Analytical hierarchy process Essay Example for Free

Analytical hierarchy process Essay Decision-making is human activity whereby value judgments regarding the attractiveness of preferences play a major role. There are various ways through which an organization can supplement and improve decision analysis; however, the incorporation of human decisions with technology through the design and utilization multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) contributes towards the success of an organization to a great extent. This essay provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the multi criteria decision analysis as applied in logistics and supply chain decision analysis in contemporary business and organizations. The first section of this essay introduces the various types of MCDA and provides details about how analytical hierarchy process (AHP) works, being one of the most popular MCDA techniques. This is followed by a detailed analysis of various decision problems in logistics and supply chain which involve the use of MCDA techniques: such include supply chain performance management, supplier selection, production-driven characteristics, logistics and supply chain capital and infrastructural investments. In section that follows, the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of MCDA are clearly detailed out, in special reference to the logistics and supply chain department of an organization. Finally, the essay provides a concluding paragraph which is based on the author’s opinion regarding the effectiveness and success of multi criteria decision analysis in supply chain and logistics management as well as recommendations on what ought to be done to make the application more beneficial to decision makers and the organization at large. Introduction MCDA refers to a multiple decision criteria that aimed at assisting decision makers who are often faced with many and inconsistent problem evaluations. The goal of MCDA is typically to emphasize on the conflicting and inconsistent areas and derive a technique of harmonization (Xiang, 2006). The MCDA methods commonly used in the contemporary decision field include analytical hierarchy process(AHP), weighted sum model(WSM), analytical network process(ANP), inner product vectors(IPV), Weighted product model(WPM), multi attribute value theory(MAVT) , multi attribute utility theory(MAUT), SMART (simple multiple attribute rating technique), Equal Swaps, MACBETH(Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique) (Xiang, 2006). Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) This is one of the most famous decision criteria methods. It is a controlled technique used to deal with multifaceted decisions. AHP applies a quantitative comparison technique based on pair-wise evaluations of the decision criteria. It assists the decision maker in generating one among the best alternatives to their problem in accordance to the decision maker’s comprehension of the problem. The method applies the skills of psychology and mathematics to provide rational, comprehensive structure for framing a decision problem, presenting, computing and quantifying the elements, linking elements to goals and assessing other alternative solutions. It is used in education, business, healthcare and other industries as a decision support tool (Jamil and Linkov, 2004). Users of this method begin by decomposing the decision problem into a hierarchy of straightforwardly understandable sub-problems, which can be separately analyzed: the chosen decision problem elements may relate to any aspect of, the decision problem, whether tangible or not. After building the hierarchy, decision makers then evaluate the elements systematically by making well thought comparisons in pairs. Here, AHP necessitates that human judgments should be used while making the comparisons over and above the underlying information to make evaluations between the elements (Jamil and Linkov, 2004). AHP then changes the evaluations into numerical values which can be compared and processed in the whole decision problem. Numerical weights are generated for all the hierarchical elements. This allows for diversity and enables the decision maker to compare consistently and rationally between incommensurable elements. It is this ability that distinguishes AHP from all other techniques if MCDA (Jamil and Linkov, 2004). Finally, numerical values are calculated for all the alternatives. The numerical value of each alternative represents the ability of such an alternative to accomplish the goal of the decision. This makes it possible to directly consider the ability of all available alternatives using their numerical value so that a rational decision maker chooses the alternative with the highest value since it indicates that such an alternative will best suit a solution to the decision problem (Jamil and Linkov, 2004).

