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Systems, Volume 10, Issue 4 (August 2022) – 43 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban rail transit (URT) system is becoming increasingly crucial to the sustainable development of cities. Considering the fact that few studies have focused on the coupling coordination between URT and sustainable urban development (SUD), this article constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system from the perspectives of URT and SUD. Then, quantitative analyses of the coupling coordination degree of the two systems by the TOPSIS method and coupling coordination degree model, in addition to the influencing factors by the grey correlation analysis method, are conducted. Finally, decision supports on the scale and timing of URT construction are provided, which are of great significance for achieving sustainable urban development. View this paper
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18 pages, 382 KiB  
Article
A Consociation Model: Organization of Collective Entrepreneurship for Village Revitalization
by Haiying Lin, Yanyan Li and Li Zhou
Systems 2022, 10(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040127 - 21 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2019
Abstract
This study focused on how rural communities adopted consociational mechanisms to organize collective entrepreneurship, addressing the conflicts across the divergent social groups toward a convergent process that allows different entrepreneurs to fold into a grand coalition. It extended the theory of consociation from [...] Read more.
This study focused on how rural communities adopted consociational mechanisms to organize collective entrepreneurship, addressing the conflicts across the divergent social groups toward a convergent process that allows different entrepreneurs to fold into a grand coalition. It extended the theory of consociation from political science to the field of social entrepreneurship and inductively theorized the dimensional mechanisms based on the collective entrepreneurial effort of Yuan village in Shaanxi province of China. The results demonstrated four streams of consociational mechanisms: (1) emancipation to empower the vulnerable groups, (2) reconciliation of divergent interests, (3) reflection learning to generate reciprocity, and (4) proportional participation to institutionalize a hierarchical order in the community. These results advance the consociation theory and the organization of social change literature with strong policy implications. Full article
20 pages, 3965 KiB  
Article
Research on the Principal–Agent Mechanism of Poverty Alleviation through Mandarin Popularization in Ethnic Minority Areas from the Perspective of Ability Incentive
by Xiaoyang Mu and Li Wang
Systems 2022, 10(4), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040126 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1852
Abstract
In the process of poverty alleviation through Mandarin popularization in ethnic minority areas, there is a principal–agent relationship. In order to effectively stimulate the endogenous motivation of the public, it is necessary to study the principal–agent relationship between the local government and ethnic [...] Read more.
In the process of poverty alleviation through Mandarin popularization in ethnic minority areas, there is a principal–agent relationship. In order to effectively stimulate the endogenous motivation of the public, it is necessary to study the principal–agent relationship between the local government and ethnic minorities in the process of poverty alleviation through Mandarin popularization from the perspective of ability incentive. Combining the traditional targeted poverty alleviation with principal–agent theory, this paper clarifies the principal–agent relationship between the local government, as principal, and the ethnic minorities, as agent, and constructs a principal–agent model based on information asymmetry scenarios. This model includes two scenarios: (1) the local government provides ability incentive; and (2) the local government does not provide ability incentive. Under the scenarios, the local government is risk-neutral, and the ethnic minorities are risk-averse. This paper focuses on analyzing the impact of ability incentives on the decision-making strategies of the local government and the public as well as on their expected revenue. Finally, the rationality and effectiveness of this model are verified through numerical simulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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25 pages, 4001 KiB  
Article
Creating a System of IOE-PDPTA to Bridge Tourists and Poster Designers: An Application of IOE in Personalized Poster Design
by Tsen-Yao Chang and Yi-Chung Chen
Systems 2022, 10(4), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040125 - 19 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2940
Abstract
Current applications of the Internet of Everything (IOE) tend to ignore the components of people, processes, and data. In the current study, we propose applying the IOE to design, the core of which comprises people, processes, and data. Evidence of the positive effects [...] Read more.
Current applications of the Internet of Everything (IOE) tend to ignore the components of people, processes, and data. In the current study, we propose applying the IOE to design, the core of which comprises people, processes, and data. Evidence of the positive effects of the IOE on design indirectly confirms the value of these three components. The selected case study was poster designs advertising personalized travel. We reported the process of how the system was created, followed by an actual simulation with the personalized poster design for the tourism promotion for the city of Tainan, Taiwan. This study created an IOE framework and applied relevant algorithms to collect data to target design issues. Data were collected, converted, and cleaned through multiple physical objects, internet resources, and output keywords, which were then provided to three designers with various backgrounds and styles. Posters were designed based on the keywords identified. As the targeted audience, 124 respondents were recruited to participate in a survey on the finished posters. Analysis of this feedback demonstrated the validity of the proposed framework. Full article
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19 pages, 1424 KiB  
Article
How Innovation Ecosystem Synergy Degree Influences Technology Innovation Performance—Evidence from China’s High-Tech Industry
by Xiangwu He, Ming Xia, Xiuxian Li, Hui Lin and Zhimin Xie
Systems 2022, 10(4), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040124 - 18 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2753
Abstract
The technology innovation of high-tech industries has become an important support for the innovation-driven strategy. This study introduces innovation ecosystem synergy as a moderating variable from a systemic and holistic perspective based on the traditional perspective of innovation factor input-output, and helps construct [...] Read more.
