Applying FCM to Predict the Behaviour of Loyal Customers in the Mobile Telecommunications Industry

Using empirical data from the Kuwaiti mobile telecommunications sector, this study models a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) to investigate the reciprocal effects of customer loyalty and its antecedents in an emerging market context. This study investigates the effect of perceived service quality, perceived service value and brand equity on customer loyalty and the simultaneous analysis of the reverse causality of these variables. Data pertaining to 350 subscribers were analysed. According to the results, the model reaches the equilibrium when brand equity and customer loyalty are increased and reach an optimal level. Based on these findings, the authors provide implications for managers in the mobile telecom industry

Sustainable and agile manufacturing outsourcing partner selection: a literature review

[EN] Outsourcing to third party to manage non-core activities helps the firm to focus on core activities. Manufacturing firms are outsourcing product development, manufacturing, logistics, customer care etc. to enhance production capacity and flexibility, and to reduce operational costs, which in turn can improve profitability and competitive advantage of the enterprise. Sustainability in operations and supply chain is gaining momentum due to increased global environmental concern, pressures from consumers and communities, and enforced regulations. Volatile and uncertain business environment necessitates the adoption of agility and flexibility to effectively manage manufacturing and supply chain. Globalisation has made the market very competitive and hence manufacturing firms are adopting manufacturing outsourcing to third parties. Selecting a sustainable and agile manufacturing outsourcing partner (MPS) is crucial as it will improve sustainability, efficiency, and effectiveness of the supply chain and competitive advantage to the firm. Detailed literature review on sustainable and agile manufacturing outsourcing partner selection has been carried out from EBSCO data base and Goggle scholar. Selection criteria used are classified into agile, operational, economic, environmental and social. The techniques use are mostly multi criteria decision making methods (MCDM) while few have adopted programming techniques. Discussion, implication and the scope of future work is also provided.Akhtar, M. (2022). Sustainable and agile manufacturing outsourcing partner selection: a literature review. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 10(2):143-158. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2022.1680714315810

REGIONAL AIRCRAFT SELECTION WITH FUZZY PIPRECIA AND FUZZY MARCOS: A CASE STUDY OF THE TURKISH AIRLINE INDUSTRY

Aircraft selection is an important issue in achieving long-term goals in the airline industry. For this issue in which multiple conflicting criteria are involved, the extant literature points to the use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. In this respect, this study aims to propose a systematic and comprehensive framework with a focus on the regional aircraft selection perspective. To achieve this, an integrated fuzzy Pivot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment (F-PIPRECIA) and fuzzy Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution (F-MARCOS) approach was employed. In this study, in which six regional aircraft alternatives were evaluated according to 14 criteria, data were collected from five decision experts. As a result, it was found that the most pivotal criterion is C33 (Operational Cost), and the least important criterion is C12 (NOx). In addition, CRJ1000 was identified as the most promising regional aircraft alternative. The results of the application were further validated by applying a three-stage sensitivity analysis. The proposed structure is anticipated to assist airline managers in aircraft selection decisions under uncertainty by offering a robust and systematic tool

Modelling business and management systems using Fuzzy cognitive maps: A critical overview

A critical overview of modelling Business and Management (B&M) Systems using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps is presented. A limited but illustrative number of specific applications of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps in diverse B&M systems, such as e business, performance assessment, decision making, human resources management, planning and investment decision making processes is provided and briefly analyzed. The limited survey is given in a table with statics of using FCMs in B&M systems during the last 15 years. The limited survey shows that the applications of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps to today’s Business and Management studies has been steadily increased especially during the last 5-6 years. Interesting conclusions and future research directions are highlighted

Modelling business and management systems using Fuzzy cognitive maps: A critical overview

A critical overview of modelling Business and Management (B&M) Systems using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps is presented. A limited but illustrative number of specific applications of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps in diverse B&M systems, such as e business, performance assessment, decision making, human resources management, planning and investment decision making processes is provided and briefly analyzed. The limited survey is given in a table with statics of using FCMs in B&M systems during the last 15 years. The limited survey shows that the applications of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps to today’s Business and Management studies has been steadily increased especially during the last 5-6 years. Interesting conclusions and future research directions are highlighted

