Enhancing Business Decision Making Through Actionable Knowledge Discovery Using an Hybridized MCDM Model

Portfolio optimization of renewable energy projects under type-2 fuzzy environment with sustainability perspective

Prioritizing failures by using hybrid multi criteria decision making methodology with a real case application

Much of our prior knowledge of information systems (IS) usage is based on its acceptance or continuance without understanding whether users are likely to use the IS or not. Prior models of IS usage provide a limited understanding of one's intention to use the IS, given that IS usage or continuance does not necessarily suggest the subsequent use of the IS. Even if people use particular IS, there is no guarantee that the users always use the IS. This study proposes an IS usage intention model based on the information asymmetry theory to compliment previous studies that mostly focus on IS usage or continuance without considering the possibility of its use. For IS usage research, this paper proposes one of the earliest usage models of IS. For practitioners, this study provides some guidelines for IS manufacturers on how to derive the most return on their system development efforts with a successfully high usage rate in the market for their newly usage systems.

BACKGROUND: In the context of the progressive movement towards patientcentred care, patient-specific decision support is an important focus of interest. Many diagnostic and treatment patient decision aids (PDAs) are now available to help patients make informed choice decisions. An increasing number of these are software-based, with some available online. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a potentially useful technique on which to base a software-assisted PDA, especially when the decision is complex - as is the case in choosing the best treatment for non-small cell lung cancer – but it has so far been relatively little exploited in this area. The use of any from a number of existing MCDA-based software applications in the development and delivery of a MCDA-based interactive PDA can be an effective way of achieving “best-practice” or normative standards of decision making, such as 1) a well-constructed set of decision criteria or 2) logically consistent patient preferences. However, it also involves the use of resources such as the time and cognitive effort involved in decision-making. The comparative evaluation of alternative MCDA-based software applications in developing and delivering a PDA therefore involves trade-offs between decision effectiveness and decision resource criteria moving from the normative to the prescriptive. MCDA is an ideal tool for this meta-evaluation task as well as for the adoption decision itself. AIM: To analyse, as proof of concept, the use of MCDA for the development, implementation and evaluation of interactive PDAs in routine clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the use with clinicians in the Spanish NHS of two alternative MCDA software applications which implement dissimilar MCDA techniques in the development of a PDA in routine clinical practice; 2. To assess the use with clinicians in the Spanish NHS of the same two alternative MCDA software applications in the implementation of a PDA in an environment replicating actual clinical consultations; 3. To build a meta-multi-criteria decision model based on the Decision Resources Decision Effectiveness Analysis (DRDEA) framework and assess the use of this model by clinicians in the Spanish NHS to make the choice between the two MCDA applications as the basis for a PDA. METHODS: 1) Two dissimilar MCDA software applications served as a basis for the development of a lung cancer clinical management PDA in close collaboration with two different groups of three clinicians from two different Spanish NHS hospitals (H1 and H2): 1) Expert Choice, which implements the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) MCDA approach; 2) Annalisa in Elicia (ALEL), which implements the Simple Attribute Weighting (SAW) MCDA approach. The process of codevelopment of the PDA in hospitals H1 and H2 was documented; 2) Expert Choice was used to implement (i.e. deliver) the lung cancer clinical management PDA in three hypothetical consultations in hospital H1. In each consultation, one of the three clinicians involved in the development of the tool, with support by this researcher, guided a proxy patient (a non-clinical member of hospital staff) through the PDA. The same process was repeated with the MCDA software ALEL in hospital H2. The process of delivery of the PDA in hospitals H1 and H2 was documented; 3) This researcher built a meta-multi-criteria decision model based on the DRDEA framework to help clinicians choose between different MCDA software applications as the basis of a PDA. The MCDA approach used for this meta-model was Multi- Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). The model was implemented, using the software HiView 3, with three clinicians from hospital H3 for the choice between Expert Choice and ALEL as the basis of a lung cancer clinical management PDA. RESULTS: The thesis makes a three-fold contribution to research in patient-centred decision support. First, it presents two new MCDA software-based approaches to clinical decision support, based on joint work with clinicians in the Spanish NHS, for developing an interactive PDA for the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer. Second, it describes the use of these decision support tools in the delivery of 5 an interactive PDA for the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer in a hospital environment via simulated consultations between actual clinicians, with support from this researcher, and proxy lung cancer patients. Third, it presents and applies a new MCDA-based methodology for evaluating the use of alternative MCDA software applications in the development and delivery of interactive PDAs.