The technology innovation of high-tech industries has become an important support for the innovation-driven strategy. This study introduces innovation ecosystem synergy as a moderating variable from a systemic and holistic perspective based on the traditional perspective of innovation factor input-output, and helps construct a technology innovation performance driving model based on the Cobb–Douglas knowledge production function, which enriches the discussion perspective and theoretical model research on technology innovation performance. With a sample of 28 provinces in mainland China, this study empirically analyzed the moderating mechanism of innovation performance by innovation synergy in high-tech industries during the two stages of technology development and technology transformation. The findings of the study are as follows: (1) Independent research and development has a positive and significant impact on technology development performance; product innovation has a positive and significant impact on technology transformation performance; (2) Technology introduction can weaken technology development performance due to technology dependence and the inhibitory effect on independent innovation, and inefficient technology renovation can negatively and significantly affect technology transformation performance.; (3) The degree of synergy has a positive and significant impact on the performance of technology development innovation and technology transformation innovation. The degree of synergy has a positive moderating effect on the innovation performance of independent R&D and technology development, as well as product innovation and technology renovation, and a negative moderating effect on the innovation performance of technology introduction and technology development, but no significant moderating effect on technology renovation and technology transformation performance. The research results can provide a reference for the improvement of the technology innovation performance of regional high-tech industries. Full article
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19 pages, 1161 KiB  
Article
Method of Software Development Project Duration Estimation for Scrum Teams with Differentiated Specializations
by Vasyl Teslyuk, Anatoliy Batyuk and Volodymyr Voityshyn
Systems 2022, 10(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040123 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4017
Abstract
Estimation is an essential step of software development project planning that has a significant impact on project success—underestimation often leads to problems with the delivery or even causes project failure. An important aspect that the classical estimation methods are usually missing is the [...] Read more.
Estimation is an essential step of software development project planning that has a significant impact on project success—underestimation often leads to problems with the delivery or even causes project failure. An important aspect that the classical estimation methods are usually missing is the Agile nature of development processes in the implementation phase. The estimation method proposed in this article aims at software development projects implemented by Scrum teams with differentiated specializations. The method is based on the authors’ system of working-time balance equations and the approach to measuring project scope with time-based units—normalized development estimates. In order to reduce efforts spent on the estimation itself, an analysis of dependencies among project tasks is not mandatory. The outputs of the methods are not recommended to be treated as commitments; instead, they are supposed to be used to inform project stakeholders about the forecasted duration of a potential project. The method is simple enough to allow even an inexpensive spreadsheet-based implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic)
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15 pages, 4013 KiB  
Article
China’s Road Traffic Mortality Rate and Its Empirical Research from Socio-Economic Factors Based on the Tobit Model
by Liangen Zeng, Haitao Li, Xin Lao, Haoyu Hu, Yonggui Wei, Chengming Li, Xinyue Yuan, Dongxu Guo and Kexin Liu
Systems 2022, 10(4), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040122 - 13 Aug 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
Road transport safety is an important part of transport construction in China. China is now the world’s second-largest country for road traffic deaths. Research on the road traffic mortality rate (RTMR) in China is of great significance in promoting sustainable development in global [...] Read more.
Road transport safety is an important part of transport construction in China. China is now the world’s second-largest country for road traffic deaths. Research on the road traffic mortality rate (RTMR) in China is of great significance in promoting sustainable development in global traffic. This study analyzes the RTMR in 31 provinces in China between 2003 and 2018. Research shows that the RTMR of China demonstrated a downward trend after 2004, but it increased slightly after reaching the lowest points in 2015. The RTMR in coastal and western areas was quite high, requiring targeted management and prevention. During the study period, the RTMR in Guangdong and Tibet improved greatly, whereas the RTMR in Hubei and Guangxi deteriorated. Tobit model results show that economic development level, medical assistance level and government expenditure on health are significantly negatively correlated with RTMR, while urbanization level and motorization level significantly promote RTMR. This study provides macro policy support for improving traffic safety in China. Full article
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17 pages, 1157 KiB  
Article
A Two-Stage SEM–Artificial Neural Network Analysis of Integrating Ethical and Quality Requirements in Accounting Digital Technologies
by Claudiu George Bocean and Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru
Systems 2022, 10(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040121 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3211
Abstract
Digital technologies affect all areas and activities of society. Accounting is no exception to this trend, as organizational information system accounting increasingly integrates digital technologies. The paper aims to study the integration of ethical requirements with the quality requirements in implementing digital technologies [...] Read more.
Digital technologies affect all areas and activities of society. Accounting is no exception to this trend, as organizational information system accounting increasingly integrates digital technologies. The paper aims to study the integration of ethical requirements with the quality requirements in implementing digital technologies based on artificial intelligence, blockchain, the internet of things, and cloud computing in financial and managerial accounting. This empirical study of 396 accountants from Romanian organizations involves investigating the influence of ethical and quality requirements of digital technologies on the perception of users’ satisfaction in financial and managerial accounting. Empirical research encompasses a quantitative approach using structural equation modeling and artificial neural network analysis in a two-stage procedure. Some of the existing ethical issues can be addressed by implementing new digital technologies but implementing these emerging technologies can generate other ethical and quality issues that accounting and IT professionals must address in a combined effort. The research results show that the ethical requirements that influence the perception of financial and managerial accounting are security and trust. Among the quality requirements, the most critical influence in the perception of accountants is reliability. Full article
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18 pages, 4995 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 on Coastal Tourism to Inform Recovery Strategies in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa
by Estee Vermeulen-Miltz, Jai Kumar Clifford-Holmes, Bernadette Snow and Amanda Talita Lombard
Systems 2022, 10(4), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040120 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3891
Abstract
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic bought devastating impacts to multiple economic sectors, with a major downfall observed in the tourism sector owing to explicit travel bans on foreign and domestic tourism. In Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa, tourism plays an important role; however, [...] Read more.
