fuzzy dematel

This research examines the factors affecting the design of supplier contracts at Sazeh Peyvand Company (SPC). It aims to identify and determine the relationships between these factors under conditions of uncertainty.

The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection. Initially, the influential factors were identified through the literature review. Subsequently, the causal relationships between these factors were analyzed using the fuzzy DEMATEL.

The results indicate that among the main dimensions, factors related to contract efficiency and unforeseen factors were identified as causal factors, while the relational perspective of the contract was recognized as a result factor. Additionally, within the efficiency perspective of the contract, "formality" and "opportunistic risks" were identified as causal factors, while "contract duration" and "compensable damages" were identified as result factors. In the relational perspective of the contract, "incentives" and "supplier reorganization" were identified as causal factors, and "type of partnership" was recognized as a result factor. Among unforeseen factors, "changes in procedures" and "supplier power" were identified as causal factors, while "supplier technology" and "competitor threats" were identified as result factors.

The study emphasizes that improving contract design should focus on both efficiency and unforeseen factors, and companies, particularly Peyvand Structural Engineers, need to pay special attention to managing these factors.

The main goal of the current research is to analyze the factors of Business Process Management (BPM) in the stock exchange organization with the approach of factor analysis and fuzzy DEMATEL. For this purpose, first by reviewing the literature and interviewing experts, specialists and analysts of the Tehran Stock Exchange Organization, 10 key and critical factors in the success of the BPM system were identified and ten related hypotheses were proposed.

This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection method. The statistical population of this research regarding the examination and extraction of the final factors affecting the implementation of the BPM system, the opinions of all the employees of the brokerage companies under the supervision of the Tehran Stock Exchange Organization, is approximately 400 people. The sampling method is simple random and according to the Morgan table and the aforementioned formula, the sample size is 196 people. In this study, the designed questionnaire was provided to 250 managers, experts and specialists of the mentioned organization to express their views and opinions regarding the effectiveness of these factors. Also, the statistical population in relation to the evaluation and determination of the intensity of relationships between key factors and ultimately their importance and rank (in terms of the total intensity of effectiveness and influence) using the fuzzy DEMATEL technique is 80 managers and specialists with at least a bachelor's degree and 15 years of work experience in brokerage companies of the Tehran Stock Exchange Organization. Finally, a sample of 50 people from this population was used to evaluate the factors.

The output of the factor analysis showed that ten factors are effective in implementing the system. Based on the output of the fuzzy DEMATEL, the organizational culture factor was ranked as the highest priority and reducing fear and anxiety in the organization was ranked as the lowest priority in terms of effectiveness of the BPM system.

Originality/Value: 

In this study, the determining factors in the BPM of the organization have been identified and the influencing and influencing relationships between the factors have been explained for improving the organization's process.

Today's organizations are faced with constant changes. These changes have affected organizations and require today's leaders to be strategically reactive and proactive to ensure that their organizations thrive in the modern era. Chameleon leaders possess the qualities that give organizations the knowledge and style to compete on a global scale. The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying and analyzing the effective factors and consequences of chameleon leadership.

In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and in terms of data collection method, it is a survey and exploratory type, which was conducted in a mixed manner. The statistical population of the research is the experts in the field of human resources of Sananndaj government organizations. Sample members were selected using the purposeful sampling method, and based on the principle of theoretical saturation. The data collection tool is in the qualitative part of the interview and in the quantitative part of the questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the tools were analyzed using content validity and intra-coder inter-coder reliability for the interview, and content validity and retest reliability for the questionnaire, respectively. In this research, for data analysis in the qualitative part, the method of content analysis and coding and fuzzy Delphi was used in the quantitative part, using the fuzzy Dematel method.

In this research, based on the analysis of the data obtained from the interview, a set of factors were identified as chameleon leadership suffixes. These include unpredictable situations, the spread of the organization's self-interested atmosphere, the existence of competitive spirit, political work in the organization and organizational deviations, opportunism, shrewd personality, internal control center, behavioral care, responsiveness as antecedents, as well as components of networking and development of communication channels, flexibility and adaptability to changes, adjustment of leadership attitudes and behaviors with the environment, acquisition of social identity, critical thinking, job security, formation of political behaviors, adaptive communication styles, and organizational agility. Among the identified factors, unpredictable situations and internal control center were identified as the most important factors of chameleon leadership, respectively.

