11,183 research outputs found
An intelligent recommendation system framework for student relationship management
In order to enhance student satisfaction, many services have been provided in order to meet student needs. A recommendation system is a significant service which can be used to assist students in several ways. This paper proposes a conceptual framework of an Intelligent Recommendation System in order to support Student Relationship Management (SRM) for a Thai private university. This article proposed the system architecture of an Intelligent Recommendation System (IRS) which aims to assist students to choose an appropriate course for their studies. Moreover, this study intends to compare different data mining techniques in various recommendation systems and to determine appropriate algorithms for the proposed electronic Intelligent Recommendation System (IRS). The IRS also aims to support Student Relationship Management (SRM) in the university. The IRS has been designed using data mining and artificial intelligent techniques such as clustering, association rule and classification
Determining rules for closing customer service centers: A public utility company's fuzzy decision
In the present work, we consider the general problem of knowledge acquisition under uncertainty. A commonly used method is to learn by examples. We observe how the expert solves specific cases and from this infer some rules by which the decision was made. Unique to this work is the fuzzy set representation of the conditions or attributes upon which the decision make may base his fuzzy set decision. From our examples, we infer certain and possible rules containing fuzzy terms. It should be stressed that the procedure determines how closely the expert follows the conditions under consideration in making his decision. We offer two examples pertaining to the possible decision to close a customer service center of a public utility company. In the first example, the decision maker does not follow too closely the conditions. In the second example, the conditions are much more relevant to the decision of the expert
Mapping customer needs to engineering characteristics: an aerospace perspective for conceptual design
Designing complex engineering systems, such as an aircraft or an aero-engine, is immensely challenging. Formal Systems Engineering (SE) practices are widely used in the aerospace industry throughout the overall design process to minimise the overall design effort, corrective re-work, and ultimately overall development and manufacturing costs. Incorporating the needs and requirements from customers and other stakeholders into the conceptual and early design process is vital for the success and viability of any development programme. This paper presents a formal methodology, the Value-Driven Design (VDD) methodology that has been developed for collaborative and iterative use in the Extended Enterprise (EE) within the aerospace industry, and that has been applied using the Concept Design Analysis (CODA) method to map captured Customer Needs (CNs) into Engineering Characteristics (ECs) and to model an overall ‘design merit’ metric to be used in design assessments, sensitivity analyses, and engineering design optimisation studies. Two different case studies with increasing complexity are presented to elucidate the application areas of the CODA method in the context of the VDD methodology for the EE within the aerospace secto
Multi-agent knowledge integration mechanism using particle swarm optimization
This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.Unstructured group decision-making is burdened with several central difficulties: unifying the knowledge of multiple experts in an unbiased manner and computational inefficiencies. In addition, a proper means of storing such unified knowledge for later use has not yet been established. Storage difficulties stem from of the integration of the logic underlying multiple experts' decision-making processes and the structured quantification of the impact of each opinion on the final product. To address these difficulties, this paper proposes a novel approach called the multiple agent-based knowledge integration mechanism (MAKIM), in which a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) is used as a knowledge representation and storage vehicle. In this approach, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO) to adjust causal relationships and causality coefficients from the perspective of global optimization. Once an optimized FCM is constructed an agent based model (ABM) is applied to the inference of the FCM to solve real world problem. The final aggregate knowledge is stored in FCM form and is used to produce proper inference results for other target problems. To test the validity of our approach, we applied MAKIM to a real-world group decision-making problem, an IT project risk assessment, and found MAKIM to be statistically robust.Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Korea
A methodology for the selection of new technologies in the aviation industry
The purpose of this report is to present a technology selection methodology to
quantify both tangible and intangible benefits of certain technology
alternatives within a fuzzy environment. Specifically, it describes an
application of the theory of fuzzy sets to hierarchical structural analysis and
economic evaluations for utilisation in the industry. The report proposes a
complete methodology to accurately select new technologies. A computer based
prototype model has been developed to handle the more complex fuzzy
calculations. Decision-makers are only required to express their opinions on
comparative importance of various factors in linguistic terms rather than exact
numerical values. These linguistic variable scales, such as ‘very high’, ‘high’,
‘medium’, ‘low’ and ‘very low’, are then converted into fuzzy numbers, since it
becomes more meaningful to quantify a subjective measurement into a range rather
than in an exact value. By aggregating the hierarchy, the preferential weight of
each alternative technology is found, which is called fuzzy appropriate index.