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic bought devastating impacts to multiple economic sectors, with a major downfall observed in the tourism sector owing to explicit travel bans on foreign and domestic tourism. In Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa, tourism plays an important role; however, negative effects from the pandemic and resulting restrictions has left the sector dwindling and in need of a path to recovery. Working together with local government and stakeholders, this study applied system dynamics modelling to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on coastal tourism in NMB to provide decision-support and inform tourism recovery strategies. Through model analysis, a suite of management interventions was tested under two ‘what-if’ scenarios, with reference to the business-as-usual governance response scenario. Scenario one specifically aimed to investigate a desirable tourism recovery strategy assuming governance control, whereas scenario two investigated a scenario where the effects of governance responses were impeded on by the exogenous effects from the virus. Results suggest that uncertainty remained prevalent in the trajectory of the infection rate as well as in associated trends in tourism; however, through the lifting of travel restrictions and the continual administration of vaccines, a path to recovery was shown to be evident. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue System Dynamics Models for Public Health and Health Care Policy)
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13 pages, 656 KiB  
Essay
Against All Odds: How Eindhoven Emerged as a Deeptech Ecosystem
by A. Georges L. Romme
Systems 2022, 10(4), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040119 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7000
Abstract
The Brainport-Eindhoven region has developed into a leading location for deeptech entrepreneurship in Europe. Against all odds, it has transformed itself from a region that heavily depended on the multinational company Philips, into a diverse and fast-growing deeptech ecosystem. While this success has [...] Read more.
The Brainport-Eindhoven region has developed into a leading location for deeptech entrepreneurship in Europe. Against all odds, it has transformed itself from a region that heavily depended on the multinational company Philips, into a diverse and fast-growing deeptech ecosystem. While this success has not gone unnoticed, there is not yet a clear account of how and why the Eindhoven region emerged as a global hotspot for deeptech innovation and entrepreneurship. Moreover, such an account might provide an exemplary model of a collaborative ecosystem, one that provides an alternative to the “winner-takes-all” entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley. This essay explores the performance of the Eindhoven region in terms of three structural conditions. First, the focus on deeptech R&D and entrepreneurship appears to be deeply rooted in the region’s history as well as strong competencies in systems engineering, design thinking, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Second, a collaborative approach to regional policy gives industrial, academic, and governmental actors an equivalent position in its “triple helix” governance. Finally, the Eindhoven region benefits from a systemic approach toward co-locating R&D and entrepreneurial activities on five campuses. Overall, the huge complexity of deeptech systems and products apparently requires a truly collaborative approach at all levels of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Full article
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20 pages, 5269 KiB  
Article
Stability Analysis of Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Cooperation under a Reward and Punishment Mechanism
by Min Wang, Runxin He, Kai Ren, Youshi He and Jianya Zhou
Systems 2022, 10(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040118 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2039
Abstract
In this study, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for a large-scale enterprise (A), a small-scale enterprise (B), and a government, based on finite rationality and information asymmetry. First, we investigated and analyzed the stakeholders of low-carbon technology innovation (LCTI) and constructed [...] Read more.
In this study, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for a large-scale enterprise (A), a small-scale enterprise (B), and a government, based on finite rationality and information asymmetry. First, we investigated and analyzed the stakeholders of low-carbon technology innovation (LCTI) and constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model. Then, we analyzed the conditions for the stability of different equilibrium points. Finally, we carried out numerical simulations using MATLAB 2020b to analyze the evolutionary processes and patterns of the different parameters. We found that the government’s strategic choice is always to participate in LCTI, which is conducive to a healthy LCTI environment. Governments can participate in LCTI consortiums through policy-driven reward and punishment mechanisms. Our simulation demonstrated that the size of enterprises influences their choice of LCTI strategy, and government reward and punishment mechanisms influence both large and small firms. Large firms are more prepared to accept the risks of LCTI and maintain a reciprocal LCTI strategy even in a high-cost scenario, while small firms are more sensitive to the costs and benefits. Thus, government reward and punishment mechanisms should take full account of small-scale enterprises. We propose a sound reward and punishment mechanism for LCTI that limits the opportunistic behavior of enterprises. Therefore, this paper is a complement to theories such as innovation systems and provides new thinking for low-carbon technology innovation cooperation of enterprises. Meanwhile, the reward and punishment mechanism proposed in this paper has important practical value for the government. Full article
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20 pages, 6189 KiB  
Article
A Federated Mixed Logit Model for Personal Mobility Service in Autonomous Transportation Systems
by Linlin You, Junshu He, Juanjuan Zhao and Jiemin Xie
Systems 2022, 10(4), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040117 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
Looking ahead to the future-stage autonomous transportation system (ATS), personal mobility service (PMS) aims to provide the recommended travel options based on both microscopic individual travel demand and the macroscopic supply system objectives. Such a goal relies on massive heterogeneous data to interpret [...] Read more.
