Outsourcing Provider Selection Research Articles

Intuitionistic Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Agile Outsourcing Provider Selection in COVID-19: An Application in Turkish White Goods Industr

Proje yönetiminde çeviklik kavramı, sıralı ve doğrusal olan geleneksel proje yönetimi metodolojilerini geliştirmek için ortaya çıkmıştır. Çevik bir proje, yinelemelerin yanı sıra planlanmış süreçleri de içermektedir. Rekabetin fazla olduğu global alanlarda dış kaynak kullanılan süreçlerde çevikliğin sağlanması, şirketlerin değişimlere ve dinamik çevrelere uyum sağlayabilmesi açısından faydalıdır. Günümüz COVID-19 pandemisi koşullarında çeviklik kavramının önemi eskiye oranla daha da artmaktadır. Ayrıca, dış kaynak kullanımı süreçlerinde çeviklik kavramının sağlanması, piyasalardaki değişimlerin ve dinamik sorunların üstesinden gelinmesini sağlamaktadır. Bu çalışmada, çevik dış kaynak sağlayıcısı alternatiflerini sıralamak ve aralarından en iyi performans göstereni belirlemek için ideal çözüme göre bir çözüm elde etmeyi amaçlayan sezgisel bulanık COPRAS yaklaşımı kullanılmaktadır. Sezgisel bulanık kümeler, bulanık sayılarla yapılan işlemlerde meydana gelebilecek bilgi kayıpları ve verilerdeki tereddüt ile başa çıkmak için kullanılmaktadır. Sezgisel bulanık karar verme yaklaşımının uygulaması COVID-19 döneminde Türk beyaz eşya endüstrisinde bir dış kaynak sağlayıcısı tarafından uzaktan yürütülecek bilgi teknolojileri tabanlı proje için bir vaka çalışması yapılarak sağlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, beş adet alternatif dış kaynak sağlayıcısı önerilmiş ve 13 adet seçim kriteri kullanılmıştır. Uygulanan yaklaşım, uzmanların görüşlerini ifade etmek için sezgisel bulanık sayıların kullanılmasını sağlamakta, böylece verilerdeki tereddüt hesap edilebilmektedir. Önerilen karar modeli, COVID-19 pandemisinin etkilerini çevik dış kaynak sağlayıcı değerlendirme/seçim karar çerçevesine dahil etmektedir.

Estimation of Freight Distribution Concept Selection using Decision Making trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) Method

Goods or cargo transported by ship, rail, truck or air. 2: Transport of goods from one place to another is sent by order consignment. 3: Amount paid for carriage of goods. 4: Freight train. Supply is where a product or service is needed make it available to a consumer or business user is the process. It is directly from the producer or service May be done by the provider or distributors or Indirect channels can be used with intermediaries. Alternative: Make the decision to outsource or buy, Defining Outsourcing Priorities of Public Enterprises, Outsourcing provider selection problem, Outsourcing reverse logistics by high-tech manufacturers , Motives for outsourcing logistics activities Evaluation Preference: Make the decision to outsource or buy, Defining Outsourcing Priorities of Public Enterprises, Outsourcing provider selection problem, Outsourcing reverse logistics by high-tech manufacturers , Motives for outsourcing logistics activities. From the result it is seen that Make the decision to outsource or buy and is got the first rank whereas is the Outsourcing provider selection problem got is having the lowest rank. The value of the dataset for Freight Distribution Concept Selection in DEMATEL shows that it results in Make the decision to outsource or buy and top ranking.

A novel integrated intuitionistic fuzzy decision aid for agile outsourcing provider selection: a COVID-19 pandemic-based scenario analysis.

In project management, agility concept has emerged for overcoming the limitations of traditional methodologies that are sequential and linear. An agile project contains planned processes as well as iterations. In global competitive areas, achieving agility in outsourcing processes enables the companies to cope with changes and dynamic issues. This paper introduces an integrated cognitive map-based intuitionistic fuzzy multiple criteria decision aid to rank agile outsourcing provider alternatives and then determine the best performing one. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets are employed for dealing with uncertain and vague data along with the loss of information that may be occurred in numerical operations with fuzzy numbers. Intuitionistic fuzzy cognitive map tool is used to weight the evaluation criteria that are interrelated with each other with causal links. The most appropriate agile outsourcing provider alternative is identified via intuitionistic fuzzy complex proportional assessment technique, which aims to obtain a solution relative to the ideal solution. In order to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed intuitionistic fuzzy decision aid, a case study is conducted in Turkish white goods industry. As a comparative study, a scenario analysis is provided to understand the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on agile provider evaluation/selection decision. According to the results obtained from the scenario analysis, it is worth noting that home office procedures are appropriate for maintaining agility in outsourcing processes of project management.

