Hamid Asnaashari, Abbas Sheikh Aboumasoudi, Mohammad Reza Mozaffari and Mohammad Reza Feylizadeh
The application of correct contractor selection strategies leads to the selection of a qualified contractor and, as a result, the on-time delivery of the project with the desired…
Abstract
Purpose
The application of correct contractor selection strategies leads to the selection of a qualified contractor and, as a result, the on-time delivery of the project with the desired quality and within the predetermined budgetary constraints. For this reason, evaluating and qualifying contractors before reviewing the proposed prices has been considered an important issue. One factor that disrupts the project completion process and the failure to achieve pre-planned goals effectively is the occurrence of contractors' disputes and claims in projects. To this end, the present study explores claim-reduction strategies for selecting effective contractors in an uncertain environment to reduce possible problems.
Design/methodology/approach
The two-step grey data envelopment analysis (GDEA) approach was used to measure efficiency as a powerful tool in selecting efficient contractors during tenders. This approach can extend the applications of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models. In other words, given some uncertainties, the unavailability of some data, and the problems with the DEA model, the two-step GDEA model was used to rank the contractors. The data confirmed the satisfactory outcomes from the selected model.
Findings
The preliminary assessment of contractors is a pre-tendering process and a step in categorizing contractors, excluding contractors lacking required qualifications, and selecting efficient contractors. At first, it will help the employer to exclude inexperienced and unqualified contractors, save resources and time, reduce threats, replace opportunities with threats, and reduce material and non-material costs during the completion of the project until the projects are put into operation. Consequently, this approach reduces claims to a minimum level and increases the organization's effective material and non-material profit.
Originality/value
Oil and gas plans and projects have a significant, sensitive, and decisive role in the economic, social, political, cultural, infrastructural, and all-round development of Iran; This is while most of the financial resources needed to implement the development and programs across the country come from oil revenues. Studies have indicated that despite the importance of these plans and projects, many of them are not completed successfully, and this causes irreparable losses to the country's economy and development in various fields.
Highlight
The findings of this study can be used by organizations to select more effective contractors to assign projects and plans to them.
The preliminary assessment of contractors is a pre-tendering process and a step in categorizing contractors, excluding contractors who lack required qualifications, and finally selecting efficient contractors.
At first, it will help the employer to exclude inexperienced and unqualified contractors, save resources and time, reduce threats, replace opportunities with threats, and reduce material and non-material costs during the completion of the project until the projects are put into operation.
This approach also gives credit to the employer during the execution period and contributes to assessing unqualified contractors and reducing the temptation to hand over the project to an unqualified contractor but with a lower bid price.
Consequently, this approach reduces claims to a minimum level and increases the effective material and non-material profit of the organization.
Moreover, it provides an extra-organizational evaluation for contractors, motivating them to upgrade their capabilities and optimally allocate material and non-material resources, especially human resources.
The findings of this study can be used by organizations to select more effective contractors to assign projects and plans to them.
The preliminary assessment of contractors is a pre-tendering process and a step in categorizing contractors, excluding contractors who lack required qualifications, and finally selecting efficient contractors.
At first, it will help the employer to exclude inexperienced and unqualified contractors, save resources and time, reduce threats, replace opportunities with threats, and reduce material and non-material costs during the completion of the project until the projects are put into operation.
This approach also gives credit to the employer during the execution period and contributes to assessing unqualified contractors and reducing the temptation to hand over the project to an unqualified contractor but with a lower bid price.
Consequently, this approach reduces claims to a minimum level and increases the effective material and non-material profit of the organization.
Moreover, it provides an extra-organizational evaluation for contractors, motivating them to upgrade their capabilities and optimally allocate material and non-material resources, especially human resources.
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Keywords
Vahid Rooholelm and Abbas Sheikh Aboumasoudi
Almost all projects in the world are delayed, and sometimes even lead to the full bankruptcy of their beneficiaries. These delays can be calculated using techniques, but most…
Abstract
Purpose
Almost all projects in the world are delayed, and sometimes even lead to the full bankruptcy of their beneficiaries. These delays can be calculated using techniques, but most importantly, there must be a fair and realistic division of delays between project beneficiaries. The most valid delay calculation techniques belong to the SCL Global Protocol, but they also have significant drawbacks, such as these: (1) They do not have the capability to prevent project delays (Delay Risk Management); (2) The protocol identifies and introduces any delays in activities with a ratio of one to one as a delay (Effective Delay); (3) It also does not offer the capability to share delays between stakeholders, which is a huge weakness. Floating in the base schedule activities is one of the cost control tools of projects, but it can hide project delays. In this paper, the researchers believe that the floating ownership belongs to the project and not belong to the stakeholders. This is the main tool for analyzing and sharing delays in this research.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology adopted included an extensive literature review, expert interviews, use of questionnaire and designing three innovative linked together models by researchers.
