Developing a cognitive model of solid geometry based on Interpretive Structural Modeling method

With the advancement of science and artificial intelligence, education is experiencing significant innovation. The adaptive learning system is emerging as a promising approach to achieving personalized learning. The cognitive model plays a crucial role as the fundamental rationale behind the adaptive learning system. Currently, there is no uniform and highly operational method for constructing cognitive models. This study adopts Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) as the foundational approach for constructing a cognitive model of solid geometry. Based on literature and expert opinions, 17 cognitive attributes of high school solid geometry were identified. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey involving 40 experts was conducted to establish the contextual relationships among these attributes. Applying the ISM method resulted in a seven-level model. This model was then revised based on expert opinions to create the final cognitive model, revealing three primary paths within the domain of high school solid geometry. This paper contends that the use of the ISM method for constructing cognitive models is effective and objective. The resulting cognitive model unveils the content structure of high school solid geometry, and provides an innovative perspective on the construction of cognitive models.

Designing the Interventions to Mitigate the Barriers of Coordination in Handling Food Security: Insight from Central Java Province

This study aims to identify the underlying barriers that may prevent public policy coordination among stakeholders in dealing with food security in Central Java Province and suggest recommendations to enhance the coordination. This study used primary data from a questionnaire that the six government agencies’ experts filled out. These experts were asked to identify the relevance and the importance of each barrier and formulate a suitable policy recommendation. There were three data processing techniques used in this study: Content Validity Analysis, Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) Method, and Delphi Method. The result of the Content Validity Analysis indicated 22 valid barriers. The result of the ISM method indicated eight barriers occupied the topmost level (complicated problems, insufficient sharing of information, ambiguities and lack of clarity, gap of coordination implementations between the rules and policies with the actual practice, fewer budget allocations, different aims and priorities, lack of motivation to collaborate among stakeholders from various disciplines, and weak of infrastructure). The result of the ISM method also indicated three “very significant” barriers: inadequate human resources, the limited capability of the regional government, and lack of communication and high specialization in multisector collaboration. Then, the result of the Delphi Method indicated several recognize policies to mitigate those barriers. Moreover, related to the limitation of this study, future studies should focus on the barriers in diverse places nations or compare different regions or countries; include more experts from the various stakeholder group, and test the recognized policies in the real world.

An analysis of barriers affecting implementation of sustainable supply chain management in electronics industry: a Grey-DEMATEL approach

Purpose

World over organizations are focusing on sustainable goals, where along with economic success their role in protecting the planet and people are becoming important. Whilst transforming the supply chain into a sustainable one, there would be some barriers which might hinder this process. This paper aims to study these barriers in the context of the electronics industry so that organizations can better implement sustainable supply chain programs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, barriers affecting sustainability implementation in the electronics supply chain are shortlisted from literature review and experts’ opinion. Using the combined methodology of Grey DEMATEL, the causal factors, the effect factors and degree of prominence of barriers is found out. The overall relationship among barriers is established by a diagraph. Sensitivity analysis is performed to check the robustness of the results.

Findings

It is found that lack of regulation and guidance from authorities is the primary causal barrier affecting operations of sustainable supply chain management. There are five barriers which fall in the influenced group and among them, complexity in measuring and monitoring sustainability practices has the largest net effect value on the implementation of a sustainable supply chain. The barrier having the highest correlation with other barriers is the high cost for disposal of hazardous wastes. The implications of these findings on managers and academicians is explored in the study.

Research limitations/implications

In this research, the number of barriers shortlisted is limited to 11 in the context of the electronics supply chain. More factors could be added in future research based on the industry being studied.

Originality/value

The research analyses 11 barriers under categories of policy, technology, financial and human resources in the Indian electronics industry by evaluating the cause and effect group of barriers. These results can guide policymakers of the electronic sector and industry for mitigating barriers during the implementation of sustainable programs.

Developing a conceptual model to implement green lean practices in Indian manufacturing industries using ISM-MICMAC approach

Purpose

Lean and green strategies are good options to increase the environmental and operational performance of manufacturing industries. The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) to implement green lean practices (GLPs) in manufacturing industries through the review of the literature and to develop a conceptual model after analysing the fundamental facilitating factors by using ISM-MICMAC approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology consists of identifying 12 critical success factors (CSFs) for the green lean implementation by reviewing the relevant available literature. The views of eight experts are valued for inter-relationships of these factors. ISM-MICMAC approach is used for analysing the relations between factors and to develop a conceptual model for green lean implementation.

