scholarly journals Simulation of the effect of COVID-19 outbreak on the development of branchless banking in Iran: case study of Resalat Qard–al-Hasan Bank

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Shahabi ◽  
Adel Azar ◽  
Farshad Faezy Razi ◽  
Mir Feyz Fallah Shams
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Job Rotation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Incentive Policies ◽  
Positive Factor ◽  
Number Of Branches

PurposeCOVID-19 has become a global challenge with a significant rate of prevalence, and it has exerted devastating consequences in epidemic, economic and social terms. Therefore, a number of studies have already been, or are now being, conducted on the detrimental effects of the virus. In this respect, a question may arise: Is there any possibility to turn the threat of the virus outbreak into an opportunity in some sectors such as the banking industry? In this research, the effects of COVID-19 outbreak as an intervening element on the acceptance of branchless banking were studied.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, the factors affecting the acceptance and development of branchless banking in Iran at the time of COVID-19 outbreak were identified by systematically studying the theoretical framework, conducting further research and interviewing the experts; then, a causal loop diagram of the problem in the proposed case study and the flow rate model were presented.FindingsThe simulation results showed that banking transactions and a bank's financial resources would increase by implementing the package policy of reducing the number of branches, promoting incentive policies and increasing the budget rate of the bank in Information Technology (IT). Further, by promoting customers' acceptance of new technologies, the spread of COVID-19 can be viewed as a positive factor, or even a catalyst, in the acceptance and development of branchless banking in Iran.Originality/valueBased on the proposed model, the difficulties faced by individuals during the spread of COVID-19 could act as justifiable incentives to boost appropriate organizational preparations for making changes to the classic working processes. Processes such as telecommuting, job rotation and so on are among these changes.

A bi-level mathematical model for logistic management considering the evolutionary game with environmental feedbacks

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiman Ghasemi ◽  
Fariba Goodarzian ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran ◽  
Ajith Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Lagrangian Relaxation ◽  
Evolutionary Games ◽  
Relaxation Method ◽  
Objective Functions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Location Routing ◽  
Proposed Model

PurposeThis paper proposed a bi-level mathematical model for location, routing and allocation of medical centers to distribution depots during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The developed model has two players including interdictor (COVID-19) and fortifier (government). Accordingly, the aim of the first player (COVID-19) is to maximize system costs and causing further damage to the system. The goal of the second player (government) is to minimize the costs of location, routing and allocation due to budget limitations.Design/methodology/approachThe approach of evolutionary games with environmental feedbacks was used to develop the proposed model. Moreover, the game continues until the desired demand is satisfied. The Lagrangian relaxation method was applied to solve the proposed model.FindingsEmpirical results illustrate that with increasing demand, the values of the objective functions of the interdictor and fortifier models have increased. Also, with the raising fixed cost of the established depot, the values of the objective functions of the interdictor and fortifier models have raised. In this regard, the number of established depots in the second scenario (COVID-19 wave) is more than the first scenario (normal COVID-19 conditions).Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the current research can be useful for hospitals, governments, Disaster Relief Organization, Red Crescent, the Ministry of Health, etc. One of the limitations of the research is the lack of access to accurate information about transportation costs. Moreover, in this study, only the information of drivers and experts about transportation costs has been considered. In order to implement the presented solution approach for the real case study, high RAM and CPU hardware facilities and software facilities are required, which are the limitations of the proposed paper.Originality/valueThe main contributions of the current research are considering evolutionary games with environmental feedbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and location, routing and allocation of the medical centers to the distribution depots during the COVID-19 outbreak. A real case study is illustrated, where the Lagrangian relaxation method is employed to solve the problem.

An M/M/C/K queueing system in an inventory routing problem considering congestion and response time for post-disaster humanitarian relief: a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdieh Masoumi ◽  
Amir Aghsami ◽  
Mohammad Alipour-Vaezi ◽  
Fariborz Jolai ◽  
Behdad Esmailifar
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Inventory Routing ◽  
Humanitarian Relief ◽  
Exact Methods ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inventory Routing Problem ◽  
The People ◽  
Proposed Model

PurposeDue to the randomness and unpredictability of many disasters, it is essential to be prepared to face difficult conditions after a disaster to reduce human casualties and meet the needs of the people. After the disaster, one of the most essential measures is to deliver relief supplies to those affected by the disaster. Therefore, this paper aims to assign demand points to the warehouses as well as routing their related relief vehicles after a disaster considering convergence in the border warehouses.Design/methodology/approachThis research proposes a multi-objective, multi-commodity and multi-period queueing-inventory-routing problem in which a queuing system has been applied to reduce the congestion in the borders of the affected zones. To show the validity of the proposed model, a small-size problem has been solved using exact methods. Moreover, to deal with the complexity of the problem, a metaheuristic algorithm has been utilized to solve the large dimensions of the problem. Finally, various sensitivity analyses have been performed to determine the effects of different parameters on the optimal response.FindingsAccording to the results, the proposed model can optimize the objective functions simultaneously, in which decision-makers can determine their priority according to the condition by using the sensitivity analysis results.Originality/valueThe focus of the research is on delivering relief items to the affected people on time and at the lowest cost, in addition to preventing long queues at the entrances to the affected areas.

