Search results for " operations"
showing 10 items of 1066 documents
Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis using the data envelopment model
2006
Abstract Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA-2) are methods for evaluating alternatives based on multiple criteria. While DEA is mainly an ex-post tool used for classifying alternatives into efficient and inefficient ones, SMAA-2 is an ex-ante tool for supporting multiple criteria decision-making. Both methods use a kind of value function where the importance of criteria is modeled using weights. Unlike many other methods, neither DEA nor SMAA-2 requires decision-makers’ weights as input. Instead, these so-called non-parametric methods explore the weight space in order to identify weights favorable for each alternative. This paper introd…
Decision support for centralizing cargo at a Moroccan airport hub using stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis
2010
The geographical location of Morocco places it at the heart of important sea, air, rail and motorway transport routes between four continents. In this study we evaluate different alternatives to centralize multimodal cargo at a Moroccan airport hub. The choice depends on different socio-economical criteria, the geographical location, and the environmental impacts. Some of the criteria can be measured quantitatively, while for others only qualitative assessment is feasible. Furthermore, significant uncertainty is present in both the criteria measurements and the preferences. We aided this decision process using Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis (SMAA). SMAA is a method that all…
Ontological supports of knowledge: knowledge creation and analytical knowledge
2011
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine, from the perspective of different theoretical approaches, the relationship that exists between different ontological supports of knowledge and knowledge itself (the way it is created and its characteristics).Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes two different types of knowledge (knowledge of concrete situations and abstract knowledge) and two approaches (the constructivist view and the cognitive view) and provides a general classification of the different knowledge types. Second, it examines the underlying ontological support‐knowledge creation, characteristics or types of knowledge relationship in different approaches. Finally, conclu…
Untangling knowledge fields and knowledge dynamics within the decision-making process
2020
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the influences of different types of knowledge and their inherent dynamics on the effectiveness of the decision-making (DM) process. Knowledge dynamics (KD) is envisioned through the lens of the knowledge fields theory while effective DM process is objectivised via organisational appreciation and reward, higher business performance, sustainable partnerships and managerial satisfaction with previous achievements.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 275 middle managers from companies operating in the business consulting field. The conceptual and structural model was tested using the partial least squares stru…
Design management capability and product innovation in SMEs
2013
[Purpose]: The aim of this paper is to present design management as a dynamic capability and to analyze its mediating role between organizational learning capability and product innovation performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). [Design/methodology/approach]: Structural equation modeling is used to test the research hypotheses based on data from the Italian and Spanish ceramic tile industries. The data are derived from the responses of 182 companies (50 percent of the target population) to a questionnaire addressed to Product Development Managers and Human Resource Managers. [Findings]: The results suggest that organizational learning capability enhances product innovation throu…
R&D subsidies & external collaborative breadth: Differential gains and the role of collaboration experience
2018
The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. External collaboration breadth is important for firms to acquire the knowledge needed to innovate. In this paper, we combine cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Spanish Panel of Technological Innovation Survey (PITEC) to examine the indirect impact of R&D subsidies on firm external collaboration breadth. We contribute to understanding of the indirect impacts of R&D subsidies by first providing strong evidence of an economically significant average positive impact of R&D subsidies on firm external collaboration breadth. Second, our results advance understanding of the differential impacts of R&D subsidie…
Modelling mode choice for freight transport using advanced choice experiments
2015
Abstract In this paper we use advanced choice modelling techniques to analyse demand for freight transport in a context of modal choice. To this end, a stated preference (SP) survey was conducted in order to estimate freight shipper preferences for the main attributes that define the service offered by the different transport modes. From a methodological point of view, we focus on two critical issues in the construction of efficient choice experiments. Firstly, in obtaining good quality prior information about the parameters; and secondly, in the improved quality of the experimental data by tailoring a specific efficient design for every respondent in the sample. With these data, different …
From fuzzy metric spaces to modular metric spaces: a fixed point approach
2017
We propose an intuitive theorem which uses some concepts of auxiliary functions for establishing existence and uniqueness of the fixed point of a self-mapping. First we work in the setting of fuzzy metric spaces in the sense of George and Veeramani, then we deduce some consequences in modular metric spaces. Finally, a sample homotopy result is derived making use of the main theorem.
An exact method for graph coloring
2006
International audience; We are interested in the graph coloring problem. We propose an exact method based on a linear-decomposition of the graph. The complexity of this method is exponential according to the linearwidth of the entry graph, but linear according to its number of vertices. We present some experiments performed on literature instances, among which COLOR02 library instances. Our method is useful to solve more quickly than other exact algorithms instances with small linearwidth, such as mug graphs. Moreover, our algorithms are the first to our knowledge to solve the COLOR02 instance 4-Inser_3 with an exact method.
The Steiner Traveling Salesman Problem and its extensions
2019
Abstract This paper considers the Steiner Traveling Salesman Problem, an extension of the classical Traveling Salesman Problem on an incomplete graph where not all vertices have demand. Some extensions including several depots or location decisions are introduced, modeled and solved. A compact integer linear programming formulation is proposed for each problem, where the routes are represented with two-index decision variables, and parity conditions are modeled using cocircuit inequalities. Exact branch-and-cut algorithms are developed for all formulations. Computational results obtained confirm the good performance of the algorithms. Instances with up to 500 vertices are solved optimally.