An Application of Constructal Theory in the Multi-Objective Design of Product Platforms

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Carone ◽  
Christopher B. Williams ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Real World ◽  
Utility Theory ◽  
Pressure Vessels ◽  
Constructal Theory ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Geometric Space

Designers develop product platforms when they wish to offer variety to the customer and simultaneously keep costs down to a reasonable level. It has been shown that it is feasible and useful to design hierarchic product platforms for customizable products as a problem of optimization of access in a geometric space, allowing the designer to thoroughly explore a product family’s market space. However, the presence of risk, uncertainty, and tradeoffs, which are inevitable aspects of a real-world design problem, are not considered in this method. We have addressed these limitations through the infusion of utility theory into the multi-stage decision-making process. The proposed approach is illustrated with an example: the design of a product platform for a line of customizable pressure vessels.

Designing Product Families for a Changing Market Space

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh S. Kulkarni ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessels ◽  
Constructal Theory ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Theory Method ◽  
Product Families ◽  
Multiple Modes ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Per Se

The Product Platform Constructal Theory Method (PPCTM) provides designers with an approach for synthesizing multiple modes of managing customization in the development of product platforms. An assumption underlying PPCTM is that the extent of the market space is known and is fixed. In this paper, we introduce PPCTM-RCM (Robust to Changes in Market) that facilitates designing product platforms when the extent of the market space is expected to change. The PPCTM-RCM is illustrated via example problem, namely, the design of a product platform for a line of customizable pressure vessels. Our focus in this paper is on highlighting features of the method rather than results per se.

scholarly journals Feminist Judging in the 'Real World'

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1275-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Real World ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Feminist Perspective ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
The Real ◽  
Judicial Practice ◽  
Tools And Techniques

The various feminist judgment projects (FJPs) have explored through the imagined rewriting of judgments a range of ways in which a feminist perspective may be applied to the practice of judging. But how do these imagined judgments compare to what actual feminist judges do? This article presents the results of the author’s empirical research to date on ‘real world’ feminist judging. Drawing on case study and interview data it explores the how, when and where of feminist judging, that is, the feminist resources, tools and techniques judges have drawn upon, the stages in the hearing and decision-making process at which these resources, tools and techniques have been deployed, and the areas of law in which they have been applied. The article goes on to consider observed and potential limits on feminist judicial practice, before drawing conclusions about the comparison between ‘real world’ feminist judging and the practices of FJPs. Los proyectos de sentencias feministas, a través de la reelaboración imaginaria de sentencias judiciales, han explorado multitud de vías en las que las perspectivas feministas se podrían aplicar a la práctica judicial. Pero ¿qué resulta de la comparación entre dichas sentencias y la práctica real de las juezas feministas? Este artículo presenta los resultados de la investigación empírica de la autora. Se analiza el cómo, el cuándo y el dónde de la labor judicial feminista, es decir, los recursos, herramientas y técnicas feministas que las juezas han utilizado, las fases de audiencia y toma de decisión en las que se han utilizado y las áreas del derecho en que se han aplicado. Además, se toman en consideración los límites observados y potenciales de la práctica judicial feminista, y se extraen conclusiones sobre la comparación entre la labor judicial feminista en el “mundo real” y la práctica de los proyectos de tribunales feministas.

Webrooming and showrooming: a multi-stage consumer decision process

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Srabanti Mukherjee ◽  
Swagato Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Product Type ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Purchase Decision ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Channel Choice ◽  
Multi Stage

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to propose and validate a theoretical framework explaining web-rooming and showrooming as a multi-stage decision-making process. The authors have used consumer purchase decision-making theories to propose a model that identifies showrooming and webrooming as a combination of two decisions, channel choice during information search and channel choice during actual purchase. Further, the authors explored how various antecedents of showrooming and webrooming have differential effects on various stages of a purchase decision-making process and how product type moderates the relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have conducted empirical research, whereby 243 responses were obtained from a cross-sectional survey. The authors have used structural equation modeling and multiple regression analysis to validate our theoretical model.FindingsWebrooming or showrooming is a multi-stage decision-making process for the consumers. First, consumers decide whether to search online or offline and then whether to buy online and offline. Different individual, purchase context-related and channel related factors impact these decisions. Product type governs which variables will be more important than others.Originality/valueThe research looks to enhance the understanding of the consumer's decision-making process during showrooming and webrooming while also helping retailers design and implement appropriate strategies that could affect consumers during information search and actual purchase.

