452 research outputs found
A systematic review of the application of multi-criteria decision-making in evaluating nationally determined contribution projects
Analyses in the past decade and more recently, catastrophic events, including extreme temperatures, un-
predictable weather patterns, floods, and wildfires caused by climate change, have become too common
worldwide. There is overwhelming evidence that country commitments expressed in National Determined
Contributions (NDCs) can contribute to stabilising or reversing the course of impacts of climate change. With
the multiplicity of NDC measures, compounded by their complexities and limited resources, multi-criteria
decision-making tools can be used in making informed decisions about their development. Furthermore, while
many countries are blessed with an abundance of sustainable resources and technologies to feed into NDCs, a
major challenge is prioritising them as part of the national and global climate change mitigation and adaptation
agenda. Many multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and tools have been developed over the years.
However, their implementation in practice for prioritising NDC measures is still not well-known despite
their high acceptance in academic literature. This study adopts a systematic review of the peer-reviewed
literature from the Web of Science and grey literature from the recently launched Technology Needs Assessment
database to fully understand the MCDM tools used in evaluating NDC projects from academic versus practice
perspectives. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method
adopted, culminated in the identification of 464 peer-reviewed journal articles and 50 TNA reports used in
the analysis. The results indicate amongst the many MCDM techniques in peer-reviewed literature, Analytic
Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the most widely used in research, while simplified MCDM methods are the most
used in practice
Analysis of the digital platform economy around the world: a network DEA model for identifying policy priorities
This study evaluates the quality of the digital platform economy at the global scale by employing a network model rooted in nonparametric linear techniques (data envelopment analysis) on a sample of 116 countries for 2019. The proposed model is in accordance with the geographic diversity (country heterogeneity) and the multilayered structure characterizing the interactions between system participants: governments, digital platforms, platform-dependent firms, and end users. The core findings indicate that the configuration of countries’ platform economy is very heterogeneous, which suggests that an informed, tailor-made approach to policy might produce more effective outcomes. Policies aimed at enhancing the digital platform economy should emerge from the analysis of its main factors if the development of a strategy seeking qualitative improvements in the system is the desired goal.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
The assessment of the relationship between information technology (IT) and airport performance
The evolution of the airport business is demonstrated by airports that are adopting
new business strategies and commercial models, which allow them to be, for
example, service providers instead of real-estate managers, with the focus on
cost reduction and increasing non-aeronautical (commercial) revenues.
Information technology (IT) can be used by airports to achieve their business
goals, such as enhancing performance by delivering cost reductions and
generating additional revenue streams.
Airports operate in an increasingly competitive and dynamic market, with the aim
of attracting a larger share of hub traffic from neighbouring airports. Therefore,
financial and operational performance will be key elements for airlines when
choosing a new airport destination.
The research shows that airports are more focused on passenger satisfaction,
resulting in airport performance indicators that have the passenger at its
operational core and performance targets (e.g. Airport Service Quality passenger
satisfaction survey). IT plays an important role in increasing airport performance
through the automation of processes such as the deployment of common-use
check-in desks and self-service check-in kiosks. Studies of other industries have
shown evidence that IT impacts firm performance, but there have been few
studies related to the airport industry.
Thus, the aim of this research is to assess the relationship between IT and airport
performance, and it proposes a conceptual framework to assess the relationship
between IT and airport performance by drawing from studies in other industries.
Two methodologies were used in this research, the first one was the case study,
and the second one was the online survey. The case studies consisted of 16 faceto-
face interviews with senior staff representing two airports in Asia, one airport
in Australia, and one airport in Europe. The case studies result show that there is
a relationship between IT and airport performance ... [cont.]
The assessment of the relationship between information technology (IT) and airport performance
The evolution of the airport business is demonstrated by airports that are adopting
new business strategies and commercial models, which allow them to be, for
example, service providers instead of real-estate managers, with the focus on
cost reduction and increasing non-aeronautical (commercial) revenues.
Information technology (IT) can be used by airports to achieve their business
goals, such as enhancing performance by delivering cost reductions and
generating additional revenue streams.
Airports operate in an increasingly competitive and dynamic market, with the aim
of attracting a larger share of hub traffic from neighbouring airports. Therefore,
financial and operational performance will be key elements for airlines when
choosing a new airport destination.
