An Error-Proof Approach for Decision Making Using DEMATEL

Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method of Multi-Criteria Decision Making has been being used very widely in many management studies (like Operation Management) to identify causal relationships among factors and draw attention to valuable insight for decision making. The scope of this system has reached the manufacturing industry, social activities, farming, financial system, environmental science, energy, and other areas, and has solved numerous practical problems. However, the author has found that the results are misleading as and when it is applied with global (or overall) consideration or even elements/category of unequal weights. To show the serious differences in the results misguiding decision-makers, an example has been demonstrated in this study. Result of the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory from global calculation can be corrected if the calculation and analysis are done based on distinct elements (cluster wise). Grading success or failure factors as per distinct elements of a system and integrating them as per criticality found at the element level, is an added methodology to the existing knowledge of using Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory. With another example from the previous study, the new approach is justified as well. This new approach will help to find critical factors in a truly holistic way and implement any principles, policies, or system more confidently.   Keywords: DEMATEL method; multi-criteria; critical factor; decision making

EVALUATION OF LOGISTIC FLOWS IN GREEN SUPPLY CHAINS BASED ON THE COMBINED DEMATEL-ANP METHOD

Supply chains and transport corridors have a significant impact on the socio-economic and environmental situation in the regions where the elements of the logistics infrastructure are located. The achievement of the goals of the concept of sustainable development in these regions is ensured, among other things, as a result of the formation of green supply chain management (GSCM), that is, as a result of changes in existing approaches to supply chain management. Analysis of the practice of supply chain management showed a wide variety of parameters and indicators of logistics flows used in decision-making at different stages of managing these flows. The authors propose a universal system of the logistic flows parameters and indicators for the GSCM, corresponding to the principles of the concept of sustainable development. A methodology for ranking indicators of logistics flows based on a combined DEMATEL-ANP method has been developed. The results of a case study on the evaluation of logistics flows for the GSCM are presented. The ranks of logistics flow indicators obtained in the study are proposed to be used in GSCM to adjust of the logistics flows actual parameters to achieve the goals of the concept of sustainable development

An integrated approach of AHP-DEMATEL methods applied for the selection of allied hospitals in outpatient service

Nowadays, the citizens are more aware of high-quality medical care than ever. They pay much attention to medical treatment safety, instructions from physicians, and the overall service quality performed by the hospital. To manage a hospital successfully, the important goals are to attract and then retain as many patients as possible by meeting potential demands of various kinds of the patients. In this context the decision making process is important in order to achieve a strategic decision and strategy. When the decision making problem occurs there is usually a limited number of possible alternatives but a large number of criteria according to which the optimal solution is selected. It is important to use an appropriate approach. This study presents a hybrid methodological approach based on the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method and Analytic Hierarchy process method to define the best allied hospital for an integrated network of outpatient service. The goal of this paper is to present a methodological approach and a practical application of hybrid method in a real case study

Barriers to circular food supply chains in China

Purpose: This paper aims to identify and systematically analyze the causal-effect relationships among barriers to circular food supply chains in China. Design/methodology/approach: Grounded in multiple organizational theories, this paper develops a theoretical framework for identifying relevant barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in food supply chain management. The study uses 105 responses from Chinese food supply chain stakeholders including food processors, sales and distribution channels, consumers and government officials. It applies a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to examine the causal-effect relationships among the identified barriers. Findings: Overall, the results suggest two key cause barriers: first, weak environmental regulations and enforcement, and second, lack of market preference/pressure. Meanwhile, lack of collaboration/support from supply chain actors is the most prominent barrier. The key cause and prominent barriers are also identified for each of the supply chain stakeholder involved. Research implications: The study offers practical insights for overcoming barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in the management of supply chains in the Chinese food sector, as well as in other contexts where similar challenges are faced. It also sheds light on which organizational theories are most suitable for guiding similar studies. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first barrier study on circular food supply chains. The use of multiple organizational theories for the development of the theoretical framework is unique in barrier studies. The study offers insights from multiple stakeholders in the Chinese food supply chains

Developing a DEMATEL method to prioritize distribution centers in supply chain

During the past two decades, there have been significant numbers of studies focusing on supply chain management for evaluating important factors on the success of a supply chain program. In this paper, we present a method to prioritize the locations of distribution centers in a supply chain. The proposed model of this paper uses balanced scorecard (BSC) to categorize the most important attributes affecting the location of distribution centers and the attributes are ranked based on decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The implementation of the proposed model of this paper is also applied for a real-world case study of oil company and the results are analyzed under different scenarios

Improved Decision-Making through a DEMATEL and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps-Based Framework