German Barbarians :: essays research papers

Just outside the boundaries of the Roman empire of the first and second centuries, beyond the Rhine River, and occupying the area of Central Europe of what is today Germany, lived the tribes of the Germanic people. In Germania, the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus gave an account of the lifestyles and organization of these peculiar barbarians. These descendants of modern Germans proved peculiar in that they adopted many qualities typical of barbaric cultures, yet they simultaneously practiced virtues more befitting of advanced civilizations, values more ethical than even the Roman empire of the time. The German warriors had a rigid code that defined how to live honorable lives and shameful acts to avoid committing, and the warriors also adhered to strict tradition in their relationship with their king or chief.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The climate of Germany suited the warriors well. The combination of â€Å"wild scenery and harsh climate† (Tacitus, Germania) had given the barbarians an inherent endurance towards cold and hunger over time. To cope with their surroundings, the warriors had developed powerful physiques, yet their abundant resources of strength and stamina proved not to be a source of pleasure for them, for the warriors had â€Å"no fondness for feats of endurance or for hard work† (Tacitus, Germania). In earthly matters, Germany’s apparent lack of precious metals made the warriors quite utilitarian in regards to physical possession. They preferred silver to gold, as silver could be more easily fashioned into useful objects. Only the tribes of warriors on the borders of the Roman empire recognized gold and silver as trading commodities, while the ‘backwoods’ tribes traded through the simple practice of barter, yielding one item in exchange for anot her (Tacitus, Germania).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Germanic tribes were by no means idle people. Not content with the quietness characteristic of daily lives built on routine, â€Å"for rest is unwelcome to the race† (Tacitus, Germania), the tribes warred with their neighbors. In most cases, the tribes did not engage in voluntarily combat to gain or defend land or to right some alleged wrong against them; they mostly fought for two reasons. They first believed that it was easier to distinguish one’s self in the uncertainty of war, rather than in the predictability of routine. So war became a way for the barbarians to prove their honor, or sometimes expose their shame, as the abandonment of the shield during combat was â€Å"the height of disgrace† (Tacitus, Germania).

Fiedler’s Contingency Theory Essay

The contingency Theory shows the relationship between the leader’s orientation or style and group performance under differing situational conditions. The theory is based on determining the orientation of a leader ( relationship or task ), the elements of the situation ( leader-member relations, task structure and leader position power), and the leader orientation that was found to be most effective as the situation changed from low to moderate to high control. Fred Edward Fiedler in his landmark 1964 article, â€Å" A contingency of Leadership Effectiveness. studied and emphasized the importance of both the leader’s personality and the situation in which that leader operates. Fiedler found that task oriented leaders were more effective in low and moderate control situations and relationship oriented managers were more effective in moderate control situations. Fiedler and his associates studied leaders in a variety of contexts but mostly in military context and their mo del is based on their research findings. They outlined two styles of leadership namely task-motivated and relationship-motivated. Task refers to task accomplishment, and relationship-motivation refers to interpersonal relationships. He measured leadership style leadership style with the Least Preferred Co-Worker scale (LPC scale ). According to Northouse ( 2007 ), the leaders scoring high on this scale are relationship motivated and those scoring low are task motivated. Northhouse further indicated that, central to contingency theory is the concept of the situation, which is characterized by three factors. One, leader-member relations which deals with the general atmosphere of the group and the feelings such as trust, loyalty and confidence that the group has for its leader. Two, task structure, which is related to task clarity and the means to task