A multi-attribute approach to select the best method for repairing river bridge columns

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitra Salmaninezhad ◽  
S. Mahmood Jazayeri Moghaddas
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Bridge Columns ◽  
Pier Scour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Multi Attribute Decision Making ◽  
Weighing Method

PurposePier scour is one of the main causes of damage to the columns of the river bridges. It is essential to select the best method among various repair methods based on different evaluation indices. However, there is no procedure for ranking these repair methods based on their attributes. The present study seeks to set an approach for this ranking.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) model is presented for ranking the repair techniques, in which alternatives are examined using the most important evaluation criteria. In addition, a combination of entropy and eigenvector methods has been proposed for weighting these attributes. A case study is then used to demonstrate the applicability and the validity of the method.FindingsThe execution of the model using two multi-criteria methods yielded similar results, which confirms its accuracy and precision. Moreover, the research findings showed the consistency of the objective and subjective weighting methods and the conformity of the weights obtained for the attributes from the combination of these methods to the nature of the problem.Originality/valueThe selection of the proper method for repairing the bridge columns plays an essential role in success of the bridge restoration. The proposed model introduces an approach for ranking repair methods and selecting the best one that has not been presented so far. Also, the weighing method for attributes is an innovative method for ranking restoration methods that has been proven in a case study.

A novel product recommendation model consolidating price, trust and online reviews

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1355-1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Nu-nu Wang ◽  
Hongyu Zhang ◽  
Jianqiang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Search Engines ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Fuzzy Theory ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Neutrosophic Sets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Recommendation ◽  
Proposed Model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for product recommendation to improve the accuracy of recommendation based on the current search engines used in e-commerce platforms like Tmall.com. Design/methodology/approach First, the proposed model comprehensively considers price, trust and online reviews, which all represent critical factors in consumers’ purchasing decisions. Second, the model introduces the quantization methods for these criteria incorporating fuzzy theory. Third, the model uses a distance measure between two single valued neutrosophic sets based on the prioritized average operator to consolidate the influences of positive, neutral and negative comments. Finally, the model uses multi-criteria decision-making methods to integrate the influences of price, trust and online reviews on purchasing decisions to generate recommendations. Findings To demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed model, a case study is conducted based on Tmall.com. The results of case study indicate that the recommendations of our model perform better than those of current search engines of Tmall.com. The proposed model can significantly improve the accuracy of product recommendations based on search engines. Originality/value The product recommendation method can meet the critical challenge from the search engines on e-commerce platforms. In addition, the proposed method could be used in practice to develop a new application for e-commerce platforms.

Towards Chinese smart manufacturing ecosystem in the context of the one belt one road initiative

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafif Al-Sayed ◽  
Jianhua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Industrial Clusters ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Smart Manufacturing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Regional Collaboration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically China’s determined thrust to attain a high level of technological innovation and the factors affecting moving towards a smart and sophisticated manufacturing ecosystem in conjunction with the Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR). Design/methodology/approach This research provides empirical determination of the factors affecting moving towards smart manufacturing ecosystems in China. The method is based on combining two approaches: semi-structured interview and questionnaire-based with academics, experts and managers in various Chinese industrial sectors. The results are based on the multivariate analysis of the collected data. A case study of the current manufacturing ecosystem was also analyzed, in order to understand the present state as well as the potential for China’s competitive edge in the developed OBOR countries. Findings The results illustrate the importance of the infrastructure dimension comprising variables related to ecosystems, industrial clusters and Internet of Things IoT and other advanced technologies. A case study of the city of Shenzhen’s transformation into a smart cluster for innovative manufacturing points out how China’s OBOR initiative for regional collaboration will further transform the regional smart clusters into an ultra-large innovation based smart ecosystem. Originality/value This research is the first to study China’ policies towards playing a prominent role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution 4IR in the context of the OBOR initiative, through empirically defining the factors affecting moving towards a knowledge-intensive smart manufacturing ecosystem where the added value is mostly innovation based.

scholarly journals Organising to beat the Trade Union Act (2016) voting thresholds: a case study of organising and tactics from the University and College Union

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Richards ◽  
Vaughan Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
College Union ◽  
The University ◽  
Further Development

PurposeA retrospective action-research case study of one branch of the University and College Union (UCU) is used to show how threshold requirements of the Act can be systematically beaten.Design/methodology/approachThe paper responds to calls for “best practice” on how trade unions may react to member voting threshold requirements of the Trade Union Act 2016 (the Act). A broader aim is to make a theoretical contribution related to trade union organising and tactics in “get the vote out” (GTVO) industrial action organising campaigns.FindingsFindings are presented as a lead organiser's first-hand account of a successful GTVO campaign contextualised in relation to theories of organising. The findings offer “best practice” for union organisers required to beat the Act's voting thresholds and also contribute to theories surrounding trade union organising tactics.Research limitations/implicationsFurther development and adaptation of the proposed model may be required when applied to larger bargaining units and different organising contexts.Practical implicationsThe findings can inform the organising practices/tactics of trade unions in relation to statutory ballots. The findings also allow Human Resource (HR) practitioners to reflect on their approach to dealing with unions capable of mounting successful GTVO campaigns.Social implicationsThe findings have the potential to collectively empower workers, via their trade unions, to defend and further their interests in a post-financial crisis context and in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThis is the first known empirical account of organising to exceed voting thresholds of the Act, providing practical steps for union organisers in planning for statutory ballots. Further value lies in the paper's use of a novel first-hand account of a GTVO campaign, offering a new and first, theoretical model of organising tactics to beat the Act.