Looking ahead to the future-stage autonomous transportation system (ATS), personal mobility service (PMS) aims to provide the recommended travel options based on both microscopic individual travel demand and the macroscopic supply system objectives. Such a goal relies on massive heterogeneous data to interpret and predict user travel intentions, facing the challenges caused by prevalent centralized approaches, such as an unbalanced utilization rate between cloud and edge, and data privacy. To fill the gap, we propose a federated logit model (FMXL), for estimating user preferences, which integrates a discrete choice model—the mixed logit model (MXL), with a novel decentralized learning paradigm—federated learning (FL). FMXL supports PMS by (1) respectively performing local and global estimation at the client and server to optimize the load, (2) collaboratively approximating the posterior of the standard mixed logit model through a continuous interaction mechanism, and (3) flexibly configuring two specific global estimation methods (sampling and aggregation) to accommodate different estimation scenarios. Moreover, the predicted rates of FMXL are about 10% higher compared to a flat logit model in both static and dynamic estimation. Meanwhile, the estimation time has been reduced by about 40% compared to a centralized MXL model. Our model can not only protect user privacy and improve the utilization of edge resources but also significantly improve the accuracy and timeliness of recommendations, thus enhancing the performance of PMS in ATS. Full article
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17 pages, 2464 KiB  
Article
Optimization of the Decision-Making System for Advertising Strategies of Small Enterprises—Focusing on Company A
by Jihoon Jeong, Dongchul Hong and Sekyoung Youm
Systems 2022, 10(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040116 - 6 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2395
Abstract
In the post-COVID-19 era, the founding rates of micro enterprises and startups will increase due to the low youth employment rates and increased retirement of baby boomers. Therefore, the portion of small enterprises among all enterprises is expected to grow. The rapid change [...] Read more.
In the post-COVID-19 era, the founding rates of micro enterprises and startups will increase due to the low youth employment rates and increased retirement of baby boomers. Therefore, the portion of small enterprises among all enterprises is expected to grow. The rapid change in consumption patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the entry of small enterprises into the online advertising market. However, advertising costs spent in running the businesses are taking up a large portion of their sales budgets due to intense competition and various advertising platforms. This study examines the decision-making system to optimize advertising expenditures considering the difference in advertising costs depending on various media types and keywords based on limited advertising budgets for stable management of small enterprises. To this end, this study modeled the advertising system of small enterprise A (Company A) with system dynamics and used the Java-based simulation software AnyLogic. Through simulation modeling, we conducted optimization analysis of two scenarios, maximum buyers and minimum advertising costs, in the post-COVID-19 era. Based on the results, this study forecast the conditions for optimization of decision-making in each advertising platform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic)
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22 pages, 5138 KiB  
Article
Evolutionary Game Analysis between Local Government and Enterprises on Bridge Employment from the Perspective of Dynamic Incentive and Punishment
by Junjie Dong, Shumin Yan and Xiaowei Yang
Systems 2022, 10(4), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040115 - 5 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2630
Abstract
The popularization of bridge employment is conducive to the realization of active aging, which requires not only the subjective initiative of retirees but also the active cooperation of local governments and relevant enterprises. This study combined evolutionary game theory with system dynamics to [...] Read more.
The popularization of bridge employment is conducive to the realization of active aging, which requires not only the subjective initiative of retirees but also the active cooperation of local governments and relevant enterprises. This study combined evolutionary game theory with system dynamics to model and simulate the behavior of local government and enterprises on bridge employment, aiming to highlight the importance of government behavior and enterprise actions in the process of active aging and to analyze the effectiveness of different incentive and punishment mechanisms in promoting bridge employment. Results show that the system with dynamic incentive and punishment is easier to keep stable than the system with static incentive and punishment; specifically, the dynamic mechanism with low incentive intensity and high punishment intensity is better than other mechanisms. Finally, this study emphasized the importance of government policy to bridge employment and put forward relevant management implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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30 pages, 6740 KiB  
Article
Assessing Risks in Dairy Supply Chain Systems: A System Dynamics Approach
by Maryam Azizsafaei, Amin Hosseinian-Far, Rasoul Khandan, Dilshad Sarwar and Alireza Daneshkhah
Systems 2022, 10(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040114 - 4 Aug 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5451
Abstract
Due to the dynamic nature of the food supply chain system, food supply management could suffer because of, and be interrupted by, unforeseen events. Considering the perishable nature of fresh food products and their short life cycle, fresh food companies feel immense pressure [...] Read more.
Due to the dynamic nature of the food supply chain system, food supply management could suffer because of, and be interrupted by, unforeseen events. Considering the perishable nature of fresh food products and their short life cycle, fresh food companies feel immense pressure to adopt an efficient and proactive risk management system. The risk management aspects within the food supply chains have been addressed in several studies. However, only a few studies focus on the complex interactions between the various types of risks impacting food supply chain functionality and dynamic feedback effects, which can generate a reliable risk management system. This paper strives to contribute to this evident research gap by adopting a system dynamics modelling approach to generate a systemic risk management model. The system dynamics model serves as the basis for the simulation of risk index values and can be explored in future work to further analyse the dynamic risk’s effect on the food supply chain system’s behaviour. According to a literature review of published research from 2017 to 2021, nine different risks across the food supply chain were identified as a subsection of the major risk categories: macro-level and operational risks. Following this stage, two of the risk groups identified first were integrated with a developed system dynamics model to conduct this research and to evaluate the interaction between the risks and the functionality of the three main dairy supply chain processes: production, logistics, and retailing. The key findings drawn from this paper can be beneficial for enhancing managerial discernment regarding the critical role of system dynamics models for analysing various types of risks across the food supply chain process and improving its efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Supply Chain Management)
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15 pages, 372 KiB  
Article
Key Factors Influencing Elderly Persons’ Willingness to Rent Assistive Devices via a Product Service System
by Hsing-Tzu Chang, Jui-Che Tu, Yen-Pei Liu and Tsai-Feng Kao
Systems 2022, 10(4), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040113 - 3 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1898
Abstract
This study examined elderly persons’ attitudes toward renting assistive devices through a product service system and the key factors influencing this decision. First, potentially influencing factors were extrapolated from the existing literature, expert interviews, and questionnaires. Next, a logistic regression model was used [...] Read more.
