Small and Medium-sized Business Growth in Agricultural Sector (Case Study: Guilan Province)

Agriculture is one of the pillars of economics whose development requires a particular attention to all production factors. This paper aims to provide a systematic and conceptual model that is based on a conceptualization of the field. For this purpose, the theory and methodology were extracted on the basis of data derived from field observations and interviews drawn from a systematic conceptual model of key informants. The current model shows that original category of the agriculture business, i.e. business growth, is originated from causal conditions including personal features, supportive roles, and production factors and, based on evaluation strategies and the exploitation of opportunities, leads to a new value based on business growth as a result of the process. Underlying conditions, such as individual factors, and geographical conditions, as well as environmental conditions, including the government, the legislature, and banks, are effective in this process. Understanding the aspects of business growth is effective in developing policies to support and promote entrepreneurship. Moreover, it is essential to design a growth model to help business owners select a definition for firm growth. It is noteworthy that so far, the majority of the proposed models have been ineffective in some aspects and more attention should be paid to future growth modeling in the research context

Ranking Agility Factors to Reliably Sustain a Green Industrial Supply Chain Using the Fuzzy Analytic Network Process and Ordinal Priority Approach

Suppliers can achieve high levels of supply chain sustainability by improving the related factors. An agile supply chain can support sustainability. Identifying and ranking agility factors in the SAIPA company in Iran to reach a sustainable and green supply chain is the primary purpose of this study. SAIPA is an automotive company with an extensive supply chain. The data were quantitative, and the collection was completed by reviewing the literature and questioning experts. The FANP and the OPA methods were the tools used to analyze the data. These methods are proper for facing multiple-criteria decision-making problems, as in the case of this paper. We first identified the factors (capabilities, enablers, and attributes) using a literature review. After that, we gathered the data for ranking analysis by collecting the opinions of SAIPA’s organizational experts using a pairwise comparison questionnaire for the FANP and a prioritizing list for the OPA. Both methods showed that “Quickness” is the capability with the highest priority. “Customer Sensitivity” was the most critical enabler, and “Accurate customer-based measures” was the most significant attribute of the FANP analysis. The OPA results showed that “Information Management” was the first enabler, and “Efficient funds transfer” took first place among all the attributes. Managers should pay more attention to these factors to develop agile supply chains in the SAIPA company. The results also showed that the methods proposed for multi-attribute decision-making problems like the FANP have shortcomings, such as difficulties completing the pairwise comparison matrix due to burdensome data collection in cases similar to the one in this study with many factors

A sustainability approach to vehicle modular platform design: A mathematical model

Today, sustainability and its economic, social, and environmental pillars are the main elements of new product market development. Therefore, manufacturers, considering all stages of a product life-cycle, consider it necessary to have a framework for producing sustainable products. Moreover, new product design and development processes especially sub-process of product definition and detailed design processes can play a very critical role in developing product sustainability. This paper considers the role that the car platform can play in creating a family of products and with regard to various data related to the environmental, economic, and social pillars of each of the 15 modules of a car platform and also, using the best–worst method technique and multi-objective mathematical programming with the augmented epsilon constraint method, we were able to achieve a set of platforms with maximum sustainability. The present study explores the possibility of determining the most efficient combinations of modules for every one of the 23 cars’ platforms to produce a collection of products. Through these methods, the 54 efficient solutions in the Pareto front were achieved, and out of this number, after considering all the factors and weights of the objective functions, solution no. 51 was selected as the most efficient. Subsequently, all the 15 module variants of the 23 platforms were determined for solution no. 51. Finally, these variants were ranked on the basis of the SAW technique, and finally, sensitivity analysis is done

Exploring factors influencing the adoption of mobile healthcare technologies: perspectives from designers, consultants and users’ preferences