Accounting Employees’ Behavioral Variables and Firm Performance: Evidence from Turkish Eastern Blacksea Region Companies

The purpose of this paper is to analyze interpersonal relationships of accounting employees affecting the effectiveness of firms’ performance. For this purpose, a structural equation model was adopted from Kang et al. (2004) and was tested. A questionnary was distributed to 187 companies’ accounting departments from Blacksea region of Turkiye which are choosen with arbitrary sampling method from the lists of related region’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry. We find that, although no significant relation between balanced power and confidence, there are significant relationships between conflict and confidence, shared values and confidence, conflict and collaboration, shared values and collaboration, balanced power and collaboration, communication and collaboration. Overall our findings indicate that confidence and collaboration among the accounting department employees have direct influence on the firm performance.Accounting departments; departmental behaviors; firm performance

A consumer perspective e-commerce websites evaluation model

Existing website evaluation methods have some weaknesses such as neglecting consumer criteria in their evaluation, being unable to deal with qualitative criteria, and involving complex weight and score calculations. This research aims to develop a hybrid consumer-oriented e-commerce website evaluation model based on the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the Hardmard Method (HM). Four phases were involved in developing the model: requirements identification, empirical study, model construction, and model confirmation. Requirements identification and empirical study were to identify critical web-design criteria and gather online consumers' preferences. Data, collected from 152 Malaysian consumers using online questionnaires, were used to identify critical e-commerce website features and scale of importance. The new evaluation model comprised of three components. First, the consumer evaluation criteria that consist of the important principles considered by consumers; second, the evaluation mechanisms that integrate FAHP and HM consisting of mathematical expressions that handle subjective judgments, new formulas to calculate the weight and score for each criterion; and third, the evaluation procedures consisting of activities that comprise of goal establishment, document preparation, and identification of website performance. The model was examined by six experts and applied to four case studies. The results show that the new model is practical, and appropriate to evaluate e-commerce websites from consumers' perspectives, and is able to calculate weights and scores for qualitative criteria in a simple way. In addition, it is able to assist decision-makers to make decisions in a measured objective way. The model also contributes new knowledge to the software evaluation fiel

Comparison of Power Influence Factors Shaping Loyalty Indonesian Domestic Airlines

Passenger perception of the quality of airline service LFA lower than the FSA for airline passengers pay the ticket realized with relatively cheaper rates. This study aimed to analyze the differences in causality between variables expected to affect the flight of customer loyalty. By using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) this paper examines the relationship causal constructs quality of service, price, and satisfaction, to the image as well as customer loyalty and LFA, FSA flight. The results indicate that there are differences in causality between customer loyalty models of FSA with LFA. The quality of service and price together create satisfaction and encourage the creation of a good image in the minds of passengers FSA and LFA. Quality of service has a greater influence on satisfaction than the price effect and the direct effect on the image quality of service is greater than its indirect effect through satisfaction. FSA found that customer satisfaction does not encourage loyalty, customer satisfaction LFA opposite effect on passenger loyalty. Keywords: Customer Satisfaction, Customer Loyalty, Low Fair Airline, Full Service Airline

Health, Safety, Environment and Ergonomic Improvement in Energy Sector Using an Integrated Fuzzy Cognitive Map–Bayesian Network Model

© 2018, Taiwan Fuzzy Systems Association and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Health, safety, environment and ergonomics (HSEE) are important factors for any organization. In fact, organizations always have to assess their compliance in these factors to the required benchmarks and take proactive actions to improve them if required. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy cognitive map–Bayesian network (BN) model in order to assist organizations in undertaking this process. The fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) method is used for constructing graphical models of BN to ascertain the relationships between the inputs and the impact which they will have on the quantified HSEE. Using the notion of Fuzzy logic assists us to work with humans and their linguistic inputs in the process of experts’ opinion solicitation. The noisy-OR method and the EM are used to ascertain the conditional probability between the inputs and quantifying the HSEE value. Using this, we find out that the most influential input factor on HSEE quantification which can then be managed for improving an organization’s compliance to HSEE. Finding the same influential input factor in both BN models which are based on the noisy-OR method and EM demonstrate how FCM is useful in constructing a reliable BN model. Leveraging the power of Bayesian network in modelling HSEE and augmenting it with FCM is the main contribution of this research work which opens the new line of research in the area of HSE management