Sustainable recovery for digital entrepreneurs with shared resources: enablers, challenges and solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Jha ◽  
Rohit Sindhwani ◽  
Ashish Dwivedi ◽  
Venkataramanaiah Saddikuti
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Shared Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Criteria Weights ◽  
Topsis Technique ◽  
Sustainable Recovery

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify important criteria for sustainable recovery of digital entrepreneurship from distress situation using shared resources. During pandemic disruption, the importance of sharing economy in managing business efficiency is reflected through this research. Design/methodology/approach The present study advances the knowledge on shared resources in business by integrating case study approach with multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) model. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach is adopted to compute criteria weights, and a fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to rank the sharing economy entrepreneurial ventures during COVID-19 pandemic in the context of emerging economy. Findings The present study identified five most important enablers (technological innovation, technology expertise, convergence of virtual and physical spaces, collaboration rather than competition, and benefits to underserved groups through transparency) for sustainable recovery of sharing economy ventures in emerging economy. For example, the study highlights online tutoring through shared intellect as the most sought after sharing economy venture during pandemic disruption, which fulfills the identified enablers. Practical implications The proposed framework provides an accurate decision support tool to rank the various identified potential enablers of sharing economy during disruptions. Further, the approach is practically relevant to sharing economy entrepreneurs in selecting the best approach to recover sustainability during pandemic. Originality/value The study is unique in addressing the need of sustainability for digital ventures via sharing economy approach in emerging economy (India). To develop a conceptual framework, the present study incorporates a case based approach together with the hybrid MCDM model. Further, the extant literature on disruptions is enhanced by prioritizing the enablers for sharing economy during pandemic.

Sharing economy approach for the development of the organic food market in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-126
Author(s):  
Neeraj Dangi ◽  
Sapna A. Narula
Keyword(s):  
Organic Food ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Food Markets ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Food Market

PurposeThis paper explores the contextual relevance of sharing economy for the organic food market in an emerging economy like India.Design/methodology/approachCase study approach was used to collect empirical data from different types of organic food markets.FindingsOrganic food farmers markets compared to online and health food stores tends to facilitate sharing economy more since it helps them to build value, scale and trust. By sharing resources, skills and spaces, organic farmers markets have increased organic food availability, reduced its cost of certification and operation besides managing consumer trust. Subjective influence through social media and offline interaction reduces information asymmetry at zero marginal cost. Organic food producers/retailers can get a competitive advantage by tapping underutilized assets to create value and opportunities besides overcoming their demand and supply constraints.Originality/valueThe research offers a fresh perspective to the organic food sector, particularly in emerging economies like India. It could assist all stakeholders to overcome the current demand and supply challenges faced in organic food markets.

Predictive data analytics for contract renewals: a decision support tool for managerial decision-making

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serhat Simsek ◽  
Abdullah Albizri ◽  
Marina Johnson ◽  
Tyler Custis ◽  
Stephan Weikert
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Managerial Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool

PurposePredictive analytics and artificial intelligence are perceived as significant drivers to improve organizational performance and managerial decision-making. Hiring employees and contract renewals are instances of managerial decision-making problems that can incur high financial costs and long-term impacts on organizational performance. The primary goal of this study is to identify the Major League Baseball (MLB) free agents who are likely to receive a contract.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the design science research paradigm and the cognitive analytics management (CAM) theory to develop the research framework. A dataset on MLB's free agents between 2013 and 2017 was collected. A decision support tool was built using artificial neural networks.FindingsThere are clear links between a player's statistical performance and the decision of the player to sign a new offered contract. “Age,” “Wins above Replacement” and “the team on which a player last played” are the most significant factors in determining if a player signs a new contract.Originality/valueThis paper applied analytical modeling to personnel decision-making using the design science paradigm and guided by CAM as the kernel theory. The study employed machine learning techniques, producing a model that predicts the probability of free agents signing a new contract. Also, a web-based tool was developed to help decision-makers in baseball front offices so they can determine which available free agents to offer contracts.

Queuing network-based methodology for designing and assessing performance of centralized maintenance workshops

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zineb Simeu-Abazi ◽  
Maria Di Mascolo ◽  
Eric Gascard
Keyword(s):  
Sojourn Time ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Repair Process ◽  
Spare Parts ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Corrective Maintenance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Evaluation Of Performance ◽  
Replacement Technique

Purpose – In this paper, the authors are concerned with a maintenance workshop (MW) centralizing all corrective maintenance activities. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for designing a central maintenance workshop, enabling the evaluation of performance in terms of cost and sojourn time, for a given budget. Design/methodology/approach – The authors propose a modeling framework based on queuing networks. The aim is to maximize operational availability of the production workshop, by reducing the sojourn time of failed equipment in the MW. Findings – The proposed methodology leads to a maintenance decision support tool enabling to give the structure of the MW, performing at a higher level, but at a reasonable configuration cost. Simulation results illustrate the influence of different parameters, such as the number of stations and the level of spare parts in the MW, on the sojourn time of the equipment. Research limitations/implications – Only corrective maintenance is taken into account and only equipment that can be taken out of the production workshop are considered. The preventive replacement of some equipment items can be taken into account by the repair process by considering them as failed. Originality/value – The work falls within a more general framework for optimizing maintenance costs, in the context of integration of multi-site services in a distributed context. The paper is concerned with centralized maintenance, and proposes to integrate the so-called repair by replacement technique in a MW, used for a multi-site production workshop.