The decision-making process is highly demanding. There has been an increasing tendency to incorporate human thinking, individual experience about a problem, and pure mathematical approaches. Here, a novel integrated approach is investigated and proposed to develop an advanced hybrid decision-support system based on the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs). Indeed, knowledge acquisition and elicitation may present distortions and difficulties finding a consensus and an interpretation. Thus, the proposed combined approach aims to examine in depth the potential to improve FCMs' outcomes by integrating FCM with the DEMATEL approach. The combined methodology achieves at avoiding some of the drawbacks, such as the lack of a standardized FCM theoretical model. Thus, it provides advanced comparative analysis and results in better interpretation of the decision-making process. It is highlighted that the traditional FCM approach does not allow distinguishing the whole number of defined scenarios, in contrast to the hybrid one presented here, which increases the ability of users to make correct decisions. Combining the two approaches provides new capabilities to FCMs in grouping experts' knowledge, while the DEMATEL approach contributes to refining the strength of concepts' connections

A hybrid approach to apply dematel in a multi-criteria setting

The DEMATEL method has been applied in the Decision Sciences in several studies. However, one has not been able to apply DEMATEL directly to a multi-criteria matrix formed by a set of alternatives and a set of criteria yet. In order to approach this, we propose a novel way to apply DEMATEL to a multi-criteria matrix for ranking a set of alternatives according to their performances in a set of criteria. For accomplishing this, we consider the set of alternatives in a classical multi-criteria problem as the set of components used in a usual DEMATEL application. To set up the influence degree among studied components, we used the preference index of PROMÉTHÉE II. Such preference index takes into consideration the performances of alternatives on all criteria to establish each influence degree. Thereby, we denote the influence degree by preference degree. This new approach is applied to a case study and results are compared against those of three multi-criteria methods. It is then possible to note small, understandable differences among the rankings. This hybrid approach has therefore shown to be theoretically sound and feasible to be used in the practice of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Logistics service providers (LSPs) evaluation and selection: Literature review and framework development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight to the outsourcing decision-making through investigating if the old evaluation/selection criteria and methods still fit with current business priorities or not and, therefore, to identify the appropriate criteria and methods to develop a new selection framework. Since the economic recession of 2008, logistics outsourcing decisions have become more prominent to avoid high fixed costs and heavy investment requirements and to achieve competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach – This is a focused literature review prepared after analyzing 56 articles related to the logistics service provider (LSP) evaluation and selection methods and criteria during 2008-2013. The academic articles are analyzed based on research focus/area, evaluation and selection methodology/methods and evaluation and selection criteria. Then reviewed result is compared with previous literature studies for the periods (1991-2008) to identify any possible shifts. Findings – The review reveals that: several problems in current LSPs literature have been identified; the reviewed papers can be categorized into seven groups, the usage and importance of evaluation and selection criteria fluctuate during different periods; 12 crucial criteria have been identified, increasing the importance of specific selection methods and the integrated models and fuzzy logic in logistics literature. Then, a comprehensive LSPs’ evaluation and selection framework has been developed. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is the first focused logistics outsourcing study that reviews the 2008-2013 period in detail, comparing results with previous literature studies, identifies current LSPs literature problems/gaps, new trends and shifts in the way that LSPs are evaluated and selected, identifies crucial selection criteria and proposes a new holistic LSPs evaluation and selection framework. In addition, it identifies important issues for future research. Keywords Supplier or partner selection, Evaluation and selection methods and criteria, Logistics outsourcing, Logistics service provider, LSP framewor

Identifying and Prioritizing Arising Claim's Factors by the Combined Approach of DEMATEL and ANP Method (Case Study: Urban Development and Civil Organization of Shiraz Municipality Projects)

Claim management describes the process required to eliminate or prevent construction claims from arising and for the expedition handling of claims when they do occur. The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the claimed design and their ranking. This research is applied and descriptive. The effective factors have been identified by reviewing the claims filed by the contractors of Shiraz Municipality during one year and have been classified according to their nature in the four main areas of the Claims (scope, time, quality and cost). To collect data, questionnaires based on the multi-adjective decision-making method used in this study were used, which were completed by experts of civil engineering projects in Shiraz Municipality. Data were analyzed using a combined approach of Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP). According to the results, 3 factors: Deviation from the project schedule plan, Changes in the technical specifications of and the resources of tasks and Not controlling the actual values on-site before execution with the initial estimate of the contract have the most effect and factors: Not to prepare a joint mapping with the presence of the consultant and the contractor at the beginning and Contractor financial loss due to bidding a lower price offer than the market have the least effect on claim. In general, factors related to time and quality areas have a greater effect on claim than factors related to scope and cost areas

Optimal placement of pressure sensors using fuzzy DEMATEL-based sensor influence

[EN] Nowadays, optimal sensor placement (OSP) for leakage detection in water distribution networks is a lively field of research, and a challenge for water utilities in terms of network control, management, and maintenance. How many sensors to install and where to install them are crucial decisions to make for those utilities to reach a trade-off between efficiency and economy. In this paper, we address the where-to-install-them part of the OSP through the following elements: nodes' sensitivity to leakage, uncertainty of information, and redundancy through conditional entropy maximisation. We evaluate relationships among candidate sensors in a network to get a picture of the mutual influence among the nodes. This analysis is performed within a multi-criteria decision-making approach: specifically, a herein proposed variant of DEMATEL, which uses fuzzy logic and builds comparison matrices derived from information obtained through leakage simulations of the network. 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