The most important factors affecting chameleon leadership are unpredictable situations and the internal control center in the organization.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors affecting the formation and development of brand communities in the digital marketing space of the Instagram social media.

The present study is developmental and applied in terms of its purpose. It has a hybrid approach in terms of its nature. It is survey research in terms of implementation. It is descriptive based on data collection. This research, in the first phase, literature review and interviews have been used to identify the effective factors for the formation and development of brand communities, in the second phase, factors have been screened by fuzzy Delphi method, and in the last phase, the fuzzy Demetal method has been used to identify the effective and influencing factors.

In the present study, 68 influential factors have been identifing in the first phase of the research. In the second phase of the research, after screened the factors in two phased Delphi repetitions, 16 effective factors on the formation and development of brand communities to introduced and in the third phase, the have been determining intensit of the influencing factors.

The results show that product prestige, overall satisfaction, product development, customer age, product quality, celebrity reputation, and celebrity moral characteristics were identifed as causes. Common awareness, word-of-mouth marketing, customs, brand symbolic function, brand identification, human-to-human interaction through the net platform, social responsibility, customer's emotional experience, and foreign brand reputation were recognized as Effective. also they have ranked based influence of the factors.

Uncertainty in food supply in the country has heightened the focus on the supply chain of semi-prepared foods. Like many economic sectors, the food supply chain has not been immune to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food supply, influenced by the behaviors of governments and customers during such crises, can exacerbate uncertainties in the supply chain, underlining the need for simulating the behavior of supply chain actors. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to develop an agent-based simulation to analyze the relationships between actors in the supply chain of ready and semi-prepared foods concerning raw material imports and final product exports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study is applied in its aim and descriptive-analytical in terms of data collection, utilizing agent-based simulation techniques. The case study for simulating pandemic conditions in the supply chain is one of the ready and semi-prepared food companies in Tehran Province with a production capacity of 216,000 tons per month. To identify factors, variables, and parameters for the agent-based model, the research employed thematic analysis, reviewing prior studies, and conducting interviews with 20 industry experts from the ready and semi-prepared food sector and supply chain experts from Amadeh-Laziz Company.

The findings identified three main actors in the food supply chain that play a role in exports: “Government”  (e.g., customs, national standards organization, consumer protection organizations, industry and mining banks, Iran Chamber of Commerce-Industries-Mines and Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration), “Supply Chain Companies” (e.g., domestic suppliers, foreign suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors), and “Final Customers” (e.g., domestic and foreign customers). The key uncertainty identified in interviews was governmental intervention or non-intervention in exports and imports.Accordingly, two scenarios were developed: “Governmental intervention in exports and imports”, and “Lack of governmental support in exports and imports during the pandemic”. These scenarios were analyzed using agent-based simulation to examine the relationships, characteristics, and decision-making behaviors of supply chain actors. Additionally, fuzzy DEMATEL was used as a complementary method to identify the most significant relationships among actors in the ready and semi-prepared food supply chain. Simulation parameters included: Import tariffs on raw materials (%), Export tariffs on final products (%), Total monthly domestic demand (in thousand tons), Total monthly foreign demand (in thousand tons), Total monthly demand (in thousand tons), Maximum production capacity (in thousand tons).Simulation variables included: Percentage change in total costs compared to the base price, Percentage of completed domestic customer orders, Percentage of completed foreign customer orders, Total completed orders (total sales volume), Profits from the domestic market, Profits from the foreign market, Percentage of overall profitability. The simulation was performed under the two scenarios of governmental non-intervention and governmental intervention in importing raw materials and exporting final products, with emphasis on two main variables: profitability and order fulfillment rate, which encapsulate the model’s overall outcomes.

The results indicate that under the governmental intervention scenario, profitability increased by 6%, and total order fulfillment improved by 14%. Based on the defined criteria for scenario comparison, the second scenario (governmental support) provides more favorable conditions for supporting domestic production, enhancing employment levels, and ensuring food security in both domestic and international markets.