This study examined elderly persons’ attitudes toward renting assistive devices through a product service system and the key factors influencing this decision. First, potentially influencing factors were extrapolated from the existing literature, expert interviews, and questionnaires. Next, a logistic regression model was used to examine the factors impacting elderly persons’ willingness to rent assistive devices. The results showed that the practicability dimension of “key features of rented assistive device” significantly influences elderly persons’ willingness to rent assistive devices. The findings offer key policy implications and insights for industries formulating assistive device rental strategies for the elderly population. Full article
18 pages, 779 KiB  
Article
Distance-Based Decision Making, Consensus Building, and Preference Aggregation Systems: A Note on the Scale Constraints
by İbrahim Gürler, Ozan Çakır and Bora Gündüzyeli
Systems 2022, 10(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040112 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2305
Abstract
Distance metrics and their extensions are widely accepted tools in supporting distance-based decision making, consensus building, and preference aggregation systems. For several models of this nature, it may be necessary to elucidate the problem output in the original input domain. When a particular [...] Read more.
Distance metrics and their extensions are widely accepted tools in supporting distance-based decision making, consensus building, and preference aggregation systems. For several models of this nature, it may be necessary to elucidate the problem output in the original input domain. When a particular parameter of interest is desired to be produced in this original domain, i.e., the scale, the decision makers simply resort to constraints that function in parallel with this goal. However, there exist some cases where such a membership is guaranteed by the mathematical properties of the distance metric utilized. In this paper, we argue that the scale constraints utilized in this manner under the distance-metric optimization framework are, in some cases, completely redundant. We provide necessary mathematical proofs and illustrate our arguments through an abstract physical system, examples, a case study, and a brief computational experiment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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20 pages, 4219 KiB  
Article
Transfer EEG Emotion Recognition by Combining Semi-Supervised Regression with Bipartite Graph Label Propagation
by Wenzheng Li and Yong Peng
Systems 2022, 10(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040111 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2247
Abstract
Individual differences often appear in electroencephalography (EEG) data collected from different subjects due to its weak, nonstationary and low signal-to-noise ratio properties. This causes many machine learning methods to have poor generalization performance because the independent identically distributed assumption is no longer valid [...] Read more.
Individual differences often appear in electroencephalography (EEG) data collected from different subjects due to its weak, nonstationary and low signal-to-noise ratio properties. This causes many machine learning methods to have poor generalization performance because the independent identically distributed assumption is no longer valid in cross-subject EEG data. To this end, transfer learning has been introduced to alleviate the data distribution difference between subjects. However, most of the existing methods have focused only on domain adaptation and failed to achieve effective collaboration with label estimation. In this paper, an EEG feature transfer method combined with semi-supervised regression and bipartite graph label propagation (TSRBG) is proposed to realize the unified joint optimization of EEG feature distribution alignment and semi-supervised joint label estimation. Through the cross-subject emotion recognition experiments on the SEED-IV data set, the results show that (1) TSRBG has significantly better recognition performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art models; (2) the EEG feature distribution differences between subjects are significantly minimized in the learned shared subspace, indicating the effectiveness of domain adaptation; (3) the key EEG frequency bands and channels for cross-subject EEG emotion recognition are achieved by investigating the learned subspace, which provides more insights into the study of EEG emotion activation patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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22 pages, 1366 KiB  
Article
Research on the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urban Rail Transit System and Sustainable Urban Development
by Liudan Jiao, Fengyan Wu, Yinghan Zhu, Qiudie Luo, Fenglian Luo and Yu Zhang
Systems 2022, 10(4), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040110 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2509
Abstract
With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit [...] Read more.
With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit (URT) systems are crucial to the sustainable development of cities. This paper collects data related to URT and sustainable urban development (SUD) in 42 cities in China in 2020, constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system, and quantitatively analyzes the coupling coordination degree of the two systems using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method and coupling coordination degree model. Then, the influencing factors of the coupling coordination degree of URT and SUD are analyzed by combining the grey correlation analysis method. The results of this study show that: (1) There are significant differences between URT system development and SUD in 42 cities in China. (2) The average coupling coordination between URT development and SUD is 0.4406. More than half of the cities are in the slightly unbalanced category. (3) Factors, such as resident population, income level and urban built-up area, significantly influence the coupling and coordination level of URT and SUD. It is hoped that the research in this paper will advance the in-depth research on the level of coordination between URT and SUD coupling, provide a solid basis for future URT planning and construction in China and even other countries in the world, and make the planning and construction of URT in China more scientific and reasonable, to promote the sustainable development of cities. Full article
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34 pages, 4061 KiB  
Article
The Study on the Performance Evaluation of Spatial Governance of Village and Town Business Communities
by Xiaoqing Zhu, Hanyuan Shi, Zhixing Li, Yuebin Zhong and Kening Zhu
Systems 2022, 10(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040109 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2163
Abstract
In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR [...] Read more.