Findings

Twelve CSFs are identified through a review of the literature to adopt GLPs in manufacturing industries. This paper has established the relationships among 12 identified CSFs using the ISM methodology. This paper analyses the dependence power and the driving power of identified CSFs with the help of MICMAC analysis. “Top management commitment” and “Government support” are the most significant CSFs implement GLPs successfully.

Research limitations/implications

The ISM model presented in this study is based on expert opinions. But expert opinions may be biased as these are based on their own judgements. However, the proposed ISM based model needs statistically validations. The ISM model in the present study may be tested in real-world situations of manufacturing industries where results obtained may be different.

Practical implications

This study may provide a useful input for academicians and managers of industries to differentiate between independent and dependent CSFs and their mutual relationships which would help them to focus on those key CSFs that are most significant to implement GLPs.

Originality/value

A conceptual ISM model of identified CSFs shows the different levels of these CSFs. This model may help the manufacturer to implement the green-lean strategies. It may also support policymakers towards adopting GLPs. Arranging CSFs in a hierarchy and to categorise the CSFs into different levels with the help of ISM-MICMAC is an exclusive effort in the area of green lean engagement.

Modelling the enablers of sustainable consumer behaviour towards electronic products

Purpose

The consumption patterns of humanity are putting an enormous burden on the resources, which are beyond the fulfiling capacity of the earth. These consumption patterns need to be made sustainable. Therefore, this study aims to focus on identifying the key enablers driving the sustainable consumer behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review of 107 studies (1995 to 2018), which were published over a period of 23 years, fourteen key enablers of sustainable consumer behaviour were identified. These 14 enablers were validated with the help of empirical research done by surveying 200 consumers of electronic products. This was followed by the application of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique, to get an insight into how these enablers are influencing sustainable consumer behaviour.

Findings

ISM technique and empirical research aided in classifying the enablers based on their driving and dependence power. A further analysis was done to know about the contextual relationship between all 14 enablers and how these enablers are influencing each other and sustainable consumer behaviour. Attitude, subjective norm and perceived controlled behaviour were found dependent variables while education, government policy and advertisement emerged as an autonomous variable.

Research limitations/implications

This study will be helpful for future research in the field of sustainable consumer behaviour. Through understanding of the enablers of sustainable consumer behaviour, a scale can be developed having significant theoretical and managerial implications. This study may help in improving the sustainability initiatives by various stakeholders involved in the process of purchase, usage and dispose of electronic products.

Originality/value

This study is the first temporal and spatial study, which includes a holistic view of the enablers of sustainable consumer behaviour.

Barriers analysis for customer resource contribution in value co-creation for service industry using interpretive structural modeling

Purpose

Co-creating services with the customer has recently appeared as an alternative strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Developing and sustaining a gainful experience requires sharing of knowledge, skills and resources between the firm and its customers. Managing value co-creation throws substantial challenge and difficulties. This study aims to investigate the barriers to customer resource contribution in value co-creation in service industries and find their interrelationships for developing an effective management framework for removal of those barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review led to the identification of 26 barriers, which were further confirmed through expert opinion. The study used interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach and Matrice d’Impacts croises-multipication applique (MICMAC), for analyzing the contextual relationships and develop a hierarchical model of the barriers.

Findings

ISM approach led to the development of a 13-level structural model. The barriers were further classified into autonomous, driver, linkage and dependent barriers using the MICMAC analysis. The framework offers a means to fulfill the expectations of the customers, thus leading to successful integration of the customer in the value creation process. Removal of the barriers has also been discussed.

Practical implications

The framework provides a direction and a tool to meet the expectations of the customers and lead to successful integration of the customer.

Originality/value

The study addresses a gap in the literature for the need of a structured framework for managing the value co-creation process in the service industry

Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices in Petrochemical Industry Using Interpretive Structural Modeling

Across different geographical and industrial boundaries, different firms are attempting to implement sustainability in their supply chain in response to pressures from different groups. This article aims at identifying and analyzing influential practices for implementing sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). By determining these practices, top management can focus on them in order to improve the performance of their supply chains. The petrochemical industry was selected because of its role in the Iranian economy and its considerable environmental and social impacts. The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) technique was used as a useful technique to identify interrelations between different sustainable practices. According to the results, set up reduction and pull production system (related to JIT practices) are driving other practices, and these practices have vital role among other practices. There are four practices related to evaluating and collaborating suppliers and other industry peers, which occupy the highest level.