Mental agility is vital for military leaders, significantly influencing their effectiveness in planning and implementing military operations. Thus, enhancing the mental agility of promising leaders is an essential responsibility of higher education in the armed forces. This research aims to identify the factors that contribute to and the outcomes that arise from improved mental agility among military leaders. This study adopts a developmental-applied approach using descriptive-contextual methods. Data were collected through both field and library research and analyzed using Thematic Analysis and Fuzzy DEMATEL with Python 3.11. The research focuses on scientific literature related to mental agility, with a questionnaire distributed to 15 selected commanders, managers, and expert professors in a military organization. The findings indicate that emotional intelligence, social competence, personality traits, cognitive abilities, diverse experiences, adaptability, and flexibility are crucial for developing mental agility in military leaders. In turn, this mental agility fosters enhanced strategic decision-making, innovative leadership, optimal problem-solving, effective change management, improved team dynamics, and a strong commitment to continuous learning. These results highlight the significance of nurturing the key factors that drive mental agility. By cultivating these skills, commanders can excel in essential areas, thereby optimizing their effectiveness on the battlefield while underscoring the need for ongoing education in military leadership.

Nowadays, intelligence and industry 4.0 has been the focus of many industries due to its various benefits such as tracking raw materials and manufactured products, reducing costs, etc. One of the most important factors in facilitating the implementation of Industry 4.0 is human resources. The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of human resources on the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the steel industry of Yazd. Using research literature, 13 factors related to human resources affecting the implementation of Industry 4.0 have been identified. In the following, by using the fuzzy delphi approach and selecting 17 university professors and managers of Yazd steel industry by snowball sampling and asking for their opinions, three factors of continuous learning ability, data analysis and business intelligence, and security and privacy protection weren’t confirmed. Also, based on the request of the authors of the research from the related experts, by adding factors related to the implementation of Industry 4.0, three factors of freedom of action in doing work, sufficient time to do work, and innovation and creativity were introduced. Finally, the cause-and-effect relationships between the factors were investigated using the fuzzy dematel approach. The results showed that cooperation and interaction are the most important factors for the implementation of Industry 4.0 in Yazd steel industry. Perceived usefulness and recruitment of skilled labor are known as the most effective factors, and innovation, creativity, learning, and empowerment are known as the most effective factors on the implementation of Industry 4.0.

In recent years, the agri-food value chain has received increased attention due to population growth and the importance of food issues. Therefore, it is important to examine all components that positively affect the performance of the chain. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the causal relationships of factors related to interactions between farmers and factories by presenting a causal model of these factors. In the first step, factors related to the relationships between farmers and factories were identified and extracted through literature review. Then, these factors were validated by experts using the fuzzy Delphi method, and 19 factors, including behavioral and performance factors, were considered as inputs for the fuzzy DEMATEL method, and a causal model for these factors was drawn. The statistical sample includes 25 experts in the field of agriculture and food industries, selected by the snowball sampling method. The results showed that the factors of relationship quality, behavioral uncertainty of farmers and factories, and supply chain balance had the highest impact compared to other factors. Among the factors, the highest interaction belonged to the "relationship quality" factor, and among the 19 factors, 9 were classified as causes and 10 as effects. The agri-food value chain consists of various members, and if each member only considers increasing their profit and reducing their loss, the quality of relationships decreases and conflicts among members increase.

The productivity of skilled human resources is one of the key factors influencing the performance of construction projects, and neglecting this issue can result in irreparable damages to the projects. Low labor productivity is one of the fundamental challenges in the construction industry, as it has consistently been a cause of excessive increases in time and cost in construction projects. Research conducted on the risk factors affecting human resource productivity in projects has shortcomings, such as a lack of comprehensiveness in the risk identification process, failure to consider the interactions between risks, and the failure to account for risk factors and their impacts on productivity. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the risk factors and the resulting risks, analyze, and prioritize them to manage critical risks more effectively.

