Multiple Attribute Strategic Weight Manipulation With Minimum Cost in a Group Decision Making Context With Interval Attribute Weights Information

Abstract—In multiple attribute decision making (MADM), strategic weight manipulation is understood as a deliberate manipulation of attribute weight setting to achieve a desired ranking of alternatives. In this paper, we study the strategic weight manipulation in a group decision making (GDM) context with interval attribute weight information. In GDM, the revision of the decision makers’ original attribute weight information implies a cost. Driven by a desire to minimize the cost, we propose the minimum cost strategic weight manipulation model, which is achieved via optimization approach, with the mixed 0-1 linear programming model being proved appropriate in this context. Meanwhile, some desired properties to manipulate a strategic attribute weight based on the ranking range under interval attribute weight information are proposed. Finally, numerical analysis and simulation experiments are provided with a twofold aim: 1) to verify the validity of the proposed models and 2) to show the effects of interval attribute weights information and the unit cost, respectively, on the cost to manipulate strategic weights in the MADM in a group decision context.This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation of China under Grant 71571124, Grant 71871149, and Grant 71601133; in part by Sichuan University under Grant sksyl201705 and Grant 2018hhs-58; and in part by FEDER Funds under Grant TIN2016- 75850-R

GREEDY SINGLE USER AND FAIR MULTIPLE USERS REPLICA SELECTION DECISION IN DATA GRID

Replication in data grids increases data availability, accessibility and reliability. Replicas of datasets are usually distributed to different sites, and the choice of any replica locations has a significant impact. Replica selection algorithms decide the best replica places based on some criteria. To this end, a family of efficient replica selection systems has been proposed (RsDGrid). The problem presented in this thesis is how to select the best replica location that achieve less time, higher QoS, consistency with users' preferences and almost equal users' satisfactions. RsDGrid consists of three systems: A-system, D-system, and M-system. Each of them has its own scope and specifications. RsDGrid switches among these systems according to the decision maker

How Kano’s Performance Mediates Perceived SERVQUAL Impact on Kansei

Through Kansei Engineering (KE) methodology in services, the perceived service quality shows a direct impact on Kansei response. In order to strengthen the KE methodology, Kano model is embedded considering the attractive [A] and one-dimensional [O] performances. However, to what extent the Kano performance brings significant impact on Kansei is questionable and has not been explored yet. It is beneficial to measure the effort spent to improve a certain service attribute, considering the Kano performance and its impact on Kansei. This study on logistics services confirms that the Kano’s attractive category [A] shows the highest impact on Kansei (with loading of 0.502), followed by one-dimensional [O] and must-be [M] ones (with loadings of 0.514 and 0.507), respectively. The service provider should prioritize Kano’s [A] service attributes first for improvement. Keywords - Kano, logistics services, Kansei, SERVQUA

Investigation into the "Fun" Aspect of Family Vacations

Families have been traveling for vacations for decades, with the motive to have fun and enjoy themselves. However academic literature has sparsely delved into the meaning of fun and examined its components. This study examined the concept of fun in a family vacation context. Specifically it aimed to understand if fun led to increased collective family on-the-spot behavior, which, in turn led to increased life satisfaction and greater identification with the collective identity of the family in terms of values and beliefs. The study also investigated whether fun can directly influence life satisfaction and family identity. A quantitative approach using a survey is was employed in this study. The results of the study suggested that when it came to family vacation travelers, destination managers should focus on aspects of fun that lead to greater familial togetherness and life satisfaction. By catering to the needs of the family to bond and feel togetherness, destination managers can likely benefit from higher customer satisfaction and possibly more future loyalty from the families that travel for a vacation

Development of an Efficient Planned Maintenance Framework for Marine and Offshore Machinery Operating under Highly Uncertain Environment

