Rakesh D. Raut

Modeling landfill site selection using an integrated fuzzy MCDM approach

Landfill site selection is a complex process, which requires the evaluation of multiple criteria. Decision-makers often face difficulties in taking the right decision in a multiple attribute environment. In this paper, an integrated fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (AHP)–the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based methodology was applied to the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill site selection problem. To demonstrate the approach taken, a real case of Mumbai city is taken. The model was developed to suit the socio-economic and regulatory set-up. The fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process was used to make pairwise comparisons of criteria to assign weights and rank them, while F-TOPSIS was employed to rank the alternatives. It was found that the fuzzy-AHP–TOPSIS-based methodology can be a powerful guiding tool for MSW management planners. With this modeling approach, the accuracy of landfill site selection procedure can be significantly enhanced as compared to the traditional methods, thereby reducing the cost and time required. The developed methodology helps in representing and analyzing the uncertainty and error in the decision making process of landfill site selection.

An integrated fuzzy-AHP-LP (FAHLP) approach for supplier selection and purchasing decisions

Supplier selection of a telecommunications system is an important problem to a telecommunications company as the telecommunications system is a long-term investment for the company and the success of telecommunications services is directly affected by the supplier selection decision (Tam and Tummala, 2001). The aim of this study is to model for supplier selection problem for a real world application in India which is the most populated country in world. A number of conflicting qualitative and often accompanied by ambiguities and vagueness. This makes fuzzy logic a more natural approach to this kind of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems. The paper proposes a combined MCDM methodology. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and linear programming (LP) are utilised for assigning weights of the criteria for supplier selection and linear programming (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) is used to determine the most suitable alternative using these criteria weights.

Measurement of service quality in banks: a comparative study between public and private banks in India

Service quality is believed to be one of the main determinants of customer satisfaction and purchase intention. However, there are very few studies that have been conducted to identify the important dimensions of service quality specific to banking sector. The present study is aimed to assess and compare the perceived level of bank service quality and to investigate the dimensions of quality banking service in private and public sector bank using an instrument banking service quality scale (BSQ) specifically designed for measuring service quality in banks. The study is based on the responses collected from 240 customers banking with private and public sector retail banks in India. The results show that the customers of public sector and private sector banks differ in terms of their service quality perceptions. Private banks are perceived to be superior on the service quality dimensions: effectiveness, access and tangibles whereas, the public sector banks score better on the dimensions of price and reliability. The study concludes that the BSQ instrument appears to be a valid instrument to measure the service quality in Indian retail banks.

Analysing the effect of uncertain environmental factors on supplier-buyer strategic partnership (SBSP) by using structural equation model (SEM)

Supplier-buyer strategic partnerships (SBSP) are widely considered as an effective source of competitive advantage by firm’s operating in turbulent business environments. The objective of this research is to empirically investigate whether different dimensions of environmental uncertainty have different impacts on the SBSP. The uncertain environmental factors, namely business cost, labour availability, competitive hostility, government laws and regulations, political environment, dynamism in the market (volatility and complexity) impact SBSP including specific investments. The study is based on the reposes of 270 purchasing managers from 54 manufacturing and process industries from India (Mumbai region). A structural equation modelling was used to analyse the SBSP. The results suggest a statistically significant relationship between the selected uncertain business environmental factors and the SBSP. The primary contribution of this research lies in its ability to offer practically relevant insights to aid...

Evaluation of supplier selection criteria by combination of AHP and fuzzy DEMATEL method

The environment becomes more complicated, so effective decisionmaking is more desired. Supplier selection problem is a multi-criteria problem that includes both qualitative and quantitative factors. Supplier selection is a critical issue concerned in the process of managing global supply chains. The purpose of this study is to present an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method that could cope with the supplier selection criteria and interdependencies among criteria. The results generated by AHP can be used to improve performance in a short period of time. In contrast to the short time period, the results suggested by fuzzy DEMATEL method might provide insight to improve performance in a long time period. The model can propose the criterion which is the most important, or affects other criteria the most, so buyers will know which criterion can improve the performance the most and can ask suppliers to modify it. An empirical study is also presented to illustrate the procedure of our proposed method and to demonstrate its usefulness.