accomplishment. Three, the position power, which relates to the amount of reward-punishment authority the leader has over members of the group. These three factors determine the favorableness of various situations in the organization. Definitions of factors in Contingency Theory Situational elements One, is the leader-member relations. The regard with which the leader and the group members hold one another determines in part, the ability of the leader to influence the group and the conditions under which he or she can do so. It therefore follows that a leader who is accepted by the group members is in a more favorable situation than one who is not. Two, is the task structure which is determined by the following questions in mind; can a decision be demonstrated as correct? , are the the requirements of the task of the task understood by everyone? , is there more than one correct solution?. If the group’s task is not structured, and if the leader is no more knowledgeable than the group about how to accomplish the task, the situation definitely becomes unfavorable. The third factor is the leader position power. This is determined by the rewards and punishments which the leader officially has at his or her disposal for either rewarding or punishing the group members based on how they perform. The more power the leader has, the more favorable the situation. Leader Orientation Fiedler used the Least Preferred Co-worker scale commonly known as LPC scale to measure leadership style. LPC helps management identify the human relations orientation and task orientation of possible leaders. He analyses leader orientation as follows. One of the factors is relationship orientation in which he said that high LPC leaders are more concerned with personal relations, more sensitive to the feelings of others, and better of heading off conflict. Such leaders use their good relations with others to get a job done. This also enables them to deal with complex issues when making decisions. These leaders tend to have an LPC score of 73 and above. In high control situations, these leaders tend to become bored and are no longer challenged. They tend to seek approval from their superiors ignoring their subordinates or they may decide to reorganize he task. They often become inconsiderate toward their subordinates as a result, become more punishing and more concerned with performance of the task. In moderate control situations, they focus on group relations. They reduce the anxiety and tension of group members and thus reduce conflict. They handle creative decision making groups well. They see this situation as challenging and interesting and perform it well in it. Lastly, in low control situations, they always try to obtain group support often at the expense of the task. In fact under extremely stressful situations, they may also withdraw from leadership role, failing to direct the group’s work. The second factor is task oriented. According to Fiedler, the LPC score for leaders here is 64 and below. Low LPC leaders are more concerned with the task, and less dependent on group support. They tend to be eager and impatient to get on with work. They quickly organize the job and have a no-nonsense attitude about getting the work done. In moderate control situations, they are anxious and less effective. They become absorbed in the task and pay little attention to personal relations in the group. They tend to be insensitive to the feelings of their group members, and the group resents the lack of concern. However, in high control situations, these leaders are relaxed and develop pleasant relations with subordinates and they are easy to get along with. As work gets done, they do not interfere with the group or expect interference from their superiors. And lastly in low control situations, the leaders devote themselves to their challenging task. They organize and drive the group to task completion. They also tend to control the group tightly and maintain strict discipline. Fiedler and associates concluded that if a leader’s LPC scores fall between 65 and 72, then the leader must carefully analyze their leadership style as they learn more about the relationship oriented and task oriented styles. However, it is important to note that there is no single leadership style that is effective in all situations. Rather, certain leadership styles are better suited for some situations than for others. Fiedler further pointed out that the effectiveness of the leader is contingent upon the orientation of the leader and the favorableness of the situation.

