Qualitative decision making with integrated systems design methodology: A case study

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles C. Willow
2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristof Van Assche ◽  
Raoul Beunen ◽  
Monica Gruezmacher ◽  
Martijn Duineveld ◽  
Leith Deacon ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential, both analytically and practically, of understanding research methods as bridging devices. Methods can bridge theory and empirics, but it is argued that they can perform several bridging functions: between theory and praxis, between analysis and strategy and between past and future. The focus is on those forms of bridging relevant for understanding and effectuating change in governance, at community level and at the scale of organizations. Design/methodology/approach The paper develops a perspective on methods as bridging devices. It uses the newly minted methods of governance path and context mapping as a case study. These methods conceptually derive from evolutionary governance theory (EGT) and were developed and tested in Canadian empirical research. The case helps to develop insight in features, forms and limitations of methods as bridging devices in governance research and practice. The authors then use the case to further develop the initial concept of bridging more generally, emphasizing the shifting balance between methods as bridging and creating boundaries. Findings Both the case study and the theoretical analysis underline the necessary imperfection of any method as bridging device. The authors affirm the potential of method to perform different bridging functions at the same time, while revealing clear tradeoffs in each role. Tradeoffs occur with adapted versions of the method producing new strengths and weaknesses in new contexts. In each of the forms of bridging involved neither side can be reduced to the other, so a gap always remains. It is demonstrated that the practice of bridging through method in governance is greatly helped when methods are flexibly deployed in ongoing processes of bricolage, nesting and modification. Governance enables the continuous production of new framing devices and other methods. Originality/value The idea of methods as bridging devices is new, and can assist the development of a broader understanding of the various forms and functions of research methods. Moreover, it helps to discern roles of research methods in the functioning of governance. The context of governance helps to recognize the multi-functionality of research methods, and their transformation in a context of pressured decision-making. Moreover, this approach contributes to the understanding of governance as adumbrated by EGT.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Peters

Purpose – This paper is a case study of the decision at Central Michigan University to take librarians off the reference desk. Departmental data on reference desk traffic and other ancillary functions of the reference department was used to make the case for removing the librarians from the desk. Data collected since the decision was made has supported the decision to move to an on-call reference desk staffing model. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The department reviewed and analyzed data on reference desk transactions of all types from previous years to inform its decision making. Data trends and an analysis of the nature of the questions asked at the reference desk were instrumental in the analysis. Findings – The department determined that the statistical data justified the removal of the librarians from the reference desk. Data collected since moving to the on-call model supports the earlier decision. Originality/value – This paper provides libraries considering their own desk staffing models with a discussion of another library’s decision-making process and evidence of a successful migration to a new reference service model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 816-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Mohebbi ◽  
Sofiane Achiche ◽  
Luc Baron

Abstract Designing a mechatronic system is a complex task since it deals with a high number of system components with multidisciplinary nature in the presence of interacting design objectives. Currently, the sequential design is widely used by designers in industries that deal with different domains and their corresponding design objectives separately leading to a functional but not necessarily an optimal result. Consequently, the need for a systematic and multiobjective design methodology arises. A new conceptual design approach based on a multicriteria profile for mechatronic systems has been previously presented by the authors, which uses a series of nonlinear fuzzy-based aggregation functions to facilitate decision-making for design evaluation in the presence of interacting criteria. Choquet fuzzy integrals are one of the most expressive and reliable preference models used in decision theory for multicriteria decision-making. They perform a weighted aggregation by the means of fuzzy measures assigning a weight to any coalition of criteria. This enables the designers to model importance and also interactions among criteria, thus covering an important range of possible decision outcomes. However, specification of the fuzzy measures involves many parameters and is very difficult when only relying on the designer's intuition. In this paper, we discuss three different methods of fuzzy measure identification tailored for a mechatronic design process and exemplified by a case study of designing a vision-guided quadrotor drone. The results obtained from each method are discussed in the end.


Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Wall ◽  
Marco Bertoni ◽  
Tobias Larsson

The shift towards Product-Service Systems (PSS) stresses the need to embed new and unique capabilities in Decision Support Systems, with the aim of helping the engineering team in handling the pool of information and knowledge available during decision events. Emerging from a multiple case study in the Swedish manufacturing industry, this paper describes the development of the Model-Driven Decision Arena (MDDA), an environment for collaborative decision-making that focuses on the early design phases of PSS. Based on the findings from multiple case studies, this paper illustrates the main goals of the MDDA, detailing its main functions, its physical environment, and its software architecture and models. This paper demonstrates the use of the MDDA in a case study related to the development of an asphalt compactor, presenting and discussing the results of verification activities conducted with industrial practitioners on the current MDDA prototype.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irum Saba ◽  
Mohamed Ariff ◽  
Eskandar Shah Mohd Rasid