This research is a case study, and the data collection tools include structured interviews and questionnaires. The first step of this research is to identify the productivity indicators of skilled human resources and the risks arising from these indicators. The process for completing this step includes a comprehensive review of the literature to identify the indicators and risks, followed by interviews with 10 experts in the field to verify the identified risks. In the second step, to analyze the risks, we first employ the fuzzy DEMATEL method to determine the causal relationships between system variables. Using the information obtained from this step, we apply the system dynamics approach to model the risks. After creating the stock-flow diagram and conducting simulations, we identify the sensitive and critical points of the system.

The results show that the risks of site execution interference, falling from height, unsafe operations, electrocution, non-compliance with plans and specifications, surface defects during execution, rework, machinery and equipment efficiency, communication and coordination, and material wastage are among the 10 key risks that contribute to decreased productivity in high-rise building projects.The results of the risk analysis indicate that the risks of 1) site execution interference, 2) rework, 3) communication and coordination, and 4) falling from height have the most significant impact on construction projects. The findings also reveal that the risk of site execution interference, if it occurs, could reduce productivity to 190 units of work completed per month, while rework could reduce productivity to 300 units. On the other hand, the risk of falling from height reduces productivity to 380 units, whereas communication-related risks maintain productivity at around 300 units. Therefore, as the greatest reduction in productivity is related to the risk of site execution interference, this risk is identified as the most critical in the system.

The model developed in this research has significant potential to assist construction managers in systematically evaluating the negative impacts of productivity risks. Project managers can use the findings of this research to focus more on key risks, such as site execution interference, rework, communication and coordination, and falling from height, managing these risks more effectively. By doing so, they can optimize the productivity of human resources, a critical issue in the construction industry. The advantage of this research for the construction industry is that it helps managers better understand the dynamics of productivity risks and, by restoring the connections between risks and breaking key interactions in feedback loops, stop the escalating impact of risks on one another.

In order to survive and respond quickly and efficiently to the challenges of today's dynamic, uncertain and unpredictable environments, flexibility is an undeniable necessity. In order to become a flexible organization, production and internal flexibility alone is not enough and all members of the supply chain must become flexible. It is by increasing supply chain flexibility (SCF) that high levels of performance can be achieved. In the current research, with the aim of better understanding the relationships between the dimensions of supply chain flexibility, the design of the causal model of SCF in the tile industry was discussed. Due to its multi-dimensional nature, 25 dimensions were initially identified by reviewing the research literature. In the next step, using the fuzzy Delphi method, localization of these dimensions was done in the tile industry, and finally 11 dimensions were confirmed. Then, the degree of effectiveness and interaction of these dimensions were calculated using the fuzzy DEMATEL technique. Also, the dimensions of cause and effect were determined and the causal network of relationships between the dimensions was drawn. The results showed that the dimensions of volume, manufacturing and product are the most important dimensions of SCF in the tile industry, which should be considered more than other dimensions. The output of the research gives significant insight to specialists and managers to understand and improve the flexibility of the supply chain.

Today's markets are no longer just arenas for product competition; they have become battlegrounds for commercial brands. Brands can forge strong emotional connections with customers by tapping into their emotions. Nostalgic brands, in particular, have the ability to evoke positive emotions in consumers by triggering fond memories, thereby offering organizations a sustainable competitive edge. This study sought to construct a model that outlines the factors influencing nostalgic branding. To achieve this, 112 articles published between 2000 and 2023 were reviewed, with 29 ultimately selected, leading to identification of 23 variables. To ensure quality, these variables underwent screening using the fuzzy Delphi method and were evaluated by 20 experts. Subsequently, 13 variables were deemed most crucial and were integrated into a conceptual model comprising 3 categories: individual, psychological, and product characteristics. Fuzzy DEMATEL techniques were then employed to gauge the influence and effectiveness of these variables. Furthermore, fuzzy network analysis was utilized to ascertain the weight and significance of the factors and variables. The findings from fuzzy DEMATEL revealed that "psychological characteristics" held the highest influence with a value of 0.951, while "individual characteristics" were the most affected with a value of -0.094. Additionally, according to the fuzzy network analysis, "personal characteristics" were deemed the most significant with a value of 0.439 and "brand preference" emerged as the most significant variable with a value of 0.159.