Purpose Today, the use of smart technologies in healthcare systems is experiencing exponential growth, and the future of healthcare is seemingly closely intertwined with such technologies. Thus, any exploration of the factors that influence human health and healthcare systems inevitably touches upon the subject of new technologies. This study aims to design a conceptual model to investigate the elements that affect individuals' openness to accepting and using mobile healthcare applications (mHealth apps) and their reciprocal effects. Design/methodology/approach After a brief review of the literature, the authors identify the influential factors in the acceptance of smart technologies in healthcare systems and present a conceptual model in this regard. Next, the authors analyze the factors and variables and the extent of their impact by a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population of this study consists of 421 individuals including the developers, consultants and users (i.e. patients) of mHealth apps. Data analysis was done on the statistical software SPSS v.26, while SEM was carried out using the partial least squares (PLS) method on the modeling software SmartPLS. Findings The results indicate that user, consultant and developer preferences have a positive and significant impact on time, quality of life, managing chronic conditions and cooperation, and these constructs (system performance) finally have a positive and significant impact on the acceptance of mobile healthcare technologies. Originality/value This paper shows that mHealth apps can have a remarkable role in the prevention and treatment of medical conditions, and it is strongly recommended that this technology be utilized in the studied region

Hard dimensions evaluation in sustainable supply chain management for environmentally adaptive and mitigated adverse eco‐effect environmental policies

In the oil and gas industry, adopting policies that can reduce the negative environmental effect is vital. Environmentally Sustainable Supply Chain Management (ESSCM) is an approach to carrying out Supply Chain Management (SCM) in an eco‐friendly manner and according to environmental requirements. There are different environmental policies that companies can apply based on their resource availability. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of hard dimensions on Environmentally Adaptive (EA) and Mitigated Adverse Eco‐Effect (MAE) policies in the oil and gas industry. To rank the data, Bayesian Best‐Worst Method (BWM) and Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA) have been applied. Cause‐and‐effect relationships are then calculated by employing the Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique. The results indicate that the ranking of the hard dimensions varies based on the companies' business policies and their new product/technology development projects. In other words, the findings of this research demonstrate that ‘innovation’ is the crucial dimension in companies that are focussed on developing eco‐friendly products while ‘technologies for cleaner production’ is the most important dimension in the companies attempting to reduce destructive consequences on the environment. In both types of the company policies, ‘lean manufacturing’, ‘total quality management’, and ‘institutional pressures’ are the key dimensions for a successful implementation of ESSCM while the least important dimensions include ‘supplier relationship management’, ‘green purchasing’, and ‘green logistics’. The findings of this research can assist the decision‐makers in the oil and gas sector in prioritising and identifying the interrelationship of the dimensions that significantly impact the ESSCM

Multi Objective and Multi-Product Perishable Supply Chain with Vendor-Managed Inventory and IoT-Related Technologies

With the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution, the use of intelligent technologies in supply chains is becoming increasingly common. The aim of this research is to propose an optimal design for an intelligent supply chain of multiple perishable products under a vendor-managed inventory management policy aided by IoT-related technologies to address the challenges associated with traditional supply chains. Various levels of the intelligent supply chain employ technologies such as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Blockchain. In this paper, we develop a bi-objective nonlinear integer mathematical programming model for designing a four-level supply chain consisting of suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and customers. The model determines the optimal network nodes, production level, product distribution and sales, and optimal choice of technology for each level. The objective functions are total cost and delivery times. The GAMS 24.2.1 optimization software is employed to solve the mathematical model in small dimensions. Considering the NP-Hard nature of the problem, the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm is employed, and its performance is compared with the Multi-Objective Whale Optimization Algorithm (MOWOA) and NSGA-III. The results indicate that the adoption of these technologies in the supply chain can reduce delivery times and total supply chain costs

A Novel Sequential Risk Assessment Model for Analyzing Commercial Aviation Accidents: Soft Computing Perspective

