Showing papers in "International Journal of Applied Management Science in 2016"
TL;DR: A reputation-controlled fish school (RCFS) algorithm to identify trustable users and utilise them in recommendations and it is demonstrated that the resulting feedback strategies can increase the effectiveness of the recommenders' decisions.
Abstract: Context-aware recommender systems have been developed to consider users' preferences in various contextual situations. While designing such systems, one immediate concern, is to preserve the integrity of the recommender and minimise the attack probability of biased users who may indirectly influence the outcome of the system. Several algorithms have been developed to identify malicious users in contextual environments. In this paper, we propose a reputation-controlled fish school (RCFS) algorithm to identify trustable users and utilise them in recommendations. In addition, we propose a recommendation algorithm that replicates the behaviour of social insects using a hybrid artificial bee colony (ABC) and simulated annealing (SA) technique. Finally, we demonstrate that the resulting feedback strategies can increase the effectiveness of the recommenders' decisions.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an experiential learning framework for facilitating the development of dynamic capabilities in project-based technology organizations is proposed, which will assist the firm in preserving tacit knowledge and developing manpower for future projects.
Abstract: Project-based technology firms operating in a dynamic environment have to preserve their firm-specific advantage and also buffer against labour market shocks. Preservation and propagation of tacit knowledge that assists the firm in creating a non-replicable strategic advantage thus becomes vitally important. Due to the nature of tacit knowledge to not get codified, it is difficult for the firm to sustain advantage based on firm-specific tacit knowledge. Experiential learning-based frameworks can aid in resolving this issue. Such methodologies propagate tacit knowledge, shorten the lead time for execution of projects, reduces the time to market for innovative products and also protect against labour shortages by pursuing strategic staffing. In this paper, utilising a case study of a project, we suggest an experiential learning framework for facilitating the development of dynamic capabilities in project-based technology organisations. This framework will assist the firm in preserving tacit knowledge and develop manpower for future projects.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the hedging effectiveness of European and US wheat futures markets were studied to test whether they were affected by the high price instability after 2007, in particular, the focus of the paper is to test of whether the increasing presence of financialisation of commodity trading in futures markets mentioned in the literature has made them divorced from the physical markets.
Abstract: The instability of commodity prices and the hypothesis that speculative behaviour was one of its causes has brought renewed interest in futures markets. In this paper, the hedging effectiveness of European and US wheat futures markets were studied to test whether they were affected by the high price instability after 2007. In particular, the focus of the paper is to test of whether the increasing presence of financialisation of commodity trading in futures markets mentioned in the literature has made them divorced from the physical markets. A multivariate GARCH model was applied to compute optimal hedging ratios. Important evidence was found of a slight improvement, after 2007, in the effectiveness of hedging with the European futures.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a discrete event simulation study is used to investigate the effect of supply variability, demand variability, targeted cycle service level, supply flexibility factor, number of suppliers, and retailer-to-supplier ratio on average transaction cost and observed cycle level in a two-tiered supply chain with multiple suppliers and multiple retailers.
Abstract: A discrete event simulation study is used to investigate the effect of supply variability, demand variability, targeted cycle service level, supply flexibility factor, number of suppliers, and retailer-to-supplier ratio on average transaction cost and observed cycle service level in a two-tiered supply chain with multiple suppliers and multiple retailers. Our findings indicate that transaction cost decreases as demand variability increases or as targeted cycle service level increases. Transaction cost increases as supply variability increases. Observed cycle service level and average transaction cost are not significantly affected by number of suppliers and retailer-to-supplier ratio. Observed customer service level gets worse when supply or demand variability increases, and it improves when supply becomes more available.
4 citations
TL;DR: An optimisation approach based on Taguchi design of experiment and COPRAS decision-making method is proposed that not only maximises total revenue and customer satisfaction simultaneously, but also mitigates the effects of nuisance factors on system by minimising the variance of two objectives.
