In today’s volatile and competitive global markets, organizations face numerous challenges to their survival and growth. To navigate these challenges effectively, the adoption of future-oriented, environment-based planning strategies is essential. Such strategies must not only address the identification of key environmental factors but also assess their long-term impacts on the organization, alongside its interaction with these external variables. The survival and sustainable development of an organization depend on a timely understanding of emerging opportunities and market dynamics, the formulation of strategic plans, and the selection of appropriate, effective strategies. This study presents an integrated model designed to evaluate the factors influencing a construction company’s performance, with a focus on conducting a comprehensive risk analysis. The model prioritizes and quantifies the significance of each element within the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the company’s operational context. Furthermore, two fuzzy logic-based Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) methods, namely the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), were employed to rank the identified factors. Based on the analysis of the collected data, the final strategic course for the company was derived. The results indicated that the TOPSIS method placed a greater emphasis on the organization's strengths and opportunities, while the AHP approach, despite prioritizing long-term safety considerations, underscored the significance of addressing weaknesses and mitigating threats. This research contributes to the understanding of how fuzzy MADM techniques can be applied to strategic planning in the construction industry, facilitating more informed decision-making processes that align with the evolving demands of the market and ensure organizational resilience.
The inherent hierarchical and decentralized nature of decision-making within banking systems presents significant challenges in evaluating operational efficiency. This study introduces a novel bi-level programming (BLP) framework, incorporating Stackelberg equilibrium dynamics, to assess the performance of bank branches. By combining with data envelopment analysis (DEA), the proposed BLP-DEA model captures the leader-follower relationship that characterizes banking operations, wherein the leader focuses on marketability and the follower prioritizes profitability. A case study involving 15 Iranian bank branches was employed to demonstrate the model’s capacity to evaluate performance comprehensively at both decision-making levels. The results underscore the model's effectiveness in identifying inefficiencies, analyzing cost structures, and providing actionable insights for performance optimization. This approach offers a robust tool for addressing the complexities associated with decentralized decision-making in hierarchical organizations. The findings have significant implications for both theoretical development and practical application, especially in the context of improving the operational efficiency of banking institutions.
The identification of optimal stock or portfolio options is a critical concern for investors aiming to maximize profitability within financial markets. With the increasing complexity of available alternatives and the growing volume of financial data, selecting the most suitable investment has become more challenging. Decision-makers often face difficulties in navigating these vast data sets and require robust support tools to simplify and enhance the decision-making process. This study proposes a three-phase approach designed to reduce data complexity and facilitate more detailed analysis. In the initial phase, firms demonstrating low operational efficiency, as indicated by their inventory turnover ratio, were excluded from further consideration. In the subsequent phase, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was employed to assess the efficiency of remaining firms, with those exhibiting efficiency scores lower than one being removed from further investigation. Finally, the third phase involved determining the relative importance of each financial ratio through the calculation of their respective weights, allowing for the ranking of firms based on these adjusted values. The results of this approach provide decision-makers with a refined list of viable investment options, contributing to more informed stock portfolio optimization decisions.
Fire, as an unpredictable and highly destructive hazard, poses significant risks to densely populated environments such as employee dormitory buildings. This study aims to evaluate fire risks in such facilities and propose effective fire safety management strategies to enhance fire prevention capabilities and evacuation efficiency. An index system of fire risk influencing factors specific to employee dormitory buildings was established through an extensive review of relevant literature and field interviews. The Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA), a multi-attribute decision analysis method based on ordinal data, was employed to quantify the weights of these influencing factors using a linear programming model. Subsequently, fire scenarios were simulated using PyroSim software, focusing on the top two critical influencing factors to assess evacuation times and safety conditions. The analysis identified the condition of fire-fighting facilities, ventilation within dormitory buildings, the use of high-power electrical appliances, and smoking behaviors among employees as key determinants of fire risk. The simulation results indicated that visibility during a fire significantly affects the available safe evacuation time. While natural ventilation was found to moderately mitigate fire spread, its impact was less pronounced compared to the effectiveness of automatic sprinkler systems. The reliability of the simulation outcomes was further validated through expert interviews, ensuring the practical applicability of the findings. Based on the outcomes of risk analysis and scenario simulations, several fire safety improvement measures were proposed. These include upgrading fire-fighting facility standards, optimizing natural ventilation systems, and implementing comprehensive fire safety education and training programs. The insights derived from this research provide a robust scientific foundation and actionable recommendations for the fire risk management of employee dormitory buildings.
The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) represents a tool developed by the World Bank that is used to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of a country’s logistics sector, and comprises of six components. This indicator is used to compare the logistics performance of different countries, identify challenges in global supply chains, and help policymakers improve their logistics infrastructure and service quality. Given the importance of this indicator, every country aims to achieve a higher LPI score and, consequently, a more favorable ranking. The objective of this paper is to propose a new methodology for calculating the LPI score for transport routes. To validate the proposed methodology, the study analyzes seven cases involving import and export flows from Serbia. Based on the results, the analysis identifies which transport routes achieve the highest scores and which require specific preventive and corrective actions to improve their performance.
