that “grass swales” are a comparatively better choice among six GIs for promoting environmental sustainability toward achieving the aspiration level. Therefore, this MADM model is beneficial to provide a more convincing assessment framework and improvement strategies for the development of GI for promoting environmental sustainability. As a result, these modified MADM models can be shown more conveniently and reasonably than traditional methods such as traditional AHP or ANP method.

Strategic evaluation criteria to assess competitiveness of the service industry in Taiwan

This study uses industrial upgrading (I), export development (E), and investment promotion (K), or collectively, the IEK model to identify critical indicators to asses competitiveness of the service industry in Taiwan. The proposed development and evaluation model for the service industry uses the DEMATEL (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) method to construct an influential relationship between the dimensions and criteria; a DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP) to obtain influential weights; and a modified Vlšekriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (m-VIKOR) method to assess gaps in industry development performance. It illuminates current industry demands and helps to improve service firms’ operations through fewer developmental gaps and stronger policy and strategy. Further, an influential network relationship map (INRM) and influential weights can unravel the complex assessment system and prioritise industry improvements. The results demonstrate that upgrades must occur first to the industry, then to promoting of investments, and lastly, in developing exports. Finally, the practical implications for managing service firms have been discussed.

Exploring the effect of Starbucks' green marketing on consumers' purchase decisions from consumers’ perspective

This study contributes to current literature by constructing a model to evaluate how using green marketing to promote brand image affects consumers' purchase intentions. First, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used to explore the mutual influence on evaluation indicators, and an influential network relation map (INRM) of indicators and sub-indicators was constructed based on the results. The DEMATEL method was then combined with the analytic network process to create a DANP method to calculate weights for each indicator and sub-indicator. A modified Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method was then employed to explore the comprehensive performance of each indicator and sub-indicator using empirical data. Finally, conclusions were summarised and suggestions were proposed. This study's findings can serve as a reference for firms seeking to improve the tangible effects of their green marketing strategies by stimulating consumers' purchase intentions.

Strategies of Managing Coach Driver Job Stress for Sustainable Coach Tourism Industry—The Use of DANP-V Model

Coach drivers are integral to the coach tourism industry. However, they are susceptible to job stress in the tourism context. Few studies address this problem from a job stress theory and tourism scenario. This study, thus, examines the network relationships between criteria and proposes a physical and workable improvement plan. A novel DEMATEL-based ANP and VIKOR (DANP-V) model is used to examine the job stress criteria based on the transaction stress framework in the tourist coach context of Taiwan. The expert survey produced useful results. The influential network relation map (INRM) illustrates the sequence of improvement is job stressors, cognitive coping strategies, and stress outcomes. The gap values of the modified VIKOR suggest the first priority to reach the aspired level is reducing stress outcomes. However, teaching active action as a strategy to cope with job stress is a long-term goal. These results are formulated into an action plan and can be easily indexed and followed. The findings have practical implications for decision-makers and coach drivers and may contribute to coach driver job-related stress management, ultimately, helping the sustainability of coach tourism.

A hybrid MCDM-based FMEA model for identification of critical failure modes in manufacturing

The effective identification of critical failure modes of individual equipment components or processes and the development of plans for improvement are crucial for the manufacturing industry. Recently, the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) approach based on multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) has been utilized effectively for the assessment of primary failure modes and risks. However, the ranking results of failure modes produced by different MCDM methods might be different. This study proposes an integrated risk assessment model where several techniques are combined to produce an FMEA model for the generation of comprehensive failure mode ranking. First, the anticipated costs and environmental protection indicators are included in the FMEA model to enhance the comprehensiveness of assessment. Then, an influential network relationship map of risk factors is obtained by using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique to assist in identifying the critical factors. Finally, the ranking of the failure modes is identified using the four integrated MCDM methods, based on the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) concept. In addition, data from a machine tool manufacturing company survey are applied to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed model.

Determining the Key Factors of Wearable Devices Consumers’ Adoption Behavior Based on an MADM Model for Product Improvement

As a contemporary product of Internet of Things, wearable devices that are closely related to consumer health have received widespread attention from various nations and industries. Thus, the use of wearable devices has become a significant scientific problem requiring an urgent solution. In this article, we consider the characteristics of wearable devices, consumers, the market, safety, and the environment to analyze consumer behavior. A multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) model is used in this article, including the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique, the DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP) method, and the modified Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method. Based on expert data and the index system of criteria for consumer adoption of wearable devices, we evaluate the relationship between criteria and their weight of impact to create an influential network relationship map by using the DEMATEL technique, comprehensively analyze the correlation between consumer behaviors and products, clearly identify the relative gaps between criteria and the optimal level, and recommend improvements through the DANP. Finally, we use three specific products as examples to analyze consumer satisfaction for different criteria based on the modified VIKOR method. The results reveal that there are gaps between product performance and the optimal level, and product promotion strategies are proposed that would narrow the performance gaps of these three wearable devices by prioritizing the factors that required improvement.