Outsourcing Provider Selection Model in Public Sector

In recent times, decision outsourcing IT activities in the public sector is fast evolving in the world at large. This fact has been considered as a high level of strategic measure used in different industries particularly in the public sector where internal IT expertise is found wanting in the area of implementing IT activities to improve the performance growth of the public sector. Although outsourcing IT activities are beneficial to IT Practitioners, Decision-makers, and heads of departments, but the fact remains that choosing the right IT Provider is still a challenge that is inevitable to be avoided as they continue to make the mistake of choosing the wrong IT Provider during outsourcing provider selection. This study considered mainly the approach undertaken towards achieving the key objective of this paper which is the development of the proposed model that can support IT practitioners in outsourcing selection practices. However, this paper considered an appropriate technique that can be implemented in an uncertain and complex situation. Having reviewed thoroughly five existing techniques used in the prior researchers’ work, in-depth understanding on this justified that, fuzzy logic and its particular tools used Fuzzy Inference Systems (FIS) was found to be considered efficient and suitable for outsourcing selection practices in an uncertain and complex situation. Also, a pilot study and empirical study were conducted to ascertain the validity of the instruments (questionnaire data). The pilot study consists of 33 respondents while the empirical study consists of 133 respondents. Finally, the reliability test was carried out to determine the validity and reliability of the six influential factors selected, thereafter the proposed model was developed. The application of the developed Decision Outsourcing Selection Model (DOSM) will aid the IT Practitioners in their decision outsourcing Selection practices.

Probability multi-valued neutrosophic ELECTRE method for multi-criteria group decision-making

Probability multi-valued neutrosophic sets (PMVNSs) can better describe the incomplete and indeterminate evaluation information, and the ELECTRE method can rank the alternatives in the light of the outranking relations among criteria. To combine their advantages, this paper introduces an extended ELECTRE method to address multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problems with the information of PMVNSs. Firstly, we introduce the definitions of PMVNSs and the classical ELECTRE method, discuss the ELECTRE-based outranking relations for PMVNSs and analyze some properties of them. Furthermore, the probability multi-valued neutrosophic ELECTRE method is developed to address MCGDM problems based on the proposed distance measure and outranking relations for PMVNSs. Finally, a typical example for logistics outsourcing provider selection is devoted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. Moreover, the same example-based comparisons with other existing methods are carried out, the results show our proposed approach outperforms the existing methods in solving the MCGDM problems with PMVNSs.

An integrated fuzzy SWARA and fuzzy AD approach for outsourcing provider selection

PurposeUnlike previous literature, this study offers a novel integrated fuzzy approach to the field of outsourcing decisions. The purpose of this paper is to use design ranges of evaluation criteria that satisfy the functional requirements (FRs) of decision makers to solve the outsourcing provider selection problem.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, considering the expected significance of outsourcing evaluation criteria, and the FRs of decision makers expressed in linguistic terms, a robust multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool based on the integrated use of fuzzy Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis and weighted fuzzy axiomatic design methods is proposed for use in decision process.FindingsThe proposed method is applied to a Turkish chemical company. A sensitivity analysis is performed and the outcomes of the proposed integrated framework are compared with those of other MCDM methods such as fuzzy-based Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje and fuzzy Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis. This validates the usefulness and practicality of the proposed methodology.Practical implicationsThe main contribution of this study is that it defines specific requirements that will assist company managers in eliminating alternatives that do not satisfy the needs and expectations of their company.Originality/valueThis paper compares the present study with other studies in the field of manufacturing. Additionally, it provides a well-documented case study, which makes the paper of value to researchers interested in the practical applications of MCDM methods.

Selecting an outsourcing provider based on the combined MABAC–ELECTRE method using single-valued neutrosophic linguistic sets

Abstract Outsourcing has become a common and important link for enterprises. When selecting an outsourcing provider, single-valued neutrosophic linguistic sets can successfully express qualitative and fuzzy information. Furthermore, the selection of an outsourcing provider is a multi-criteria decision-making problem that can be tackled by the multi-attribute border approximation area comparison (MABAC) method. In MABAC, criteria are assumed to be compensatory. However, criteria may be non-compensatory in outsourcing provider selection. Thus, this paper introduces the main idea of the elimination and choice translating reality (ELECTRE) method. An MABAC–ELECTRE method is established under single-valued neutrosophic linguistic environments. This method uses the mean-squared deviation weight method to obtain the weights of criteria. Moreover, an illustrative example is conducted to explain the procedure of the MABAC–ELECTRE method. A comparative analysis verifies its feasibility in solving problems with non-compensatory criteria.