Analysis of I Have a Dream Speech - 1857 Words

â€Å"I Have A Dream† Martin Luther King Jr. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech that electrified a nation. In Washington D.C, King delivered his speech on the steps of the Lincoln memorial and as his powerful voice echoed out across an audience of 200,000 people, echoes of the Gettysburg address could be heard as well as the Declaration of Independence and the Bible. It has been called â€Å"masterfully delivered and improvised sermon, bursting with biblical language and imagery.†The passionate speech is filled with rhetorical devices that help ground into earth Kings demands of racial equality and outcries of social injustice. The second paragraph of the speech starts with â€Å"Five score years ago†, an allusion to Abraham†¦show more content†¦The fourth â€Å"paragraph† of the speech ends with an example of anaphora. A short hopeful phrase of â€Å"now is the time† is repeated four times back to back to back to back in the last four lines of the paragraph. These rhetorical devices have a powerful impact and add a decisive, hopeful feel. Martin Luther King Jr. in this conclusion also makes another metaphor with saying racial injustice is â€Å"quick sands† and brotherhood is a â€Å"solid rock.† These metaphors also link the intangible with the tangible creating a contrast. Apples and bananas are different but the difference of good and bad is harder to see. When attached to real life objects the visualization is made. The rest of the speech contains several more independent metaphors, all used to support Martin Luther King Jr.s points. â€Å"The whirlwinds of revolt will shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges†; making a metaphor of revolt to a whirlwind and justice to a bright day. Yet again, metaphors are used to represent abstract ideas with concrete things to create a contrast. In another place it is seen that storm are like persecution and winds like police brutality. Tying in the earlier metaphor to imprisonment, this usage of a rhetorical device shows the vicious circle Negroes were living with. At some point it becomes repetitious all of the metaphors of justice to everythingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1152 Words   |  5 PagesThe major argument that is being portrayed in Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech is all men and women should be treated equally, regardless of their skin color. Dr. King states, â€Å"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienableRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1714 Words   |  7 Pagesuses words to provoke, calm, and inspire in his famous I Have a Dream speech. Using these words, he creates a connection with the audience, and he gained their trust. Cesar Chavez also gave a speech that provoked, calmed, and inspired the audience to come together and get rid of pesticides because it is causing many diseases among adults, as well as children. He also mentions King many times to gain the audience’s trust. â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out theRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech758 Words   |  4 Pages delivered his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech in 1963 to a divided and unjust nation. King’s tactful writing reached the entire nation, and his words resonated with everyone who heard them. His speech addressed the injustices and inequalities blacks face in America. â€Å"I Have a Dream† has gone down in history as one of the best speeches in modern history, received at a time of turmoil and racial tension. Therefore, King’s words have rung in the hearts of innumerable people, and his dreams and aspirationsRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1419 Words   |  6 PagesKennedy have the first televised debate, Mohamed Ali wins a gold medal and the Civil Rights Movement at its climax in America. As the chaos of segregation was unfolding in the Southern states, Governor George C. Wallace and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, were at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. In the beginning of the year, Governor Wallace will address his constituents with his, â€Å"Segregation Now, Segregation Forever† speech and seven months later, Dr. King will deliver his famous, â€Å"I Have a Dream†Read MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1199 Words   |  5 Pagesthe forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. In the beginning of the year, Governor Wallace will be addressing his constituents with his well-known, â€Å"Segregation Now, Segregation Forever† speech. Nevertheless, it will be seven months later, that Dr. King will convey his message in his famous, â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. Individually, they deliver historical speeches concerning civil rights, however, the dialogue encompasses completely different messages. Comparatively, the two speeches will be presentedRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1154 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr.s impact of path os throughout his speech has the impact of exploit the audience, empowered, determined, and grateful. Throughout his speech, his audience responds to him by applauding with agreement. Impact of Pathos Martin Luther King, Jr. uses attribute within the starting of his known, I actually have a Dream Speech, to realize the audience to feel as theyre fighting with several alternative known Americans, like the beginning Fathers and Abe Lincoln. Since, several AmericansRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech937 Words   |  4 PagesMany people have different perspectives on hope. Some hope for a life full of happiness, being wealthy, or just being happy. Martin Luther King Jr. had hope, he had hope for equality and for everyone to be treated equal. In MLK’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech this is the most uplifting segment of it. King knows that his audience has suffered from injustice, so they must have faith that things will soon change. King also stresses in the speech about non-violent resistance, African American equality, actionRead MoreAnalysis Of I Have A Dream Speech1086 Words   |  5 PagesI am writing this letter to you in hopes of gaining insight on how to ha ndle the grave issues of racism and injustice that appear to be a curse upon our great country, the United States of America. Back then, you used your cogent words to penetrate into the minds of all those listening in hopes of uniting our nation, and erasing racial barriers along the way. You fought for peace and freedom using non-violence and preached equality to the people of this country. From your involvement in the firstRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1441 Words   |  6 Pagesorder to procure its ultimate victory throughout the 1960s. From his civil rights-related endeavor, the â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the â€Å"March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom† in 1963 (â€Å"March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom) arose. In his speech, he spoke about the injustice of segregation and discrimination of African Americans. His speech had a prodigious impact as it succeeded to illustrate the issue of racism a t the time and instigated theRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis847 Words   |  4 Pagesget along, but that isn’t what life really is. If you want something to change you don’t sit back and hope it will change you have to make it change. In the story Cairo: My City, Our Revolution, Ahdaf Soueif goes and fights for her country. In the speech I Have a Dream, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was influencing people to go and protest to get their rights and in the speech A Eulogy for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy influences people to change and do as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The