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1 – 10 of over 19000R.P. Mohanty and S.G. Deshmukh
Presents an application of analytic hierarchic process (AHP) forevaluating the sources of supply in a materials management situation.Evaluation of alternative sources is an…
Abstract
Presents an application of analytic hierarchic process (AHP) for evaluating the sources of supply in a materials management situation. Evaluation of alternative sources is an unstructured decision problem involving multiple factors and attributes generic at different levels. In order to facilitate decision support to the materials managers, an all encompassing effective analysis is needed to determine the right supply source so as to be compatible with the organizational objectives. It seems that AHP helps in providing such a decision support.
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Marcello Braglia, Gionata Carmignani, Marco Frosolini and Andrea Grassi
To provide a structured methodology to permit an optimal selection of the best suited Computer Managed Maintenance System (CMMS) software within process industries.
Abstract
Purpose
To provide a structured methodology to permit an optimal selection of the best suited Computer Managed Maintenance System (CMMS) software within process industries.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis has been executed adopting a multi‐attribute decision making methodology, namely the analytic hierarchic process (AHP) technique. A specific hierarchic structure has been defined considering 46 criteria outlined via questionnaires and interviews with administration, production and maintenance managers of several industries. To improve the effectiveness of the methodology, AHP has been coupled with a sound sensitivity analysis.
Findings
The application of the proposed approach allows the maintenance practitioners to concentrate on a limited subset of CMMS applications and to compare their actual capabilities in order to select the right one, rather than considering only their purchase cost.
Practical implications
The methodology enables decision makers to restrict the selection process to a limited number of software programmes that better suit the actual requirements of the corporation's personnel and to help the managers involved in the choice to better understand what each software can offer to them to effectively help the management of maintenance‐related activities. Finally, the choice is driven by objective considerations rather than by subjective opinions, and the purchase and the following implementation of the CMMS can be better justified to the corporation top‐level management
Originality/value
The paper proposes a robust approach, structured and useful in practice, for the selection of a CMMS software, that takes into account multiple, often conflicting, criteria and overcomes the intrinsic limitations of subjective decisions
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An overview of knowledge elicitation, representation and prioritisation of key performance indicators (CSFs) necessary for success in direct selling in a dynamic market on a…
Abstract
An overview of knowledge elicitation, representation and prioritisation of key performance indicators (CSFs) necessary for success in direct selling in a dynamic market on a woman‐to‐woman basis is presented. The CSFs were elicited using the Repertory Grid (RepGrid) method. The RepGrid method allows for construct elicitation and the exploration of constructing indices, such as, frame differentiation, frame complexity, frame integration and construct centrality. The CSF constructs are then prioritised using the Analytic Hierarchic Process. The proposed two‐stage methodology offers the benefit of eliciting individual mental constructs about critical knowledge, the representation of those constructs in a meaningful form, and the representation of repositories of knowledge of multiple entities across and within organisations.
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Amal Al Qubaisi, Masood Badri, Jihad Mohaidat, Hamad Al Dhaheri, Guang Yang, Asma Al Rashedi and Kenneth Greer
The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytic hierarchy planning-based framework to establish criteria weights and to develop a school performance system commonly called…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytic hierarchy planning-based framework to establish criteria weights and to develop a school performance system commonly called school inspections.
Design/methodology/approach
The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model uses pairwise comparisons and a measurement scale to generate the weights for the criteria. The validity of the approach is confirmed by comparing the outputs of school inspection and the outputs of the model in a sample of schools.
Findings
The framework proposed enables school management to address several issues pertaining to its competitive advantage with other schools, the two most important being establishing its performance ranking in the marketplace and identifying the service elements that most require improvement. This study develops a cohesive approach to identify which quality attributes or dimensions require attention.
Research limitations/implications
For school inspections, the data collection and computational problems would increase with the increase in the number of criteria and sub-criteria, as well as the number of schools considered in the selection. Although the range of reported AHP applications is extensive in many disciplines, examples in school quality and inspection remain still rare; as a result, this study could not compare its results with other AHP applications in school inspection or assessment.
Practical implications
The AHP method has the distinct advantage that it decomposes a decision problem into its constituent parts and builds hierarchies of criteria. AHP enables assessors to capture both subjective and objective evaluation measures of school quality. By providing a useful mechanism for assessing the consistency of the evaluation measures and alternatives, the AHP reduces bias in decision making.
Social implications
The AHP model also provides a more systematic evaluation of a given school’s qualitative performance criteria. The proposed AHP model is attractive to assessors and decision makers because its pairwise comparison procedure enables them to offer a relative (rather than absolute) individual criterion assessment on those qualitative factors.
Originality/value
The AHP model could become a sustainable component of overall school system quality improvement by maturing over time. The AHP annual scores could be used as realistic and measureable gauges for measuring school improvement.