Purpose Shari’ah provides the basic tenets of the Islamic finance industry and advocates banks to share their profits and losses with investors. But what it means for a firm to be “Shari’ah-compliant” and what form of connections it can have, even in theory, to either the firm’s value or profitability is still an untapped question. This study tries to answer this question. This study aims to find the impact of Shari’ah compliance on firm performance. The results obtained would be useful in helping investors, regulators, companies, government, academicians and practitioners in their decision-making process as to ensure better economic and business gains, both locally and globally. Design/methodology/approach Panel data on 634 Shari’ah-compliant firms have been used in this study for the period of 2000–2014. Findings The results indicate that Shari’ah compliance adds to the value of firms as firms perform transactions according to Shari’ah while avoiding non-permissible activities. Originality/value This study adds value to the existing literature by showing the statistical results for the impact of Shari’ah compliance on the performance of the listed firms on Bursa Malaysia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-74
Author(s):  
Pedro Pablo Cardoso Castro ◽  
Nirvia Ravena ◽  
Ronaldo Mendes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a case study of niche governance to analyze the governance of rainwater systems in the Amazon. Design/methodology/approach A visualization of the interactions of stakeholders was made with the use of social network analysis, where data were collected through interviews to experts from the region. A framework based on niche management and the safe, resilient and sustainable (Safe and SuRe) principles were used to interpret the results. Findings The work identifies key players and issues influencing governance for the implementation of rainwater systems; and capture of decision-making powers by agents making evident redundancies in the management of rainwater in the region; highlighting issues of lack of inclusion in the decision-making process, planning and implementation; threatening the sustainability, resilience and governance of rainwater systems in Belem. Originality/value Methodologically, this work is the first of its kind for the amazon and contributes to the exploration of tools and frameworks to assess governance in the implementation of rainwater systems.


Author(s):  
Aleksandr Litvinov

Purpose of this paper This paper aims to discuss the case of implementing participative management practices to support changes required following the introduction of a new strategy in a Russian bank. It provides a detailed description of the entire process including the methods implemented and the results achieved. The case study provides insights on how to extend participative management into an organization set in a context of strict regulative policies and an authoritarian culture. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a case study on how participative management practices were implemented in a Russian bank and provides insights from the case. Findings The findings indicate some successful practices of participative management which can be implemented to identify problems/needs and assist with quick and collaborative decision-making for change without breaking strict banking normative procedures. Practical implications The paper provides insights for further implementation of participative management practices into organizations in an authoritarian context. Originality/Value The paper presents empirical evidence of participative management implementation. This is uncommon for Russian organizations, where the authoritarian culture dominates. Other researchers and managers can use this paper as a source to guide changes within other companies and sectors in similar cultures.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damián Macías Rodríguez ◽  
Blanca Del Espino Hidalgo ◽  
María Teresa Pérez Cano

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to represent the conflict of touristification in the central district of Seville to evaluate the dimension of the problem. Therefore, it focuses on the diagnostic representation of the conflict between citizens and tourists, to help define the coexistence of opposing interests and to bring solutions in favour of a liveable urban landscape. Design/methodology/approach The research has implied a detailed analysis beyond the observation of data and statistics, which facilitated a complex diagnosis for decision-making. This has led to consider as an initial framework the main tourist resources, official agreements and civil manifestations regarding touristification. Then, factors of tourist density and one in-depth case study of changes in use have been mapped. Findings First, an analysis of the urban spaces affected by the tourist dynamics following the degree of habitability of the resident citizens has been led. Second, of the conflict resulting from a relationship between economic activities, the attractiveness of the urban landscape and the tourist use of the space has been mapped. Originality/value Through the study of the central district of a city of great heritage value where conflicts begin to occur as a result of tourism, it is intended to contribute to the development of the spatial syntax of the tourist conflict, what could lead to improve responsible urban and social city policies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Handoyo ◽  
M. R. Mashudi ◽  
H. P. Ipung

Current supply chain methods are having difficulties in resolving problems arising from the lack of trust in supply chains. The root reason lies in two challenges brought to the traditional mechanism: self-interests of supply chain members and information asymmetry in production processes. Blockchain is a promising technology to address these problems. The key objective of this paper is to present qualitative analysis for blockchain in supply chain as the decision-making framework to implement this new technology. The analysis method used Val IT business case framework, validated by the expert judgements. The further study needs to be elaborated by either the existing organization that use blockchain or assessment by the organization that will use blockchain to improve their supply chain management.


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