Fuzzy Delphi Method

The purpose of this study is to identify the role of sport as a soft power for Iran to facilitate its diplomatic relations after the nuclear deal. The research method used in this study is mixed (qualitative and quantitative): in the qualitative part of the analysis, the study sample was selected via Snowball sampling based on partricipants’ expertise in the sport diplomacy of Iran after two rounds of Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) exploratory factor analysis. Seven components of political currents, cultural exchange, peacemaking, national unity, economic development, transformation, communication, and religious currents were extracted. After identifying the study’s research variables in a structural-interpretive modeling, the relationship between variables was examined through a structural equation modeling test. The results of the structural equation model indicated that political currents, cultural exchange, transformation and communication had a direct and significant effect on national unity. The relationship between political and peacebuilding was not confirmed, but national unity and excellence in peace diplomacy had a direct and significant impact on the economic development of societies.

In this study, we were in search for identification and leveling the dimensions of supply chain in the Iranian religious tourism industry. In terms of purpose, this research is applicable, and in terms of implementation method is descriptive survey of correlation type. The participant team consists of 30 experts and university professors who had been selected by the purposeful method and the snowball sampling. By relatively extensive studies in the field of supply chain, we extracted the most significant factors in the religious tourism industry. Then, fuzzy Delphi method was used to identify the dimensions and parameters of supply chain in this industry. In the next step, the interpretive structural modeling was used for leveling the key factors. Data collections tools included interviews, documents and statistics, and questionnaires; the findings based on the data analysis showed ten main dimensions in the supply chain i.e. accommodation, transportation, visiting centers, reception centers,stores, environment and energy, travel agencies and tour operators, security and safety, economic management, information centers and communications that 3 dimensions reception centers,stores, and travel agencies and tour operators were in the first level; and 2 dimensions i.e. accommodation, and environment and energy were placed in second level; and visiting sites in third level; the economic management, information centers and communications in fourth level; accommodation in fifth level; finally the security and safety were put in sixth level.

Purpose: Given the effect of entrepreneurship education on improving employment and increasing the economic level of individuals and societies, there is a great demand for these trainings today. The present study was conducted using the fuzzy Delphi method to design a local model of entrepreneurship education. Methodology: First, using qualitative data obtained from exploratory studies and literature review and interviews conducted in the form of thematic analysis, 60 indicators were developed in the form of 5 dimensions, 16 components and 60 items, and then a questionnaire containing questions in this regard was provided and given to 16 selected experts. For the validity of the results, for the second round, the questionnaires were again sent to the experts. By extracting and fitting the most important factors through fuzzy Delphi method, experts' agreement on common indicators was assessed. Findings: The results showed that four items had lower scores than the criteria and were excluded. Also, the difference between the two stages was lower than the conventional threshold, so the analysis process was stopped. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that there is a high agreement on the necessity of the indicators of the mentioned model consisting of five dimensions of individual factors, economic factors, social factors, organizational factors and educational factors.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying and classifying hospital suppliers and choosing the right hospital supplier are based on some criteria, such as price, quality, timely product delivery, and after-sales service. METHODS: The research method was to select a suitable supplier through multi-criteria decision-making methods, including fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy Delphi. This research analyzed the selection criteria of hospital suppliers using fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy Delphi methods. The weight of the selected criteria and their importance were determined by holding interviews with hospital experts. In the next stage, the suppliers were evaluated, and finally, they were ranked using the TOPSIS fuzzy method. FINDINGS: In this research, the criteria for selecting suppliers were based on the criteria determined by Dickson. According to the fuzzy Delphi method, 7 criteria of product quality, timely delivery, final product price, after-sales service, technical ability, product position among competitors, and easy-to-use product were selected for supplier evaluation. CONCLUSION: The selection of a reliable supplier is becoming increasingly crucial given the critical role played by the healthcare sector, which includes hospitals and the Red Crescent as its constituents, the expanding development of technology, and the growing variety of medical equipment. According to the results obtained by the fuzzy Delphi method, the criterion of product quality with a score of 0.88 was chosen as the most important criterion, while the ease-to-use product index with a score of 0.7 was chosen as the least important criterion. The selection and evaluation of suppliers were accomplished through several different quantitative and qualitative indicators, such as cost, quality, timely delivery, and after-sales service. As a result, companies must choose key indicators and suitable suppliers because the right supplier leads to a reduction in purchase costs, as well as an increase in the quality of the products and ultimately the success of the organization in reaching its goals.

Purpose: This paper aimed to examine the pathology of Shahab national plan in primary schools of Shahryar, Tehran, Iran. Methodology: This research was conducted with a mixed exploratory method, that is, firstly, using semi-structured interviews and a qualitative method of the fuzzy Delphi type, the harms of Shahab National Plan were identified and prioritized, then the current situation of the harms was investigated using a quantitative descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the qualitative part of the research was specialists and experts working in the Ministry of Education as well as university professors. The sampling method in this section was a targeted method, according to the principle of theoretical saturation, 15 of them were selected as a sample. The statistical population of the quantitative part of the research was made up of all the fifth grade teachers of the elementary school of Shahryar city, whose number was 441 in the academic year of 2018-2019. To determine the sample size in this section, the Cochran formula table was used and 230 people were selected as a sample, whose selection method was cluster random. The research tools were semi-structured interview, fuzzy Delphi questionnaire and researcher-made questionnaire. Reliability and validity in the qualitative part were obtained according to the audit strategies of the research. In the quantitative part, the reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha test, and it was used to confirm the formal and content validity of the questionnaire from the experts’ point of view. To analyze the results in the qualitative part, content analysis of interviews and fuzzy Delphi were used, and in the quantitative part, one sample t-test was used in SPSS. Findings: Based on the qualitative findings, the harms of Shahab plan were identified and prioritized in three areas: behavioral (including 14 harms), structural (including 19 harms) and contextual (including 25 harms). According to the analysis of quantitative data, the current state of harms was examined from the teachers’ point of view. Conclusion: The results of one sample t-test showed that most of the harms are at a level higher than the assumed average of the community and a few are at an average level or lower than the average.

Purpose: The present paper aims at identifying and extracting the dimensions, components, and criteria of digital library evaluation based on experts` opinions and the 5S conceptual framework of Goncalves.Methodology: This was an applied, documentary, and survey research making the best use of the fuzzy Delphi method (to extract criteria and develop the conceptual model), forming a trinity in methodology. To refine the components, and criteria, 20 Iranian and foreign experts were polled about digital libraries in 3 stages. The results of each stage were refined based on Minkowski formula. This was an applied research since it presented the evaluation criteria of Iranian digital libraries, and its results can be practically used, enabling digital libraries to evaluate and examine their status quo, and accordingly plan and enhance their activities. It was a descriptive study based on the research design and data collection method. To gather the data, three methods were used: documentary study, fuzzy Delphi (to extract criteria and develop the conceptual model), and survey, creating a trinity in methodology. Findings: During the three stages of the experts` poll, in Stream component 4 criteria, Structure component 4, Space component 4, Scenario component 5 and in societies component 3 ones were refined and also the results of each stage were refined using the formulas of Cheng and Lin model and ultimately the experts agreed with each other on 20 criteria. Conclusion: A digital library evaluation model was designed with 5 dimensions (components), 20 criteria, and 50 sub-criteria. It was offered to all organizations and universities as an evaluation model for digital library performance examination, so that they properly perceive the efficiency and effectiveness of digital libraries and their services.