Quality Risk Evaluation of the Food Supply Chain Using a Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model and Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis

Evaluating the quality risk level in the food supply chain can reduce quality information asymmetry and food quality incidents and promote nationally integrated regulations for food quality. In order to evaluate it, a quality risk evaluation indicator system for the food supply chain is constructed based on an extensive literature review in this paper. Furthermore, a mathematical model based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model (FCEM) and failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis (FMECA) for evaluating the quality risk level in the food supply chain is developed. A computational experiment aimed at verifying the effectiveness and feasibility of this proposed model is conducted on the basis of a questionnaire survey. The results suggest that this model can be used as a general guideline to assess the quality risk level in the food supply chain and achieve the most important objective of providing a reference for the public and private sectors when making decisions on food quality management

A Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Model for Sustainability Risk Evaluation of PPP Projects

Evaluating the sustainability risk level of public–private partnership (PPP) projects can reduce project risk incidents and achieve the sustainable development of the organization. However, the existing studies about PPP projects risk management mainly focus on exploring the impact of financial and revenue risks but ignore the sustainability risks, causing the concept of “sustainability” to be missing while evaluating the risk level of PPP projects. To evaluate the sustainability risk level and achieve the most important objective of providing a reference for the public and private sectors when making decisions on PPP project management, this paper constructs a factor system of sustainability risk of PPP projects based on an extensive literature review and develops a mathematical model based on the methods of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model (FCEM) and failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) for evaluating the sustainability risk level of PPP projects. In addition, this paper conducts computational experiment based on a questionnaire survey to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of this proposed model. The results suggest that this model is reasonable for evaluating the sustainability risk level of PPP projects. To our knowledge, this paper is the first study to evaluate the sustainability risk of PPP projects, which would not only enrich the theories of project risk management, but also serve as a reference for the public and private sectors for the sustainable planning and development. Keywords: sustainability risk ev

Co-evolution efficacy of project portfolio based on strategic orientation

Multi-project management has been a trend of many large organizations’ operations and a preferred organizational strategy in complex and dynamic environments. For an organization to achieve its strategy, it must integrate various projects into a project portfolio and implement coordinated management to make sure that these projects co-evolve in the direction of the overall strategy. As some elements in project portfolio (PP) cannot be quantified or determined accurately, a PP could be characterized as an uncertain and fuzzy problem where it is difficult to measure the co-evolution efficacy. To solve this difficulty, in this paper, we first propose a conceptual framework of Project Portfolio based on Strategic Orientation (PPSO) with quantitative indices and process of the co-evolution. A mathematical model based on Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis(FDEA) is built to measure the co-evolution efficacy of the PPSO, and provides a basis for optimal PPSO selection. The model is verified by a computational experiment based on actual data provided by a Chinese firm of HPM, a reputable Chinese project management consulting firm, which has also been officially certified by the International Project Management Association (IPMA). The results suggest that co-evolution efficacy is reasonably effective for selecting the optimal PPSO. To our knowledge, this study is the first time to apply the notion of co-evolution efficacy and fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis to the PP domain, which enriches the theories of project management and strategic management. Also, this study makes an important contribution to integrating a group of projects into a PP under the strategic direction and helping an organization optimize its strategic management

The Energy Rebound Effect for the Construction Industry: Empirical Evidence from China

As the largest energy consumer and carbon emitter, China has made substantial efforts to improve energy efficiency to save energy, while the energy rebound effect mitigates its effectiveness. This paper is based on the logical relationship among capital input, technical change, economic growth, and energy consumption, adapting an alternative estimation model to estimate the energy rebound effect for the construction industry in China. Empirical results reveal that the average energy rebound effect for the construction industry in China was about 59.5% during the period of 1990–2014. It is indicated that the energy rebound effect does exist in China’s construction industry and it presents a fluctuating declining trend. This indicates that approximately half of the potential energy saving by technical change is achieved. It could be concluded that proper energy pricing reforms and energy taxes should be implemented to promote sustainable development in the construction industry for China’s government

Risk Response Strategies Selection over the Life Cycle of Project Portfolio

The successful implementation of project portfolios (PP) calls for effective risk management, in which selecting optimal risk response strategies help to reduce the impact of risk. Project portfolio risks (PPRs) exhibit causality and time dependency over the life cycle, which result in cumulative effects over time. By accounting for these risk correlations, risk response could be more effective in reducing expected losses than risk independence assumption. To support effective and sustainable risk management, this study proposes a novel risk response method that integrates the dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) model and reward–risk optimization model to select risk response strategies for different stages of the PP life cycle. The proposed method supports a more comprehensive analysis of risk contagion paths by opening the black box of the risk propagation paths during the PP life cycle. In this method, the PPRs, as the DBN nodes, are first identified, considering the project’s interdependency. Second, DBN analysis is used to assess PPRs by visually modeling the causality and life cycle correlation among risks. Then, the reward–risk optimization model is built to determine risk response strategies for each stage of the life cycle under the constraints. Finally, the proposed method selects risk response strategies for different stages of the PP life cycle. The findings reveal that the risk response effects are maximized if the risks are responded to in earlier stages. Moreover, the findings contribute to helping managers choose the optimal risk response strategies consistent with the risk response budget. As the effect of the strategy depends on the actual situation of the PP, the factors affecting the response effect of the strategies are recommended for further study