The research shows that airports are more focused on passenger satisfaction,
resulting in airport performance indicators that have the passenger at its
operational core and performance targets (e.g. Airport Service Quality passenger
satisfaction survey). IT plays an important role in increasing airport performance
through the automation of processes such as the deployment of common-use
check-in desks and self-service check-in kiosks. Studies of other industries have
shown evidence that IT impacts firm performance, but there have been few
studies related to the airport industry.
Thus, the aim of this research is to assess the relationship between IT and airport
performance, and it proposes a conceptual framework to assess the relationship
between IT and airport performance by drawing from studies in other industries.
Two methodologies were used in this research, the first one was the case study,
and the second one was the online survey. The case studies consisted of 16 faceto-
face interviews with senior staff representing two airports in Asia, one airport
in Australia, and one airport in Europe. The case studies result show that there is
a relationship between IT and airport performance ... [cont.]
Sustainable Assessment in Supply Chain and Infrastructure Management
In the competitive business environment or public domain, the sustainability assessment in supply chain and infrastructure management are important for any organization. Organizations are currently striving to improve their sustainable strategies through preparedness, response, and recovery because of increasing competitiveness, community, and regulatory pressure. Thus, it is necessary to develop a meaningful and more focused understanding of sustainability in supply chain management and infrastructure management practices. In the context of a supply chain, sustainability implies that companies identify, assess, and manage impacts and risks in all the echelons of the supply chain, considering downstream and upstream activities. Similarly, the sustainable infrastructure management indicates the ability of infrastructure to meet the requirements of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to address their needs. The complexities regarding sustainable supply chain and infrastructure management have driven managers and professionals to seek different solutions. This Special Issue aims to provide readers with the most recent research results on the aforementioned subjects. In addition, it offers some solutions and also raises some questions for further research and development toward sustainable supply chain and infrastructure management
An integrated project evaluation tool for public-private partnership projects
The evaluation of a large infrastructure project is a critical activity for bidders and
governments under traditional procurement or through Public Private Partnership. When
a project requires huge capital investment, public-private partnership (PPP) is often
sought as an alternative in cases of shortage of public funds. Nevertheless, the
complexity of the PPP arrangement has constituted a dilemma for government
authorities to balance the interests between the public and the private parties
(stakeholders). High capital burdens in terms of PPP bidding cost, construction cost, and
operation and maintenance cost are part of the major challenges for private sponsors to
get involved in PPP projects. Meanwhile, PPP scheme projects, believed to deliver
better value for money, have been criticised by many as the product of highest influence
level from either political patronage or corporate political power.
There is an apparent need for a tool to help the government agency evaluate the delivery
of value for money on PPP projects while still sustaining the interests of private parties.
The aim of this research is to assist government agencies in evaluating bids and making
decision efficiently for PPP seaport development projects through the use of an
integrated project evaluation tool (IPET). A computer (MS excel program) based tool
was developed to evaluate the project financial viability and negotiate the risk sharing
mechanism of PPP Seaport Project at five different project stages. The stakeholders’
expectations, financial indicators, financial risks, and mitigation measures are
considered and developed into the following modules: (1) Financial viability module;
(2) Financial risk analysis module; and (3) Financial risk mitigation module.
A triangulation strategy was justified with caution due to the possibility of error. A
qualitative method (i.e. literature review and interview to explore stakeholders’
expectation and preferred indicators of PPP financial models) was undertaken prior to
performing a quantitative technique (i.e. questionnaire survey to narrow down the
preliminary findings). Then, the proposed tool was validated by comparing the results
with secondary data and interviewing experts regarding their opinion on its
applicability.
The findings from the statistical analysis indicate that an efficient negotiation is possible
if: (1) PPP financial models were used at the pre-proposal stage to examine the project’s
ability in generating enough cash flow; (2) All stakeholders know the most important
expectations and the most preferred financial indicators of other stakeholders; and (3)
IRR, NPV, Revenue, Operating Cost, and Principal Payback are not considered as the
only financial indicators for evaluating PPP projects. By knowing the mutual agreement
among stakeholders, any conflicting expectations can also be identified early and it may
be possible to accommodate such expectations in the negotiation process.