In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR (pressure–state–response) model. In the study, twelve village and town business communities of different types in the Anji County of China are selected as empirical cases; field research and information interviews are conducted in each sample community; the constructed project libraries and constructed ledgers in the past three years are adopted. The GIS 10.2 software is used to draw a policy fund distribution map for spatial governance, compare and study the core characteristics of financial investment for spatial governance in each sample community, and reveal how important the application of the evaluation system is for its performance analysis. The “precise strategies” and “driving foundations” of the spatial governance of village and town business communities are summarized. Full article
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25 pages, 4224 KiB  
Article
Stock Price Crash Warning in the Chinese Security Market Using a Machine Learning-Based Method and Financial Indicators
by Shangkun Deng, Yingke Zhu, Shuangyang Duan, Zhe Fu and Zonghua Liu
Systems 2022, 10(4), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040108 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3106
Abstract
Stock price crashes have occurred frequently in the Chinese security market during the last three decades. They have not only caused substantial economic losses to market investors but also seriously threatened the stability and financial safety of the security market. To protect against [...] Read more.
Stock price crashes have occurred frequently in the Chinese security market during the last three decades. They have not only caused substantial economic losses to market investors but also seriously threatened the stability and financial safety of the security market. To protect against the price crash risk of individual stocks, a prediction and explanation approach has been proposed by combining eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). We assume that financial indicators can be adopted for stock crash risk prediction, and they are utilized as prediction variables. In the proposed method, XGBoost is used to classify the stock crash and non-crash samples, while NSGA-II is employed to optimize the hyperparameters of XGBoost. To obtain the essential features for stock crash prediction, the importance of each financial indicator is calculated, and the outputs of the prediction model are explained by SHAP. Compared with the results of benchmarks using traditional machine learning methods, we found that the proposed method performed best in terms of both prediction accuracy and efficiency. Especially for the small market capitalization samples, the accuracy of classifying all samples reached 78.41%, and the accuracy of identifying the crash samples was up to 81.31%. In summary, the performance of the proposed method demonstrates that it could be employed as a valuable reference for market regulators engaged in the Chinese security market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic)
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19 pages, 1411 KiB  
Article
AHP-RAPS Approach for Evaluating the Productivity of Engineering Departments at a Public University
by Omer A. Bafail, Reda M. S. Abdulaal and Mohammad R. Kabli
Systems 2022, 10(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040107 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2287
Abstract
Education is an essential component for nations preparing to take advantage of the opportunities and confront the challenges of the 21st century. Universities, colleges, and research centers must work effectively and efficiently to achieve maximum results. In order to provide a comparable and [...] Read more.
Education is an essential component for nations preparing to take advantage of the opportunities and confront the challenges of the 21st century. Universities, colleges, and research centers must work effectively and efficiently to achieve maximum results. In order to provide a comparable and verifiable evaluation of such institutions’ efforts, administrators need to adopt measurement tools such as those offered by multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). The use of MCDM to solve complex real-world problems in the educational sector has dramatically increased in the past decade. This paper ranked the Engineering departments in a public university from 2019 to 2021 using combined MCDM methods between Analytical Hierarchy Analysis (AHP) and Ranking Alternatives by Perimeter Similarity (RAPS). The AHP technique assisted in the weighting for each evaluation criterion covered in this study. The RAPS technique assisted in ranking the Engineering departments using weights derived from the AHP technique. For the first time, the use of RAPS in the educational sector is presented in this paper. The findings revealed some of the departments under investigation’s vulnerabilities, indicating that they require assistance from the institution’s administration. Moreover, the results demonstrate that combining the AHP and RAPS techniques to evaluate and rank university departments is a successful method. Full article
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28 pages, 1228 KiB  
Article
A Hybrid Group Decision Approach Based on MARCOS and Regret Theory for Pharmaceutical Enterprises Assessment under a Single-Valued Neutrosophic Scenario
by Yuan Rong, Wenyao Niu, Harish Garg, Yi Liu and Liying Yu
Systems 2022, 10(4), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040106 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2278
Abstract
Evaluating pharmaceutical enterprises with sustainable and high-quality development ability (SHQDA) can not only provide strategies for the pharmaceutical management department in formulating enterprise development plans, but also provide suggestions and guidance for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness. Nevertheless, the prior research possesses [...] Read more.
Evaluating pharmaceutical enterprises with sustainable and high-quality development ability (SHQDA) can not only provide strategies for the pharmaceutical management department in formulating enterprise development plans, but also provide suggestions and guidance for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness. Nevertheless, the prior research possesses several deficiencies in coping with the assessment of enterprises with SHQDA under uncertain environments to predict the psychological behavior of the evaluator and the correlation among the evaluation criteria. To conquer the aforementioned defects, we propose an integrated framework for rating pharmaceutical enterprises that incorporates regret theory, measurement alternatives and ranking based on the compromise solution (MARCOS) and Heronian mean operating within a single-value neutrosophic set (SVNS) environment. First, the single-valued neutrosophic number (SVNN) is employed to portray the assessment information of experts. Then, a novel single-valued neutrosophic score function is presented to enhance the rationality of the SVNN comparison. Next, a combined criteria weight model is constructed by synthesizing the best and worst method (BWM) and criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) approach to attain more reasonable and credible weight information. Furthermore, the integrated assessment framework combining regret theory-MARCOS method and Heronian mean operator is put forward to assess and select the enterprises with SHQDA under a single-valued neutrosophic setting. Ultimately, an empirical concerning the pharmaceutical enterprises assessment is presented within SVNS to illustrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the presented SVNS regret theory-MARCOS method. Thereafter, the sensitivity analysis and comparison analysis are implemented to provide evidence for the rationality and superiority of the proposed method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic)
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23 pages, 3738 KiB  
Article
Research on the Evolutionary Path of Eco-Conservation and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin Based on an Agent-Based Model
by Aiwu Zhao, Jingyi Wang, Zhenzhen Sun and Hongjun Guan
Systems 2022, 10(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040105 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
The high-quality economic and social development of the Yellow River Basin is a combined system comprising the coordinated development of “economy–resources–environment–society”, with resources and the ecological environment bearing capacity as the constraints, and green innovative development as the driving force. Based on the [...] Read more.
