Multi-attribute Group Decision-making (MAGDM) using Fuzzy Linguistic Modeling Integrated with the VIKOR Method for Car Purchasing Model

The change in the trend of transportation, increasing per capita income, expectation of better lifestyle, easy finance, and reduced cost of the automobile are some of the main factors that enable a commoner to have his/her own car. Therefore, it is essential to comprise such features in cars that offer qualities enabling the ease of consumer’s decision-making and comfort to purchase a car individually. Purchasing a car is a complicated multi-criteria decision-making problem as an individual may have different preferences for different criteria attributes. The attributes may be conflicting in nature depending on the need of the individual customer. Generally, it becomes quite difficult to assign ratings to these attributes based on numeric values. Therefore, the decision-making process relies on an idiosyncratic finding of the decision-makers which is in practice fuzzy with uncertainities. Hence, this article is a case study that deals with a hierarchy MCDM approach in accordance with the fuzzy logic and VIKOR method to solve a car purchasing problem.

Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: the OCUL PDA Pilot

In September 2010 members of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) participated in a patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) pilot to determine how this purchasing model might be adapted to a consortium. OCUL understood that developing a model that would allow patrons to purchase titles for different collections would be complicated. Careful thought went into balancing the needs of individual members with the needs of the consortium. This paper describes the project and examines the results from three distinct perspectives in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of PDA at a consortial level.

Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: the OCUL PDA Pilot

In September 2010 members of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) participated in a patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) pilot to determine how this purchasing model might be adapted to a consortium. OCUL understood that developing a model that would allow patrons to purchase titles for different collections would be complicated. Careful thought went into balancing the needs of individual members with the needs of the consortium. This paper describes the project and examines the results from three distinct perspectives in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of PDA at a consortial level.

The Virtuous Circle of Omnichannel CRM

This paper extends previous research on the influence of social media and digital channels on customer purchase behaviour by presenting a new omnichannel purchasing model. We characterise that model as a “virtuous circle” as it centres around customer use of social media and has potential to benefit both customers and companies. We illustrate that model with a worked example, discuss approaches to its implementation and evaluate its use in the context of a business case study. The model creates a framework that combines elements of digital marketing, social CRM, omnichannel CRM, and customer experience and engagement. This paper bridges academic and industry practitioner communities across those fields.

Customer Satisfaction toward Online Purchasing Services: Evidence from Small & Medium Restaurants

This study examines shopper satisfaction toward an online purchasing model in small and medium restaurants (SMRs), including the quality of e-service and food, with perceived value as the determinants. For this research purpose, 392 data gathered from online restaurant shoppers in Bandung, Indonesia. This study adopts the Structural Equation Model (PLS) to evaluate shopper satisfaction relations with its determinants as well as consequences. The results uncover that both the quality of e-service and food on shopper satisfaction is essential, and disclose the partial mediation function of perceived value to assess the relationship between both qualities on shopper satisfaction. This study offers a guide to SMR managers to enhance their business performance by focusing on the quality of food, instead of focusing on both the quality of e-service and food. In terms of online service-based businesses, this research implies that the SMRs need to collaborate with reliable online platform service providers.

Citizen engagement in social health insurance purchasing, in selected counties in Kenya

Background: National hospital insurance fund (NHIF) uses capitation as a strategic purchasing model to provide primary care health services (PCHS). This study sought information on citizen knowledge of PCHS benefit package, NHIF communication to citizens, determination of citizen views and values, NHIF accountability to citizens, citizen choice of PCHS provider and how these factors influence citizen access to NHIF, PCHS.Methods: This was a cross sectional research conducted between March 2017 to March 2018. 426 patients were sampled from Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties.Results: 366 (93%) patients knew the PCHS benefit package, 226 (57%) said NHIF communication to them was adequate, 280 (71%) said NHIF does not take into account their view and values, 272 (69%) said NHIF is not accountable to them, 269 (68%) knew how to select an outpatient facility, 111 (28%) said they did not receive NHIF, PCHS. Multivariate logistics regression analysis of citizen engagement factors and access to PCHS, indicate that NHIF communication to citizens (p<0.05, OR=2.358, 95% CI [1.399-3.975]), purchaser accountability (p<0.05, OR=2.073, 95% CI [1.017-4.226]) and provider choice (p<0.05, OR=2.990, 95% CI [1.817-4.920]) added significantly to the regression model.Conclusions: There is inadequate engagement of citizens in NHIF decision making which may hinder access to NHIF PCHS, therefore NHIF should establish citizens’ needs and preference through public forums, elicit citizens’ feedback, act on complains when raised, inform citizens on how the capitation system works and NHIF should visit health facilities regularly to establish if patients are accessing PCHS.

"Alone We Can Do So Little; Together We Can Do So Much"

The librarians associated with the University of Divinity in Australia (founded 1910) have a long history of cooperation. These librarians have been formally meeting for over twenty years to discuss and resolve common issues and to advance projects of mutual benefit. Through their shared vision it has been possible to achieve significantly more than would ever have been possible if they had not worked collaboratively. This paper will highlight a number of recent library projects that have required the collaboration of the eleven constituent university colleges and those colleges’ fifteen associated libraries. Projects include the development of the Library Hub, enabling all staff and students to access a significantly increased number of online resources. Cooperation among librarians has also been instrumental in enabling the introduction of a single University ID card across all libraries, as well as instituting a collaborative purchasing model for the ordering of single title eBooks across the university membership. The fifteen libraries are also currently implementing a new combined library catalog (UDCat) which will give greater world-wide exposure to the collections of all participating libraries. Future projects under discussion include the creation of University-Library agreements that will outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties and the development of a formal retention policy so that no individual library discards any unique title from their collection. This presentation identifies some of the factors that have facilitated the success of recent collaborative projects as well as potential barriers to project success.