Understanding and predicting the determinants of cloud computing adoption: A two staged hybrid SEM - Neural networks approach

Along with water, gas, electricity, and telephone, cloud computing has been considered as the fifth utility. Like other utility services available in todays social computing services are readily available on demand (Buyya, Yeo, Venugopal, Broberg, & Brandic, 2009). The purpose of the study is to develop a hybrid two-stage, structural equation modeling (SEM) artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict motivators affecting cloud computing adoption services in the Indian private organizations. This research article proposes a new paradigm by extending the Technology Organization Environment Model (TOE) with external factors, namely, perceived IT security risk and risk analysis for the first time in a technology adoption study. One of the core contributions of the study is the introduction of new factors, perceived IT security risk and risk analysis. Data were collected from 660 professional experts and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) modeling. The SEM results showed that perceived IT security risk (PITR), risk analysis (RA), technology innovation (TI), management style (MS) and trust (T) have a significant influence on cloud computing adoption. The only exceptions were the usage of technology (UT) and industry usage (IU) which witnessed statistically insignificant influence on cloud computing adoption. Furthermore, the results obtained from SEM were employed as input to the artificial neural network (ANN) model and results showed that trust, perceived IT security risk, and management style as most important predictors in cloud computing adoption. To develop a hybrid two- stage model, SEM ANN model.Proposes a new model by extending the TOE model with external factors.Data were collected from 660 professional experts.Analyzed using SEM and ANN modeling.

A state-of the-art survey of interpretive structural modelling methodologies and applications

In this paper, a comprehensive review is projected to unfold, categorise and interpret the present research on interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach, for this 126 scholarly papers are collected from journals, conference proceedings, PhD thesis out of which 88 papers are found useful and relevant to theme of this paper. All these papers are classified into three categories, non-application areas, application areas and other topics. The scholarly papers are also categorised into four categories such as: 1) year of publication; 2) journal of publication; 3) country in which research work is carried out; 4) the cost and quality criteria. This review paper covers the ISM approach in detail and highlights the areas/sectors to which it is applied successfully. The aim of the present paper is to meet the requirements of academicians and practitioners for references of ISM methodologies and applications, and hence promote the future of ISM research.

Decision support system framework for performance based evaluation and ranking system of carry and forward agents

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a research model that explore strategic outsourcing practices for sustainable competitive advantages. In this paper, a decision support system (DSS) for sustainable performance measurement of carry and forward agents (CFAs) is proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The importance of seven criteria as a means of selecting the best CFA for warehouses under the aspect of sustainable environment is analyzed. The criteria are compared and ranked using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with the combined assistance of literature review and expert opinions. This study makes use of unstructured interviews of Regional Distribution Manager and senior strategic leaders of the firms. Findings – This paper discusses how strategic outsourcing can help firm to achieve desired business outcomes. The selection of best CFA gives a direction to the company to move toward excellence and provides the key areas to work upon to achieve competitive advantage. The main contribution...

A new strategic approach of fuzzy–quality function deployment and analytical hierarchy process in construction industry

This paper aims to develop an integrated multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) analytical tool, combining fuzzy-quality function deployment (F-QFD) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach for preference, in order to examine and to determine the best residential housing project in India. A new approach, fuzzy-QFD-AHP (FQA) MCDM method, has been suggested to combine the results of these techniques to find the final ranking. This paper integrates F-QFD and AHP; AHP is used to obtain the relative importance of the evaluation criteria. The fuzzy-QFD approach typical for residential house selection in the house of quality (HOQ) is used in determining the importance weights for the customer requirements. Utilising the linguistic factor to organise criteria and sub-criteria weight, fuzzy set are pair wise compared with fuzzy QFD and solved by a proposed fuzzy suitability index (FSI). The case study findings demonstrated that the FQA MCDM model could be successfully applied in the housing projects as a strategic tool to facilitate marketing decisions. A team has been formed to collect and verify the expectations of the customer profile of the sample project, which was a high-rise building project located in Mumbai, India.

Multi-criteria decision-making for automobile purchase using an integrated analytical quality fuzzy (AQF) technique

In this paper we propose an integrated model from the most important and usable multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, means analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and quality function deployment (QFD)-fuzzy technique for preference, in order to examine the improvement fields of Indian automobile industry. A new approach, AQF method, has been suggested to combine the results of three techniques to find the final ranking. Besides, we propose a developing QFD-fuzzy model as a basis for comparing the reliability of results of the MCDM techniques, which depicts that AQF is more reliable than other MCDM techniques. Our results have certified that technology, economical aspects, style, comforts, safety, tools availability, convenience, social aspects, aesthetics view, and manufacturers are the customers’ most important criteria for automobile selection. After comparing the internal and external products, and ranking them based on the criteria and sub-criteria, the necessity to improve internal automobiles on various fields has been prioritised.