Participatory management is a working method of paramount importance based on the principles of knowledge sharing and accountability for addressing the sustainable management of the fishery sector. To approach this multidimensional problem we applied two Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Non-Structural Fuzzy Decision Support System (NSFDSS), which were applied incorporating uncertainty to generate probabilistic rankings. The NSFDSS technique was applied for the first time to address a fishery problem. Two surveys were carried out among Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC) stakeholders with different backgrounds. By the two surveys we: i) made an AHP test for exploring stakeholders’ perception of the objectives and indicators used in the monitoring of the stocks, ecosystem, and fisheries, and ii) introduced the NSFDSS technique, gathering feedback on stakeholders’ preferences on management options for improving fishery sustainability (e.g., reducing discards, improving ecosystem state and economic yield in the long term). In the AHP the respondents were asked to evaluate the importance of one objective against another according to a scale of semantic scores from 1 to 5, whereas a simpler scoring scale, with only 3 possible options, was used in the NSFDSS. The two MCDA methods were proven to be useful to elicit stakeholders’ view on the potential effects of key issues on economic and environmental fishery sustainability. The results showed stakeholders’ awareness of the fact that the reproductive potential should be secured by checking mortality and/or fishing intensity. Consistently, among the ecological indicators that are tracking the fisheries policy objectives, a higher rank was attributed to “mean size of the spawners,” while cost efficiency was considered to be essential for improving profits. Regarding the economic indicators, stakeholders gave higher priority to “revenue” in comparison to “production (catches),” which is a sign of awareness that increasing fish production does not necessarily turn into increased revenue. Among the different management strategies, “fleet withdrawal” (scraping) was considered as the worst option, while the “combination of measures” was considered to be the best alternative for achieving a sustainable fishery in the long term.

PurposeThis paper sought to validate a proposed e-service use model that takes into account system's environment and user factors as plausible determinants of an information system's (IS) use that are not accounted for by previous IS use models. The aim is to establish the applicability of the model for e-services and IS design, implementation and use.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a quantitative approach to data collection and analysis. Using a systematic multi-stage random sampling, data were collected from 400 university e-library users and analysed using regression analysis to test the hypothesised relationships.FindingsInternal system factors (particularly service quality), user satisfaction, e-service environment factors and user factors (gender, programme of study, level of study and computer/IT self-efficacy) predicted the use of e-services. These findings are partly similar to and partly different from those of the earlier studies, suggesting that more studies are needed to test the comprehensive model of e-services’ use.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a replicated study and as such made use of a similar population. These findings, therefore, cannot be generalised to other organisations with users of different demographic profiles.Practical implicationsFirst, the use of the services provided through an IS is predicted by factors other than user satisfaction, system, service and information qualities. Second, system administrators, designers, library administrators and managers must ensure that these factors are considered during the design, implementation and use of ISs.Social implicationsThe paper argues for the need to design e-services and ISs with consideration for user attributes that may lead to social exclusion if not considered. This is because the environment where an IS is hosted can be a driver of e-services use, especially if management provides the enabling environment in terms of optimal staffing, training, user support and periodic e-service evaluation.Originality/valueThis paper extends research effort in understanding the predictors of use of ISs beyond the traditional system's attributes (information, service and system qualities) to include system environment and user factors.

Application of AHP and VIKOR methods under interval type 2 fuzzy environment in maritime transportation

Information systems (IS) use, the dominant theoretical paradigm for explaining how users apply IS artifacts toward goal attainment, gives primacy to human agency in the user–IS artifact relationship. Models and theorizing in the IS use research stream tend to treat the IS artifact as a passive tool; lacking in the ability to initiate action and accept rights and responsibilities for achieving optimal outcomes under uncertainty. We argue that a new generation of “agentic” IS artifacts requires revisiting the human agency primacy assumption. Agentic IS artifacts are no longer passive tools waiting to be used, are no longer always subordinate to the human agent, and can now assume responsibility for tasks with ambiguous requirements and for seeking optimal outcomes under uncertainty. To move our theorizing forward, we introduce delegation, based on agent interaction theories, as a foundational and powerful lens through which to understand and explain the human– agentic IS artifact relationship. While delegation has always been central to human–IS artifact interactions, it has yet to be explicitly recognized in IS use theorizing. We explicitly theorize IS delegation by developing an IS delegation theoretical framework. This framework provides a scaffolding which can guide future IS delegation theorizing and focuses on the human–agentic IS artifact dyad as the elemental unit of analysis. The framework specifically reveals the importance of agent attributes relevant to delegation (endowments, preferences, and roles) as well as foundational mechanisms of delegation (appraisal, distribution, and coordination). Guidelines are proposed to demonstrate how this theoretical framework can be applied toward generation of testable models. We conclude by outlining a roadmap for mobilizing future research.