The purpose of this study is to understand pragmatic marketing style by analyzing its consequence and consequence factors. The present research is based on mixed method, based on qualitative and quantitative researches and is deductive in the form of deductive method. The statistical population of this study are the professors and marketing managers of industrial companies of Lorestan province,which were selected as members of the sample through the method of snowball sampling and according to the principle of theoretical adequacy of 30 of them as members of the sample.The data collection tool was semi-structured interviews in qualitative part of which their validity and reliability were confirmed by Cohen's Kappa test and CVR index, respectively. In addition,a quantitative part of the questionnaire was used to collect data that their validity and reliability were confirmed by using content validity and reliability of the test. It should be noted that in order to identify the consequence and consequence factors of pragmatic marketing, data collected from qualitative section were analyzed through coding method and Atlas ti software and to prioritize the mentioned factors in the quantitative part were analyzed by Delphi Fuzzy method.The results show that pragmatic rethinking and critical thinking, market-oriented and market-oriented realism, demographic and demographic are considered as the consequence factors of pragmatic marketing. Also, the factors are product evolution based on real needs and demands, data analysis and decision making based on market data, using the system of recording experiences and interactions with customers, as pragmatic marketing consequences.

Circular economy and Industry 4.0 are concepts that have garnered significant attention from businesses and universities in recent years. They are currently being promoted by many governments worldwide. The synergy between these two concepts offers the potential to move towards a more sustainable society and address the environmental and economic challenges related to managing organizational operations. This research aims to analyze the factors enabling the implementation of circular economy and Industry 4.0 in the supply chain of Yazd glass factories. In the initial phase of the research, a review of various articles was conducted using the meta-synthesis method to identify and categorize relevant enablers. This process resulted in the identification of 15 enablers categorized into four dimensions: economic, human resources, organizational management, and infrastructure. In the subsequent step, the Fuzzy DEMATEL technique was employed to examine the cause-and-effect relationships. The findings indicate that, within the economic dimension, the most influential enablers are "budget allocation for the implementation of circular economy and Industry 4.0" and "stimulation of demand for circular products." In the human resources dimension, "training and development of employees" and "organizational culture" play crucial roles. In the organizational-management dimension, "support and commitment of senior management" and "cooperation and networking with supply chain partners (industrial coexistence)" are highly significant. Lastly, within the infrastructure dimension, "development of information technology standards and infrastructures" and "security and protection of intellectual property rights" are considered the most effective enablers for the implementation of circular economy and Industry 4.0 in the Yazd glass factories. The results indicate that the Ardakan glass factories of Yazd should prioritize attention to economic and infrastructural enablers when implementing circular economy and Industry 4.0.

This research aimed to identify and prioritize psychological factors influencing human resources processes at the preliminary level of the 34000 human resources model. These processes encompass macro and detailed organizational structure design, job analysis and job grading, as well as human resource planning, recruitment, and employee grading.

The research employed a mixed exploratory approach. In the initial stage, a systematic review was conducted to gather qualitative data. Subsequently, a combination of Delphi and fuzzy DEMATEL techniques was employed in the second stage to collect quantitative data. The study's population consisted of all middle and senior managers in an industrial company located in Razavi Khorasan province in 2022. Fourteen of these managers were selected using purposive non-probability sampling. The research instruments included an 18-question Delphi questionnaire to identify psychological factors affecting the preliminary level processes (macro and detailed organizational structure design = 7 questions; job analysis and job grading = 5 questions; human resource planning, recruitment, and employee grading = 6 questions). Additionally, a 16-question fuzzy DEMATEL questionnaire was used to prioritize the psychological factors identified in the third stage of the Delphi process (macro and detailed organizational structure design = 7 questions; job analysis and job grading = 4 questions; human resource planning, recruitment, and employee grading = 5 questions). These questionnaires were designed by the researcher based on the results of the systematic review. Data obtained from the Delphi questionnaire were analyzed using the central index of the mean and the percentage of consensus. The fuzzy DEMATEL method was employed to identify the most influential and influenced psychological factors, with data analysis conducted in Excel software (Excel 2019).

