Design for occupational safety and health: Key attributes for organisational capability

Purpose: Against the backdrop of the contribution of design to the occurrence of occupational injuries and illnesses in construction, design for occupational safety and health (DfOSH) is increasingly becoming prominent in the construction sector. To ensure that design interventions are safe for construction workers to build and maintain, design firms need to have the appropriate organisational capability in respect of DfOSH. However, empirical insight regarding the attributes that constitute DfOSH organisational capability is lacking. The purpose of this paper, which trailblazes the subject of DfOSH organisational capability in construction, is to address two key questions: what organisational attributes determine DfOSH capability? What is the relative priority of the capability attributes? Design/methodology/approach: The study employed three iterations of expert focus group discussion and a subsequent three-round Delphi technique accompanied by the application of voting analytic hierarchy process.Findings: The study revealed 18 capability attributes nested within six categories, namely: competence (the competence of organisation’s design staff); strategy (the consideration of DfOSH in organisation’s vision as well as the top management commitment); corporate experience (organisation’s experience in implementing DfOSH on projects); systems (systems, processes and procedures required for implementing DfOSH); infrastructure (physical, and information and communication technology resources); and collaboration (inter- and intra-organisational collaboration to implement DfOSH on projects). Whilst these categories and their nested attributes carry varying weights of importance, collectively, the competence-related attributes are the most important, followed by strategy. Originality/value: The findings should enable design firms and other key industry stakeholders (such as the clients who appoint them) to understand designers’ DfOSH capability better. Additionally, design firms should be able to prioritise efforts/investment to enhance their DfOSH capability

Integrated methodology for supplier selection: the case of a sphygmomanometer manufacturer in Taiwan

Supplier selection is a critical multi-criterion decision-making activity for suc- cessful supply chain management. This study involved developing an integrated supplier selection methodology, which is constructed using analytic network process, data envelop- ment analysis, and multiple objective particle swarm optimization. The proposed integrated methodology can account for multiple supplier selection criteria and set boundaries on weight value for multiple objective data envelopment analysis inputs and outputs. To solve the data envelopment analysis model, a new algorithm based on multiple objective particle swarm optimization is introduced, which embeds with tabu list and group mechanisms, and then, it is found to be superior to the compared algorithms in solving performance on three test functions and the illustrative case. In addition, the proposed integrated method- ology was applied to a supplier selection problem of sphygmomanometer manufacturer in Taiwan to verify its applicability of decision-making process. The results show that the methodology can be implemented as an effective decision aid for supplier selection under multiple criteria with weight restrictions

A hybrid linguistic fuzzy multiple criteria group selection of a chief accounting officer

In the preceding decade, economic and social costs brought by financial statement fraud have shaken markets, devastated investment portfolios and reduced confidence in financial reporting. A financial department is special in the way it needs to conform to standards. Many individual attributes considered for the selection of a chief accounting officer, such as organisational skills, personality, leadership etc. This paper focuses on a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) algorithm, which integrates the principles of fusion of fuzzy information, additive ratio assessment method with fuzzy numbers (ARAS-F), fuzzy weighted-product model and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The proposed method is apt to manage information assessed using both linguistic and numerical scales in a decision making problem with a group of information sources. The computational procedure is illustrated through the problem related to the selection of a chief accounting officer

A web-based design for occupational safety and health capability maturity indicator

It has been established that design contributes to the occurrence of occupational injuries and illnesses in the construction sector. This has resulted in the need for designers to implement design for occupational safety and health (DfOSH), which is required by legislation in some countries. Consequently, designers (as individuals or organisations) should seek to mitigate occupational safety and health (OSH) risks through design. In order for design firms to do this effectively, they need to have the capability in respect of implementing DfOSH. However, there is a paucity of empirical studies on DfOSH capability as well as a robust mechanism for ascertaining the DfOSH capability of design firms. Drawing on the capability maturity concept combined with the application of expert group techniques, this study develops a novel web-based DfOSH capability maturity model that enables the assessment of the DfOSH capability of design organisations in the built environment. The model captures 18 DfOSH organisational capability attributes mapped onto five stages of capability maturation which are further contextualised by the incorporation of maturity level indicator examples in order to enable ease of use of the model. Results of the model evaluation confirm the model’s usefulness. Design firms could apply the model to self-assess their capability in order to understand the areas of capability deficiency and strength. Client organisations could also use the model as part of pre-qualification arrangements in selecting design firms with the needed DfOSH capability

A Decision Tool for Supplier Selection That Takes into Account Power and Performance

Companies select their suppliers to provide required performance while being successful partners. An important aspect of collaboration is the power relationship between the company and its suppliers. Although the significance of power in supplier selection is acknowledged, published work rarely includes assessment of power. An empirical study on selecting suppliers for new product developments in a major European diesel engine manufacturing company, supported by three smaller studies with electronic engineering companies, frames overall questions regarding the importance of incorporating power into supplier selection and how this might be achieved. This research proposes an approach that assesses both performance and power and integrates the assessment results by modelling the relative effects of power and performance. It positions the suppliers into six scenarios (ideal, satisfying, tolerable, unfavourable, risky and tough) which depict to what extent a supplier is ‘suitable’ to work with. A reverse analysis reviews the relationship when several suppliers appear suitable. An assessment method is developed incorporating both subjective and objective data for qualitative and quantitative criteria. It combines two decision making methods, AHP and TOPSIS, with triangular fuzzy numbers. Multiple judgements from several decision makers are synthesised. This method is adapted for performance assessment of single, group and cross-group suppliers. Weights are calculated for the criteria, and combined with calculations of supplier performance against each criterion to provide an overall assessment and supplier profile. Power is quantified against a set of power determinants and power relations (supplier dominance, buyer dominance and balanced) are determined. The effects of supplier perceptions (objective, optimistic and pessimistic) are estimated in the calculation. The proposed approach involves complex calculations and a prototype software tool is developed with graphical interfaces. The tool includes performance criteria and power determinants collected from literature and allows users to define new ones. Application to an agriculture case enables the sustainable performance of suppliers (farmers) to be evaluated and compared

