A method for designing strategy maps using DEMATEL and linear programming

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1802-1823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor López-Ospina ◽  
Luis E. Quezada ◽  
Ricardo A. Barros-Castro ◽  
Miguel A. Gonzalez ◽  
Pedro I. Palominos

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantitative methodology for the identification of the causal relationships between strategic objectives in a strategy map of a balanced scorecard. This is done to face the possible weaknesses described in the literature regarding the causal links and the difficulty in validating the relationships. Design/methodology/approach The proposed method combines the multi-criteria decision-making method called decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and an optimization model. DEMATEL is used to establish the importance of the strategic relations between strategic objectives, and the optimization model is used to find the relations that are more “important” and should be included in the strategy map. The method was created by reviewing the existing literature, modeling the problem, and applying it in a company. Findings The most important results of applying this methodological design include that the proposed method maintains the BSC classical structure; it also enables the generation of several alternatives to support the decision-making process in terms of strategic objectives for a better organizational performance. Practical implications The method facilitates the decision-making process by presenting several alternatives of strategy maps according to different levels of organizational criteria. In fact, these alternatives help the organization in focusing on the most important aspects of the strategy map. Consequently, managers may identify where to pay more attention and resources in order to achieve the most important objectives of the company. Hence, this method, as a support for decision makers, enables (and requires) the active participation of senior managers and any kind of decision makers in creating and valuating objectives, relations, constraints, importance, and parameters of the optimization model. Originality/value DEMATEL has been used to design strategy maps. The contribution of the paper is the use of a linear programming model to select those relationships that should be included in the strategy map. It allows manager to focus on those strategic elements that are important from a strategic point of view. The application in a company showed that the contribution is not only theoretical but practical as well.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Wasef Abuezhayeh ◽  
Les Ruddock ◽  
Issa Shehabat

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and explain how organizations in the construction sector can enhance their decision-making process (DMP) by practising knowledge management (KM) and business process management (BPM) activities. A conceptual framework is developed that recognises the elements that impact DMP in terms of KM and BPM. The development of this framework goes beyond current empirical work on KM in addition to BPM as it investigates a wider variety of variables that impact DMP. Design/methodology/approach A case study is undertaken in the context of the construction industry in Jordan. A theoretical framework is developed and assessment of the proposed framework was undertaken through a questionnaire survey of decision-makers in the construction sector and expert interviews. Findings The outcomes of this research provide several contributions to aid decision-makers in construction organizations. Growth in the usage of KM and BPM, in addition to the integration between them, can provide employees with task-related knowledge in the organization’s operative business processes, improve process performance, promote core competence and maximise and optimise business performance. Originality/value Through the production of a framework, this study provides a tool to enable improved decision-making. The framework generates a strong operational as well as theoretical approach to the organizational utilization of knowledge and business processes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-231
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chitpin