Mechanism for generating and promoting manufacturing project portfolio synergy

To explore the mechanism for generating and promoting project portfolio (PP) synergy, a model applying the causal loop diagram (CLD) is established. The efforts have been done include four parts. First, a sustainable objective system is determined through the improved balanced scorecard. Second, three categories of manufacturing projects are identified to illustrate the characteristics and objectives. Third, a CLD model is constructed based on the objective achievement process of PPs. Fourth, suggestions are made to promote the objective realization by synergy. The major result is that the generation and promotion mechanism are portrayed through the causal loops and feedbacks of CLD. CLD is adopted as the analytical approach for superiority in visualizing complex relationships. The main findings are: (1) The synergy generation mechanism is specified that PP synergy generates from the collaborative behaviors among PPs. (2) PP synergy promotes objective realization through additional effects arise from complex feedbacks among behaviors

Influencing Factors for the Promotion of International Vocational Qualification and Certification: Evidences from International Project Manager Professionals in China

Globalization has driven the promotion of international vocational qualification and certification (IVQC) to unify certification systems and standards. We explore IVQC promotion paths through the introduction and development of China’s International Project Manager Professional (IPMP) certification and identify and analyse IVQC processes’ influencing factors. Four factors (economic level, education level, employment level, sex ratio) are proposed; their impacts are hypothesized. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) is employed to identify factor impact relationships and validate assumptions. The results show that the four factors are positive for the promotion of IVQC. Economic level, employment level, and sex ratio contribute to the promotion of IVQC; employment level contributes most. Education level has relatively small impact. Therefore, IVQC is more likely to enter areas with developed economies, high employment rates, and more males. The promotion of IVQC can be facilitated by continuous social progress and international development. However, areas where salient factor levels are too low still present challenges

Impacts of a new urban rail transit line and its interactions with land use on the ridership of existing stations

Urban rail transit (URT) is under accelerated construction worldwide, which exerts important effects on the ridership of existing stations. However, few studies evaluated the determinants of station ridership considering the development of URT system. By employing the spatial difference-in-differences (SDID) model, this paper evaluates the impacts of a new line on the ridership of existing stations and analyzes its spatial heterogeneity. Combined with a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model, an interaction analysis is performed to understand the spatial variations of the impacts of the new line and surrounding land use on the ridership of existing stations. The results show that the operation of a new line can effectively share the ridership of existing stations and has spatial spillover effects. For different lines and different areas, the impacts can be heterogeneous. Additionally, the coordinated development of the new line and residential land accelerates the ridership growth of existing stations. Conversely, business development around the new line can attenuate the ridership of existing stations. The findings of this paper can help to make proactive planning of URT and provide policy implications for the integrated development of URT and surrounding land use

Social Project Culture: A New Project Management Culture to Promote the Sustainable Development of Organizations

With economic development and globalization, more organizations have been cooperating with foreign enterprises, which brings not only opportunities but also management difficulties and competitions with organizations. Organizations must improve their management and adapt to changing market conditions and the requirements and needs of its customers to maintain and strengthen its position in the market. Management by Project (MBP) uses technical methods of modern project management (PM) to manage various tasks and activities that are considered as projects. It is an effective way to solve management problems and improve management levels and enterprise competitiveness. However, few small and medium-sized enterprises apply MBP in their operation and management processes. Therefore, this paper presents a new idea to promote the application of MBP and the formation of a PM culture within society. In this paper, we searched a major database using the systematic literature review method and analyzed the articles directly or indirectly linked to our paper to obtain literature supporting the views of this article. First, this paper presents a new kind of management culture from the social aspect, termed as Social Project Culture (SPC), which can promote sustainable development and improve the management level and efficiency of organizations by promoting MBP application across society. Second, by analyzing the SPC definition, its three functions, i.e., project management behavior, management and risk control capacity, and international competitiveness, are provided. Then, to help organizations apply this method, an evolutionary path is proposed, including the creation stage, formative stage, mature stage, and heritage stage. Finally, to ensure the continued optimization of SPC, four safeguard measures in terms of theory, institution, behavior, and ideology are proposed