Key barriers in the growth of rural health care: an ISM-MICMAC approach

Purpose

The health care industry has experienced vibrant growth since the last few decades. Total health care business has reached more than US$160bn in the country and is still growing, but sustainable growth of industry is a major area of concern. An unsustainable and uneven growth might contribute in growth presently, but will not help in the long run due to extinction in future. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been divided into two phases to analyze the barriers to achieve sustainable growth, i.e., identification of barriers and their analysis. The study has used three different research phases: identification of barriers from the literature, interviews with experts of industry and designing an ISM model. The identification phase led to the selection of 19 barriers from literature and by suggestions from industrial experts. The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) analysis was used to understand the impact and linkage of identified barriers. The barriers are further classified into four major categories on the basis of drive power and dependence power using “Matrices d’Impacts Croises Multiplication. Appliqué a un Classement” analysis.

Findings

The present research identifies 19 barriers in the field of growth of health care mainly in rural area with 11 levels in ISM-designed model. Barriers such as lack of awareness, medical mistrust, cost/benefit, transportation, high out of pocket expenditure, lack of health insurance, medical unawareness and the cultural dimension (traditional beliefs) have very high dependency power. These variables are highly influenced by other barriers. Barriers such as low outreach (geographical reach), information and communication, insufficient capacity planning, and highest growth in population have very high driving and dependence power. They have a very high impact on the system as any change in them will have a direct impact on others. Remaining seven selected barriers have a very high driving power and they are generally independent in nature and have less impact on the system as whole.

Social implications

This study seeks to identify which barrier is acting as the most dominant one and this result is helpful for policy-makers to achieve goals of National Health Mission (NHM) by removing the dominant barrier.

Originality/value

Total health care business reaches more than US$160bn in the country and is still growing, but sustainable growth of industry is a major area of concern. This paper is one of the preliminary attempts to identify which barrier is acting as the most dominant one and this result is helpful for policy-makers to achieve the goals of NHM by removing the dominant barrier.

Modelling the drivers for sustainable agri-food waste management

Purpose

The waste of invaluable agri-food produce is the concern of United Nations Organisation and all countries across the world. The purpose of this paper is to identify and model the drivers of agri-food waste management in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The interpretive structural modelling method is used to model the drivers in this study. This method helps in understanding the driver-dependent relationships among various drivers/criteria which are selected for studying.

Findings

The findings of the study vividly shows that the drivers such as disaster management planning, information dissemination, and training and awareness programs for farmers are most vital for tackling the issue.

Research limitations/implications

This work would help the policy makers in developing the effective policies regarding the management of agri-food waste in a sustainable manner.

Practical implications

This work would be very helpful for deeply understanding the causes of occurring waste and carefully handling it scientifically with a managerial perspective. Hence, it has the potential to reduce the generation of waste and saving the food for society.

Social implications

With the help of this study, the people, society, and underprivileged will be benefited directly. The savings in agri-food waste will not only help in controlling the prices of it but also its more availability would be beneficial for all in beating the hunger.

Originality/value

The identification of drivers for the sustainable management of agri-food is the novelty of this research.

Customer co-creation in hotel service innovation

Purpose

With increased competition in service sector due to dynamic nature of customers’ taste and preferences, service providers have realized the importance of co-creating with customers across various stages of new service development. Co-creating with customers require a focused attention on the psychological variables that influence customers to participate in developing a new service. However, availability of scant literature creates difficulty in comprehending co-creative hotel service innovation practices, especially in developing country like India. The purpose of this paper is to explore the inter-relationships among the customer participation in hotel service innovation variables with the help of interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

ISM approach is used to determine the direction of customer participation and categorization of psychological variables with their driving and dependence power. Identification of related variables was done through a review of literature initially and arrived at a common consensus through brainstorming sessions with academicians and hotel industry experts.

Findings

The results indicate that a few variables possess higher driving power that include: consumer innovativeness, customer participative behavior, customer socialization, willingness to co-create, role clarity, customer ability and their interlinking. Thus, the research contributes in the development of relationship among various identified variables of customer participation in service innovation (CPSI) using ISM.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that hoteliers should co-create with customers to develop new services by understanding their psychological variables that play a crucial role determining their active participation in new hotel service offerings.