The constantly increasing complexity of marine and offshore machinery is a consequence of a constant improvement in ship powering, automation, specialisation in cargo transport, new ship types, as well as an effort to make the sea transport more economic. Therefore, the criteria of reliability, availability and maintainability have become very important factors in the process of marine machinery design, operation and maintenance. An important finding from the literature exposed that failure to marine machinery can cause both direct and indirect economic damage with a long-term financial consequence. Notably, many cases of machinery failures reported in databases were as a result of near misses and incidents which are potential accident indicators. Moreover, experience has shown that modelling of past accident events and scenarios can provide insights into how a machinery failure can be subsisted even if it is not avoidable, also a basis for risk analysis of the machinery in order to reveal its vulnerabilities. This research investigates the following modelling approach in order to improve the efficiency of marine and offshore machinery operating under highly uncertain environment. Firstly, this study makes full use of evidential reasoning’s advantage to propose a novel fuzzy evidential reasoning sensitivity analysis method (FER-SAM) to facilitate the assessment of operational uncertainties (trend analysis, family analysis, environmental analysis, design analysis, and human reliability analysis) in ship cranes. Secondly, a fuzzy rule based sensitivity analysis methodology is proposed as a maintenance prediction model for oil-wetted gearbox and bearing with emphasis on ship cranes by formulating a fuzzy logic box (diagnostic table), which provides the ship crane operators with a means to predict possible impending failure without having to dismantle the crane. Thirdly, experience has shown that it is not financially possible to employ all the suggested maintenance strategies in the literature. Thus, this study proposed a fuzzy TOPSIS approach that can help the maintenance engineers to select appropriate strategies aimed at enhancing the performance of the marine and offshore machinery. Finally, the developed models are integrated in order to facilitate a generic planned maintenance framework for robust improvement and management, especially in situations where conventional planned maintenance techniques cannot be implemented with confidence due to data deficiency

THE INFLUENCE OF ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON GROCERY SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR IN THE UK

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/741 on 28.02.2017 by CS (TIS)Consumption as an aspect of most people's lives in affluent societies is widely acknowledged as having become increasingly important (Newholm, 2005). We consume more, and consume more often, than previous generations (Durning, 1992) meaning the actions we make and the decisions we take have greater impact than ever before on the world we inhabit. For many their involvement with consumption goes beyond the act of purchase (Oilman, 1998) to include complex ethical dimensions. The relationship between ethics and social responsibility (E&SR) and consumption choices has received growing attention over recent years, resulting in the topic of 'sustainable consumption' becoming a central focus for national and international policy (Jackson, 2005). Yet a review of the pertinent literature in the fields of E&SR, consumer behaviour and shopping motives uncovers the limitations of existing E&SR research in relation to grocery shopping activities. What E&SR factors influence consumers' grocery shopping choice decisions and behaviour? How important are they when compared to traditional store image and product attribute criteria? How do attitudes influence E&SR grocery consumption? Who are the E&SR buyer types and how may they be differentiated and segmented? This thesis sets out to address these questions and comprises the results of, and reflections on, an investigation into grocery shopping behaviour in the South West of England. It consists of three stages: a literature review; a series of exploratory focus group interviews; and a confirmatory quantitative study. Content, factor, multiple regression and cluster analysis find: shopping motivations vary according to two facts I) the shopping consideration (store to patronise, product to purchase), and 2) the shopping occasion (main shop, top-up shop); differences occur in the importance of E&SR issues and traditional elements of store image/product attribute depending on the shopping activity; attitudes, perceived behavioural control and ethical obligation are linked to E&SR behaviour with differences in the importance of E&SR concerns meaning that E&SR shoppers are not a homogenous group. Results enable a preliminary typology of E&SR grocery shopping concerns to be derived and a range of E&SR consumer types to be proposed. This insight offers a far more complex market that has hitherto been recognised. Motivating E&SR behaviour is far from straight forward due to dissonance occurring in decision-making as consumers try to balance traditional retail aspects with their E&SR beliefs, so finding themselves 'locked in' to non-E&SR behaviours in spite of their best intentions. In these circumstances strategies are required to make it easy for consumers to behave in an E&SR manner: ensuring access to information that aids and encourages pro-E&SR behaviour, highlighting non-financial E&SR behaviours, and for Government to exemplify the desired changes through their own policies and practices