Este trabalho apresenta o processo de seleção de estratégia de reconversão industrial de uma pequena refinaria de petróleo no Sul do Brasil através da aplicação de uma modelagem integrada, utilizando um método multicriterial e programação matemática. Neste estudo foram identificadas linhas de negócio potencialmente aplicáveis à realidade da companhia e definido um conjunto de critérios de análise abrangendo as três dimensões da sustentabilidade empresarial: econômica, social e ambiental. Com base na avaliação da importância relativa de cada critério, atribuída por um grupo de decisores, e no desempenho das linhas de negócio em cada um dos critérios, foi aplicado método fuzzy TOPSIS para análise e ordenação das linhas de negócio. As informações resultantes desta análise, juntamente com dados econômicos objetivos, foram utilizadas em um modelo de programação linear inteira para avaliar portfólios viáveis de linhas de negócio, identificando estratégias candidatas à implementação na refinaria. O desempenho global de cada estratégia candidata, obtido mediante agregação dos desempenhos individuais das linhas de negócio e calculado conforme método fuzzy TOPSIS, foi analisado através de ferramentas gráficas, de modo a gerar elementos para subsidiar a seleção da melhor estratégia de reconversão. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a eficiência da abordagem proposta, no sentido de facilitar o entendimento e a exploração da situação problema e, assim, oferecer um adequado suporte à tomada de decisão. / This dissertation presents a selection process of industrial reconversion strategy in a small oil refinery in southern Brazil by applying an integrated modeling approach, using a multicriteria and a mathematical programming method. Potentially performing business lines were identified, as well a set of criteria covering the three dimensions of corporate sustainability: economic, social and environmental. Based on the relative importance evaluation of each criteria given by a group of decision-makers, and on performance of the business lines in each of the criteria, fuzzy TOPSIS method was applied for analysis and sorting of business lines. The information resulting from this analysis, along with objective economic data, were used in integer linear programming model to evaluate effective portfolios of business lines, identifying candidate strategies to implement in the refinery. Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to generate overall performance scores of each candidate strategy, aggregating the individual performance of the business lines. The sustainability assessment was analyzed through graphical tools in order to generate information to support the selection of the best strategy for the industrial reconversion. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approach to facilitate the understanding and exploitation of the problem situation and thus offer adequate support to decision making.

Le travail de recherche présenté dans cette thèse s'inscrit dans le champ de l'aide multicritère à la décision. Ce champ concerne la décision dans un contexte où les alternatives sont jugées sous divers aspects, souvent conflictuels. Notre travail s'insère dans une approche descriptive et cherche à observer l'effet du conflit multicritère sur les préférences exprimées par le décideur. Dans un premier temps, nous proposons une définition de l'intensité du conflit multicritère entre deux alternatives puis nous nous intéressons aux préférences incomplètes et identifions deux classes de modèles de préférences incomplètes. Notre principale contribution est ensuite d'observer et analyser l'effet du conflit lors du recueil des préférences d'un décideur. Nous avons pour cela conçu et mené deux expérimentations permettant de tester le recueil de préférences à travers des comparaisons par paires, et à travers des matchings. La première expérimentation nous permet de mettre en évidence une forme d'intransitivité de l'indifférence le long des chaînes d'isopréférence. Un fort conflit multicritère conduit les sujets à exprimer des préférences incomplètes. Les résultats obtenus lors de cette expérimentation sont en cours de publication (Deparis et al. [2012]). La seconde expérimentation nous permet de montrer que les asymétries déjà observées dans la littérature en réponse à un bi-matching sont fortement amplifiées par l'effet du conflit multicritère. Nous discutons des implications de ces résultats en termes d'élicitation des préférences. Enfin, nous analysons les résultats expérimentaux au regard de la labilité des préférences qu'ils révèlent. Au-delà de cette contribution, notre thèse permet de mieux comprendre les interactions qui peuvent exister entre les approches normative, descriptive et prescriptive en décision multicritère. / The research presented in this thesis lies in the field of multicriteria decision aid. This field deals with decision in a context where several aspects, usually in conflict, are considered when judging the alternatives. Our work stands in the descriptive approach and aims at observing the effect of multicriteria conflict on the preferences expressed by decision-makers. First, we propose a definition of the intensity of inter-alternative multicriteria conflict and then we consider incomplete preferences and identify two types of incomplete preference models. Our main contribution is then to observe and analyse the effect of conflict when assessing the preferences of a decision-maker. In order to do so, we designed and led two experiments allowing to test the assessment of preferences through pairwise comparisons and matchings. The first experiment allows us to exhibit an intransitivity of indifference along isopreference chains. A large multicriteria conflict leads subjects to express incomplete preferences. Results obtained from this experiment are under publication (Deparis et al. [2012]). The second experiment allows us to show that asymmetries already observed in the literature in response to bimatchings are strongly amplified by multicriteria conflict. We discuss the implications of these results on elicitation of preferences. Finally, we analyse the experimental results with regard to the lability of preferences that they reveal. Beyond this contribution, our thesis sheds a light on the interactions that exist between the normative, descriptive and prescriptive approaches in multicriteria decision-making.

