Risk analysis of the agri-food supply chain: A multi-method approach

Agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) are becoming more complex in structure, and thus more susceptible to different vulnerabilities and risks. Therefore, to enhance performance, we need to manage the risks in AFSCs effectively and efficiently. This study analyses various AFSC risks using a multi-method approach, including thematic analysis, total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) and fuzzy cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis. Based on the empirical data collected from experienced AFSC practitioners and following thematic analysis, eight categories of risk and 16 risk factors were identified as important. Furthermore, the interrelationships among the identified risks were built using TISM. Finally, the identified risks were classified into various categories according to their dependence and driving power using fuzzy MICMAC analysis. The research results indicate that the weather-related and political risks have the highest driving power and are located at the lowest level in the TISM hierarchy. These risks have a high tendency to disturb the whole flow of AFSC and so should be managed effectively. This study advances existing literature on identifying risk factors, defining interrelations between different AFSC risks, and determining the key risks. The risk analysis results can help AFSC practitioners in AFSC to identify, categorise and analyse the risks

Improving efficiency and reducing waste for sustainable beef supply chain

In this thesis, novel methodologies were developed to improve the sustainability of beef supply chain by reducing their environmental and physical waste. These methodologies would assist stakeholders of beef supply chain viz. farmers, abattoir, processor, logistics and retailer in identification of the root causes of waste and hotspots of greenhouse emissions and their consequent mitigation. Numerous quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to develop these methodologies such as current reality tree method, big data analytics, interpretive structural modelling, toposis and cloud computing technology. Real data set from social media and interviews of stakeholders of Indian beef supply chain were used. Numerous issues associated with waste minimisation and reducing carbon footprint of beef supply chain are addressed including: (a) Identification of root causes of waste generated in the beef supply chain using Current Reality Tree method and their consequent mitigation (b) Application of social media data for waste minimisation in beef supply chain. (c) Developing consumer centric beef supply chain by amalgamation of big data technique and interpretive structural modeling (c) Reducing carbon footprint of beef supply chain using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (d) Developing cloud computing framework for sustainable supplier selection in beef supply chain (e) Updating the existing literature on improving sustainability of beef supply chain. The efficacy of the proposed methodologies was demonstrated using case studies. These frameworks may play a crucial role to assist the decision makers of all stakeholders of beef supply chain in waste minimization and reducing carbon footprint thereby improving the sustainability of beef supply chain. The proposed methodologies are generic in nature and can be applied to other domains of red meat industry or to any other food supply chain

Multi-Objective and Multi-Attribute Optimisation for Sustainable Development Decision Aiding

Optimization is considered as a decision-making process for getting the most out of available resources for the best attainable results. Many real-world problems are multi-objective or multi-attribute problems that naturally involve several competing objectives that need to be optimized simultaneously, while respecting some constraints or involving selection among feasible discrete alternatives. In this Reprint of the Special Issue, 19 research papers co-authored by 88 researchers from 14 different countries explore aspects of multi-objective or multi-attribute modeling and optimization in crisp or uncertain environments by suggesting multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) and multi-objective decision-making (MODM) approaches. The papers elaborate upon the approaches of state-of-the-art case studies in selected areas of applications related to sustainable development decision aiding in engineering and management, including construction, transportation, infrastructure development, production, and organization management

Zionism and Cosmopolitanism

Franz Oppenheimer (1864-1943) was a prominent German sociologist, economist and Zionist activist. As a co-founder of academic sociology in Germany, Oppenheimer vehemently opposed the influence of antisemitism on the nascent field. He and other German Zionists believed Zionism could strengthen German-Jewish identity. They presented Zionism as an extension of German patriotism by positioning Zionist aspirations within a German colonial narrative

The international politics of the Middle East

The international politics of the Middle East fills a major gap in the field of middle eastern political studies by combining international relations theory with concrete case studies. It will be of immense benefit to students of middle eastern politics, international relations and comparative politics. The book begins with an overview of the rules and features of the middle east regional system - the arena in which the local states, including Egypt, Turkey, Israrel and Arab states od Syria, Jordan and Iraq, operate. It goes on to analyse foreign policy-making in key states, illustrating how systematic determinants contrain this policy-making, and how these contraints are dealt with in distinctive ways depending on particular domsetic features of the individual states. Finally, the book goes on to look at the outcomes of state policies by examining several major conflicts including the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Gulf War, and the system of regional alignment. The book assesses the impact of international pentrartion in the region, including the hsitorica reasons behind the formation of the regional state system. It also analyses the continued role of the external great powers, such as the United States and the former Soviet Union and explains the process by which the region has besome incorporated into the global capitalist market

The international politics of the Middle East

The international politics of the Middle East fills a major gap in the field of middle eastern political studies by combining international relations theory with concrete case studies. It will be of immense benefit to students of middle eastern politics, international relations and comparative politics. The book begins with an overview of the rules and features of the middle east regional system - the arena in which the local states, including Egypt, Turkey, Israrel and Arab states od Syria, Jordan and Iraq, operate. It goes on to analyse foreign policy-making in key states, illustrating how systematic determinants contrain this policy-making, and how these contraints are dealt with in distinctive ways depending on particular domsetic features of the individual states. Finally, the book goes on to look at the outcomes of state policies by examining several major conflicts including the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Gulf War, and the system of regional alignment. The book assesses the impact of international pentrartion in the region, including the hsitorica reasons behind the formation of the regional state system. It also analyses the continued role of the external great powers, such as the United States and the former Soviet Union and explains the process by which the region has besome incorporated into the global capitalist market

Responsible AI and Analytics for an Ethical and Inclusive Digitized Society

publishedVersio

Zionism and Cosmopolitanism

Franz Oppenheimer (1864-1943) was a prominent German sociologist, economist and Zionist activist. As a co-founder of academic sociology in Germany, Oppenheimer vehemently opposed the influence of antisemitism on the nascent field. He and other German Zionists believed Zionism could strengthen German-Jewish identity. They presented Zionism as an extension of German patriotism by positioning Zionist aspirations within a German colonial narrative

Undergraduate Student Catalog 2012-2013

The contents of this document highlight the central pillars of Qatar University’s mission, namely the provision of high-quality education and the pursuit of an active role in the development of Qatari society. The courses described here have been designed, reviewed and assessed to meet the highest educational standards, with a strong focus on the knowledge- and skill-bases needed for a graduate to be competitive in today’s labor market or in higher education pursuits