The fuzzy appropriate indices of different technologies are then ranked and
preferential ranking orders of technologies are found. From the economic
evaluation perspective, a fuzzy cash flow analysis is employed. This deals
quantitatively with imprecision or uncertainties, as the cash flows are modelled
as triangular fuzzy numbers which represent ‘the most likely possible value’,
‘the most pessimistic value’ and ‘the most optimistic value’. By using this
methodology, the ambiguities involved in the assessment data can be effectively
represented and processed to assure a more convincing and effective decision-
making process when selecting new technologies in which to invest. The prototype
model was validated with a case study within the aviation industry that ensured
it was properly configured to meet the
Class Association Rules Mining based Rough Set Method
This paper investigates the mining of class association rules with rough set
approach. In data mining, an association occurs between two set of elements
when one element set happen together with another. A class association rule set
(CARs) is a subset of association rules with classes specified as their
consequences. We present an efficient algorithm for mining the finest class
rule set inspired form Apriori algorithm, where the support and confidence are
computed based on the elementary set of lower approximation included in the
property of rough set theory. Our proposed approach has been shown very
effective, where the rough set approach for class association discovery is much
simpler than the classic association method.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
A weighted rough set based fuzzy axiomatic design approach for the selection of AM processes
Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing, as an enabling technology for mass customization or personalization, has been developed rapidly in recent years. Various design tools, materials, machines and service bureaus can be found in the market. Clearly, the choices are abundant, but users can be easily confused as to which AM process they should use. This paper first reviews the existing multi-attribute decision-making methods for AM process selection and assesses their suitability with regard to two aspects, preference rating flexibility and performance evaluation objectivity. We propose that an approach that is capable of handling incomplete attribute information and objective assessment within inherent data has advantages over other approaches. Based on this proposition, this paper proposes a weighted preference graph method for personalized preference evaluation and a rough set based fuzzy axiomatic design approach for performance evaluation and the selection of appropriate AM processes. An example based on the previous research work of AM machine selection is given to validate its robustness for the priori articulation of AM process selection decision support
Deriving consensus rankings via multicriteria decision making methodology
Purpose - This paper seeks to take a cautionary stance to the impact of the
marketing mix on customer satisfaction, via a case study deriving consensus
rankings for benchmarking on selected retail stores in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach - The ELECTRE I model is used in deriving
consensus rankings via multicriteria decision making method for benchmarking
base on the marketing mix model 4P's. Descriptive analysis is used to analyze
best practice among the four marketing tactics.
Findings - Outranking methods in consequence constitute a strong base on
which to found the entire structure of the behavioral theory of benchmarking
applied to development of marketing strategy.
Research limitations/implications - This study looks only at a limited part
of the puzzle of how consumer satisfaction translates into behavioral outcomes.
Practical implications - The study provides managers with guidance on how to
generate a rough outline of potential marketing activities that can be used to
take advantage of capabilities and convert weaknesses and threats.
Originality/value - The paper interestingly portrays the effective usage of
multicriteria decision-making and ranking method to help marketing managers
predict their marketing trends
A Simulation Model for Strategic Planning In Asset Management of Electricity Distribution Network
Asset management of electricity distribution network is required in
order to improve the network reliability so as to reduce electricity energy
distribution losses. Due to strategic asset management requires long-term
predictions; it would require a simulation model. Simulation of asset
management is an approach to predict the consequences of long-term financing
on maintenance and renewal strategies in electrical energy distribution
networks. In this research, the simulation method used is System Dynamics
based on consideration that this method enables us to consider internal and
external influenced factors. To obtain the model parameter, we utilized PLN
Pamekasan for the case study. The results showed the reduction of low voltage
network assets condition on average in the range 6% per year, the average
decline in the transformer condition is approximately 6.6% per year, and the
average decline in the condition of medium voltage network assets is
approximately 4.4% per year. In general, the average technical losses average
of 1,359,981.60 KWH / month or about 16,319,779.24 KWH / year
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