The IPET has been confirmed that it has several implications: (1) possibility to facilitate
an efficient negotiation and effective evaluation process; (2) applicability in evaluating
PPP seaport projects; and (3) potentially to be extended to other sectors. However, the
IPET is designed to be used with financial model, hence it will require an actual PPP
financial model
Modelling Coastal Vulnerability: An integrated approach to coastal management using Earth Observation techniques in Belize
This thesis presents an adapted method to derive coastal vulnerability through the application of Earth Observation (EO) data in the quantification of forcing variables. A modelled assessment for vulnerability has been produced using the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) approach developed by Gornitz (1991) and enhanced using Machine learning (ML) clustering. ML has been employed to divide the coastline based on the geotechnical conditions observed to establish relative vulnerability. This has been demonstrated to alleviate bias and enhanced the scalability of the approach – especially in areas with poor data coverage – a known hinderance to the CVI approach (Koroglu et al., 2019).Belize provides a demonstrator for this novel methodology due to limited existing data coverage and the recent removal of the Mesoamerican Reef from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) List of World Heritage In Danger. A strong characterization of the coastal zone and associated pressures is paramount to support effective management and enhance resilience to ensure this status is retained.Areas of consistent vulnerability have been identified using the KMeans classifier; predominantly Caye Caulker and San Pedro. The ability to automatically scale to conditions in Belize has demonstrated disparities to vulnerability along the coastline and has provided more realistic estimates than the traditional CVI groups. Resulting vulnerability assessments have indicated that 19% of the coastline at the highest risk with a seaward distribution to high risk observed. Using data derived using Sentinel-2, this study has also increased the accuracy of existing habitat maps and enhanced survey coverage of uncharted areas.Results from this investigation have been situated within the ability to enhance community resilience through supporting regional policies. Further research should be completed to test the robust nature of this model through an application in regions with different geographic conditions and with higher resolution input datasets
A decision support framework for sustainable supply chain management
Sustainable Supply Chain Management has become a topic of increased importance within the research domain. There is a greater need than ever before for companies to be able to assess and make informed decisions about their sustainability in the Supply Chains. There is a proliferation of research about its understanding and how to implement it in practice. This is mainly since sustainability has been assessed from various disciplines, organizational industries and organizational functional silos . There is a lack of comprehension, unified definition and appropriate implementation of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), leading to failure in decision making for sustainability implementation within supply chains.
The proposed research identifies the research gaps through the novel application of Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA) to SSCM literature. In doing so, methods including Systematic Literature Review (SLR), Citation Network Analysis (CNA) and Citation Network Mapping of literature have been used to identify definitions, KPIs, barriers and drivers of SSCM from the literature. Furthermore, a combination of methods from Text Mining and Content Analysis has been used to identify KPIs, barriers and drivers from sustainability reports of top global manufacturing companies, to better understand the practices of organizations for SSCM.
The consolidation of the findings from literature and practice led to the development of an SSCM Performance Evaluation Framework built on multiple methods. A 4-level hierarchical model has been developed by classifying the identified KPIs into Economic, Environment and Social as well as considering the key decision areas including tactical, strategic and operational.
Furthermore, a rigorous data collection process was conducted among supply chain and sustainability managers from top global manufacturing firms and leading academicians in the field, assessing the identified SSCM KPIs. The collected data were analyzed through novel application of hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods, which includes Values Focused Thinking (VFT), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (FAHP), Fuzzy Technique of Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) and Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM), for prioritizing and modelling of interdependencies, interactions and weightages among SSCM KPIs.
The results obtained were subsequently used to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) that allows managers to evaluate their sustainability by identifying problem areas and yielding guidance on the KPIS and most important areas to focus on for SSCM implementation. The application of DSS has been demonstrated in the context of a case company. From a theoretical development point of view, a Tree perspective framework contributing to the ecological Theory of Sustainability has been proposed through the identification of the most influential organizational theories, and how they interrelate with each other.