Picture uncertain linguistic Bonferroni mean operators and their application to multiple attribute decision making

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop some picture uncertain linguistic aggregation operators based on Bonferroni mean operators, which is combined with multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) and has applied the proposed MADM model for selecting the service outsourcing provider of communications industry under picture uncertain linguistic environment.Design/methodology/approachThe service outsourcing provider selection problem of communications industry can be regarded as a typical MADM problem, in which the decision information should be aggregated. In this paper, the authors investigate the MADM problems with picture uncertain linguistic information based on traditional Bonferroni mean operator.FindingsThe results show that the proposed model can solve the MADM problems within the context of picture uncertain linguistic information, in which the attributes are existing interaction phenomenon. Some picture uncertain aggregation operators based on Bonferroni mean have been developed. A case study of service outsourcing provider selection problem of communications industry is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed methods. The results show that the proposed methods are useful to aggregate the picture uncertain linguistic decision information in which the attributes are not independent so as to select the most suitable supplier.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed methods can solve the picture uncertain linguistic MADM problem, in which the interactions exist among the attributes. Therefore, it can be used to solve service outsourcing provider selection problems and other similar management decision problems.Practical implicationsThis paper develops some picture uncertain aggregation operators based on Bonferroni mean and further presents two methods based on the proposed operators for solving MADM problems. It is useful to deal with multiple attribute interaction decision-making problems and suitable to solve a variety of management decision-making applications.Social implicationsIt is useful to deal with multiple attribute interaction decision-making problems and suitable to solve a variety of management decision-making applications.Originality/valueThe paper investigates the MADM problems with picture uncertain linguistic information based on traditional Bonferroni mean operator and develops the picture uncertain linguistic Bonferroni mean operator and picture uncertain linguistic geometric Bonferroni mean operator, picture uncertain linguistic weighted Bonferroni mean operator and picture uncertain linguistic weighted geometric Bonferroni mean operator for aggregating the picture uncertain linguistic information, respectively. Finally, a numerical example concerning the service outsourcing provider selection problem of communications industry is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed methods.

A Model for Offshore Information Systems Outsourcing Provider Selection in Developing Countries

Information systems outsourcing has become one of the most important aspects of strategic management. It is becoming the rule, rather than the exception in today’s globalized business environment. Many countries and regions have done numerous reforms to become the best offshore information systems outsourcing destinations in the world. For a long time, developing countries remained outside of this competition, but recently the trend has been changing. More developing countries are positioning themselves as viable alternatives to the traditional offshore destinations like India, Ireland and Czech Republic. Selecting an outsourcing provider is a daunting, delicate and very important task for organizations, and can be the cause of an outsourcing failure if not properly addressed. This paper proposes a model based on PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation) for selecting the best offshore information systems outsourcing provider among a list of developing countries. A case study of 8 African countries is presented in the last part of the paper to illustrate the model. Our model differs from others as it deals with the provider selection problem at country level while most of the existing models deal with the problem at firm level. Another particularity of this model is the set of criteria chosen to analyze the suitability of a country for being the right offshore information systems outsourcing destination.

An intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming method for logistics outsourcing provider selection

In order to reduce costs and enhance their core competitiveness, many companies tend to choose the logistics outsourcing. The selection of logistics outsourcing provider plays an important role for the success of outsourcing. In this paper, we formulate the logistics outsourcing provider selection as a kind of group decision making (GDM) problems with intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs). A new intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming method is proposed for solving such problems. First, we construct an intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming model to derive priority weights from IFPRs. Depended on the construction of non-membership functions, this intuitionistic fuzzy linear programming model is solved by the developed three kinds of approaches including the optimistic, pessimistic and mixed approaches. Then by the idea of TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution), the experts’ weights are determined objectively. Combining the experts’ weights with the derived priority weights, the corresponding method for GDM with IFPRs is presented. An example of logistics outsourcing provider selection is provided to illustrate the proposed method. Finally, the intuitionistic fuzzy programming method is further generalized to the case of more general membership and non-membership functions.

