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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2009.03.031 Byline: Jhieh-Yu Shyng (a)(d), How-Ming Shieh (a), Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng (b)(c), Shu-Huei Hsieh (d) Keywords: Asset allocation; Asset management; Forward Search and Backward Trace (FSBT); Investment portfolio; Rough Set Theory (RST) Abstract: This study proposes a novel Forward Search and Backward Trace (FSBT) technique based on Rough Set Theory to improve data analysis and extend the scope of observations made from sample data to solve personal investment portfolio problems. Rough Set Theory mathematically classifies data into class sets. The class set with the most objects may generate one decision rule. The rules generated from RST are rough and fragmented, that are very difficult to interpret the information. An empirical case is used to generate more than 85 rules by the RST method in comparison with FSBT method which only generated 14 rules. This result can show our proposed method is better than traditional RST method based on class sets that contain the most objects. Much of human knowledge is described in natural language. It is a very important thing to convert information from computer databases into normal human language. Sample data taken from features with the same backgrounds are used to compile different portfolios that investment companies and investment advisors can employ to satisfy the investor' needs. The method not only can provide decision-making rules, but also can offer alternative strategies for better data analysis. We believe that the FSBT technique can be fully applied in research on investment marketing. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Business Administration, National Central University, No. 300, Chung-da Road, Chung-Li City 320, Taiwan (b) Department of Business and Entrepreneurial Administration, Kainan University, No. 1, Kainan Road, Luchu, Taoyuan 338, Taiwan (c) Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, No. 1001, Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (d) Department of Information Management, Lan-Yang Institute of Technology, No. 79, Fu-Shin Road, To-Chen, I-Lan 621, Taiwan Article History: Received 4 September 2007; Accepted 20 March 2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2006.08.029 Byline: Tuan-Fang Fan (a)(b), Duen-Ren Liu (a), Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng (c)(d) Keywords: Rough sets; Fuzzy sets; Decision logic; Multicriteria decision analysis; Artificial intelligence Abstract: In this paper, we propose some decision logic languages for rule representation in rough set-based multicriteria analysis. The semantic models of these logics are data tables, each of which is comprised of a finite set of objects described by a finite set of criteria/attributes. The domains of the criteria may have ordinal properties expressing preference scales, while the domains of the attributes may not. The validity, support, and confidence of a rule are defined via its satisfaction in the data table. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Information Management, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (b) Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Penghu University, Penghu 880, Taiwan (c) Graduate Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (d) Kainan University, Taoyuan 338, Taiwan Article History: Received 14 December 2004; Accepted 17 August 2006

Organizational transformations have been widely adopted by firms who wish to improve their competitive advantage to be better prepared to face external challenges. This research has chosen Communities of Practice (CoPs) as the subject of discussion for an assessment model to reform organizations that undertake CoPs for collective knowledge to enhance their core competencies. Given the interrelationships between criteria, this research uses the nonadditive fuzzy integral to develop a framework for the CoPs performance assessment. The purposes of this paper are to identify the key dimensions/criteria in the CoPs, to use fuzzy logic method to analyze the relative importance of each criterion, and to rank the criteria so that proper resources can be allocated while managing the CoPs. Through interviews with experts, four strategy alternatives and 16 criteria along four dimensions are generated. A survey of the CoPs practitioners is then conducted to compare the results of each criterion. The results will not only help organizations that intend to initiate changes via the CoPs activities to decide the ranking of their appraisal criteria, but it can also assist them in guiding the behavior of their staff while effectively monitoring and improving the performances of the CoPs. Index Terms--Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), communities of practice (CoPs), core competency, fuzzy integral, organizational transformation, knowledge management (KM), multiple criteria decision making (MCDM).

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2006.01.020 Byline: Serafim Opricovic (a), Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng (b) Keywords: Multiple criteria analysis; Compromise; Extended VIKOR method Abstract: The VIKOR method was developed to solve MCDM problems with conflicting and noncommensurable (different units) criteria, assuming that compromising is acceptable for conflict resolution, the decision maker wants a solution that is the closest to the ideal, and the alternatives are evaluated according to all established criteria. This method focuses on ranking and selecting from a set of alternatives in the presence of conflicting criteria, and on proposing compromise solution (one or more). The VIKOR method is extended with a stability analysis determining the weight stability intervals and with trade-offs analysis. The extended VIKOR method is compared with three multicriteria decision making methods: TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, and ELECTRE. A numerical example illustrates an application of the VIKOR method, and the results by all four considered methods are compared. Author Affiliation: (a) Faculty of Civil Engineering, Bulevar revolucije 73, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (b) National Chiao Tung University, Institute of Management of Technology, 1001 Ta-Hsueh Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan Article History: Received 4 March 2005; Accepted 9 January 2006