Findings
In this research, an integrated technique is introduced which has the following capabilities; delay risk control, result-based delay analysis and stakeholders delay sharing. This technique with an incursive and defensive approach implements claims management principles and calculates, respectively, non-attributable and attributable delays for each beneficiary.
Originality/value
This creativity led to the introduction of the Incursive and Defensive (In-De) technique; in the SCL protocol techniques, none of these capabilities exist.
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Ali Ahmadzadeh, Abbas Sheikh Aboumasoudi, Arash Shahin and Hadi Teimouri
The main purpose of this study is to develop a model for prioritizing the critical success factors (CSF) of enterprise resources planning (ERP) based on the enablers of…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to develop a model for prioritizing the critical success factors (CSF) of enterprise resources planning (ERP) based on the enablers of organizational agility (OA).
Design/methodology/approach
First, the CSFs of ERP and the enablers of OA have been identified and classified using Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and then a three-phase quality function deployment (QFD) model has been designed to prioritize the influencing and influenced criteria. The proposed approach has been examined in the banking sector.
Findings
Major findings indicated that organizational structure, IT technology infrastructure, and commitment and support by top managers were selected as indicators with top priority.
Research limitations/implications
Research variables were limited to the enablers of OA and the CSFs of ERP; analysis was time-consuming due to the interconnected multiple QFD phases, and findings were limited to the selected branches of a bank. The bank managers were suggested to enhance their commitment and support toward ERP. Also, it was recommended to the managers to evaluate their organizational structure and empower it as much as possible toward the fulfillment of customers' requirements and customers' expected agility.
Originality/value
The development of the QFD matrices and dividing the factors of each research variables into influencing and influenced factors distinguished this study from the literature.
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Ali Goharshenasan, Abbas Sheikh Aboumasoudi, Arash Shahin and Azarnoush Ansari
This paper aims to propose an integrative economic model of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) and performance prism based on concurrent engineering and developed balanced…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose an integrative economic model of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) and performance prism based on concurrent engineering and developed balanced scorecard (BSC).
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the supplier aspect added to the basic BSC framework, a quality function deployment (QFD) developed in four phases and the economic GRI priorities were determined. Finally, the outcomes of QFD were used in Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for ranking the economic indicators.
Findings
The indicators of financial interpretation, risks and opportunities had the first rank in learning and growth, internal processes, customer and financial BSC aspects, and they had the second rank only in the suppliers' BSC aspect.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper, merely the economic indicators of the GRI standard was studied, and no comparison was made between the variables of the other standards and the GRI standard.
Originality/value
The most important contribution of this study is merging the supplier aspect and BSC based on the concept of suppliers, inputs, process, outputs and customers (SIPOC) in supply chain analysis. Achieving economic sustainability by a concurrent engineering approach is another novelty of this paper. The proposed model was examined in the tile and ceramic industry for the first time.
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Thyago Celso Cavalcante Nepomuceno, Victor Diogho Heuer de Carvalho, Thiago Poleto and Ciro José Jardim Figueiredo
This article presents a methodological application of decision support with the purpose of identifying and better aligning sustainable banking strategies. Those strategies are…
Abstract
Purpose
This article presents a methodological application of decision support with the purpose of identifying and better aligning sustainable banking strategies. Those strategies are based on best practices declared by employees and conducted during efficient periods affecting sustainable production, the health quality of clients, the organization’s profitability and social impact on the local community across different sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach involves a two-phase process: first, it employs directional data envelopment analysis (DEA) to benchmark knowledge based on employee opinions gathered through interviews to evaluate strategies related to banking services; then, using the best-worst method and ELECTRE outranking incorporating elements of fuzzy set theory based on an experienced decision-maker’s input, sustainable banking strategies are ranked according the different perspectives for leveraging outputs from the first step.