Based on the results of a systematic review of 40 articles published between 2010 and 2022, as well as the outcomes of the third stage of the Delphi questionnaire and the fuzzy DEMATEL questionnaire, the most critical psychological factors affecting the macro and detailed organizational structure design process, in order of importance, included trust in top management, interpersonal trust, perceived organizational justice, perceived organizational support, transformational leadership, job independence, and top management support. The results also indicated that individual growth and development opportunities, the learning climate, interpersonal trust, and transformational leadership were the most influential psychological factors in enhancing the job analysis and job grading process, respectively. Finally, the research findings revealed that psychological factors influencing the human resource planning, recruitment, and employee grading process comprised person-job fit, job identity, perceived organizational justice, organizational reputation, and job meaningfulness.

In conclusion, this research underscores that, alongside the need for physical and organizational structures to facilitate human resources processes, the psychological climate within an organization must also be conducive for the effective execution of these processes. Therefore, organizations seeking to implement the HR 34000 model should consider the psychological factors identified in this study to ensure the model's effectiveness in their implementation efforts

The significant growth in the amount of use of management information systems in different work departments of organizations has caused researchers in the field of information technology management to pay more attention to improving productivity in these systems. The purpose of this research is to identify the cause and effect (causal) mathematical model of the productivity of management information systems in the field of human resources.

This research has used a mixed exploratory approach. First, the conceptual model was calculated using the previous sources, and then the mathematical model of cause and effect was created using the quantitative method of Fuzzy DEMATEL (in six steps). The reliability and validity of the questionnaires of fuzzy DEMATEL pairwise comparisons have been confirmed by using the test-retest method and the content validity method of Lawshe, respectively.

Among the main productivity dimensions of the human resources management information system, the dimension of "intelligence" is the most effective dimension. The "innovation" dimension is the most effective dimension. The dimension of "innovation" has the highest degree of interaction with other dimensions and the dimension of "intelligence" has the highest degree of causality.

Since "effectiveness" is the main problem and "intelligence" is the main solution to the problem, placing the dimension of "intelligence" and the components of "organizational effect" and "individual effect" and "user satisfaction" in the focus of attention; The main priority of the management information system maintenance and development team in Naja's human resources department is to improve productivity.

The insurance industry is vital in the country that is affected by green marketing. However, there is no accurate information on the green marketing situation in the country's insurance industry. This research has been tried to identify the main criteria of green marketing evaluation to provide a model for a green marketing audit. In this regard, first, the main criteria were identified and approved by experts through a questionnaire. The final framework consists of 24 sub-criteria that are classified into ten criteria. Then, by using the fuzzy DEMATEL method, the internal relationships between the criteria and the hierarchical analysis method, each criterion and sub-criteria's final weight are obtained. According to the results, among the causes, the criterion of mission has the greatest effect on all criteria and takes the least effect from other criteria. So, this criterion has the most stimulus role, and by optimizing it, we can expect the optimization of other factors. The green sales factor is also strongly influenced by other factors and is optimized by optimizing other factors. Also, the criterion of the mission with an effective weight of 0.23 is the most important, and the criterion of green design with an effective weight of 0.024 is the least important

Fourth industrial revolution is rapidly changing technology, industry and patterns through increased communications and intelligent automation in the current century. It is crucial to conduct thorough research to determine the importance of dimensions and indicators in assessing the preparedness of Iran's industries for sustainability in Industry 4.0. The goal of this paper is to identify and determine the importance of the influential components on the organization's readiness to move towards the fourth-generation industry. This model should help the organizations and industries understand their industry 4.0 readiness status. In qualitative part of the study, we categorized the data to produce the initial codes, themes and axial codes by examining the theoretical foundations and receiving experts' comments. The result was extracting 60 initial codes and 6 themes. We then used the fuzzy Delphi method on the result of the poll. Experts unanimously voted in favor of 17 sub-criteria. Finally, we used fuzzy DEMATEL method to study the relationships between criteria and sub-criteria. According to this study, ‘functional readiness’ was the most effectible and ‘information technology readiness’ was the most affecting criteria. Among sub-criteria, ‘governmental and institutional laws’ and ‘workplace dynamics’ were identified as the most effectible cause and most affecting effect respectively.

This research aims to identify and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships of the challenges of implementing sustainable supply chain management in the polluting industries of Iran, particularly in the Yazd Glass Manufacturing Complex.