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2005.07.003 Byline: Tzy-Yuan Chou (a), Seng-cho T. Chou (a), Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng (b)(c) Keywords: Fuzzy theory; IS evaluation; IT evaluation; IT portfolio; Multi-criteria decision making Abstract: IT/IS represents a substantial financial investment for many organizations. Whether or not to invest in new IT/IS is, therefore, a difficult decision. Simply considering human resource cost saving criteria is not enough, especially when a corporation has had many information systems. What kind of criteria should we consider when we evaluate IT/IS? How can a new IT/IS project be evaluated in an easy, cost-effective, and collective manner? We need a tool that will help decision-makers evaluate potential new investment projects. Apart from evaluating the new project per se, its compatibility and ability to integrate with an existing IT portfolio must also be considered. Hence, we propose a new approach based on the fuzzy multi-criteria decision model (FMCDM), featuring a 2-stage evaluation process with 26 criteria for IT/IS investment. All stakeholders in a corporation can decide the relative weights they give to the criteria when they evaluate a new IT/IS project by using linguistic values. Experts can also use linguistic values to evaluate all candidates easily. Only an Excel worksheet is needed to obtain an evaluation result. It is cost-effective and efficient. We conduct a case study to show how this model can be used and discuss the results. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Information Management, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan (b) Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, 1001, Ta-Hsueh Rd., Hsinchu 300, Taiwan (c) Department of Business Administration, Kainan University, No. 1, Kainan Road, Luchu, Toayuan County 338, Taiwan

In actual environmental investment for industry, the stakeholders are often required to evaluate the investment strategies according to their own subjective preferences in terms of numerical values from various criteria, such as economic effectiveness, technique feasibility and environmental regulation. Thus, this situation can be regarded as a fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem, so the fuzziness and uncertainty of subjective perception should be considered. This paper proposes an alternative approach, the non-additive fuzzy integral, to cope with evaluation of fuzzy MCDM problems particularly while there is dependence among considered criteria. To illustrate the proposed procedure, the sustainable development strategy for aquatic product processors in Taiwan is investigated. In this paper we employ triangular fuzzy numbers to represent the decision makers' subjective preferences on the considered criteria, as well as for the criteria measurements to evaluate a sustainable development planning case for industry. Firstly, in this study we employ factor analysis to extract four independent common factors from those criteria. Secondly, we construct the evaluation frame using AHP composed of the above four common factors with twelve evaluated criteria, and then derive the relative weights with respect to considered criteria. Thirdly, the synthetic utility value corresponding to each sustainable development strategy is aggregated by the fuzzy weights with fuzzy performance values, and the best investment strategies can then be decided. Through this study, we successfully demonstrate that the non-additive fuzzy integral is an effective evaluation and appears to be more appropriate than the traditional simple additive weighted method, especially when the criteria are dependent. Keywords. Fuzzy hierarchical analytic process; Sustainable development; Non-additive fuzzy integral; Multiple criteria decision-making; Factor analysis, 1. Introduction Over the past two decades environmental effects and ecological considerations are increasingly taken into account in making decision for technological and economic development. According to statistics from the [...]

The multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) methods VIKOR and TOPSIS were based on an aggregating function representating 'closeness to the ideal', which originated in the compromise programming method. A comparative analysis of the two methods is demonstrated with numerical example, showing their similarity and differences.

The difficulties experienced by Taipower in planning the purchase, transportation and allocation of coal are expressed as a fuzzy bicriteria multi-index transportation problem. The latter is characterized by multiple source points, multiple demand points, multiple ships and different types of coal. To solve it, an algorithm based on the reducing index technique and interactive linear programming is developed.

In traditional traffic-assignment problems, only a single objective is considered. Although people's living quality improves and transportation needs increase, the environmental quality is destroyed with rapid economic and traffic growth. The concept of traffic assignment, an important procedure for transportation planning, should take all needs into consideration. Based on the viewpoints of all constituencies, this paper attempts to determine optimal flow patterns using three objectives - total travel time for road users, air pollution for nonusers (such as community residents), and travel distance for government - to formulate an effective multiobjective model for traffic assignment. By using multiobjective decision making and nonlinear programming techniques, a series of noninferior solutions is generated. By combining an eigenvector weighting method with pairwise comparison, we obtain a compromise solution for the flow pattern. An application case for the Taipei network system is also presented and discussed. The results show that if other nontraffic related factors are taken into account, the multiobjective traffic-assignment approach is more reasonable and suitable than conventional approaches.

The habitual domain theory has been used to assess the public's views on public policies. A public attitude analysis model has been developed, incorporating general fuzzy measures and fuzzy integrals. The model was applied to an investigation of the compressed natural gas taxi policy in Taipei City, Taiwan.