Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) has been further interpreted in the form of total interpretive structural modelling (TISM). These are graphical models that represent the hierarchical relationships and help in better and precise conceptualization and theory building. ISM only interprets the nodes in a digraph, but TISM interprets both nodes and links. The errors observed in applications of ISM and TISM reported in past have acted as motivation for this paper to provide checks and guidelines for correctness of total interpretive structural models. The paper first gives an overview of past applications of TISM. The process of TISM is first outlined and then the guidelines and thumb rules are provided to check the correctness of TISM at each step. Some typical errors in TISM models and their modifications are discussed to help future modellers to translate their ill-structured mental models into sound theoretical models. A discussion on usefulness of TISM for big data analytics for theory building is provided and future directions of research are outlined.

How to check correctness of total interpretive structural models

Purpose




The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the methodology of total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) in order to provide interpretation for direct as well as significant transitive linkages in a directed graph.




Design/methodology/approach




This study begins by unfolding the concepts and advantages of TISM. The step-by-step methodology of TISM is exemplified by employing it to analyze the mutual dependence among inhibitors of smartphone manufacturing ecosystem development (SMED). Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to the classification analysis is also performed to graphically represent these inhibitors based on their driving power and dependence.




Findings




This study highlights the significance of TISM over conventional interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The inhibitors of SMED are explored by reviewing existing literature and obtaining experts’ opinions. TISM is employed to classify these inhibitors in order to devise a five-level hierarchical structure based on their driving power and dependence.




Practical implications




This study facilitates decision makers to take required actions to mitigate these inhibitors. Inhibitors (with strong driving power), which occupy the bottom level in the TISM hierarchy, require more attention from top management and effective monitoring of these inhibitors can assist in achieving the organizations’ goals.




Originality/value




By unfolding the benefits of TISM over ISM, this study is an endeavor to develop insights toward utilization of TISM for modeling inhibitors of SMED. This paper elaborates step-by-step procedure to perform TISM and hence makes it simple for researchers to understand its concepts. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that analyzes the inhibitors of SMED by utilizing TISM approach.

Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM): approach and application

Economic growth of a nation depends upon its capability to ensure the security of safe and quality food to its citizens. Despite having the vital role of food security in the growth, emerging economies are facing a number of challenges in their food logistics system. One of the most attention-seeking challenges is the management of security and safety of food commodities in food logistics. The prime concern is to monitor food quality throughout its supply chain and track the physical movement till it reaches end-consumers. This requires implementation of an effective and efficient traceability system. The successful implementation of traceability system requires consideration of multiple stakeholders’ perspectives. On the basis of critical success factor (CSF) theory and multiple stakeholders’ view on ensuring the security of quality food, this study proposes a comprehensive framework for implementation of traceability-based food logistics system. It attempts to identify and classify various CSFs necessary for the implementation of traceability system using a questionnaire-based survey followed by exploratory factor analysis. Further, an analysis of inter-relationships among the statistically significant CSFs is performed using total interpretive structural modeling, which considers multiple stakeholders’ views. The study helps in developing a comprehensive understanding of directional inter-relationships among CSFs and provides significant insights related to ways to improve consumer satisfaction through safe and quality food in food logistics.

Modeling critical success factors of traceability for food logistics system

Improvement in the food losses in fruits and vegetable supply chain - a perspective of cold third-party logistics approach

Traceability plays a vital role in the success of Halal Supply Chain (HSC) HSC revolve around the essential dimension of Halal Integrity (HI), whereas traceability is seemed to be medium to assure integrity Thus, a need is felt to identify the factors which are critical to the successful implementation of traceability in Halal Supply Chain Management (HSCM) Identified Twelve Critical Success Factors (CSFs) through an extensive review of literature and opinion of experts Further, a contextual relationship among the CSFs is developed using Total Interpretive Structure Modelling (TISM) approach and derived a model The structural model is analyzed using Fuzzy MICMAC (Matrice d’Impacts Croises-Multipication Applique and Classment-cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) approach to identify the importance of CSFs by driving and dependence power The primary result indicates towards; that improving the HSCM with the higher level of Halal awareness Assuring HI will enhance the consumer satisfaction which leads to a competitive advantage for the organization Academic researchers, industrial practitioners and Supply Chain executives can understand the complex interrelationship of CSFs by visualizing the TISM It can help the management, lobbies and government to develop the policies regarding the implementation

Implementing traceability systems in specific supply chain management (SCM) through critical success factors (CSFs)

Disaster is a disruption in the effective conduct of operations of an individual, system, organisation or nation. It may result into loss of infrastructure, resources and human lives. Generally, it adversely affects the economic well-being. Occurrence of many disasters till date, man-made or natural, has opened up a large number of issues that need careful attention. Recovery from a disaster, which affects human being, is a major challenge in the Humanitarian Supply Chain Management (HSCM). Even though the occurrence of these events could not have been avoided, the impact could be reduced by different means including effective functioning of HSCM. This paper presents a novel approach to identify qualitative factors of HSCM, in terms of food supply and involved logistics, and models the hierarchical relationship among these using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM). The purpose of this paper is to consider the factors directly affecting the relief operations within an HSCM and, also, the hierarchical order in which these factors are to be managed, based on their criticality, driving power and dependence. ISM has been applied for the identification of this order. This paper provides important insights into the management of strategic, operational and performance variables of HSCM.