Bipolar neutrosophic DEMATEL for urban sustainable development

Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in integrating the neutrosophic sets with multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods. Previous literature have suggested the integration of neutrosophic set with the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, in which the three memberships of neutrosophic set are utilized to solve problems that are characterized by non-deterministic information. Differently from the neutrosophic DEMATEL, which directly used three independent memberships, this paper proposes bipolar neutrosophic DEMATEL (Bipolar NS-DEMATEL) of which the positive and negative of truth, indeterminate and false memberships of bipolar neutrosophic set are introduced to enhance decision in urban sustainable development. Three criteria and fifteen sub-criteria of urban sustainable development are the main MCDM structures that need to be solved using the proposed method. A group of experts were invited to provide rating of performance values of sub-criteria of urban sustainable development problem using a bipolar neutrosophic linguistic scale. The proposed Bipolar NS-DEMATEL is applied to segregate the sub-criteria of urban sustainable development into cause and effect groups. In addition, the network relation map is drawn to observe the interaction among the sub-criteria. The Bipolar NS-DEMATEL suggests that air quality (SC12) is the most important sub-criteria in managing urban sustainable development. The result also unveils that the sub-criterion safety (SC21) is impacted and influenced by other sub-criteria. The identification of sub-criteria in accordance with their net causer and net receiver would help the authority in prioritizing sub-criteria that may directly be affected by urban development.

Analyzing interrelationships and prioritising the factors influencing sustainable intermodal freight transport system: A grey-DANP approach

Abstract The intermodal railroad (IRR) based freight transport system is considered as the most sustainable way of goods distribution. Although there are many inhibitors which obstruct the popularity of intermodal transportation. Most of the previous work consider inhibitors as an independent and quantitative factor, but in the real world, these inhibitors are interdependent as well as qualitative in nature. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a hierarchical framework based on the grey-Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (grey-DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP), i.e. gDANP. The integration of grey theory into DEMATEL provides a better inclusion of subjectively of the decision-making process. The originality of this work comes from its ability to combine operational, technological & infrastructural, knowledge, organisational, and government policy & regulations dimensions and its attributes for evaluating IRR inhibitors. The proposed framework is validated with a case of the Indian IRR system. The integrated framework provides interrelationships and priority weight of such dimensions and related attributes. Influential network relation map (INRM) develops useful policy suggestions for improving the share of intermodal services in the Indian freight industry. The present work also provides necessary managerial and theoretical insights for freight transport policymakers and researchers.

Evaluation of and improvement planning for smart homes using rough knowledge-based rules on a hybrid multiple attribute decision-making model

This paper proposes fuzzy integral-based decision methods to identify the core factors and their relationships for smart homes product improvement. The dominance-based rough set approach was used to retrieve core attributes and obtain rough knowledge-based rules. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique was used to build an influential network relationship map, and influential weights were determined through the DEMATEL-based analytic network process. Subsequently, the inter-relationships among criteria were calculated. Finally, the fuzzy integral method was used to measure the plausible synergy effects among the criteria, evaluate/rank alternatives for smart homes, and then provide suggestions for product improvement. The main innovation is the use of rough knowledge-based rule retrieval procedures and fuzzy measures for exploring the synergy effects on smart home improvement. Three smart home products/systems were examined to illustrate their performance on each criterion for improvement planning. This study contributes knowledge to research on consumer adoption of smart homes and presents improvement strategies.

A Rough Hybrid Multicriteria Decision-Making Model for Improving the Quality of a Research Information System

Improving the quality of research information systems is an important goal in the process of improving the performance of research management in Chinese universities. Since the evaluation of information system (IS) quality is a multicriteria decision problem, it is critical to identify the interrelationships among the dimensions and criteria, and decide on the important criteria for proposed improvement strategies. This paper suggests a hybrid multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model for improving the quality of a research information system. First, a rough method combined with the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory and analytical network process (rough DANP) model is used to improve the objectivity of expert judgements. Additionally, the rough DANP can be used to construct an influential network relationship map (INRM) between research information system components to derive the criterion weights. The complex proportional assessment of alternatives with rough numbers (COPRAS-R) is applied to evaluate the performance of the research information system. A Chinese university research information system is chosen to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model. The results show that efficiency, effectiveness, and user frequency have the highest priorities for improvement. Selected management implications based on the actual case study are supplied.