Practical implications

This study suggests that hoteliers should co-create with customers to develop new services by understanding the enablers of customer participation in co-creative hotel service innovation. Hoteliers can have hierarchical map of their customers for co-creating at different stages of service innovation or can segregate the variables as per their driving and dependence power for enhanced applicability of the variables. Further, the observed inter-relationships among the CPSI variables can guide the managers in planning and implementing identified relationships for successful implementation of co-creative service innovation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge this study is the first to provide an integrated model using ISM and Matrix Impact Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis with a goal to identify and classify various key enablers of customer participation in co-creative hotel service innovation in India. The authors believe that this study will enhance the understanding of the psychological factors influencing customer-firm co-creative service innovation activities and help the academicians and industry practitioners to select right enablers for customer participation in co-creative hotel service innovation. Thus, this study will be the foundation for studying co-creative service innovation using the ISM and MICMAC approaches.

Analysis of green supply chain barriers using integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC approach

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to implement green supply chain and to understand their mutual relationship. Green supply chain management (GSCM) barriers are identified using available GSCM literature and on consultations with experts from industry and academician. Interpretive structural model (ISM) was developed to identify the contextual relationship among these barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A group of experts from industries and academics was consulted and ISM is used to develop the contextual relationship among various GSCMBs for each dimension of GSCM implementation. The results of ISM are used as an input to fuzzy matrix of cross-impact multiplications applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis, to identify the driving and dependence power of GSCMBs.

Findings

– This paper has identified 14 key GSCMBs and developed an integrated model using ISM and the fuzzy MICMAC approach, which helps to identify and classify the important GSCMBs and reveal the direct and indirect effects of each GSCMB on the GSCM implementation. ISM model provides only binary relationship among GSCMBs, while fuzzy MICMAC analysis provides precise analysis related to driving and dependence power of GSCMB, to overcome this limitation, integrated approach is developed.

Research limitations/implications

– ISM model development and fuzzy MICMAC analysis were obtained through the judgment of academicians and industry experts. It is the only subjective judgment and any biasing by the person who is judging the GSCMBs might influence the final result.

Originality/value

– This is first kind of study to identify GSCMBs and further, to deploy ISM and fuzzy MICMAC to identify and classify the key GSCMEs that influence GSCM implementation in the organization. The results will be useful for business managers to understand the GSCMBs and overcome these GSCMBs during GSCM implementation in an organization.

Factors affecting quality of management education in India

Purpose

– The purpose and value of management education was always under the critics’ scanner but the proliferation of institutes impelled a serious debate on its quality. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting quality of management education in India and explains their nature, significance and mutual influences using interpretive structural modelling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

– The factors were listed through literature review. They were then validated by empirical research conducted through questionnaires administered electronically and personally to 220 master of business administration students and alumni. On 13 such factors finalised, a qualitative and interpretive tool, ISM was applied.

Findings

– Leadership emerged as the most important factor followed by organisational structure and practices. Interrelations otherwise not easily observable established their prominence. An important fact that evolved is that almost all the factors have strong interdependence and have to be seen in coherence when analysing their impact on students.

Originality/value

– The literature until now has been highlighting the factors and their association with management education largely in isolation. This paper contributes to the existing literature by proposing a framework of the interrelationships of the factors which have a role in improving the quality of management education.

Green supply chain management

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce and provide an overview of the various issues related to Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and suggest further scope and direction of research in this emerging field.

Design/methodology/approach

– The work relies on experiences, case studies and other literature related to GSCM. Literature has been segregated to understand various GSCM issues. A detailed review is used to sort out the literature and develop the research direction of the study. The review is focussed on development of GSCM including all those researchers which is relevant to environmental and social sustainability toward operation management and the supply chain. A literature review seems to be a valid approach, as a necessary step in structuring a research field.

Findings

– The objectives of this paper are to identify major research work conducted on GSCM and to classify them to identify gaps in literature and opportunities for future research. The paper has provided an integrative framework for study, design, implementation and GSCM performance. The findings also identify a number of issues that need to be addressed.

Research limitations/implications

– Implication of the work is that the knowledge of the research gap can be used to focus efforts on key areas so as to ensure speedy and comprehensive implementation of GSCM practices.

Practical implications

– The paper may prove to be a very useful source of information to practitioners and regulators in their green practices implementation programs.

Originality/value

– This paper provides some of the very first insights into development of GSCM theories. The methodological review will provide better understanding of the current state of research in the discipline.