Overall, the proposed research provides a holistic perspective of SSCM that incorporates the various aspects of organizations, relevant organizational theories and perspectives of academics and practitioners together. The proposed DSS may act as a guiding tool for managers and practitioners for SSCM implementation in companies
A strategic decision support tool for shipyard production performance evaluation and support in budgeting for performance improvement
This research has been motivated by a demand from industry for an efficient decision support tool for shipyards to select and implement the right performance improvement strategies that fit the nature of their own business. This research project has developed a strategic approach, named shipyard production performance management (SPPM), to support shipyards to optimise their performance management strategy. The key functionalities of the algorithm include performance evaluation and budget optimisation for planning the improvement activities. SPPM is designed to evaluate the production performance using an advanced approach based on Key Performance Indicator (KPI) principles. The production performance of the shipyard is reviewed comprehensively from seven aspects, including Health and Safety, economic, environmental, technical, human resource, security and supply chain management. In total, there are 30 KPIs with their calculation details defined to measure the performance from these perspectives. Accordingly, the hotspots can be identified to prioritise the focus for the future improvement. This is not only to select the suitable emerging technology, but also to determine the capital investment required for such activities. How to optimise the budget for performance improvement then becomes the next question for which the shipyards need to find a solution. The budget optimisation function in SPPM has two functions named Performance Based Budgeting (PBB) and
Budget Allocation Optimisation (BAO). PBB defines the total budget required with its allocation via adopting the framework of Cooperate Performance Management (CPM), while BAO applies when the total available fund is restricted. Depending on the decision context and data availability, the BAO can be performed by different calculation methods, including multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), utility theory and mathematical programming, for which procedures have been developed in this research. The development of SPPM is supported by a comprehensive knowledge-based that contains various well-established theories and models, practical experience shared by
shipyards as well as numerous relevant researches in the field. More than just direct usage of this knowledge base, SPPM is the extension and combination of various existing theories or the application of these theories in new fields. Benefited from involvement of the shipyards, the developed algorithm has strong practicality, which has been developed
as the extracted essence from intensive researches, taking into account of usefulness in measuring performance of each PPI, the data availability of the input parameters, and the level of acceptability and comprehensibility of the algorithm for users, etc. SPPM evaluate the production performance from multiple angles, such as technical, socioeconomics, sustainability, collaboration with third parties, and all the supportive and administrative activities at the shipyard, etc., and provide step-by-step instruction for the assessment. Besides, this tool has also provided the function that allows centralised performance data management. To sum up from the points above, the SPPM is an innovative and advanced strategic approach that can provide valuable support for the shipyard production performance management.This research has been motivated by a demand from industry for an efficient decision support tool for shipyards to select and implement the right performance improvement strategies that fit the nature of their own business. This research project has developed a strategic approach, named shipyard production performance management (SPPM), to support shipyards to optimise their performance management strategy. The key functionalities of the algorithm include performance evaluation and budget optimisation for planning the improvement activities. SPPM is designed to evaluate the production performance using an advanced approach based on Key Performance Indicator (KPI) principles. The production performance of the shipyard is reviewed comprehensively from seven aspects, including Health and Safety, economic, environmental, technical, human resource, security and supply chain management. In total, there are 30 KPIs with their calculation details defined to measure the performance from these perspectives. Accordingly, the hotspots can be identified to prioritise the focus for the future improvement. This is not only to select the suitable emerging technology, but also to determine the capital investment required for such activities. How to optimise the budget for performance improvement then becomes the next question for which the shipyards need to find a solution. The budget optimisation function in SPPM has two functions named Performance Based Budgeting (PBB) and
Budget Allocation Optimisation (BAO). PBB defines the total budget required with its allocation via adopting the framework of Cooperate Performance Management (CPM), while BAO applies when the total available fund is restricted. Depending on the decision context and data availability, the BAO can be performed by different calculation methods, including multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), utility theory and mathematical programming, for which procedures have been developed in this research. The development of SPPM is supported by a comprehensive knowledge-based that contains various well-established theories and models, practical experience shared by
shipyards as well as numerous relevant researches in the field. More than just direct usage of this knowledge base, SPPM is the extension and combination of various existing theories or the application of these theories in new fields. Benefited from involvement of the shipyards, the developed algorithm has strong practicality, which has been developed
as the extracted essence from intensive researches, taking into account of usefulness in measuring performance of each PPI, the data availability of the input parameters, and the level of acceptability and comprehensibility of the algorithm for users, etc. SPPM evaluate the production performance from multiple angles, such as technical, socioeconomics, sustainability, collaboration with third parties, and all the supportive and administrative activities at the shipyard, etc., and provide step-by-step instruction for the assessment. Besides, this tool has also provided the function that allows centralised performance data management. To sum up from the points above, the SPPM is an innovative and advanced strategic approach that can provide valuable support for the shipyard production performance management
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