The high-quality economic and social development of the Yellow River Basin is a combined system comprising the coordinated development of “economy–resources–environment–society”, with resources and the ecological environment bearing capacity as the constraints, and green innovative development as the driving force. Based on the systematic analysis of the structural dimensions of the composite system, this paper uses the balanced indicators and their coordinated development effectiveness to describe the development quality of the macro-composite system. In order to reveal the mechanism of the evolutionary path of the macro system, the resource- and environment-bearing capacity, regional high-quality development potential, regional innovation capacity, and high-quality development guarantee capacity are adopted as the main attributes and decision-making basis of the autonomous agents. The simulation results show that, under the existing development model, the economic development of all of the provinces in the Yellow River Basin will be constrained by resources and the environment. However, different policy scenarios significantly affect the evolutionary trends of economic development, resource consumption, and the environmental pollution situation. The mechanisms to overcome the bottleneck of the resource and ecological constraints are different for these policies, and the effects of the same policy in different provinces are also not the same. Full article
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24 pages, 2504 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Attention Training for Elementary School Students
by Wernhuar Tarng, I-Chun Pan and Kuo-Liang Ou
Systems 2022, 10(4), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040104 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5919
Abstract
This study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) on attention training for elementary school students. A pre-test and post-test design of the quasi-experimental method was adopted and 66 third and fourth graders from an elementary school in Hsinchu, Taiwan [...] Read more.
This study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) on attention training for elementary school students. A pre-test and post-test design of the quasi-experimental method was adopted and 66 third and fourth graders from an elementary school in Hsinchu, Taiwan were used as experimental subjects, divided into a control group and experimental group. The former used the computerized Attention Process Training (APT) system and the latter used the proposed VR system for attention training, both for two weeks. The attention scale for elementary school children was used to evaluate the participant’s attention before and after training, including the dimensions of focused attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. A questionnaire survey was conducted to measure the learning anxiety and cognitive load during the training process. The experimental results indicated: (1) The overall attention was significantly improved after the training process for both groups, and the VR system was more effective than the computerized APT in improving children’s attention. (2) The questionnaire results showed that the experimental group had lower learning anxiety and cognitive load than the control group. According to the experimental results, VR training is more effective in improving the attention of participants while reducing their learning anxiety and cognitive load. Therefore, it is a useful tool for attention training in elementary schools. Full article
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11 pages, 987 KiB  
Article
Exploring Uber Taxi Application Using the Technology Acceptance Model
by Joonho Moon, Jimin Shim and Won Seok Lee
Systems 2022, 10(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040103 - 24 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3453
Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the accountability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for Uber taxi applications. As antecedents of usefulness, this study selected three elements: time information, price information, and driver information. Data was collected using a survey on [...] Read more.
The goal of this study was to investigate the accountability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for Uber taxi applications. As antecedents of usefulness, this study selected three elements: time information, price information, and driver information. Data was collected using a survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey participants were users of the Uber taxi application. The number of valid observations for the data analysis was 412. For data analysis, frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation matrix, and structural equation modeling were utilized. The results show that the usefulness is significantly influenced by time and driver information. They further indicate that ease of use positively affects both usefulness and attitude. In addition, usefulness significantly determines attitude, and attitude toward the Uber taxi application exerts a substantial effect on intention to use. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the explanatory power of TAM using the Uber taxi application as a research subject. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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11 pages, 1400 KiB  
Article
The Digital Value Stream Twin
by Nicholas Frick and Joachim Metternich
Systems 2022, 10(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040102 - 17 Jul 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3475
Abstract
The Value Stream Method (VSM) is widely used in manufacturing to analyze and redesign value streams. The aim is to improve processes, reduce waste and create a thorough product flow. Despite having many benefits, VSM also comes with disadvantages regarding modern dynamic production [...] Read more.
The Value Stream Method (VSM) is widely used in manufacturing to analyze and redesign value streams. The aim is to improve processes, reduce waste and create a thorough product flow. Despite having many benefits, VSM also comes with disadvantages regarding modern dynamic production environments. It fails to meet the requirement of providing reliable information for a realistic Value Stream Design (VSD) followed by targeted improvement activities. As a result, the VSM is usually subject to uncertainty and relies on expert knowledge. Digitalization, on the other hand, is leading to an increasing availability of production data. The use of data has the potential to support the VSM with targeted data preparation. In this regard, the concept of Digital Twin (DT) offers the capability of providing the required database to systematically collect and condense this data. This paper provides a framework for the Digital Value Stream Twin (DVST). In addition, requirements for the implementation of a DVST in practice will be elaborated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twin with Model Driven Systems Engineering)
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24 pages, 1458 KiB  
Article
The Integration of Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability into Model-Based Systems Engineering
by Kyle Diatte, Bryan O’Halloran and Douglas L. Van Bossuyt
Systems 2022, 10(4), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040101 - 15 Jul 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5786
Abstract
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods have developed a strong foothold in the design space in industry. These methods have proven fruitful when the right method is applied to the right problem. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) is an equally important area. Currently, there [...] Read more.