An integrated DEMATEL and Fuzzy ANP techniques for evaluation and selection of outsourcing provider for a telecommunication company

In recent years, strategy aspects related to core competency, risk analysis and organizational flexibility especially have been growing. This trend has led researchers and industries to become more interested in the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) models for selecting outsourcing providers. The efficiency of decision-making mostly depends on the ability of decision-makers analyzing the complex cause and effect relationship between criteria and taking effective actions based on the analysis. Using an analytical method to select the most eligible outsourcing provider is significant for a company which desires to improve its competitiveness. In this study, a fuzzy integrated multi-criteria decision making method for evaluation and determination of an outsourcing provider for a telecommunication company is analyzed by using DEMATEL and Fuzzy ANP multi-criteria decision making techniques. First, DEMATEL method is used in order to put forward the interrelationship among the main criteria which are determined in the study for outsourcing selection process. Then, local weights of the sub-criteria and sub-subcriteria are calculated by Fuzzy ANP approach on the basis of cause-effect relationships that are exposed through DEMATEL method. The local weights are put into ANP supermatrix, and calculations are implemented to select out the most eligible outsourcing provider.

A fuzzy inhomogenous multiattribute group decision making approach to solve outsourcing provider selection problems

Considering various situations and characteristics of supply chain management, we regard the outsourcing provider selection as a type of fuzzy inhomogenous multiattribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems with fuzzy alternatives’ comparisons and incomplete weight information. Hereby we focus on developing a new fuzzy linear programming method for solving such MAGDM problems. In this method, the decision makers’ preferences are given through pair-wise alternatives’ comparisons with fuzzy truth degrees represented as trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs). Intuitionistic fuzzy sets, TrFNs, intervals and real numbers are used to express the inhomogenous decision information. Under the condition that the fuzzy positive ideal solution (PIS) and fuzzy negative ideal solution (NIS) are known, the fuzzy consistency and inconsistency indices are defined on the basis of the relative closeness degrees and expressed with TrFNs. The attribute weights are estimated through constructing a new fuzzy linear programming model, which is solved by the developed method of fuzzy linear programming with TrFNs. Through solving the constructed linear goal programming model, we obtain the collective comprehensive relative closeness degrees of alternatives to the fuzzy PIS, which are used to rank the alternatives. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified with an example of IT outsourcing provider selection.

Fuzzy heterogeneous multiattribute decision making method for outsourcing provider selection

One of the critical activities for outsourcing success is outsourcing provider selection, which may be regarded as a type of fuzzy heterogeneous multiattribute decision making (MADM) problems with fuzzy truth degrees and incomplete weight information. The aim of this paper is to develop a new fuzzy linear programming method for solving such MADM problems. In this method, the decision maker’s preferences are given through pair-wise alternatives’ comparisons with fuzzy truth degrees, which are expressed with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs). Real numbers, intervals, and TrFNs are used to express heterogeneous decision information. Giving the fuzzy positive and negative ideal solutions, we define TrFN-type fuzzy consistency and inconsistency indices based on the concept of the relative closeness degrees. The attribute weights are estimated through constructing a new fuzzy linear programming model, which is solved by using the developed fuzzy linear programming method with TrFNs. The relative closeness degrees of alternatives can be calculated to generate their ranking order. An example of the IT outsourcing provider selection problem is analyzed to demonstrate the implementation process and applicability of the method proposed in this paper.

An analysis of IT/IS outsourcing provider selection for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Taiwan

Outsourcing is important in highly diversified business environments, but while there have been many studies on outsourcing, none have explicitly tackled the problem of how SMEs should assess and select their outsourcer. Numerous benefits might be gained if SMEs could utilize evaluation models to help select their IT/IS outsourcer effectively. Prejudices arising from selection through impartial analysis could be avoided and a more accurate and an objective decision could be made. We investigated the selection process of an enterprise needing an IT/IS outsourcing provider in Taiwan. Our recommended process quantitatively sorts the criteria using the AHP. An evaluation model was developed based on the needs of the SME who should use it to obtain a better outsourcing provider resulting from improved information vital to maintain outsourcing efficiency. Use of our model should reduce costs and potential risks in adopting new IT/IS applications and promote an objective standard with which to evaluate IT/IS outsourcing providers.

Criteria for the Evaluation of a Cloud-Based Hospital Information System Outsourcing Provider

As cloud computing technology has proliferated rapidly worldwide, there has been a trend toward adopting cloud-based hospital information systems (CHISs). This study examines the critical criteria for selecting the CHISs outsourcing provider. The fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) is used to evaluate the primary indicator collected from 188 useable responses at a working hospital in Taiwan. Moreover, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is employed to calculate the weights of these criteria and establish a fuzzy multi-criteria model of CHISs outsourcing provider selection from 42 experts. The results indicate that the five most critical criteria related to CHISs outsourcing provider selection are (1) system function, (2) service quality, (3) integration, (4) professionalism, and (5) economics. This study may contribute to understanding how cloud-based hospital systems can reinforce content design and offer a way to compete in the field by developing more appropriate systems.