Greece’s foreign trade balance may worsen in 2019

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Domestic Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Household Spending ◽  
External Demand ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Stable Growth ◽  
Sustainable Recovery

Subject Balance of payments outlook. Significance Rising export revenues testify to the Greek economy’s improved international competitiveness. However, the increasing role of external demand in stimulating domestic economic growth leaves it more vulnerable to adverse external developments, such as decelerating EU growth, trade wars and main trading partners’ diminishing consumer demand. Achieving a more stable growth trajectory would require a sustainable recovery in domestic investment and more robust household spending. Impacts The expansion in the home-sharing economy is driving up rents, inflaming social tensions. Rising volumes of medium-to-high-value-added exports will support Greece’s deeper integration in global value-added chains. Large export-oriented firms’ increased profitability will undermine the competitiveness of SME counterparts restricted to the Greek market.

Benchmarking contractors’ financial performance: case study of Singapore

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Zhi Ye Koh ◽  
Florence Ling
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Tree ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Public Agency

Purpose This study aims to develop benchmarks of the financial performance of contractors and a decision support tool for evaluation, selection and appointment of contractors. The financial benchmarks allow contractors to know where they are relative to the best-performing contractors, and they can then take steps to improve their own performance. The decision support tool helps clients to decide which contractor should be awarded the project. Design/methodology/approach Financial data between 2013 and 2015 of 44 Singapore-based contractors were acquired from a Singaporean public agency. Benchmarks for Z-score and financial ratios were developed. A decision tree for evaluating contractors was constructed. Findings This study found that between 57% and 64% of contractors stayed in the financially healthy zone from 2013 to 2015. Ratios related to financial liabilities are relatively bad compared with international standards. Research limitations/implications The limitation is that the data is obtained from a cross-sectional survey of contractors’ financial performance in Singapore over a three-year period. Regarding the finding that ratios relating to financial liabilities are weak, the implication is that contractors need to reduce their financial liabilities to achieve a good solvency profile. Contractors may use the benchmarks to check their financial performances relative to that of their competitors. To reduce financial risks, project clients may use these benchmarks to examine contractors’ financial performance. Originality/value This study provides benchmarks for contractors and clients to examine the financial performance of contractors in Singapore. A decision tree is provided to aid clients in making decisions on which contractors to appoint.

Sharing towards cohesive community: the role of social capital in sharing economy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ka Wai Lai ◽  
Amy Po Ying Ho
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Business To Consumer

Purpose Whilst the majority of academic studies have focused on the for-profit business-to-consumer type of sharing economy, the community-based peer-to-peer sharing economy is under-studied, particularly the role of social capital, which is essential to sharing behaviours. This paper aims to unravel the role of social capital in developing sharing communities, particularly as to how sharing can establish social capital and community building in community-based sharing economy projects. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopted a case study approach by selecting a local project in Hong Kong, which aims at achieving sharing community. A total of 10 in-depth interviews of major stakeholders were conducted, including founders, active and inactive members to explore how social capital is developed and its impacts on sharing community. Findings The research finding showed that social capital plays an important role in structural dimensions, on social ties building, cognitive and relational dimension facilitates and motivates sharing behaviour and trust, which are essential in building up a sharing community and in developing a sharing economy in Hong Kong. Originality/value This paper contributes to the current theoretical and empirical discussion that supplements the current study of the community-based sharing economy, from the perspective of social capital, in exploring how a sharing community can be developed.

Creating customer value in the sharing economy: an investigation of Airbnb users and their tripographic characteristics

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kam Fung So ◽  
Hyunsu Kim ◽  
Somang Min
Keyword(s):  
Customer Value ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Value Perceptions ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Customer Values