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Ammar Kaka, Chee Wong, Chris Fortune and David Langford
The purpose of this paper is to show how practitioners have not fully responded to calls for change in culture. Given that construction teams are motivated by several key factors…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how practitioners have not fully responded to calls for change in culture. Given that construction teams are motivated by several key factors including money, payment systems may play a major role in facilitating this change. Traditional pricing methods are still found to be the most popular system but often criticised for their contribution to the adversarial culture witnessed in the industry. Alternative pricing systems aimed at aligning constructors' behaviour with clients' objectives are emerging. As a result, the choice of an appropriate pricing system must be based on the circumstances surrounding the project and the likelihood that the system is to influence behaviour positively. This paper aims to propose an analytical hierarchic process (AHP) to help the industry do that.
Design/methodology/approach
The AHP consists of a MCDM hierarchy structure, pair‐wise comparisons, and the calculation of the relative priorities of MCDM attributes. The attributes used have been identified through a series of interviews followed by postal questionnaires.
Findings
The paper results in the development of a decision aid tool for use by the industry to select appropriate pricing systems. This tool identifies seven project objectives as being important for deciding on what pricing system to adopt.
Originality/value
There has been limited research on how pricing systems are being selected, or should be selected. The novelty of this paper stems from the subject area being addressed, rather than the methodologies being adopted.
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Eileen L. Sullivan, George P. Sillup and Ronald K. Klimberg
The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multicriteria decision support system that has been successfully applied to numerous decision-making situations, has been applied to…
Abstract
The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multicriteria decision support system that has been successfully applied to numerous decision-making situations, has been applied to patient assessment. The AHP was used with Timeslips™, a group storytelling program that encourages creative expression among dementia patients, to determine the optimal scale for pre and post assessment among the nine most common agitation and anxiety scales. The AHP used the six criteria identified by qualitative assessment of the nine scales: (1) validity/reliability, (2) observation period, (3) training required, (4) time to administer, (5) most appropriate administrator, and (6) accessibility/cost. The AHP indicated that the Overt Agitation & Anxiety Scale was optimal for use with Timeslips; the process and results are discussed.
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Domingos António Ribas and Paulo Cachim
The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative approach for the development of a methodology to systematically assess the economic performance and for the assessment of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative approach for the development of a methodology to systematically assess the economic performance and for the assessment of the economic sustainability of a building, through the calculation of an economic sustainability index, within the sustainability framework according to the rules defined in EN 16627.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology follows the principle of modularity, where aspects and impacts that influence the economic performance of the building during the phases of its life cycle are assigned to levels. It presents a model based on the construction costs of the building. The methodology in centered in the before use phase and restricted to residential buildings.
Findings
Definition of a model for assessing the economic performance and calculation of an economic sustainability index.
Research limitations/implications
The methodology is focused only in the before use phase of the buildings, assuming they have the same functional equivalent. It can be expanded to include the other phases of the building life cycle.
Practical implications
The developed methodology will allow the selection of construction procedures, based on economic sustainability, contributing to more rational and support decisions.
Social implications
Contributing to a more sustainable society.
Originality/value
The European framework of EN 15643 and EN 16627 for the assessment of building sustainability is new and, as such, not implemented in most practical tools. Also, economic sustainability is not usually considered in detail in existing models. This paper presents a methodology following the framework and, simultaneously, possible to integrate in existing approaches.
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The purpose of this paper is to validate the enablers of bio-inspired model of organizational excellence proposed by Agarwal and Vrat (2015a). It is also aimed to test its…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to validate the enablers of bio-inspired model of organizational excellence proposed by Agarwal and Vrat (2015a). It is also aimed to test its usefulness as an instrument in evaluating the degree of organizational excellence achieved.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey methodology has been used to investigate the hypotheses. Data have been collected through a self-structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions. Structural equation modeling and analytic hierarchic process have been used to test and analyze the data.
Findings
The results of hypothesis testing indicated that out of 19 paths only ten were significant. However, in the revised model only six paths out of those ten significant paths were retained and three new suggested paths were incorporated to make the final model. Besides, calculation of relative weights of each enabler shows that being self-driven occupies the top-most rankings, supply chain optimization occupies the second rank and promptness and reliability and maintainability occupy the bottom ranking in driving performance excellence, being resulting outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitations of this research are: verification of the proposed model is done on only two test companies, and results of which are compared with one excellence award model only. Besides, the score resulted for test companies are based on self-assessment by them and thus require further validation.
Practical implications
The validated model can be applied for assessing degree of organizational excellence achieved by any company. The results of the assessment would serve as key focus areas for improvement.
Originality/value
The research is first to benchmark the human body for assessing the degree of organizational excellence achieved. The uniqueness of this model is that the various parameters of excellence assessment which are derived from human body, perceived as a benchmark in being the most well managed system.
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R.P. Mohanty and Sitalakshmi Venkataraman
Studies the justification problems of automated manufacturingsystems (AMS) by using a multiple‐criteria decision making (MCDM)approach such as analytic hierarchy process (AHP). An…
Abstract
Studies the justification problems of automated manufacturing systems (AMS) by using a multiple‐criteria decision making (MCDM) approach such as analytic hierarchy process (AHP). An example from Indian manufacturing has been studied. Strategic, technological and social impacts have been considered for justifying AMS and decomposing these factors into several possible attributes.
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N. Muthukumar, K. Ganesh, Sanjay Mohapatra, K. Tamizhjyothi, R. M. Nachiappan and M. Bharati