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a coastline of about 81,000 km and has a variety of very large biological and non-biological resources. Position as an archipelagic country with a very wide sea causes each region to have the potential to produce salt. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in various negative impacts on several fields such as the economy, social, SMEs and community services. Covid-19 has also resulted in a decrease in salt production and farmers also have difficulty marketing it. The research problem is the large number of salt farmers and number of indicators in providing assistance so that a model for measuring performance of salt farmers is needed. This performance measurement model is guided by several indicators, namely land area (K1), production result (K2), business capital (K3), and marketing system (K4). The method used Interval type-2 Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (IVFAHP). IVFAHP is used to determine indicators that most influence measurement of salt farmers. This study aims to build a model for measuring performance of salt farmers to increase economic productivity and ability of human resources to deal with COVID-19 pandemic. The contribution is a group-based decision by developing the fuzzy interval type-2 method with triangular fuzzy number (TFN) one midpoints. The findings from study are that the most influential indicators in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic are business capital and salt marketing. This research also produces recommendations for improvement salt farmers in an effort to increase salt production.

Selecting the most resilient supplier is a crucial problem for organizations and managers in the supply chain. However, due to the inherited high degree of uncertainty in real-life projects, developing a decision-making framework in a crisp or fuzzy environment may not present accurate or reliable results for the managers. For this reason, it is better to evaluate the potential suppliers in an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy (IT2F) environment for better dealing with this ambiguity. This study developed an improved combined IT2F Best Worst Method (BWM) and IT2F technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model “Atieh Sazan” Co. as a case study, such that the IT2FBWM was employed for obtaining the weight of criteria. The IT2FTOPSIS was utilized for ranking the potential suppliers based on Hamming distance measure. In both phases, the opinions of experts as IT2F linguistic terms were employed for weighting the criteria and obtaining the relative importance of the alternatives in terms of the evaluative criteria. After obtaining the final results, the proposed model was validated by replacing Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) approaches separately instead of BWM for weighting the criteria. After executing both new models, it was found that the final ranking was similar to the final ranking of the proposed model, representing the reliability and accuracy of the obtained results. Moreover, it was concluded that the resilient criteria of “Reorganization” and “Redundancy” are the most determinant measures for selecting the best supplier rather than measures in the Iranian Construction Industry.

During the early years of their establishment, information service providers (ISPs) were viewed simply as 'suppliers of information'. Nowadays, however, the commercialization of the Internet coupled with the progressive advancements in information technology (IT) have seen the business paradigm evolve into so-called electronic commerce (EC), with the result of an ever-increasing demand from enterprises for new types of information services (IS) to facilitate and coordinate their daily operations. Now, as the role of the ISP is continually changing, and the content of IS becomes ever broader, an effective means of the assessment of ISPs has become a critical issue in any enterprise's decision on the eventual selection of a competent ISP. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to establish a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework for assessing and evaluating ISPs. Through a review of the literature of previous works on relevant topics, this paper begins by proposing a hierarchy structure for the problems involved in ISP assessment. Based on the hierarchy structure, both additive (analytic hierarchy process) and non-additive (fuzzy measure and fuzzy integral) MCDM methods are used in this study to show the relative importance of the selection criteria and the dimensions of those criteria. Ten real cases are then employed as illustrative alternatives to demonstrate the synthesis decisions under the application of both MCDM methods, so as to show the applicability of the framework. Finally, we find that there is a distinction between the results of alternative rankings produced by the two MCDM methods, thus the ten alternatives are categorized into four groups.

Aircraft selection by applying AHP and TOPSIS in interval type-2 fuzzy sets

Considering that cooling in cooling systems is more costly than heating, the importance of refrigerant selection in cooling systems is even more obvious. Due to the complexity of the refrigerant selection problem, a multi-criteria decision approach must be used to implement a thorough and organized evaluation of the factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the criteria to be considered when choosing refrigerants using the interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). As a result, the most important and least crucial refrigerant selection criteria are determined by calculating the weights and obtaining the ranking of the requirements. In this way, the refrigerant selection criteria are prioritized, and the most crucial factor in refrigerant selection has emerged as energy efficiency. In light of the results, it has become clear that it is now essential for everyone in the world to use environ- mentally friendly, highly effective refrigerants.

This study investigates the determinants of Information Systems (IS) success within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), employing the Information System Success Model (ISSM) as a theoretical framework. Using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) on data from 272 Tanzanian CSOs, the study identifies system quality, information quality, service quality, and IS use as critical factors influencing success. Results reveal that system quality directly impacts both IS use and net benefits, while IS use mediates the relationship between quality factors and organizational outcomes. Surprisingly, information and service quality do not directly affect net benefits, highlighting the need for CSOs to prioritize robust system design and user engagement. The findings offer actionable insights for enhancing IS effectiveness in resource-constrained environments.

Prioritization of renewable energy alternatives by using an integrated fuzzy MCDM model: A real case application for Turkey