Findings
The outcomes yield a ranking of strategies, emphasizing the crucial role of technology in banking services while highlighting the need for more agile services to ensure customer satisfaction. This underscores the necessity of aligning with the market perspective, as fintech companies are reshaping the socio-technological-environmental landscape of financial services.
Research limitations/implications
The research combined DEA and multicriteria analysis in the context of the banking sector, providing a comprehensive and analytically robust approach translated as a decision-making framework for promoting sustainability by aligning operational efficiency and social responsibility. These tools can guide banks in adopting more sustainable practices that benefit the institution, society and the environment.
Practical implications
Decisions in the banking sector encompass a wide array of concepts, from internal technical factors to customer feedback on service processes and offerings. The proposed approach considers decision analysis in complex environments, and the application developed in this study considered not only internal banking activity-oriented concepts but also the preferences of human agents developing them and the managerial perspective focused on issues involving components associated with sustainability.
Originality/value
By integrating DEA with multicriteria analysis, this study paves the way for a more efficient, environmentally conscious and socially responsible management scenario in the Brazilian banking sector. This research assesses operational efficiency and offers a comprehensive framework for selecting and implementing sustainable practices in the banking sector.
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Hisham Idrees, Jin Xu and Syed Arslan Haider
The purpose of this study is to examine knowledge management (KM) infrastructure and processes on automobile manufacturing firm innovative performance through the mediating role…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine knowledge management (KM) infrastructure and processes on automobile manufacturing firm innovative performance through the mediating role of agile project management (APM) practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The data collection involved purposive and convenience sampling techniques to gather information from 692 employees employed in various public and private automobile manufacturing firms operating in Pakistan. To test the hypothesis, data analysis was conducted using Smart PLS software version 4, using the partial least squares and structural equation modeling technique.
Findings
The result revealed that knowledge management infrastructure and processes has a positive and significant effect on firm innovative performance. Moreover, agile project management practices positively and significantly mediate the relationship between knowledge management infrastructure and processes and firm innovative performance.
Practical implications
The performance of high-tech automobile manufacturing firms can be enhanced by implementing agile project management practices, especially when stimulated by external factors such as innovation. In an increasingly dynamic environment, innovation acts as a favorable factor that amplifies the positive impact of agile methodologies on firm performance.
Originality/value
Researchers can use these findings to identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in future studies and understand how strategies relate to processes within the KM-APM framework. This study provides practitioners with insights on applying KM practices in an APM context to enhance knowledge performance. Practitioners can use the framework to plan KM activities that support corporate strategy across all organizational layers, ensuring the appropriate knowledge is conveyed at each level.
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Diego A. de J. Pacheco, Rodrigo Veleda Caetano, Samuel Vinícius Bonato, Bruno Miranda dos Santos and Wagner Pietrobelli Bueno
Small retail stores in the luxury market face significant challenges due to fluctuations in market demand. This task turns challenging as it requires effectively coordinating and…
Abstract
Purpose
Small retail stores in the luxury market face significant challenges due to fluctuations in market demand. This task turns challenging as it requires effectively coordinating and translating customer needs into specific requirements that align with retail goals and available resources. However, limited empirical research exists investigating how managers can address service value and quality attributes in small retail stores. This article aims to bridge this gap by investigating the role of quality function deployment (QFD) in improving market and quality requirements management in small retail stores.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the case study, a customer survey was initially conducted to gather information on critical characteristics valued in the luxury retail segment. QFD was used to assist the company in identifying and prioritizing key quality attributes to meet customer requirements effectively.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that implementing QFD in small luxury retail stores empowers managers to identify previously neglected product and service quality aspects. The article shows that QFD informs organizational adaptations that align with the demands of the retail market, leading to an improved ability to meet customer expectations and enhance customer value through the development of enhanced products and services. The study showcases the efficacy of the tested methodology in effectively capturing and prioritizing both tangible and intangible customer needs in retail.
Practical implications
Findings offer valuable insights to retail managers of small luxury stores, providing actionable market-oriented strategies. By implementing the recommended practices, managers can improve the store’s competitiveness and better cater to the customer base.
Originality/value
This study contributes to bridging persistent knowledge gaps by addressing the unique context of small luxury retail stores and introducing the application of QFD in this setting. The insights gained from this research are relevant to both retailing and quality management literature. Considering the growing prevalence of transformations in the retail industry, the study provides practical implications for retail managers in effectively navigating these changes.