Suggestion support system for healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia: an assessment framework

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.Saudi Arabia has developed an ambitious vision, Vision 2030, where the healthcare industry is one of the significant focus areas, making the healthcare industry more efficient and effective is crucial to attracting the private sector and making this vision a reality. Therefore, improving healthcare organisations' performance and competitiveness is necessary to achieve this sector's vision. In such a continuous improvement journey, suggestion systems can be considered an essential continuous improvement tool that identifies the industry's shortfalls and allows for potential future opportunities. It was found that the classical suggestion systems’ development process is subject to human behaviour that might discourage overall participation. Thus, interactive and straightforward systems will encourage productive participation. Furthermore, a study showed that employee creativity and positive engagement remain crucial in successful suggestion system implementation. Therefore, simplicity is considered the critical success factor in any suggestion system development and implementation process. The goal of this study is to develop an assessment framework for Saudi healthcare suggestion systems. A thorough review of the literature highlighted eighteen variables that act as drivers for the suggestion system's success. To account for a technology evaluation parameter, we adopted Nielson's definition of usability. He defines usability as a phenomenon that consists of five major factors: learnability, efficiency, memorability, error recovery, and satisfaction. A further understanding of the relationships between the suggestion system drivers and the adopted technical evaluation parameter's definition are investigated. A questionnaire on the eighteen variables was conducted, and 138 responses were collected. Based on a series of scientific analyses, the researcher identified three significant latent factors affecting the usability of a healthcare suggestion system: the Personal factor, System and Institutional factor, and Social Support factor. A maturity model with three levels of maturity was developed. The first level was defined as Low level, the second level was defined as a Medium level, and the third level was the High one. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was performed to prioritise variables within each construct and among the three latent factors. AHP showed that the most critical factor is the Personal factor, followed by the System and Institutional factor, and then the Social Support factor. The first latent factor, the Personal one, includes the following suggestion system success variables: Reward, Ease of Use, Clear Scope, Autonomy, Trust, anonymity, Problem Solving, and Feedback. Under the second latent factor, System and Institutional, the success variables are Resources, Supervisor Support, Training, Publicity, Colleague Support, Compliance, and Equality. While the Social Support factor listed variables are Social Media and Social Networking. In order to test the developed model, two Saudi healthcare facilities were investigated. Furthermore, the developed model was found useful not only in assessing the current state of their suggestion systems but also in identifying the potential improvement opportunities. Having a prioritised list ensures that organisations can focus on improving factors that have a higher impact on the overall usability of the system.King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

A web-based Decision Support System (DSS) for preliminary risk assessment of Brownfield sites

Reusing brownfield sites always raises concern for the health and safety of site workers involved in site renovations and redevelopments and, subsequently, for the residents or occupants of the sites. As a minimum, a preliminary risk assessment is necessary to determine whether a brownfield site is contaminated and, if so, ensure any redevelopment is safe and suitable for its intended use. For instance, a developer may decide to redevelop brownfield site based on a preliminary risk assessment alone without any further investigation and detailed quantitative risk assessment, provided the developer is confident that any hazards present can be addressed using appropriate measures, and the acquisition brings broad commercial benefits. Despite growing interest in the progression of risk assessment tools, there are limited instruments available to brownfield site assessors to consult when conducting investigations at the preliminary risk assessment stage. This research seeks to bridge this gap and provide a Decision Support System (DSS) PRAofBS (Preliminary Risk Assessment of Brownfield sites) Tool to assist investigators and different stakeholders by identifying potential hazards associated with brownfield sites at the preliminary stage. As a result, a clear and comprehensive conceptual framework was developed to guide research in this field and shape the DSS Tool development. Experts validated the framework through a questionnaire survey. While the validation of the DSS Tool was facilitated by two approaches, firstly the DSS was uploaded to the internet, which involved testing tool by experts in terms of a graphical user interface (GUI), level of information, quality of data. The second approach was carried out by functional testing, which involved testing the tool’s outputs against real–life case studies to confirm information agreement. The framework validation results can be divided into two parts. Firstly, the statistical analyses revealed that the top information to identify the source of hazards is site history, made ground, invasive species, previous mining, storage of materials and old tanks, presence of radon, underground services and buildings and other structures. Furthermore, site geology, site hydrology, site hydrogeology, and site topography were rated as top information to identify the contaminants' pathway movement. At the same time, future site use scenario is critical to identify the critical receptor of the population most likely to be exposed and/or susceptible to soil contamination. Secondly, the likelihood of potential hazards was calculated by using a Voting Analytic Hierarchy Process (VAHP), which was useful for prioritizing and generally distinguishing potential hazards from more likely to least likely threats. On the subject of DSS validation, most of the participants reported that they found DSS easy to use. They were also positive about the level and quality of information and knowledge provided by the decision support system. In particular, they found it to be helpful for the preliminary risk assessment process of brownfield site. Finally, it is anticipated that, with some modifications, the DSS Tool could become a commercially viable interface