Identification and Modelling of Critical Success Factors of a Humanitarian Supply Chain

• Proposes a novel integrated approach for prioritizing sustainability best practices. • Provides a list of sustainability best practices to freight transporters. • Application of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers & graph theoretic matrix approach. In recent years, integrating sustainability into the freight transportation (FT) system is progressively gaining global attention. The adoption of sustainability best practices acts as a critical link between the integration process and the sustainable performance of freight transporters. The principal objective of this study is, therefore, to propose a list of best sustainability practices relevant to the FT system. This study considers India a suitable context for the research as environmental emissions due to FT in India are substantially increasing with the upsurge in freight demand. It is, therefore, imperative to embed sustainability values within the freight operations to minimize the environmental and societal implications of freight movements. This study identifies twenty-four sustainability best practices through an extensive literature review, which are clustered into four main categories, namely (a) organizational, (b) process-oriented, (c) technological, and (d) collaborative sustainability practices. These practices are further quantified and prioritized using an integrated approach that innovatively combines intuitionistic fuzzy numbers with the graph theoretic and matrix approach. The quantification and prioritization processes were carried out using expert opinions collected through focus group sessions. Unlike conventional perception, the results of the study show that top management commitment, multi-modal freight transportation, and adoption of green technologies have a higher share of impact on the overall performance of the freight organization. The proposed study is one of the few works, which may act as a guideline for managers and decision-makers seeking to integrate sustainability into freight operations. From the perspective of methodological contribution, this is the first study in the freight transportation literature that has integrated intuitionistic fuzzy numbers with graph-theoretic and matrix approach. One of the uniqueness of the proposed integrated model is that it evaluates both the negative and positive influences of sustainability practices on the freight transporter’s economic, environmental, social, operational, and technological performance. 

Improving freight transportation performance through sustainability best practices

Learning outcomes
The purpose of this case is to expose readers to the dilemma of expanding domestically or internationally and simultaneously taking key decisions while expanding the business to the international markets. It could be a foundational case for understanding international expansion and growth strategies.
After the case analysis, students would be able to:
• understand the potential of the domestic market and the factors affecting the international expansion;
• evaluate the various methods to enter an international market;
• identify the challenges of expanding a business into emerging markets such as India;
• analyze the various growth and expansion strategies in an emerging market such as India; and
• assess the online promotion strategies in an emerging market.

Case overview/synopsis
NIVA, The Satin Collection, is a manufacturer and distributor of a luxury collection of silk and satin products. Founded in 2020, NIVA is based in Dubai with more than 1,000 customers. The products include silk bedding, silk sleepwear, fashion accessories and reusable satin masks, and they are made-to-order, custom-made and tailored locally in Dubai. Currently, all the operations are run and managed by the company’s founder, Purva. The only operation which is outsourced is the stitching process. The company is completely operating online and is currently promoting products only through social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Purva is planning to expand her business. The two options are extending her existing operations in the UAE and expanding to other emerging markets, starting with India. Purva needs to decide on a suitable internationalization strategy to decide whether it is the right decision to enter the Indian market, including an entry and promotion strategy in her target market. In addition, she needs to decide whether to continue with NIVA’s current business model in India. There might also be additional possible challenges for NIVA in entering the Indian market.

Complexity academic level
Postgraduate MBA students, other graduate-level management programs and undergraduate-level students.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS 5: International Business.


NIVA: business expansion dilemma

Over the years, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has become one of the important and powerful tools for every professional sector due to its continuous evolution. The constant evolution of innovative broadband communication services as well as the conjunction of telecommunication and computers have opened up several ways for advancing different businesses and their processes. In addition to this, many researchers have emphasized the benefits of ICT in the area of Human Resource Management (HRM). Especially, these advanced technologies transformed the recruitment process that used to be done, making the overall process highly efficient. However, there is limited research that analyzes the degree of impact of ICT on the HRM functions particularly recruitment. Hence, to fill this literature gap, this research paper has attempted to study how ICT impacts the dynamics and performance of the recruitment process in the petroleum & gas industry of India by using Multiple Regression Analysis. The data was collected through questionnaires from 501 respondents working in different domains in petroleum & gas companies operating in India. The results obtained in the study indicate that the ICT makes a significant and positive impact on the recruitment process which ultimately contributes in improving the performance of the whole organization. Earlier, HR staff had to do the recruitment related activities manually and had to keep huge records in hard copies and make data entry manually which was very tedious as well as time consuming but now due to adoption of ICT in almost every organization worldwide, have reduced their overall costs, efforts and time. This paper demonstrates the effective use of ICT in the recruitment process of large-scale organizations for improving their overall performance. This study tries to help and motivate the organizations to continue adopting advanced ICT for improving the performance of the recruitment process in the organization and get the desired benefits.

Vijayta Fulzele

Papers

Identification and Modelling of Critical Success Factors of a Humanitarian Supply Chain

Improving freight transportation performance through sustainability best practices

NIVA: business expansion dilemma

Impact of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) on Recruitment Process of Petroleum & Gas Sector in India