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods have developed a strong foothold in the design space in industry. These methods have proven fruitful when the right method is applied to the right problem. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) is an equally important area. Currently, there is a gap in applying a methodology to integrate the two in the design process, particularly when the design is complex. This work attempts to provide a methodology that results in the successful integration of RAM and MBSE that can be used during the early phases of design. The methodology was developed after an extensive literature review, followed by the illustration of the methodology through an example of a steam turbine fuel system. Each step of the method is applied and explained in the illustrative example, to include figures, tables, and calculations demonstrating the effectiveness of the method, concluding with evidence for validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Engineering)
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18 pages, 962 KiB  
Article
How to Promote Online Education through Educational Software—An Analytical Study of Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling with Chinese Users as an Example
by Zheng Wang, Qianling Jiang and Zichao Li
Systems 2022, 10(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040100 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3015
Abstract
Online learning has emerged as a fresh method to successfully prevent teacher and student gatherings as well as the propagation of viruses in the context of the ongoing influence of the COVID-19. A problem deserving of consideration is how to increase users’ desire [...] Read more.
Online learning has emerged as a fresh method to successfully prevent teacher and student gatherings as well as the propagation of viruses in the context of the ongoing influence of the COVID-19. A problem deserving of consideration is how to increase users’ desire to participate in online learning through online class APPs, identify the variables that affect users’ use of them, and create a useful assessment scale. In this study, user ratings from 68 students who had used an online class APP were collected using the combination of qualitative and quantitative research, and 200 online questionnaires were sent out to complement the interview findings, based on which 328 assessment questionnaires were gathered and 23 valid items were obtained. The influencing elements that had an impact on users’ online learning experiences were identified using factor analysis, and the relationships among the components were investigated using structural equation modeling. Perceived benefits are the main influencing factors, subjective norms and functional quality are the direct factors influencing users’ perceived benefits, and self-efficacy is influenced by subjective norms while promoting the perception of functional quality. The factors influencing users’ use of online class APPs are ultimately identified as perceived benefits, functional quality and self-efficacy. In order to facilitate users’ online learning, user psychological traits, social ties and software functions should be integrated into a cohesive system while designing online class APPs. Full article
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24 pages, 2202 KiB  
Article
Global Quality Management System (G-QMS) in Systems of Systems (SoS)—Aspects of Definition, Structure and Model
by Noga Agmon, Sigal Kordova and Shraga Shoval
Systems 2022, 10(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040099 - 10 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3285
Abstract
The present study is innovative in its integration of several novel and quickly developing disciplines of QMS, SoS, Globalization and Systems approaches including Systems Thinking. We inaugurate G-QMS in global SoS organizations as a new field of research. This is [...] Read more.
The present study is innovative in its integration of several novel and quickly developing disciplines of QMS, SoS, Globalization and Systems approaches including Systems Thinking. We inaugurate G-QMS in global SoS organizations as a new field of research. This is an exploratory study that uses the Grounded Theory combined with an analytical review and professional experience to provide a framework for identifying of new key variables in the multidimensional environment of global management. The purpose of this study is to create a theoretical foundation for this field, and introduce logical deductions regarding G-QMS in global SoS organizations that can be used as foundational principles for defining and modeling of G-QMS. The methodology of the study includes a paradigm that combines analytical review, which integrates the four main disciplines into a structured qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews, and used Grounded Theory. The findings show that G-QMS is a necessary condition for these organizations, while the management of G-QMS is inseparable from the management of the SoS. The final results reveal 18 aspects to be considered in any definition determined for G-QMS in global SoS organizations, and any model to be developed. From these, 8 base anchors for the model were analyzed and mapped, as well as its main factors. In conclusions, each of these base anchors makes its own contribution to any further development in this area. However, considering them all together creates an initial model of G-QMS in global SoS organizations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Theory and Methodology)
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19 pages, 469 KiB  
Article
A DEMATEL-Based Method for Linguistic Multiple Attributes Group Decision Making Using Strict t-Norms and t-Conorms
by Lijuan Yao and Zhihong Yi
Systems 2022, 10(4), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040098 - 9 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
To evaluate fuzzy information precisely, researchers and practitioners are apt to use linguistic variables to model vague or uncertain contexts in natural language. In this paper, some new operation laws for continuous linguistic terms using strict t-norms and t-conorms are defined. Significantly, these [...] Read more.
To evaluate fuzzy information precisely, researchers and practitioners are apt to use linguistic variables to model vague or uncertain contexts in natural language. In this paper, some new operation laws for continuous linguistic terms using strict t-norms and t-conorms are defined. Significantly, these operation laws have some desirable properties and are closed on the restricted continuous linguistic term set. On the basis of these new linguistic operation laws, a series of triangular t-(co)norm-based linguistic generalized power geometric operators are developed. In order to consider the interactive influence and interrelationship of decision makers (DMs) and attributes, a decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based method for linguistic multiple attributes group decision making (MAGDM) is proposed. In the method, the weighting information for DMs and attributes are dependent on the initial direct-relation matrices among DMs and attributes, respectively. Finally, a numerical example is provided. In comparison with the existing methods, two aspects of the DEMATEL-based method for linguistic MAGDM in the work can be highlighted: the underlying operators for linguistic terms using strict t-norms and t-conorms that are closed on the set of the restricted continuous linguistic term set; and the techniques in determining the weighting information, with which the weighting information for DMs and attributes are determined by the interactive influence and interrelationship among DMs or attributes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic)
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