Design/methodology/approach:

 In terms of results, this research is typically an applied-developmental research. In the first step of the research, the challenges of implementing sustainable supply chain management have been identified and categorized with a systematic approach and by reviewing the published literature and articles using the Meta-Synthesis method. In the second step, the researchers identified the cause-and-effect relationships between the dimensions and challenges through the Fuzzy DEMATEL Method and asked the opinions of eight experts working in Ardakan glass factories in Yazd. The statistical population in the first step of the research included all the studies published in domestic and foreign reliable scientific databases related to the challenges affecting the implementation of sustainable supply chain management. In the second step, the statistical population included all professors and managers in the field of sustainability who were familiar with supply chain management in Ardakan glass factories in Yazd.

The results of the Meta-Synthesis method indicated 32 challenges in seven dimensions of technical, process, organisational management, human-social, institutional, supplier and economic for the implementation of sustainable supply chain management. The results of the Fuzzy DEMATEL method indicated that economic challenges were the most effective and technical challenges in the implementation of sustainable supply chain management.

Research limitations/implications: 

The studied case was one of the glass manufacturing complexes, which can limit the generalizability of the results. Considering that the current research sought to examine the relationships between challenges; therefore, not using methods of weighting and prioritizing challenges is another limitation of this research. To solve such limitations, future researchers are suggested to conduct research in this field and other industries so that better and more appropriate results can be extracted and finally, a more comprehensive model can be designed, since different industries have different characteristics and challenges. It is also suggested to name and categorize the dimensions using survey and quantitative methods such as cluster analysis; and to determine the relationships between the challenges using existing techniques in this field such as structural-interpretive modelling, network analysis process, cognitive map, etc. in different fuzzy theory (type 2, hesitant, neutrosophic, etc.), Z numbers, G and R, and the importance of challenges using techniques such as hierarchical analysis process, entropy, best and worst fuzzy, etc.

Practical implications:

 One of the most important ways to control the emission of pollutants and the increase of waste in different stages of glass production is to move towards sustainable supply chain management. Increasing the awareness of managers and economic operators about the challenges of implementing sustainable supply chain management can help them formulate strategies suitable to help reduce and solve these challenges. To compete in a world-class business, the glass industry must pay sufficient attention to all the identified challenges by focusing on the most important challenges. The use of specific guidelines and a checklist of effective challenges during decision-making can make decision-making easier and the power of decision-making more effective. Were identified, guidelines and checklists should be prepared and provided to the executive managers.Social implications: Identifying the challenges affecting the implementation of sustainable supply chain management is one of the most important factors in implementing and improving the best sustainable supply chain performance. Until the challenges are identified, it is not possible to understand which ones are more important. After the completion of this identification, industry policymakers and practitioners can implement appropriate strategies to reduce and solve such challenges and by implementing this type of supply chain, take steps towards the optimal use of natural and non-renewable resources and pollution reduction.

Originality/value:

 The main contribution of this study was the identification of the challenges of implementing sustainable supply chain management with a comprehensive and scientific approach (Meta-Synthesis) and analyzing the relationships between such challenges using the Fuzzy DEMATEL method. What distinguished this study from other studies is the combination of the challenges of implementing sustainable supply chain management as well as the network approach and examining the relationships and interactions between such challenges in the Ardakan glass factories in Yazd.

This paper aims to propose an approach for identifying and prioritizing ecosystem indicators for effective ecosystem management. Specifically, fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy DEMATEL approaches are used to define ecosystem management goals and indicators, rank the importance of quality attributes in ecosystem management, and rank the effectiveness of each indicator in each pillar of ecosystem management. The ultimate goal is to provide a tool to decision-makers that can help in allocating resources more effectively and efficiently toward achieving sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach:

 The proposed approach involves a three-phase framework. Phase 1 involves identifying and determining the indicators affecting ecosystem management. This has been performed by studying theoretical articles, reviewing systematic literature, and searching previous studies to identify different indicators for each pillar of ecosystem management. A list of indicators and factors affecting each of the pillars of ecosystem management has been determined accordingly, and an initial categorization has been created using library studies. Phase 2 involves using a fuzzy Delphi method to rank the most important indicators in each pillar of ecosystem management. Experts have been asked to indicate their proposed indicators in a questionnaire based on fuzzy variables, and the degree of proportionality of the proposed factors. Phase 3 involves using a fuzzy DEMATEL approach to rank the effectiveness of each indicator in each pillar of ecosystem management. This approach handles imprecise or subjective data and can be replicated for different cities. Overall, this methodology aims to provide a comprehensive approach for identifying and prioritizing ecosystem indicators that can be used by decision-makers in environmental management and policy-making.