Design of Hierarchic Platforms for Customizable Products

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Hernandez ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Product Family ◽  
Product Performance ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Electric Motors ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Individual Product ◽  
Geometric Space ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

The objective in product platform design is to synthesize a set of components that will be shared by a number of product variants considering potential sacrifices in individual product performance that result from parts sharing. A good platform strategy should allow us to specify different levels of commonality for the various features and components of the product family in order to reduce the impact of commonality on performance. In this paper, we formulate the design of platforms for customizable products as a problem of optimization of access in a geometric space. This approach allows us to develop systematically hierarchic product platforms with multiple levels of commonality. We illustrate the proposed approach with a case example: the design of a product platform for a line of customizable electric motors.

Simulating the Foreign Policy Decision-Making Process in the Undergraduate Classroom

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (02) ◽  
pp. 401-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Loggins
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Real World ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Political Events ◽  
Policy Decision Making ◽  
Concrete World

A simulation of the foreign policy decision-making process, as described in this article, can assist an instructor in linking students' abstract understanding of complex political events, circumstances, and decision making to the real-world interplay of the multiple factors involved in decision making. It is this type of active learning that helps bring a student's abstract understanding into the concrete world. Instead of being passive learners relying on an instructor's knowledge, students are active participants in the learning process.

scholarly journals Neural Networks in Credit Risk Classification of Companies in the Construction Sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wójcicka
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Credit Risk ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Real World ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Input Variables

The financial sector (banks, financial institutions, etc.) is the sector most exposed to financial and credit risk, as one of the basic objectives of banks' activity (as a specific enterprise) is granting credit and loans. Because credit risk is one of the problems constantly faced by banks, identification of potential good and bad customers is an extremely important task. This paper investigates the use of different structures of neural networks to support the preliminary credit risk decision-making process. The results are compared among the models and juxtaposed with real-world data. Moreover, different sets and subsets of entry data are analyzed to find the best input variables (financial ratios).

Is Additive Utility Function Always a Sufficient Method in the Project Prioritization Process? Bridge Management Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (10) ◽  
pp. 284-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onur Kalan ◽  
Abdullah Kurkcu ◽  
Kaan Ozbay
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Utility Theory ◽  
Functional Form ◽  
Utility Functions ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Bridge Management ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
Multi Attribute Utility Theory

The prioritization of maintenance activities in bridges has great importance in bridge asset management systems as they are mentioned in MAP-21. One of the most commonly used prioritization methodologies in bridge management systems is multi-attribute utility theory process. In this study, the problem is defined as using the additive functional form in this process without testing additive independence (AI) assumption, which is one of the properties of multi-attribute utility theory. This study aims to emphasize the strength of the use of multiplicative functional forms when the multiplicative form is proven to be more appropriate by AI assumption test. To demonstrate this vital point, mathematical expressions are derived for the feasible regions of indifference curves. Then, the optimum region for both additive and multiplicative approaches are calculated using these analytical expressions to demonstrate the difference between the two relation to maximizing utility. This comparison is aimed at preventing suboptimal decisions because of the use of the additive approach when the multiplicative approach is more representative of the actual decision-making process. The relevance of this claim is also demonstrated using a simple hypothetical scenario. Findings of the paper provide valuable insights to decision makers and policy makers about the importance of choosing the most appropriate functional form for utility functions employed in a prioritization. We hope that policy makers at state departments of transportation will use the comparative analysis of the effect of utility functions on the final project selection process presented in this paper as part of their routine decision-making process.

An Intelligent of Navigation and Path finding Technique of Fuzzy logic

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Prem Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Real World ◽  
Source Location ◽  
Human Intelligence ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Path Finding ◽  
Navigation Algorithm ◽  
Navigation Method

In all path finding and navigation problems the inputs are its environment space and the output of path finding and navigation algorithm is a route from source location to destination location. It seems very simple to choose a path from source to destination in theory but in real world it is very difficult to decide a route that is safe and optimal. This paper presents the navigation method which uses the human intelligence to navigate for path finding using fuzzy logic. The procedure simulates decision-making process of human for navigation and path finding.

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