Este trabalho apresenta o processo de seleção de estratégia de reconversão industrial de uma pequena refinaria de petróleo no Sul do Brasil através da aplicação de uma modelagem integrada, utilizando um método multicriterial e programação matemática. Neste estudo foram identificadas linhas de negócio potencialmente aplicáveis à realidade da companhia e definido um conjunto de critérios de análise abrangendo as três dimensões da sustentabilidade empresarial: econômica, social e ambiental. Com base na avaliação da importância relativa de cada critério, atribuída por um grupo de decisores, e no desempenho das linhas de negócio em cada um dos critérios, foi aplicado método fuzzy TOPSIS para análise e ordenação das linhas de negócio. As informações resultantes desta análise, juntamente com dados econômicos objetivos, foram utilizadas em um modelo de programação linear inteira para avaliar portfólios viáveis de linhas de negócio, identificando estratégias candidatas à implementação na refinaria. O desempenho global de cada estratégia candidata, obtido mediante agregação dos desempenhos individuais das linhas de negócio e calculado conforme método fuzzy TOPSIS, foi analisado através de ferramentas gráficas, de modo a gerar elementos para subsidiar a seleção da melhor estratégia de reconversão. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a eficiência da abordagem proposta, no sentido de facilitar o entendimento e a exploração da situação problema e, assim, oferecer um adequado suporte à tomada de decisão. / This dissertation presents a selection process of industrial reconversion strategy in a small oil refinery in southern Brazil by applying an integrated modeling approach, using a multicriteria and a mathematical programming method. Potentially performing business lines were identified, as well a set of criteria covering the three dimensions of corporate sustainability: economic, social and environmental. Based on the relative importance evaluation of each criteria given by a group of decision-makers, and on performance of the business lines in each of the criteria, fuzzy TOPSIS method was applied for analysis and sorting of business lines. The information resulting from this analysis, along with objective economic data, were used in integer linear programming model to evaluate effective portfolios of business lines, identifying candidate strategies to implement in the refinery. Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to generate overall performance scores of each candidate strategy, aggregating the individual performance of the business lines. The sustainability assessment was analyzed through graphical tools in order to generate information to support the selection of the best strategy for the industrial reconversion. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approach to facilitate the understanding and exploitation of the problem situation and thus offer adequate support to decision making.

The work applies methods of multicriteria decision-making to various sources and media in the field of digital marketing. The calculation of the efficient strategy of the digital marketing is included. The strategy brings sorts of conversions, audience and attention together with minimizing costs. The application of multicriteria discrete decision-making methods is carried out in the environment of websites of firms on the sources and their general category medium. On the website of the company products are promoted and strengthened brand awareness. The methods of multicriteria decision-making using the discrete method of decision-making with determination of the order of variants with cardinal information were used for the calculations. Part of this work based on calculation of the efficient strategy of the digital marketing is also the analysis of used keywords and the most common conversion paths of the sources and media.