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to know the extent to which a decision-making framework assists in providing holistic, comprehensive descriptions of strategies used by school leaders engaging with distributed leadership practices. The process by which principals and other education leaders interact various school-based actors to arrive at a distributed decision-making process is addressed through this paper. The position taken suggests that leadership does not reside solely with principals or other education leaders, but sustains the view that the actions of various actors within a school setting contribute to fuller and more comprehensive accounts of distributed leadership. Design/methodology/approach While the application of rational/analytical approaches to organizational problems or issues can lead to effective decisions, dilemmas faced by principals are often messy, complex, ill-defined and not easily resolved through algorithmic reason or by the application of rules, as evidenced by the two stories provided by Agnes, a third-year principal in a small countryside elementary school in a small northeastern community, and by John, a novice principal in a suburb of a large Southwestern metropolitan area. Findings The value of the objective knowledge growth framework (OKGF) process is found in its ability to focus Agnes’s attention on things that she may have overlooked, such as options she might have ignored or information that she might have resisted or accepted, as well as innumerable preparations she might have neglected had she not involved all the teachers in her school. Research limitations/implications The implementation of the OKGF may appear, occasionally, to introduce unnecessary points along this route and may not be laboriously applied to all decision-making situations. However, the instinctively pragmatic solutions provided by this framework will often produce effective results. Therefore, in order to reduce potentially irrational outcomes, the systematic approach employed by the OKGF is preferable. The OKGF must be managed, implemented and sustained locally if it is to provide maximum benefits to educational decision makers. Practical implications Given the principals’ changing roles, it is abundantly clear that leadership practice can no longer involve just one person, by necessity, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine how things could have been accomplished otherwise. Expecting the principal to single-handedly lead efforts to improve instruction is impractical, particularly when leadership may be portrayed as what school principals do, especially when other potential sources of leadership have been ignored or treated as secondary or unimportant because that leadership has not emanated from the principal’s office (Spillane, 2006). In this paper, the authors have striven to reveal how a perspective of distributed leadership, when used in conjunction with the objective knowledge growth framework, can be effective in assisting principals in resolving problems of practice. Social implications Different school leaders of varying status within the educative organization benefit from obtaining different answers to similar issues, as evidenced by John’s and Agnes’s leadership tangles. Lumby and English (2009) differentiate between “routinization” and “ritualization.” They argue, “They are not the same. The former erases the need for human agency while the latter requires it” (p. 112). The OKGF process, therefore, cannot provide school leaders with the “right” answers to their educative quandaries, simply because any two school leaders, facing the same issues, may utilize differing theories, solutions, choices or options which may satisfy their issues in response to their own individual contextual factors. Similarly, in a busy day or week, school leaders may be inclined to take the shortest distance between two points in the decision-making process; problem identification to problem resolution. Originality/value Should the OKGF process empower decision makers to obtain sound resolutions to their educative issues by assisting them in distancing themselves from emotions or confirmation biases that may distract them from resolving school problems, its use will have been worthwhile.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1949-1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Dahmani ◽  
Xavier Boucher ◽  
Didier Gourc ◽  
Sophie Peillon ◽  
François Marmier

PurposeThe paper proposes an innovative systemic method helping decision-makers to control servitization transition process, through decision process risk diagnosis.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed method is based on the modeling of decision processes and risk identification and analysis. This method was based on an action-research approach, in close relationship with two companies (SMEs). The paper develops the feasibility experiment at Automelec company.FindingsThe method was successfully implemented and delivered concrete diagnosis results.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalization of the applicability of the method needs to be tested on several different cases.Practical implicationsThe first practical implication is related to the efficiency of the method to help decision-makers in a servitization context to limit uncertainty and get a global view of the weaknesses of their decision-making process, it raises their awareness about servitization transition for their companies. Furthermore, the method also helps to explain the strategy of a servitization transition. It enhances the level of maturity of the decision process of the company, and can be used as a training/learning tool for managers.Social implicationsThe results brought by the research contribute to give the decision-making boards for organization living a servitization transition and especially SMEs a better control over the servitization decision process and related risks, which will increase the economic stability of the company and its vision over long, medium and short horizons. This will bring positive impact on the overall economic and social environment and networks of the servitized SME, and enhance the confidence of coworkers, subcontractors and clients.Originality/valueThe first originality of the paper is related to the new way of considering risk, not only as an analysis criterion but as the central driver in steering a strategic transition for the company, such as servitization. The second originality of the study is about assessing risk occurrence over a decision-making process through decision reliability and decision confidence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
Hossein Safari ◽  
Ehsan Khanmohammadi ◽  
Meysam Maleki ◽  
Virgilio Cruz-Machado ◽  
Eduard Shevtshenko

AbstractThis paper aims to rank strategic objectives in a strategy map to improve the efficiency of strategy implementation. Objectives are ranked based on strategic destinations using the combination of Logarithmic Fuzzy Preference Programming (LFPP) and similarity method. In the first step, the weight of strategic destinations is obtained using LFPP technique; then objectives are ranked by similarity method. Similarity method uses the concept of alternative gradient and magnitude for effectively solving the general multi-criteria analysis problem. Finally, objectives are ranked in an actual strategy map. As a practical and efficient tool, the proposed approach can assist managers and decision-makers in drawing more efficient output from strategy maps.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 2006-2037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorour Farokhi ◽  
Emad Roghanian

