The Analytic Network Process Applied in Supply Chain Decisions, in Ethics, and in World Peace

The Analytic Hierarchy/Network Process which was developed by Dr. Thomas Saaty “has revolutionized how we resolve complex decision problems” (INFORMS, 2008). The Analytic Network Process (ANP) is applied herein in the context of supply chain decision making; then as a tool to bridge the separation thesis between business and ethics and show that ethical decision and business decisions are interrelated and can and should be jointly considered; and finally to guide the G-2 powers in their efforts to improve relations. In the first supply chain model a Metrics Arrow of relevant performance metrics that follow the temporal flow of the product is presented and used to select a third party logistics provider. The ANP model also provides managerial insight into the interdependencies of the performance metrics. The second model deals with selecting which green supply chain initiative a company should implement. A generalized framework is developed and then customized and applied in a specific case study of a TV audio video producer’s supply chain. Two ethics cases are analyzed in the first chapter on ethics to demonstrate the benefits of using a rigorous prioritization process, the ANP, to make ethical decisions. This chapter is intended to act as introduction of the ANP to the ethics community and focuses on the benefits of using the ANP. Next, a complex model that uses a stakeholder theory approach is used to address the ethical issues of hydraulic fracturing. The benefits to the natural gas industry to participate in an integrative stakeholder approach are demonstrated. As another demonstration of the ANP a complex decision with a direct influence on peace and stability in the world is the relationship between the two superpowers the People’s Republic of China and the United States is analyzed. As improvements have been made in the relationship between the two countries there are critical decisions that must be faced in the near future. This model suggests which of five initiatives if addressed will be most beneficial to both countries. In the final chapter the main findings are summarized and future research is suggested

Proceedings of the West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference 2010

FOREWORD Welcome to this West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) conference taking place here in Ghana. Thank you for coming and welcome to Accra. The main aims of the WABER conference are: to help young researchers and early-career scholars in West Africa to develop their research work and skills through constructive face-to-face interaction with experienced academics; to provide a platform for networking and collaborative work among senior built environment academics in West Africa; and to serve as a vehicle for developing the field of construction management and economics in Africa. Waber 2009 The WABER event in 2009 was held at the British Council in Accra, Ghana on 2-3 June. The event was a resounding success. It attracted participation from 32 researchers, from 12 different institutions, who presented their work to an audience of approximately 100 people. Each presenter received immediate and constructive feedback from an international panel. The event was opened by Professor K.K. Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, with several senior academics and researchers from universities, polytechnics, and other institutions in Ghana and Nigeria in attendance. There was also a significant level of attendance by senior construction practitioners in Ghana. Thank you to the School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, UK for funding the inaugural event in 2009. We are also grateful to all of you who helped to make the event a success and to those of you who have joined us here today to build upon the success and legacy of WABER 2009. Waber 2010 This year, we have 60+ peer-reviewed papers and presentations on topics relating to Building services and maintenance, Construction costs, Construction design and technology, Construction education, Construction finance, Construction procurement, Contract administration, Contract management, Contractor development, Decision support systems, Dispute resolution, Economic development, Energy efficiency, Environment and sustainability, Health and safety, Human resources, Information technology, Marketing, Materials science, Organisation strategy and business performance, Productivity, Project management, Quantity surveying, Real estate and planning, Solar energy systems, Supply chain management and Urban development. We hope that these papers will generate interest among delagates and stimulate discussion here and beyond the conference into the wider community of academia and industry. The delegates at this conference come from 10 different countries. This provides a rich international and multicultural blend and a perfect platform for networking and developing collaborations. This year we are blessed to have three high profile keynote speakers in the persons of Professor George Ofori (National University of Singapore), Dr Roine Leiringer (University of Reading, UK) and Professor Will Hughes (University of Reading, UK). We are also thankful to Dr Chris Harty (University of Reading, UK) who is facilitating the Research Skills Workshop on ‘Writing a scientific article’. Thank you to Dr Sena Agyepong of our conference organising team for her capable management of local organising arrangements. And above all, thank you to all of you for coming to this conference. Enjoy and have a safe journey back home. Dr Samuel Laryea School of Construction Management and Engineering University of Reading, July 201

Next Generation Management of Organizational Performance

Managers must aspire to understand their organization in a way that allows them to take appropriate actions when necessary and to be able to utilize tools which encourage the organization to behave in a desirable way. The field of performance management deals with these objectives and is becoming increasingly pervasive. However, the author’s personal experience and substantial scholarship suggest that performance management is linked to dysfunctional behavior in organizations. Various current explanations for the link between measurement and dysfunction revolve around observability or knowledge of the transformation process, but seem simplistic and inadequate. This work examines measurement as one representational form out of many others, for example text. It is proposed that the representational form used in performance management practice is implicated with dysfunctional behavior. This demands an exploration of the relevant facets of organizational reality which influence the relationship with various representational forms. After a theoretical positioning, the relationship is explored empirically through onsite visits at two Microsoft Corporation locations in Copenhagen and Redmond. Thirty stories of performance management, based on interviews with senior managers, are presented. The stories provide the basis for establishing a rich understanding of organizational reality and the implications of using various representational forms in terms of dysfunctional behavior. These implications lead to a fundamental rethinking of the form and boundaries of performance management theory and practice, and emphasize the need for a multi-paradigmatic approach to performance management, which is presented