Abstract: The optimal allocation of seat inventory is a well-known problem of airline revenue management in the airline industry. It is usually carried out among fare classes with a known demand distribution for each class with the aim at increasing the efficiency of revenue systems and enhancing customer satisfaction. Furthermore, an important assumption is the issue of cancellation which is very common in the field of airlines. So to avoid having unused seat in a flight, overbooking technique is used. During last years, different approaches have been proposed for addressing this problem, but most of them only considered revenue to be maximised. In this paper, an optimisation approach based on Taguchi design of experiment and COPRAS decision-making method is proposed. The suggested method not only maximises total revenue and customer satisfaction simultaneously, but also mitigates the effects of nuisance factors on system by minimising the variance of two objectives. Experimental results on a standard example show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the consequences of the economic crisis to consumer behavior are studied and the results and conclusions of the conducted empirical research of a sample consisted of 1,118 people are presented, factors that have been studied are age, sex, economical status, the way and the frequency of consuming clothing, foot wear, cosmetics, accessories, new technologies and entertainment cost.
Abstract: In this paper, the consequences of the economic crisis to consumer behaviour are studied. Results and conclusions of the conducted empirical research of a sample consisted of 1,118 people are presented. Factors that have been studied are age, sex, economical status, the way and the frequency of consuming clothing, foot wear, cosmetics, accessories, new technologies and entertainment cost.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the relationships between organisational justice, organisational performance and knowledge-sharing in the UAE and found that knowledge sharing behavior partially mediated the relationship between organizational justice and an internal process perspective.
Abstract: There have been a number of studies about the relationship between organisational justice and organisational performance. These studies, however, may not be relevant in the Middle Eastern context, and particularly in the UAE. This research therefore explores the relationships between organisational justice, organisational performance and knowledge-sharing in the UAE. Data were collected from 247 field employees of the only company working in prehospital care in Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates, using a questionnaire. Relationships were examined using hierarchical linear regression. We found that organisational justice has a strong positive significant relationship with both organisational performance and knowledge-sharing behaviour. Knowledge-sharing behaviour partially mediated the relationship between organisational justice and an internal process perspective.
3 citations
TL;DR: This paper introduces a categorical overall subjective assessment into the traditional contracts, and shows optimal objective incentive factor needs to be modified with subjective requirement for better outsourcing results.
Abstract: In service outsourcing, the phenomenon of poor subjective performance abounds. Because the subjective metrics, albeit listed in the contract, are rarely linked with the final payment as the objective ones, they are less likely to obtain sufficient efforts to reach the optimal performance. In this paper, we introduce a categorical overall subjective assessment into the traditional contracts. Based on the contract theory, we compare the objective-metrics-based contract and first-best situation, and then analyse the optimal performance for service outsourcing and the reward and punishment mechanism for subjective performance changes. We suggest the situations where the subjective requirements are needed and also provide some fundamental principles for stipulation. Then, we design the contract based on both objective and subjective metrics to provide some incentives for subjective performance without compromising the conventional objective one. We show optimal objective incentive factor needs to be modified with subjective requirement for better outsourcing results.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the perception of consumers towards the so-called premium products; what according to conservative consumers is the real "premiumness", and attempted to classify the value proposition of consumers toward the premium consumer packaged products as hedonic and utilitarian benefits, across organic and natural shelves of many retail channels and banners, in the conservative markets of India, by laddering the benefit links to values.
Abstract: The word 'premium' can conjure a plethora of meaning that includes quality, cost, convenience and many more; it varies with segment and product category. The rapid growth of specialty gourmet stores and e-tailing hubs pose a greater challenge in understanding the word 'premium as-perceived-by consumers'. This study explores the perception of consumers towards the so-called premium products; what according to conservative consumers is the real 'premiumness'? The study also attempts to classify the value proposition of consumers towards the premium consumer packaged products as hedonic and utilitarian benefits, across organic and natural shelves of many retail channels and banners, in the conservative markets of India, by laddering the benefit links to values. Purposive sampling for in-depth interview of 60 respondents drawn from three strata with two economic classes is adopted. The study reveals that the high-income group regularly buys premium products but the premium product purchase growth and aspirational effects are stronger in low-income group. The outcome of the study is expected to help the marketers define every variable in the value equation of CPG premium products, according to the customer category.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider a multi-product processing network with two products to serve the market using two dedicated resources and one flexible resource and study the impact of both strategic and operational cost parameters as well as products demand correlation on optimal capacity acquisition decision.