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantitative methodology for setting targets in the framework of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in order to achieve vision and goals. Design/methodology/approach Response Surface Methodology is proposed to find the significant relationships that should be included in the strategy map and the optimal values of performance measures are assessed by using the desirability function-based approach of RSM. The proposed method was created by reviewing the existing literature, modeling the problem, and applying it in an oil company. In fact, RSM is used to execute the design matrix, analyze the collected data, extract models, analyze the results, and optimize the procedures that generate multiple responses. Findings By applying this methodological design, a clearer picture of the relationships between strategic objectives is obtained and the influence of strategic objectives on one another is determined. Afterward, optimal values for performance measures are determined. Research limitations/implications This paper proposes a framework for constructing a strategy map and setting quantitative targets to translate the goals and strategies into corresponding performance measures and targets. Also, this paper presents a case study to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach. However, RSM-based techniques require a greater amount of data to generate more accurate results. Although the advent of the Information Age has forced organizations’ decision makers to provide sufficient information and data for business analysis, the data requirements of RSM-based techniques are met. Practical implications In practice, the process of setting targets for performance measures can be challenging in terms of reaching a consensus between managers and decision makers. The findings of this paper can offer a new approach for performance evaluation based on the BSC which allows the organization’s decision makers to reach a more accurate picture of the relationship model between organization goals and those objectives within the BSC. It also demonstrates how decision makers can be guided in the process of defining performance target values in the BSC method. Originality/value Reviewing the literature on setting quantitative targets within the framework of the BSC showed no prior study in which RSM is used. This approach has two main contributions: the associations among strategic objectives are investigated and obtained in an effective way which analytically identifies the direction and degree of the relations among the performance measures. Considering the performance evaluation structure based on the BSC, quantitative targets have been determined to help in achieving the long-term goals of the organization. The application of the proposed method in a company showed that the contributions of this research are not only theoretical, but practical as well.


Author(s):  
Elena Khoury ◽  
Maria C. Khoury

This case is about a family business, Taybeh Brewing Company (TBC), with strategic and succession planning issues including the need to prepare the second generation of decision makers to take over. It covers the centralization of control and issues that arise when it is time for a founder of a company to relinquish control or share in the decision making process. It also deals with the lack of interest by the second generation to continue what others initiated as a family legacy. The business has been approached to become listed on the stock exchange, but the owners have not made a decision. By reading about the small family business, students can learn about business structure that is proper for a company’s future, the pitfalls of founder’s syndrome, and succession planning, which according to Muna and Khoury (2012) becomes imperative for the first and second generations to take seriously.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendi Yogi Prabowo

Purpose – The purpose of this paper, which is based on author’s study, is to shed light on the behavioral elements of corruption in particular the decision-making process undertaken by potential offenders to construct a solid basis for effective corruption eradication strategy in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach – This study examines corruption cases in Indonesia in the past two years which have been investigated by the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission as well as relevant literature on corruption to gain a better understanding of corruption offenders’ behavior. Findings – The author establishes that by looking at the behavioral side of corruption we may gain more understanding on potential offenders’ way of thinking as a reference in dealing with corruption. The discussions in this paper suggest that when potential offenders are exposed to pressure/motivation, opportunity and rationalization to commit corruption, they will (consciously or subconsciously) assess all the perceived benefits and costs before deciding to commit (or not to commit) corruption. Understanding the mechanics by which potential offenders decide to engage (or not to engage) in corruption will provide government and decision makers with a solid basis for formulating an effective corruption eradication strategy. Research limitations/implications – This study utilizes only secondary data sources to build its analysis on the perceived benefits and costs of engaging in corrupt practices. For future studies, primary sources, such as incarcerated corruption offenders, will offer a more accurate view of the actual decision-making process behind corrupt practices. Practical implications – This paper contributes to the development of effective corruption eradication strategy in Indonesia by introducing the fraud decision scale as a framework by which appropriate measures will be devised so as to yield the intended results. Originality/value – Instead of taking the more popular legal or political standpoint, this paper takes an unconventional view of assessing corruption problem from the behavioral perspective.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emelieke Huisman ◽  
Rianne Appel-Meulenbroek ◽  
Helianthe Kort ◽  
Theo Arentze