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the roles of different types of customer value in influencing in customer evaluations of Airbnb. In particular, this study empirically tests the roles of four value dimensions in shaping existing Airbnb users’ attitudes and future behavioral intentions along with the effects of tripographic characteristics on users’ post-purchase evaluative judgments. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a multi-study approach to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, theoretical relationships between constructs were proposed and empirically analyzed; and in Study 2, a different sample was used to validate the hypothesized model and enhance the external validity of the findings. After completing both studies, the two samples were combined to test for the moderating effects of several key tripographic factors among Airbnb users. Findings This study found that price value, emotional value, quality value and social value were critical factors exerting differential effects on customers’ evaluations of Airbnb. Further analysis of group differences revealed that Airbnb customers’ value perceptions differed significantly depending on the length of stay, group size and number of previous trips. The number of previous trips also had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between social value and attitudes. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study contribute to the literature on Airbnb by presenting a comprehensive assessment of the differential effects of value components in evaluating Airbnb experiences with the consideration of tripographic characteristics. While supporting the importance of emotional, social, quality and price value to Airbnb guests, the results also show that Airbnb seems to appeal particularly to visitors who stay longer, travel with large groups and have used the platform several times in the past. Originality/value The findings of this study provide important insight into which customer values contribute to users’ attitudes and consequent favorable behaviors. More importantly, this study emphasized the importance of understanding the moderating effects of tripographic characteristics in the relationships between customer values and existing users’ evaluative judgment of Airbnb experiences.

Decision support for additive manufacturing deployment in remote or austere environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 898-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Meisel ◽  
Christopher B. Williams ◽  
Kimberly P. Ellis ◽  
Don Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Spare Parts ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Material Source ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Austere Environments

Purpose Additive manufacturing (AM) can reduce the process supply chain and encourage manufacturing innovation in remote or austere environments by producing an array of replacement/spare parts from a single raw material source. The wide variety of AM technologies, materials, and potential use cases necessitates decision support that addresses the diverse considerations of deployable manufacturing. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews with potential users are conducted in order to establish a general deployable AM framework. This framework then forms the basis for a decision support tool to help users determine appropriate machines and materials for their desired deployable context. Findings User constraints are separated into process, machine, part, material, environmental, and logistical categories to form a deployable AM framework. These inform a “tiered funnel” selection tool, where each stage requires increased user knowledge of AM and the deployable context. The tool can help users narrow a database of candidate machines and materials to those appropriate for their deployable context. Research limitations/implications Future work will focus on expanding the environments covered by the decision support tool and expanding the user needs pool to incorporate private sector users and users less familiar with AM processes. Practical implications The framework in this paper can influence the growth of existing deployable manufacturing endeavors (e.g. Rapid Equipping Force Expeditionary Lab – Mobile, Army’s Mobile Parts Hospital, etc.) and considerations for future deployable AM systems. Originality/value This work represents novel research to develop both a framework for deployable AM and a user-driven decision support tool to select a process and material for the deployable context.

scholarly journals An innovative decision support tool for liquefied natural gas supply chain planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Christos Papaleonidas ◽  
Dimitrios V. Lyridis ◽  
Alexios Papakostas ◽  
Dimitris Antonis Konstantinidis
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Maritime Transportation ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Tramp Shipping

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to improve the tactical planning of the stakeholders of the midstream liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, using an optimisation approach. The results can contribute to enhance the proactivity on significant investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach A decision support tool (DST) is proposed to minimise the operational cost of a fleet of vessels. Mixed integer linear programming (MILP) used to perform contract assignment combined with a genetic algorithm solution are the foundations of the DST. The aforementioned methods present a formulation of the maritime transportation problem from the scope of tramp shipping companies. Findings The validation of the DST through a realistic case study illustrates its potential in generating quantitative data about the cost of the midstream LNG supply chain and the annual operations schedule for a fleet of LNG vessels. Research limitations/implications The LNG transportation scenarios included assumptions, which were required for resource reasons, such as omission of stochasticity. Notwithstanding the assumptions made, it is to the authors’ belief that the paper meets its objectives as described above. Practical implications Potential practitioners may exploit the results to make informed decisions on the operation of LNG vessels, charter rate quotes and/or redeployment of existing fleet. Originality/value The research has a novel approach as it combines the creation of practical management tool, with a comprehensive mathematical modelling, for the midstream LNG supply chain. Quantifying future fleet costs is an alternative approach, which may improve the planning procedure of a tramp shipping company.

The AEO status as a source of competitive advantage

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 591-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Houé ◽  
Eileen Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Global Logistics ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Freight Forwarder

Purpose Faced with increasing competition, the ability to secure and optimise global logistics operations should be regarded as a competitive advantage. In the context of the hitherto little explored field of security and safety programmes, the purpose of this paper is to examine how an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificate may affect the creation of a competitive edge for a freight forwarder. Design/methodology/approach By using the resource-based view as a theoretical background and a qualitative analysis using an interview grid inspired by the balanced scorecard, this research identifies resources and capabilities linked to the AEO certification. Findings The findings show two specific groups of resources that contribute to the creation of a competitive advantage. The first category is a process-type resource obtained through the AEO certification, which leads to more formalised and better-executed processes. The second relates to the freight forwarder’s knowledge, know-how and relational skills. Research limitations/implications This research is developed in a logistics service provider context. It should be equally applied in other contexts and with other methods to provide generalisability. Practical implications Considering its contribution to an area of study currently under research, the findings may be useful to practitioners as a decision support tool to assess the value of the AEO certification. Originality/value This paper comes in the context of a yet little explored field, despite practitioners’ questions about custom certifications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document