This study aims to explore the factors, aspects, and trends considered in the International Market Selection (IMS) process. Consequentially, it develops a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by home region oriented multinational enterprises (MNEs) during international expansion. The research question focuses on how home region oriented MNEs approach and execute market selection within the internationalization process. The importance of IMS is emphasized, as many MNEs struggle with Internationalization, and only a few achieve global presence. While previous academic literature highlighted the significance of market selection, a comprehensive model encompassing all relevant criteria on a macroeconomic level was lacking. To address this gap, in-depth interviews are conducted with practitioners and experts to gather qualitative insights. The main findings reveal that MNEs primarily face three key challenges when internationalizing and selecting new markets: Company internal aspects, product market aspects, as well as the macroeconomic situation. This thesis focuses on the macroeconomic assessment aspect and develops a holistic, transparent, applicable, and current framework: the multicriteria decision making framework. The framework bases on 53 indicators, structured according to the PESTLE model and helps selecting the right market based on macroeconomic conditions. To demonstrate the framework's applicability, a case study is conducted in collaboration with a global chemical company targeting the Latin American market. Using the framework, a clear recommendation on country attractiveness is provided. The company could leverage this information to maintain or intensify operations in high-scoring countries such as Chile, Mexico, or Brazil, while exercising caution or avoiding low-scoring countries such as Argentina or Venezuela. Accordingly, does this study not only explore behaviors and challenges faced by home region oriented MNEs but also introduce an applicable framework for IMS in the real business world. The framework's practicality makes it valuable for future research and contributions in the field of IMS.

No description available.

It is believed that the critical next step from examinations of operations and the environment is the study of sustainability and supply chains (Linton, Klassen, and Jayaraman (2007)). Environmental quality and preservation as well as meeting the stress of emission reductions is rapidly becoming an important issue for public policy (Wilkinson, Hill, and Gollan (2001)). However, Lambertini and Mantovani (2007) note the disregard, unrelated to regulatory requirements, of research practitioners to the potential benefits of appropriate competition policy measures and consumer pressures (Srivastara (2007)). In addition, a firm’s success, notably, in terms of financial and/or environmental practices, has been tied, in part, to the strength of its ability to coordinate and integrate activities along the entire supply chain (Spekman, Kamauff Jr., and Myhr (1998)), and to effectively implement multicriteria decisionmaking tools to aid in their strategic decisions. I present five essays in this dissertation. For each model I utilize the theory of variational inequalities, derive the formulation, present qualitative properties, and provide numerical examples. The first essay develops the multitiered sustainable supply chain network model with multicriteria decision-making. In the second essay I construct a modeling and computational framework that allows for the determination of optimal carbon taxes applied to electric power plants in the context of electric power supply chain (generation/distribution/consumption) networks. The third essay considers electric power supply chain networks and develops a model of tradable pollution permits in the case of multiple pollutants and spatially distinct receptor points. In the fourth essay, I quantify and assess, from a system-optimized sustainable supply chain network perspective, the environmental effects resulting when a horizontal supply chain integration occurs. In the fifth and final essay, I extend the work of Nagurney (2009) to the multiproduct supply chain network domain to quantify the impacts. This dissertation is heavily based on the following papers: Nagurney, Liu, and Woolley (2006), Nagurney, Liu, and Woolley (2007), Woolley, Nagurney, and Stranlund (2009), Nagurney and Woolley (2009) and Nagurney, Woolley, and Qiang (2009).