What makes users willing or hesitant to use Fintech?: the moderating effect of user type

2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Sun Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Original Data ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Partial Least Squares Method ◽  
Benefit And Risk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to better understand why people are willing or hesitant to use Financial technology (Fintech) as well as to determine whether the effect of perceived benefits and risks of continuance intention differs depending on user types. Design/methodology/approach Original data were collected via a survey of 243 participants with Fintech usage experience. The partial least squares method was used to test the proposed model. Findings The results reveal that legal risk had the most negative effect on the Fintech continuance intention, while convenience had the strongest positive effect. Differences in specific benefit and risk impacts are found between early and late adopters. Originality/value This empirical study contributes to the novel understanding of the benefit and risk factors affecting the Fintech continuance intention.

Interconnections between the cultural and creative industries and tourism: challenges in four Ibero-American capital cities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Helena Henriques ◽  
Silvina Renee Elias
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Creative Industries ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Tourism Impacts ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Capital Cities ◽  
Creative Cities ◽  
Cultural And Creative Industries

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the European and Latin America urban cultural policies that could enhance cultural and creative sustainable tourism products development. Design/methodology/approach The methodological framework is based on a comparative case study regarding the importance, dynamics and policies associated to cultural and creative tourism in four Ibero-American cities, namely, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Lisbon and Madrid. Findings This exploratory analysis underlines the growing importance of cultural and creative tourism in the four capital cities. On one hand, cities reveal different tourism impacts and, on the other hand, they are associated to different cultural and creative sector structures. Cities cultural and creative performance put in evidence that sustainable cities index, global talent competitiveness index and cultural and creative cities monitor, tend to position Madrid in the first place followed by, Lisbon, Buenos Aires and Brasilia. Research limitations/implications In general, and despite the importance of space in the creative process, there is little research on the geography of the creative industries and there is a lack of cross-country comparative studies so that it is difficult to assess the particularities of each model of creativity. Practical implications Cities could enhance more efforts in investing, not only in the traditional cultural infrastructures but also on the new forms of culture, new technologies, new makers, new audiences based on their attributes, activities and labels, in a framework of urban sustainable policies based on “innovation,” “inclusiveness” and “interconnectivity.” Originality/value The originality of the paper lies in the comparative analysis of four cities based on cultural and creative sector and tourism interconnections. Simultaneously, it lies in an exploratory model application.

Interval type-2 fuzzy inference-based failure mode and effect analysis model in a group decision-making setting

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
İlker Gölcük
Keyword(s):  
Failure Modes ◽  
Fuzzy Inference ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Inference System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Interval Type

PurposeThis paper proposes an integrated IT2F-FMEA model under a group decision-making setting. In risk assessment models, experts' evaluations are often aggregated beforehand, and necessary computations are performed, which in turn, may cause a loss of information and valuable individual opinions. The proposed integrated IT2F-FMEA model aims to calculate risk priority numbers from the experts' evaluations and then fuse experts' judgments using a novel integrated model.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a novel failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) model by integrating the fuzzy inference system, best-worst method (BWM) and weighted aggregated sum-product assessment (WASPAS) methods under interval type-2 fuzzy (IT2F) environment. The proposed FMEA approach utilizes the Mamdani-type IT2F inference system to calculate risk priority numbers. The individual FMEA results are combined by using integrated IT2F-BWM and IT2F-WASPAS methods.FindingsThe proposed model is implemented in a real-life case study in the furniture industry. According to the case study, fifteen failure modes are considered, and the proposed integrated method is used to prioritize the failure modes.Originality/valueMamdani-type singleton IT2F inference model is employed in the FMEA. Additionally, the proposed model allows experts to construct their membership functions and fuzzy rules to capitalize on the experience and knowledge of the experts. The proposed group FMEA model aggregates experts' judgments by using IT2F-BWM and IT2F-WASPAS methods. The proposed model is implemented in a real-life case study in the furniture company.

Teachers' Attitudes Towards the Use of Tablets in Six EFL Classrooms

2020 ◽  
pp. 284-298
Author(s):  
Aysegul Liman Kaban ◽  
Isil Boy Ergul
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

This research study intends to explore teachers' use of tablets to in six EFL classrooms. The case study covers one private primary school in Istanbul, Turkey. Through the analysis of semi-structured interviews, the aim is to find out the factors affecting EFL teachers use of tablets, their attitudes towards using these devices, and the advantages and disadvantages they see in using tablets in their teaching. The study focuses on teachers' perspective as they are by and large ignored when it comes to the introduction of new technologies in educational institutions.

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