Y. Ilker Topcu

An integrated decision aid system for Bosphorus water-crossing problem

Abstract The traffic congestion between the Anatolian and European sides of Istanbul calls for an urgent solution. This paper focuses on the selection of the most suitable and comprehensive remedy for the Bosphorus crossing problem. For this purpose, the study proposes an integrated decision aid, which brings together all the stages from the problem structuring to the evaluation of alternatives. An aggregated cognitive map initially derived through information gathered from 19 experts is converted into a hierarchical structure with the fundamental objectives at the top. In the second stage of the analysis, a rule-based approach is used. The values gathered from the same 19 experts for each alternative corresponding to each subcriterion at the lowest level of the hierarchical model are transformed into the descriptors of the fundamental objectives. Finally, the decision matrix of these aggregated values is evaluated by PROMETHEE I and PROMETHEE II and is also analyzed for robustness.

Efficient shift scheduling in the retail sector through two-stage optimization

Efficient workforce scheduling has an important impact on store profit and customer service. Standard scheduling problems do not recognize the effect of staff availability on customer sales, however, even though the latter is an important factor in the retail sector. In this paper a two-stage model is proposed for this purpose. In the first stage a sales response model is used to specify hourly staff requirements. The output of the sales response model is then used as the input of a mixed integer optimization model, which finds an optimum assignment of the staff to daily shifts. Simulations are used to validate the sales response function, and to revise the model for more accurate results. In the simulations, customer arrivals and sales response error values are generated using appropriate distribution functions. As a case study the proposed model is applied to a Turkish retailer in the apparel sector.

The relative importance of usability and functionality factors for online auction and shopping web sites

– The purpose of this study is to determine the relative importance of the usability and functionality factors for online auction and shopping web sites from the perspective of young consumers., – The Analytical Network Process (ANP) was used to analyse the relative importance of the usability and functionality factors., – The findings show that customers of online auction and shopping web sites give higher priority to usability and usability factors than to functionality, with navigation and interaction being the factors of highest relative importance., – First, customers assign higher priority to usability factors. Thus, early in the design phase, designers should attach more importance to navigation‐ and interaction‐related aspects of their web sites. Second, designers of web sites should include basic and advanced search options to increase the number of the web site users., – The study is the first to examine the relative importance of the usability and functionality factors of online auction and shopping web sites. Furthermore, the study fills this gap by identifying the complex interrelationships between various features of usability and functionality, and their impact on each other, by examining two Turkish online‐auction and shopping web sites.

Computer-based systematic execution model on human resources management in maritime transportation industry: The case of master selection for embarking on board merchant ships

Human resources management (HRM) have been increased its functionality and popularity in the shipping business, due to the expeditiously changes in technology, market strategies, risks and challenges in transportation industry. Despite the requirements of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), held by International Maritime Organization (IMO), especially the quality and competency of personnel who are being employed on board ships are primarily issue of shore-based ship management organizations. This paper proposes an extendable and applicable model based on Analytic Network Process to support the personnel selection facilities of crewing departments in ship management companies. The priorities of evaluation factors are outlined for employing the Master, the most significant and key personnel on board merchant ships, as a case application in this study. Consequently, the results are elaborated to construct a scheme on evaluating of job applications for embarking Master on board ships. The model can be achieved to modify for carrying out to evaluate the employment criteria for other ranks on board ships as a further study.

ANP application for evaluating Turkish mobile communication operators

The proposed decision model, based on Analytic Network Process (ANP), has been developed in order to determine the dynamics of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) market. In accordance with the sequence of ANP, first of all, the problem was structured and modeled. At the next step, a quantitative analysis was conducted with the customers in order to assess the importance of the related factors and forecast the market shares of the Turkish mobile communication operators. The forecasted market share values were compared with actual ones for the validation of the decision model. The assessed importance of the factors in a valid model would be a potential competitive advantage for the mobile operators.

Analytical modelling of shipping business processes based on MCDM methods

The need for analytical solutions towards various managerial processes in shipping business has been clearly seen in maritime society. To remedy this gap, the execution of relevant processes can be supported via multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. This article applied an Integrated Decision Aid (IDEA) to overcome the model selection dilemma for process improvement in shipping business. The illustrative application of the IDEA makes invaluable contributions for the ongoing efforts of relevant executives on adopting modern management style in shipping business. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study encourage the maritime practitioners towards analytical modelling of managerial processes in shipping business cycle.

A Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Factors Affecting Internet Banking in Turkey

This research is based on quantifying adoption of Internet Banking by using an integrated multi-criteria decision aid approach. The analytic network process model, supported by a Delphi-type group-decision-making procedure, is used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the challenges to adoption of the Internet Banking by Turkish customers. This paper details all iterative stages of the decision-making process: structuring the problem, constructing the decision model, and analyzing the problem. Utilizing these stages, the study identifies the factors that influence the adoption of Internet Banking by customers, the effects of these factors on each other, and the assessment of the importance of them from the customers’ point of view. The results indicate that security and reliability appear to be the most important factors for successful adoption of Internet Banking. Infrastructural competencies and user friendliness are other important factors.

An Artificial Neural Network Approach to Multicriteria Model Selection

This paper presents an intelligent decision support system based on neural network technology for multicriteria model selection. This paper categorizes the problem as simple, utility / value, interactive and outranking type of problem according to six basic features. The classification of the problem is realized based on a two-step neural network analysis applying back-propagation algorithm. The first Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model that is used for the selection of an appropriate solving method cluster consists of one hidden layer. The six input neurons of the model represent the MCDM problem features while the two output neurons represent the four MCDM categories. The second ANN model is used for the selection of a specific method within the selected cluster.

Knowledge-Based Decision Support Systems Techniques and Their Application in Transportation Planning Systems

Publisher Summary Artificial intelligence and knowledge-based systems (KBSs) have been receiving a great deal of attention in the area of transport engineering. Knowledge-based systems appear to be applicable also in the decision-making stage of the planning of transportation systems. Knowledge-based systems are used in solving transportation-planning problems, which often require extensive knowledge bases that need large-scale numerical operations. However, the multidisciplinary and multiobjective nature of transportation planning systems cannot be analyzed by using only KBSs and necessitates computerized assistance techniques, which use the problem-solving process. In fact, such assistance fits well with the definition of decision support systems (DSSs). As a result, it can be said that for transportation planning systems a combination of KBS and DSS—that is, a knowledge-based decision support system (KBDSS)—is the most suitable. This chapter is deals with the development of a KBDSS to help the appropriate selection of transportation infrastructures for water crossing problems. The developed KBDSS model uses the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to specify the relative importance of the different criteria and subcriteria used for the evaluation of water crossing alternatives.

A Decision Support Methodology for Locating Bank Branches: A Case Study in Turkey

This paper presents an integrated decision support methodology for locating bank branches. The methodology is composed of two stages: problem structuring, and modeling. In the first stage, initially, a number of criteria are selected with the help of a detailed literature review and expert opinions. Subsequently, importance weights of these criteria for different types of bank branches are identified based on judgments of experts for pairwise comparison questions. At the modeling stage, considering the characteristics and importance of the criteria, a novel multi-objective mathematical programming model is proposed to find specific locations of bank branches. The proposed methodology is applied in locating branches of a Turkish bank. In order to test the validity of the results and robustness, a sensitivity analysis is conducted and the solutions are found to be robust.