Establishing the service evaluation and selection system for emerging culture festival events using the hybrid MCDM technique

ABSTRACT Music festival events are now hosted all over Taiwan and attract thousands of visitors every year, creating a massive need for festival tourism. These music festival events not only invite composers to demonstrate their musical creations. But also they assist many independent bands realizing their musical dreams. This study analyzes how to influence the event image of music festival events for event participants. And it explores how factors that affect the tourist experience and enhance the event image related to this kind of activity. This study used four aspects to build a development strategies map utilizing the DEMATEL technique for the music festival events and establishes the group components of the PCA technique and then adopts the ANP technique to evaluate the aspects/components’ weights. Finally, the VIKOR technique was utilized to assess the competitive performance of the music festival events. The research reveals that the PP (package price) and SP (site planning) are primary influencers for music festival events. The event service providers can improve their promotional strategies by the NRM (network relation map) technique. This research provides recommendations for service providers to enhance their equipment plans and service experiences for music festival events.

A Chinese ancient book digital humanities research platform to support digital humanities research

PurposeWith the rapid development of digital humanities, some digital humanities platforms have been successfully developed to support digital humanities research for humanists. However, most of them have still not provided a friendly digital reading environment and practicable social network analysis tool to support humanists on interpreting texts and exploring characters’ social network relationships. Moreover, the advancement of digitization technologies for the retrieval and use of Chinese ancient books is arising an unprecedented challenge and opportunity. For these reasons, this paper aims to present a Chinese ancient books digital humanities research platform (CABDHRP) to support historical China studies. In addition to providing digital archives, digital reading, basic search and advanced search functions for Chinese ancient books, this platform still provides two novel functions that can more effectively support digital humanities research, including an automatic text annotation system (ATAS) for interpreting texts and a character social network relationship map tool (CSNRMT) for exploring characters’ social network relationships.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted DSpace, an open-source institutional repository system, to serve as a digital archives system for archiving scanned images, metadata, and full texts to develop the CABDHRP for supporting digital humanities (DH) research. Moreover, the ATAS developed in the CABDHRP used the Node.js framework to implement the system’s front- and back-end services, as well as application programming interfaces (APIs) provided by different databases, such as China Biographical Database (CBDB) and TGAZ, used to retrieve the useful linked data (LD) sources for interpreting ancient texts. Also, Neo4j which is an open-source graph database management system was used to implement the CSNRMT of the CABDHRP. Finally, JavaScript and jQuery were applied to develop a monitoring program embedded in the CABDHRP to record the use processes from humanists based on xAPI (experience API). To understand the research participants’ perception when interpreting the historical texts and characters’ social network relationships with the support of ATAS and CSNRMT, semi-structured interviews with 21 research participants were conducted.FindingsAn ATAS embedded in the reading interface of CABDHRP can collect resources from different databases through LD for automatically annotating ancient texts to support digital humanities research. It allows the humanists to refer to resources from diverse databases when interpreting ancient texts, as well as provides a friendly text annotation reader for humanists to interpret ancient text through reading. Additionally, the CSNRMT provided by the CABDHRP can semi-automatically identify characters’ names based on Chinese word segmentation technology and humanists’ support to confirm and analyze characters’ social network relationships from Chinese ancient books based on visualizing characters’ social networks as a knowledge graph. The CABDHRP not only can stimulate humanists to explore new viewpoints in a humanistic research, but also can promote the public to emerge the learning interest and awareness of Chinese ancient books.Originality/valueThis study proposed a novel CABDHRP that provides the advanced features, including the automatic word segmentation of Chinese text, automatic Chinese text annotation, semi-automatic character social network analysis and user behavior analysis, that are different from other existed digital humanities platforms. Currently, there is no this kind of digital humanities platform developed for humanists to support digital humanities research.

Improving the Sustainability of Open Government Data

In the context of big data, opening government data to society for development and utilization would improve the transparency of government work and promote harmonious social development. Improving the sustainability of open government data (OGD) is an important and challenging issue, and has received the attention of multiple governments. The goals of this study are to construct a new evaluation model for the sustainability of OGD that explores the main influential factors and amends the priorities. We used a combination of the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method and the Analytical Network Process (ANP) method known as DANP to construct an influential network relationship map (INRM) of the evaluation system and calculate the criterion weights. The INRM and weights can help decision makers understand the complex assessment system and set priorities for improving OGD. The results demonstrate that the improvement priorities of dimensions have the following order: impact (D4), use (D3), data (D2), and environment (D1). Economic, social, and political values are the three critical factors for improvement of the sustainability of OGD. Some implications for management are also provided.