Abstract: We consider a firm that offers two products to serve the market using two dedicated resources and one flexible resource. We model the firm's capacity acquisition decision as a two-stage stochastic optimisation problem with recourse. In the first stage, the firm determines the capacity acquisition level before realisation of products demand. Whereas, in the second stage, after the products demand is realised, the firm determines the production allocation level. Our objective is to study the impact of both strategic and operational cost parameters as well as products demand correlation on optimal capacity acquisition decision. We conduct post-optimality sensitivity analysis via numerical example, and found interestingly that the firm's processing network exhibits complementarity as well as substitution effects. We discuss our results and implications in the context of multi-resource processing network.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the measure of the quantity by which the profit of a one-output, multi-input firm deviates from a maximum short-run profit, and then the decomposition of this profit gap into its components.
Abstract: This study investigated the measure of the quantity by which the profit of a one-output, multi-input firm deviates from a maximum short-run profit, and then the decomposition of this profit gap into its components. We examined this work and tried to apply it to the Tunisian manufacturing sector. We found a measure of the contribution of the unused capacity, the technical and the allocative inefficiencies to this profit gap. This study was carried out by presenting the measurement of the ray of the economic capacity which involves the short-run profit maximisation, with a constant output. Then we described how the gap between the observed profit and the maximum one can be calculated and decomposed using linear programming methods. Our empirical results, involving data on six sectors of the manufacturing industry during the period 1961-2010, suggest that the profit levels reach below the potential ones and the difference might be attributed to the unused capacity.
TL;DR: In this article, a new solution technique which combines fuzzy goal programming and decision theory for selecting the fertiliser combinations subject to fertiliser expenditures has been proposed, and a case study from Indian perspective has been demonstrated to show the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Abstract: This paper presents a nutrient management model for sustainable sugarcane production. It will help sugarcane farmers to make better nutrient management decisions to achieve greater sugarcane yield at a minimum cost. The decision making environment for such a model is highly uncertain and conflicting. As a consequence, a new solution technique which combines fuzzy goal programming and decision theory for selecting the fertiliser combinations subject to fertiliser expenditures has been proposed. A case study from Indian perspective has been demonstrated to show the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors address the relationship between managers' cultural intelligence and its dimensions (metacognitive CQ, cognitive CQ and motivational CQ) with organisational agility in selected branches of Bank Melli in Isfahan province.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to address the relationship between managers' cultural intelligence and its dimensions (metacognitive CQ, cognitive CQ, motivational CQ, and behavioural CQ) with organisational agility in the selected branches of Bank Melli in Isfahan province. The statistical population included 1142 employees of the selected branches of Bank Melli in Isfahan province. The required data was collected from 287 managers and experts of the banks. Historical study was employed to gather the information on research literature and Ang et al.'s cultural intelligence questionnaire (2004) and the researchers' self-made questionnaire with the Likert five-option scale were used to collect the required data to confirm or reject the hypotheses. The relationship between cultural intelligence and its dimensions with organisational agility was explored via structural equation modelling. LISREL and SPSS software were used for data analysis. The results disclosed that there is a positive and significant relationship between cultural intelligence and its dimensions with organisational agility.
TL;DR: In this article, the linkages among three forms of organisational commitments and occupational commitments of non-managers and managers in Japanese organisations were explored and found that there is no conflict between these two forms of employee commitment based on the new performance or result oriented management system that is adopted by Japanese organisations.
Abstract: This study explores the linkages among three forms of organisational commitments and occupational (professional) or career commitments of non-managers and managers in Japanese organisations. Is there any conflict between these two forms of employee commitment based on the new performance or result oriented management system that is adopted by Japanese organisations? We undertook interviews and surveyed 308 subjects, which constitute 227 respondents from non-managerial employees with the support of members from RENGO (Japanese Trade Union) and 81 mid-level managers from 18 Japanese companies located in the Kanto region of Japan between 2009 and 2010. Hierarchical OLS regressions indicate that there a 'no-conflict' relationship between occupational commitment and overall organisational commitment of the Japanese employees. The research findings contribute to the limited literature available on the study of both organisational and occupational commitments of employees in Asian workplace setting. Practical relevance of the study has also been discussed.