Masood A. Badri

Combining the analytic hierarchy process and goal programming for global facility location-allocation problem

Strategic global facility location-allocation decisions involve many factors that may be conflicting in nature, and can pose a difficult selection problem. Recognizing the multiple and conflicting objective nature of the location-allocation problem in an international setting, this paper proposes the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and multi-objective goal-programming methodology as aids in making location-allocation decisions. The methodology presented can help facility planning authorities to formulate viable location strategies in the volatile and complex global decision environment. A demonstration of the application of these methodologies in a real life problem is presented.

A STUDY OF MEASURING THE CRITICAL FACTORS OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Saraph et al. systematically attempted to organize and synthesize the various perceptions offered by other authors on the critical factors of quality management. The authors provided a synthesis of the quality literature by identifying eight critical factors of quality management in a business unit. They stated that the measures were both valid and reliable. In the light of this, empirically tests their resulting instrument to a greater extent and from an international perspective. The instrument of the operational measures of the developed factors is tested for reliability and validity using data collected from 424 general managers and quality managers in the United Arab Emirates. Results provide strong evidence that the measures are judged to be both valid and reliable. The empirical replication on a more broadly based sample provides further corroboration of Saraph et al.’s results. Examines the level of practice of factors of quality management in the UAE. Suggests that better use of the instrument is...

A comprehensive 0–1 goal programming model for project selection

Abstract Effective information system (IS) project selection in health service institutions necessitates incorporating the many conflicting objectives of decision-makers into decision models. Multiple factors that impact the decision to select an appropriate IS projects include decision-maker preferences and priorities (goals and objectives), benefits, costs (hardware, software, required manpower and other costs), project risk, required time of completion and for training, and the availability of other scarce resources. Existing methods of IS selection do not include all these criteria in one decision model. Among the many proposed methodologies of multicriteria decision making, goal programming is perhaps the most popular and widely used. In this paper, project selection models in other disciplines, such as R&D, capital budgeting, investment plans, etc., are synthesized to develop a project selection model for health service institutions that explicitly incorporates all of these factors. The decision model is formulated as a mixed-0–1 goal programming model which is validated by applying it to a real-world IS project selection data. The main contribution is in problem identification and development of the mathematical model for project selection.

A multi-objective model for locating fire stations

The purpose of this paper is to determine where to locate fire-station facilities. The decision of where to locate depends upon a set of tangible and intangible criteria that are unique to a given problem. Thus, the traditional models that incorporate only travel times or travel distances are no longer appropriate. This paper presents a multiple criteria modeling approach, via integer goal programming, to the fire-station location problem that involves conflicting objectives. The proposed model describes the situation in which the city evaluates potential sites in 31 sub-areas that would serve these sub-areas in the year 2005. The model attempts to determine the location of fire stations, and the areas they are supposed to serve. The model considers multiple objectives that incorporate both travel times and travel distances from stations to demand sites (sub-areas). In addition, the model considers other cost-related objectives that have been considered in previous studies. Other criteria considered are technical or political in nature, or used to satisfy certain system requirements. Further experimentation is carried out, by incorporating the results of a set-covering problem of the same situation. The results of the model indicate that the developed integer goal programming model seems to be an ideal technique that is applicable to the real-world fire-station location problem. Through extensive and direct interaction with decision-makers, model design and experimentation helps in a better understanding of the fire-station location problem. This paper includes discussions of the use of the multi-criteria model, the synergism of judgement and analysis, and ensuing recommendations that resulted.

The Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence Framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the causal relationships in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Education Performance Excellence Criteria.Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 220 respondents from 15 United Arab Emirates (UAE) universities and colleges, results of regression analysis and confirmatory structural equation modeling show that all of the hypothesized causal relationships in the Baldrige model are statistically significant.Findings – A comprehensive “measurement model” grounded in the Baldrige Performance Excellence in Education Criteria for the 33 items of measurement is developed, tested, and found to be valid and reliable. Leadership is identified as a driver for all components in the Baldrige System, including measurement, analysis and knowledge management, strategic planning, faculty and staff focus and process management. All Baldrige components (categories) are significantly linked with organizational outcomes as represented by the two...