IMPROVING STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS FOR PROMOTING HOTEL SERVICES USING AN INTEGRATED ROUGH MAGDM MODEL

This study aims to assist decision makers to improve hotel service performance by developing strategic orientations. Strategic orientations are imprecise and subjective: they vary according to domain experts’ opinions and practical experience. This study develops an integrated rough multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) model that supports decision makers to acquire a systematic view of strategic methods for improving performance to the desired level. The model incorporates three methods. First, we use the rough number approach to determine group opinions from the practical experience of domain experts. We then apply the rough decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based analytic network process to develop a rough influential network relation map (RINRM). The rough influential weights based on strategic orientations and their corresponding attributes are calculated. Finally, we use the modified complex proportional assessment of alternatives with gray relations (mCOPRAS-G) and the influential weights to calculate the relationship ratio between performance and aspiration level. Our model flexibly assesses the vagueness involved in decision-making, enabling more objective expert estimation of attributes in subjective surroundings than traditional multiple attributes decision-making models. We use the Taiwanese hotel industry as an empirical case study. Our study provides useful information on how to enhance hotel services and achieve optimal performance based upon expert judgments and the RINRM. The results show that customer orientation is the optimal strategy for hotel service promotion.

A Hybrid Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making Model with Modified PROMETHEE for Identifying Optimal Performance-Improvement Strategies for Sustainable Development of a Better Life

Governments worldwide are cognizant of the deficiencies of measuring quality of life according to gross domestic product; consequently, they have created indicators of citizen well-being that can be applied in governmental policy. To improve citizens’ lives, governments should create an environment with maximal quality of life, ideal material living conditions, and sustainable well-being and determine the true needs of citizens. This paper proposes a hybrid multiple-attribute decision-making model with a modified PROMETHEE method that can identify practical performance-improvement strategies for the sustainable development of a better life by accounting for the complex dependencies among the indicators. In the proposed model, an influential network relation map is first obtained using the DEMATEL method to delineate the interrelationships among the indicators. Second, to address the feedback and dependence concerns associated with interrelationships among criteria, the influence weights are identified through the DANP method. Finally, the degree of preference is determined through the modified PROMETHEE method and combined with the influence weights to calculate flow indicators, which facilitate attaining the aspiration level. The aspiration level is set and an aspiration alternative is identified as an improvement benchmark to facilitate continual melioration and sustainable development of a better life. This model uses the OECD well-being indicators consisting of 11 dimensions and 24 criteria to measure material living conditions (namely housing, income, jobs) and quality of life (namely civic engagement, community, education, environment, health, life satisfaction, safety, and work–life balance). An empirical case study was performed to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model by using questionnaire data of six cities in Taiwan. Our results prove that the proposed model (aspired-worst as benchmark) outperforms the traditional model (max–min as benchmark) and that it can obtain more realistic net flows and an improvement benchmark to conduct ranking, selection, and continual improvement for facilitating sustainable development of a better life.

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Big Data Adoption in Chinese Enterprises Using DANP Technique

Globally, many enterprises are currently focusing on big data technology to improve their performance and operations. Recent literature points out several factors that influence the adoption of big data. However, enterprises often resist using the business value of big data due to a lack of knowledge. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing big data adoption by Chinese enterprises and to develop an indicator system based on the Motivation–Opportunity–Ability (MOA) model. Moreover, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used to construct a network relationship map and to analyze its effects. Using the DEMATEL-based Analytic Network Process (ANP) (DANP) method to identify the weight distribution of index, this study quantitatively evaluates the influencing factors. The results show that leadership support, perceived usefulness, financial support, data resources, industrial development, data talents, and technical capability are key elements affecting the application of big data. Accordingly, some targeted suggestions are proposed.

Using the DEMATEL Method to Explore the Critical Factors That Influence Visitors to Purchase Museum Cultural Products

Abstract For museums, creating new ways of making income involves implementing pictures, symbols, and cultural elements into cultural products. Many previous studies in marketing about the purchasing behaviors of products only focus on two categories: price and functions. While this focus may have been true in the past, the purpose of this study is to investigate the criteria that consumers use when purchasing cultural products. This study provides cultural product marketing strategies for museums. Developing a marketing strategy is a Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) problem. This study uses the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique, which constructs the interactive relationships among the various criteria and subcriteria—including the purchasing of cultural products and building of each criterion’s influential network relationship map (INRM). The results of this study provide marketing managers at museums with an idea-based understanding of how to create marketing strategies that enhance visitors’ needs.

Critical Factors to Green Marketing Strategies Implementation of Chinese Enterprises

Combining with 4P theory, organization theory, environment theory, this paper mainly focuses on the contributory factors of implementing green marketing strategies for enterprises. Through applying DEMATEL method, the research deeply analyzes the mutual influence relationships of the criteria, draws the Influential Network Relation Map, and gives the weight of each dimension based on ANP method. The results show that among the three evaluation dimensions, 4P possesses the largest influence degree, followed by organization dimension and environment dimension, indicating that the general influence degree of 4P dimension is the largest in the overall structure, making it the most important influence dimension.