When the word "disaster" is used, it usually refers to both human-caused situations that have a negative impact on the community and its environment as well as natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and similar phenomena. Good logistics management is crucial to reducing the bad effects of these kinds of circumstances. This typically entails tasks like planning, organizing, acquiring, moving, and other associated duties. The distribution of supplies to impacted individuals in an effort to save lives is the main objective of humanitarian logistics. The location of humanitarian goods and equipment, which are kept in makeshift humanitarian logistics centers, is crucial for ensuring prompt response in such circumstances. As a result, when deciding where to locate these centers, it is crucial to take into account particular local factors. Numerous factors might impact this kind of selection, which is why finding a location for a humanitarian logistics center is considered a multi-criteria challenge. This research suggests using the ADAM (Axial-Distance-Based Aggregated Measurement Method) and SWARA (Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) techniques to solve this kind of issue. An example of their application is provided by a case study that centers on where Serbia's humanitarian logistics hub is located. The creation of a framework and a special set of standards for choosing the locations of humanitarian logistics centers are the main results of this study. This can help decision-makers, authorities, individuals, non-governmental groups, and logistical service providers make well-informed decisions that have the potential to save countless lives.
This paper investigates the search for an exact analytic solution to a temporal first-order differential equation that represents the number of customers in a non-stationary or time-varying $M / D / 1$ queueing system. Currently, the only known solution to this problem is through simulation. However, a study proposes a constant ratio, $\beta$ (Ismail's ratio), that relates the time-dependent mean arrival and mean service rates, offering an exact analytical solution. The stability dynamics of the time-varying $M / D / 1$ queueing system are then examined numerically in relation to time, $\beta$, and the queueing parameters. On another note, many potential queueing-theoretic applications to traffic management optimization are provided. The paper concludes with a summary, combined with open problems and future research pathways.
As global focus on climate change intensifies, carbon credits have become an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Africa, with its abundant natural resources and potential for sustainable development, is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing market. This article explores how Africa can enhance its participation in the carbon credit market, transforming environmental initiatives into economic opportunities by addressing key implementation challenges. By utilizing the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method within an interval-valued spherical fuzzy (IVSF) framework, the study supports collective decision-making. It identifies three crucial factors: access to financing issue, the absence of clear policies and legal frameworks, and the lack of capacity and expertise within governments, businesses, and communities. The research provides practical recommendations for governments aiming to effectively implement the carbon credit concept.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted extensive modeling efforts worldwide, aimed at understanding its progression and the myriad factors influencing its spread across diverse communities. The necessity for tailored control measures, varying significantly by region, became apparent early in the pandemic, leading to the implementation of diverse strategies to manage the virus both in the short and long term. The World Health Organization (WHO) has faced considerable challenges in mitigating the impact of COVID-19, necessitating adaptable and localized public health responses. Traditional mathematical models, often employing classical integer-order derivatives with real numbers, have been instrumental in analyzing the virus's spread; however, these models inadequately address the fading memory effects inherent in such complex scenarios. To overcome these limitations, fuzzy sets (FSs) were introduced, offering a robust framework for managing the uncertainty that characterizes the pandemic’s dynamics. This research introduces innovative methods based on complex Fermatean FSs (CFFSs), alongside their corresponding geometric aggregation operators, including the complex Fermatean fuzzy weighted geometric aggregation (CFFWGA) operator, the complex Fermatean fuzzy ordered weighted geometric aggregation (CFFOWGA) operator, and the complex Fermatean fuzzy hybrid geometric aggregation (CFFHGA) operator. These advanced techniques are proposed as effective tools in the strategic decision-making process for reducing the spread of COVID-19. A compelling case study on COVID-19 vaccine selection was presented, demonstrating the practical applicability and superiority of these methods, effectively bridging theoretical models with real-world applications.
Confidence sets provide a robust method for addressing the uncertainty inherent in the membership degrees of elements within fuzzy sets (FSs). These sets enhance the capability of FSs to manage imprecise or uncertain data systematically. Analogous to repeated experimentation, the interpretation of confidence sets remains valid before sample observation. However, once the sample is examined, all confidence sets exclusively encompass parameter values of either 1 or 0. This study introduces novel techniques in the domain of confidence levels, specifically the Confidence Complex Polytopic Fuzzy Weighted Averaging (CCPoFWA) operator, confidence complex polytopic fuzzy ordered weighted averaging (CCPoFOWA) operator, and Confidence Complex Polytopic Fuzzy Hybrid Averaging (CCPoFHA) operator. These aggregation operators are indispensable tools in data analysis and decision-making, aiding in the understanding of complex systems across diverse fields. They facilitate the extraction of valuable insights from extensive datasets and streamline the presentation of information to enhance decision support. The efficacy and utility of the proposed methods are demonstrated through a detailed illustrative example, underscoring their potential in strategic decision-making for the placement of nuclear power plants in Pakistan.
The pressing need to reduce reliance on petroleum in the energy sector and the increasing demand for environmental protection are driving research and practical endeavors in the management of renewable supply chains. Professionals, global institutions and scholars have widely acknowledged the importance of studying the correlation, between the performance of supply chains and renewable energy sources. It's important to delve into the articles in terms of the methodologies that have been used, the principal concerns addressed, the specific renewable energy sources focused on, and the performance indicators employed to optimize supply chains for renewable energies. This paper provides an analysis that improves the understanding of research in the realm of quantitative decision making for renewable energy supply chains. The analysis commences by searching for articles published. Subsequently, they are narrowed down to those that are most relevant. The article also addresses knowledge gaps in the literature. The findings provide a reference for researchers who are considering conducting studies in this area.
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