Due to the importance of the commercial aviation system and, also, the existence of countless accidents and unfortunate occurrences in this industry, there has been a need for a structured approach to deal with them in recent years. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive and sequential model for analyzing commercial aviation accidents based on historical data and reports. The model first uses the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) technique to determine and score existing risks; then, the risks are prioritized using two multi-attribute decision making (MADM) methods and two novel and innovative techniques, including ranking based on intuitionistic fuzzy risk priority number and ranking based on the vague sets. These techniques are based in an intuitionistic fuzzy environment to handle uncertainties and the FMEA features. A fuzzy cognitive map is utilized to evaluate existing interactions among the risk factors, and additionally, various scenarios are implemented to analyze the role of each risk, group of risks, and behavior of the system in different conditions. Finally, the model is performed for a real case study to clarify its applicability and the two novel risk prioritization techniques. Although this model can be used for other similar complex transportation systems with adequate data, it is mainly employed to illustrate the most critical risks and for analyzing existing relationships among the concepts of the system

Soft Systems Dynamics Methodology: a Combined Systemic Approach in Entrepreneurship Researches

Entrepreneurship is a complex and multilevel phenomenon, based on critical realism, complex phenomena such as entrepreneurship occur in open systems and act at different levels of reality; in order to study of the exact nature of such phenomenon, it is necessary to use the appropriate methodology. The core of entrepreneurship is new venture creation, which could be defined as a dynamic process and an open system; that phenomenon drived from interactions of individual, organizational, and environmental elements, and are affected by various factors. The purpose of this research is to introduce and present a combined systemic methodology for entrepreneurship researches and especially studies related to new venture creation, that done by narrative reviewing systemic methodologies in the field of business. Since entrepreneurship involves both mental aspects and visible and measurable aspects; therefore, to studying it, can not only use soft systems thinking and soft system methodology, or hard systems thinking and system dynamics. Thus in entrepreneurship researches, for the modeling of the entrepreneurship process in the form of a dynamic system, can use the soft systems dynamics methodology that has developed from the combination of the soft systems methodology and system dynamics in recent decades

Enhancing Sustainability Attributes in New Product Design Insights from Automotive Industry

Product design is an innovative process that, through the stages of problem statement, concept, and initial and detailed design, meets the needs of customers, the requirements of companies, and their limitations. In the current process of product design and development, formulating design objectives plays a crucial role in objective setting, project implementation, product needs and requirements specification, and performing activities validation. Currently, the role of the design and development stages in the sustainability of products, identifying strategies for improving this stage is of particular significance, and paying attention to the product planning and definition process group and focusing on establishing sustainability principles in the target book and defining new attributes can be regarded as one of the sustainable product development strategies. Consequently, this research is a case study in the field of applying the sustainability principles in the target book as one of the deliverables at the stage of product planning. The present study proposes strategies towards developing the attributes of the target book as a tool for exerting sustainability pillars in the process of design and development by means of surveying automotive industry experts, applying the DEMATEL and Fuzzy ANP combined method, and evaluating and determining new attributes

A framework for business model with strategic innovation in ICT firms:The importance of information

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to help gain an accurate and distinct understanding of information-based business concepts and critical steps in designing an appropriate business model, by providing a framework for designing an innovative information-based business to help fledgling businesses development in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry of Iran. What is a business model framework with the strategic innovation approach in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of ICT industry? What are the components of this model and the relations between them? Business model is a logical response to how a business can create value. Changing business environment means that business models are rapidly growing; accordingly, innovation is no longer optional. However, innovation is important in general, but the kind of innovation that is widely and directly dependent on business model will be quite critical for all parts of the organization. In fact, business model innovation is an exquisite technic to create, deliver and earn value by changing one or more components of a typical business model. Business model innovation needs information and form business environment based on dynamic information system. Design/methodology/approach: The present paper focuses upon SMEs in ICT. Grounded theory has been used for this purpose, with 15 interviews conducted. Findings: An emerging market is one in which commercial exchanges of a particular industry between the countries are relatively new but possess great investment attractiveness and a high potential to grow (such as Iran).As the ICT industry of Iran is a leading industry, and the country itself is an emerging market, the main purpose of this study is to provide a framework for designing an innovative information-based business to help fledgling businesses development in the ICT industry of Iran. Originality/value: The purpose of this paper is to help accurate and distinct understanding of the business model concept and critical steps in designing an appropriate business model. Studies conducted to simultaneously deal with the business model and strategic innovations are few, and by the time the proposal was written, there was no research observed from Persian sources