Findings imply that the integrated approach of the Fuzzy Delphi Method and the Fuzzy DEMATEL can be used to identify and rank the importance of quality attributes in ecosystem management, and to rank the effectiveness of each indicator in each pillar of the ecosystem management. A total of 36 indicators were identified across four pillars of ecosystem management, i.e., economic, social, environmental and institutional. The results indicated that the most important indicators for each pillar were science and technology and innovation for the economic pillar; air quality, waste treatment and energy efficiency for the environmental pillar; poverty, health, and safety and security for the social pillar; and transparent sharing of information and political stability for institutional pillar. It was also found that there was a strong interrelationship between different pillars of ecosystem management. For example, the institutional pillar had serious effects on most of the other identified EM pillars. In addition, the economic pillar was the second most influential factor. Moreover, the institutional pillar profoundly influenced the environmental pillar. Finally, the economic pillar highly affected the environmental pillar, which doubled the complexity of ecosystem management.

Research limitations/implications:

 Several limitations and implications have been addressed for future research. The number of participating experts was limited, which could affect the results and limit the possibility of their summarization. Expert bias may have influenced the results of the study. Such limitations imply that further research with a larger and more diverse group of experts is necessary to validate and expand upon such findings. This study was limited in scope to a particular ecosystem or region and the identified indicators as a result may not apply and be generalizable to other ecosystems or regions. Based on the cause-and-effect relationships between the studied elements, a hypothesis can be expanded and validated using a larger sample. Future studies could replicate this methodology in different contexts to test its applicability and effectiveness.

Practical implications: 

Decision-makers in environmental management and policy-making can use the methodology presented in this study to identify and prioritize ecosystem indicators. By using an integration of the Fuzzy Delphi Method and the Fuzzy DEMATEL, decision-makers can identify the most important indicators for each pillar of ecosystem management and evaluate their effectiveness. This information can be used to allocate resources more effectively and efficiently toward achieving sustainability. Decision-makers could use this methodology to evaluate different ecosystem management practices and policies, and develop new policies or modify existing ones to better address the needs of different stakeholders. Overall, this study provides a useful tool for decision-makers in environmental management and policy-making by providing a comprehensive approach to identifying and prioritising ecosystem indicators.

Social implications:

 This study highlights the importance of considering social factors in ecosystem management. The study identifies several social indicators, such as poverty and material deprivation, education level, public awareness and training, gender equality, and social participation. By prioritizing such indicators in ecosystem management, decision-makers can ensure that the needs and perspectives of different stakeholders are taken into account. This can help to promote social equity and cohesion, which are important for achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, by involving a wide range of stakeholders in the decision-making process, including local communities and marginalized groups, decision-makers can ensure that ecosystem management policies are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all members of society. Overall, this study highlighted the importance of considering social factors in ecosystem management and provides a useful framework for identifying and prioritizing social indicators.

Originality/value: 

The main contribution of this study is the application of the integrated approaches of the Fuzzy Delphi Method and the Fuzzy DEMATEL to identify and rank the importance of quality attributes in ecosystem management. This methodology is innovative because it allows decision-makers to handle imprecise or subjective data, which is often encountered in ecosystem management. The study provides a three-phase framework for identifying and prioritizing ecosystem indicators, which can be replicated for different cities. Findings indicated that science and technology, air quality, poverty, and transparent sharing of information were identified as the most important quality indicators in their respective pillars of ecosystem management alternatives. This implies that decision-makers and policymakers should consider allocating more resources toward improving such areas. Overall, this study provided a useful tool for decision-makers in environmental management and policy-making by providing a comprehensive approach to identifying and prioritizing ecosystem indicators.