Information technology center service quality

Purpose – The main objective of the study was to utilize SERVQUAL for identifying gaps in the chain of services provided by the information technology (IT) resources. SERVQUAL was applied to IT services in higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates.Design/methodology/approach – Because of the many concerns and reservations raised with regard to using perception scores or gap scores, the appropriateness of the SERVQUAL measure to verify the anticipated structure of the instrument was also examined. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the structure of the perception scores (performance‐based model) and the gap scores (performance minus expectation‐based model) were examined.Findings – The evaluation of model‐fit provided mixed results, but, in general, the results favored the perception scores. However, some statistical fit‐tests suggested that both models lacked the features necessary for a good fit. On the other hand, based on their feedback, respondents felt that SERVQUAL is a useful indic...

A Simulation Model for Scheduling in the Emergency Room

A need exists for a readily usable tool for different scheduling strategies in an Emergency Room (ER) of a hospital. An ER simulation model incorporating the major activities has been developed. The primary goals of such a tool are to assess the effectiveness of the current system and to improve the emergency room′s ability to anticipate the impact of various changes in patient throughput flow. The model allows the evaluation of “what if?” questions through changing the values of the variables and simulating the results. The ER simulation model determines the effects of changes in the scheduling practices, allocation of scarce resources, patient demand patterns, and priority rules for serving patients.

Identifying potential biasing variables in student evaluation of teaching in a newly accredited business program in the UAE

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of many factors on student evaluation of teaching.Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzed 3,185 student evaluations of faculty from a newly accredited business program at the United Arab Emirates University using univariate and multi‐analysis of variance (ANOVA and MANOVA).Findings – The findings support previous research regarding the existence of potential biasing factors. The results indicate that expected grade, actual grade, course level, class size, course timing, student gender and course subject significantly affect student evaluation of teaching.Originality/value – Comparing individual faculty ratings regardless of other factors might not be fair. Our findings support the call of other researchers that ignoring these other factors may bias or make questionable the validity of student evaluation of teaching as a means of performance appraisal of faculty. Because of the possible existence of biasing factors in SET, there is a...

Decision support models for the location of firms in industrial sites

Investigates the industrial location decision behaviour of firms. The behaviour was determined by an examination of the firms′ attitudes measured on “location variables”. Firms representing various countries that actually located in an international industrial park and those that considered but did not locate in the park, provided a sample frame for the study. Three models were developed from the data that supplement or complement traditional approaches to industrial location analysis. The models provide a method for management of an existing industrial site to develop an appropriate marketing strategy for the target firms, and to plan modifications based on firms′ attitudes. For those considering the construction or alteration of an industrial site the models can provide additional insight into the planning and development of the facilities.

A two-stage multiobjective scheduling model for [faculty-course-time] assignments

Abstract This paper formulates a multiobjective zero-one course scheduling model. Through a two-stage optimization procedure, the model seeks to maximize faculty course preferences in assigning faculty members to courses; and then, maximize faculty time preferences in allocating courses to time blocks. In the first stage, the core of the procedure is formed by a matrix, with rows indicating faculty members, columns indicating courses and elements indicating priorities (faculty-course teaching preferences). The second stage concerns the application of the same procedure, but the objective is to assign time blocks to courses (or faculty members). In the matrix, the rows indicate faculty members, the columns indicate time blocks and the elements indicate priorities (faculty-time preferences). The paper then describes the application of the model to the United Arab Emirates University. The results of the application demonstrate the models capability to provide an assignment that satisfies departmental policies and procedures with regard to course offerings, as well as recognizing the personal preferences of the faculty for teaching particular courses and during certain time blocks.