Purpose Board members and real estate managers (decision makers) play an important role in the decision-making process in nursing home organisations. This study aims to provide an understanding of underlying attributes and benefits sought by decision makers when making nursing home real estate decisions. Design/methodology/approach Decision makers from seven different nursing home organisations in The Netherlands were interviewed using the laddering technique to determine the individual requirements, the considerations of the decision alternatives, the relevant attributes and benefits and their mutual relationships. Findings This study details the motivations behind real estate management decisions in nursing home organisations. The findings show that apart from financial considerations, decision makers strive to enhance the quality of life and satisfaction of users with their real estate decisions and seek to include residents and employees in the process. These benefits are connected to the goals of well-being and innovation in health care. Furthermore, functionality, physical and functional flexibility and technology are key considerations when undertaking corporate real estate (CRE) decisions, to ensure that real estate management aligns with the strategic goals of the nursing home organisation. Practical implications The insights of this study can support decision makers in healthcare facilities to create strategic value with their real estate. Understanding how to obtain certain benefits from nursing home real estate may result in a better realisation of organisational objectives and user needs. Originality/value This study reveals the decision-making process in a nursing home context. Moreover, the laddering technique is used as a new method to explore and gain a deep understanding of CRE decision-making processes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1090-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Ernesto Quezada and ◽  
Pedro Ivan Palominos ◽  
Rosa E. Galleguillos ◽  
Alexis H. Olmedo

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a method for identifying causal relationships in a strategy map. Design/methodology/approach – A strategy map is a visual representation of the strategy of a company, which includes the strategic objectives of a company and the cause-effect relationships between them. Its network structure facilitates its representation as an analytic network process (ANP) model. The proposed method starts with a network with all possible relationships and then it deletes those relationships, which are not important. To do this, it uses the techniques of the ANP approach. Findings – It was found that ANP is a good tool for modelling a strategy map and for identifying the important relationships of a strategy map. A study case of a manufacturing is shown to illustrate how the proposed method can be used in practice. Practical implications – Normally, the cause-effect relationships between strategic objectives are generated in a subjective way. Even this way of working is widely accepted in practice, some studied have shown that the declared relationships are not necessarily valid. The proposed method provides a quantitative tool to establish the relationships between strategic objectives, which are obtained using a method (ANP) that has a strong conceptual base. This is an indication that the strategy map obtained represents in a better way the strategy of the company. Originality/value – ANP is a methodology which is used to estimate the priority of nodes with in a network. In this work ANP is used to estimate the priority of the arcs of the network. The results of application in a company represent a good indication that the method may be implemented in other manufacturing companies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2089-2118
Author(s):  
Sorour Farokhi ◽  
Emad Roghanian ◽  
Yaser Samimi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the accurate cause and effect relationships among strategic objectives and also to demonstrate how decision makers can be guided in the process of defining quantitative strategic target values in the framework of balanced scorecard (BSC) and performance measurement system. Design/methodology/approach Based on the proposed method in this research, after determining strategic objectives and developing an initial strategy map according to decision makers’ opinions, simultaneous equations system (SES) was used to determine the significance of the relationships among strategic objectives in higher perspectives of the BSC and corresponding strategic objectives in lower perspectives. Afterward, desirable values for performance measures were determined based on the equations and relationships obtained through SES and were optimized by goal programming method. Findings By applying the proposed method, a clearer picture of the associations among strategic objectives is obtained and the influence of strategic objectives on one another is determined. Afterward, optimal values for strategic objectives are determined to achieve the organization’s goals. Research limitations/implications This paper proposes a framework for constructing a strategy map and setting quantitative targets in the framework of BSC. Indeed, this paper presents a case study to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach. However, SES technique requires a greater amount of data to generate more accurate results. Although the advent of the Information Age has forced organizations’ decision makers to provide sufficient information and data for business analysis, the data requirements are met. Practical implications The presented quantitative approach is a supporting approach for improving decision makers’ opinions and enabling them to reach a more accurate picture of the relationships, valuing strategic objectives and achieving strategic goals. This research also presents a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach. The application and implication of the proposed method in banking services show that the contributions of the paper are not only theoretical, but also practical. Originality/value The proposed method provides a novel approach for determining the most appropriate targets and applies a comprehensive and scientific model together with decision makers’ opinions and experiences and has two main contributions: first, the associations among strategic objectives are investigated and obtained in an effective way by conducting the SES for the first time in the framework of BSC. Second, quantitative targets have been determined to help in achieving the long-term goals. This task has been accomplished through a combination of SES, the three-stage least squares regression analysis and optimization by using weighted goal programming method.


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