Humanitarian relief and aid organizations all over the world implement efforts aimed at recovering from disasters, reducing poverty and promoting human rights. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a series of quantitative decision models to help address some of the challenges faced by humanitarian logistics. The first study discusses the development of a spreadsheet-based multicriteria scheduling model for a small development aid organization in a South American developing country. Development aid organizations plan and execute efforts that are primarily directed towards promoting human welfare. Because these organizations rely heavily on the use of volunteers to carry out their social mission, it is important that they manage their volunteer workforce efficiently. In this study, we demonstrate not only how the proposed model helps to reduce the number of unfilled shifts and to decrease total scheduling costs, but also how it helps to better satisfy the volunteers’ scheduling preferences, thus supporting long-term retention and effectiveness of the workforce. The purpose of the second study is to develop a decision model to assist in the management of humanitarian relief volunteers. One of the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations is that there exist limited decision technologies that fit their needs while it has also been pointed out that those organizations experience coordination difficulties with volunteers willing to help. Even though employee workforce management models have been the topic of extensive research over the past decades, no work has focused on the problem of managing humanitarian relief volunteers. In this study, we discuss a series of principles from the field of volunteer management and develop a multicriteria optimization model to assist in the assignment of both individual volunteers and volunteer groups to tasks. We present illustrative examples and analyze two complementary solution methodologies that incorporate the decision maker's preferences and knowledge and allow him/her to trade-off conflicting objectives. The third study discusses the development of a decision model for the procurement of goods in humanitarian efforts. Despite the prevalence of procurement expenditures in humanitarian efforts, procurement in humanitarian contexts is a topic that has only been discussed in a qualitative manner in the literature. In our paper, we introduce a two stage decision model with recourse to improve the procurement of goods in humanitarian relief supply chains and present an illustrative example. Conclusions, limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed. / Ph. D.

An increasing number of agencies have begun to define sustainability for transportation systems and are taking steps to incorporate the concept into the regional transportation planning process. Planning for sustainable transportation systems should at the very least incorporate their broader impacts on system effectiveness, environmental integrity, economic development, and the social quality of life. This study reviews definitions, performance measures, and evaluation methodologies for transportation system sustainability and demonstrates a framework for incorporating sustainability considerations in transportation planning and decision making. Through a case study using data from the Atlanta Metropolitan Region, the study evaluates competing transportation and land use plans based on a broad range of sustainability parameters using relevant spatial and environmental analyses. A multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) method enables the aggregation of individual performance measures into four basic indexes and further into a composite sustainability index based on regional goals and priorities. The value of the indexes lies in their ability to capture the multidimensional nature of sustainability as well as important tradeoffs among the potentially conflicting decision criteria. A decision support tool is proposed to visualize dominance and tradeoffs when evaluating alternatives and to effectively reflect changing regional priorities over time. The proposed framework should help decision makers with incorporating sustainability considerations into transportation planning as well as identifying superior plans for predetermined objectives.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to introduce the issues of evaluating public tenders generally and in a specific organization, to orientate in methods of multicriteria assessment analysis and by their means, to suggest suitable method of evaluating public tenders for the chosen organization. The theoretical part of this thesis deals with the description of the process of evaluating public tenders in the Czech Republic, as well as the explanation of multicriteria decision making concept and the description of methods of multicriteria assessment analysis according to the types of information required. The practical part provides the characteristic of the chosen organization, more precisely its divisions. It also provides the regulation that is followed by the organization when realizing competitive tendering. The analysis itself involves the overview of the tenders realized in the scope of activity of the chosen division in the period of five years, as well as the information on the used evaluating criteria. Out of this overview, the sample of the typical tenders is defined, on which the chosen methods of multicriteria assessment analysis are applied. The aim of this process is to assess the order of the variations after the application of the methods of multicriteria assessment analysis and the newly determined evaluating criterion, as well as compare the results with the originally given basic evaluating criterion. Point method, WSA method and TOPSIS method are used for the assessment. In the final part of this thesis, the recommendation on more frequent utilization of multicriteria assessment is suggested to the contract owner, more precisely using such criteria that would be more effective when using public funds.