The continuous development of information technologies has changed the way in which education is organized. Students are now more likely to choose e-learning in order to achieve better results during ...their studies. To examine the influence of e-learning application on academic success, the study inspected multidimensional relationships in e-learning. The research is directed towards improvement of students’ academic success. The research was conducted on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and for that purpose a random sample was used. Data from students were collected through a questionnaire while hypotheses were proven with the help of the structural equation model (SEM). Results have shown that metacognitive strategies and computer self-efficacy have a direct significant influence on academic success, while the set goals do not directly influence academic success. In addition to that, this research has proved that online environment and social interactions with other participants play a significant role in the achievement of academic success. The results obtained in this research will help higher education institutions improve their e-learning strategies and implementation efforts. Furthermore, the used research model contributes to the improvement of understanding of e-learning, both in practice and in theory.
Decision making is constantly present in agriculture. Choosing the wrong variety carries the risk that the investment in terms of sowing does not pay off at all. Therefore, it is necessary to choose ...the variety that gives the best results. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to apply multi-criteria decision-making of available varieties, which is, in this paper, done on the example of hybrid varieties of rapeseed that were created by selection at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. By applying fuzzy logic, a novel integrated Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model is developed and rapeseed varieties were evaluated. For determining four main and 20 subcriteria, fuzzy PIPRECIA (PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment) method has been applied based on fuzzy Bonferroni operator, while for ranking alternatives fuzzy MABAC (Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison) method has been used. The results obtained using the novel integrated fuzzy MCDM model showed that the variety A2 - Zorica has the best results, followed by A1 - NS Ras, while the worst results were seen by the variety A5 - Zlatna. These results were confirmed using other five fuzzy MCDM methods. Sensitivity analysis-changing criteria weights showed the worst results in the variety A6 - Jovana, which took last place in the application of 18 scenarios. The presented model and the results of this research will help farmers to solve this decision problem.
The process of deep sheet metal drawing is accepted in all industrial branches. This process is, therefore, very important to maintain a certain level of quality. For this reason, measurements and ...tests must be carried out to determine how much sheet metal deformation occurred after the deep drawing process. For this purpose, an experiment of deep drawing of sheet metal was carried out using the example of kitchen utensils. In addition, the Taguchi method was used in this experiment to test the quality of the obtained kitchenware. In the experiment, three factors were taken with three alternatives that affect the deep drawing of sheet metal, and 27 experiments were used for the Taguchi method. The results of this experiment showed that the best results were achieved by the smallest drawing depth of 65 mm and the worst results were obtained by the drawing thickness of 70 mm. Regarding the thickness of the material, the best results were achieved by the material of 21 mm, and the material of 15 mm achieved the worst results. In addition, an analysis of variance was carried out, which determined the relationship between force and deformation of the material.
•A new MCDM model – MARCOS for sustainable supplier selection is proposed.•The first study for sustainable supplier selection in private healthcare industry.•An original flexible and simple model for ...solving MCDM problems is proposed.•Developed method – potential contribution to PMADM literature.
Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are very useful tools for daily decision-making in different fields. In addition, determining an acceptable solution with respect to different factors is certainly a very demanding and difficult task. In this paper, a new Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to COmpromise Solution (MARCOS) method for a sustainable supplier selection in the healthcare industry (in a polyclinic) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is developed. The advantages of the developed method are: the consideration of an anti-ideal and ideal solution at the very beginning of the formation of an initial matrix, closer determination of utility degree in relation to both solutions, the proposal of a new way to determine utility functions and their aggregation, the possibility to consider a large set of criteria and alternatives while maintaining the stability of the method. Supplier selection is very important for organizations in the medical industry. Sustainability in the supplier selection process in the medical industry is a strategically important issue, and poorly implemented in the private medical sector. Therefore, the example explains how to use the MARCOS method to select sustainable suppliers in the private medical sector. A case study of a sustainable supplier selection for the healthcare industry (a polyclinic) includes ranking of eight alternatives with regard to 21 criteria for all aspects of sustainability. The results and verification of the new method are carried out throughout a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. 21 scenarios with changes in the weight values of criteria were established, the measurement scale from 1 to 9 was changed to 1–5, a comparison with six other MCDM methods was performed, and it was verified in dynamic conditions which implied a change of the elements of the initial decision-making matrix. All phases of the sensitivity analysis showed the validity of MARCOS method. The obtained results and all scenarios in sensitivity analysis show that A2 remains the best alternative.
This research focuses on the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to transport visitors and cargo within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kozara National Park. Reduced air pollution and the preservation of natural ...resources are required to help protect this aerial spa. Together with the expert employees of this NP, the EV that would best suit their needs was chosen. The process of decision-making combines subjective and objective methods. Employees first chose the criteria and alternatives and then weighed their importance. On that occasion, Z-numbers were used to include uncertainty in the decision, because it is not always possible to make decisions with complete certainty. Furthermore, the weight of these criteria was determined using the fuzzy PIPRECIA (PIvot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment) method. Range (C1) became the most important criterion, followed by vehicle cost (C2), and the technical specifications of these EVs were used to compare them. Because these specifications vary, a rough set was used in which the minimum and maximum EV characteristics were taken based on specific criteria. To rank the alternatives, the R-CRADIS (Rough Compromise Ranking of Alternatives with Distance to Ideal Solution) method was used. According to the research results, the Mercedes eVito Tourer 90 kWh is the highest ranked EV and the validation of the results confirmed these findings. According to the research results, the Mercedes eVito Tourer 90 kWh is the highest ranked EV and the validation of the results confirmed these findings. The sensitivity analysis revealed that if criterion C1 is not as important, the other EVs are ranked higher. This research`s methodology has demonstrated flexibility, therefore it is recommended for use in similar research.
This paper presents an empirical study of multidimensional relations in e-learning. The research is focused on students’ satisfaction with the usage of e-learning. Data for this survey were collected ...on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By using random sample method, eleven higher education institutions in BIH were selected and the survey questionnaires were sent to their students. The collected data from students were analyzed and confirmed by applying confirmative factor analysis. The structural equations model was used to test the model. The obtained results have shown that Metacognitive strategies variable directly affects the students’ satisfaction when using e-learning, while students’ self-efficacy and goal setting variables indirectly affect the student’s satisfaction, along with the environment structuring and social dimensions. The given results from this research will help other higher education institutions to improve their e-learning platforms in e-learning and by doing so students will continue to use these platforms. The conducted research has given guidelines for the development of this type of learning.
The subject of this research is the evaluation of electric cars and the choice of car that best meets the set research criteria. To this end, the criteria weights were determined using the entropy ...method with two-step normalization and a full consistency check. In addition, the entropy method was extended further with q-rung orthopair fuzzy (qROF) information and Einstein aggregation for carrying out decision making under uncertainty with imprecise information. Sustainable transportation was selected as the area of application. The current work compared a set of 20 leading EVs in India using the proposed decision-making model. The comparison was designed to cover two aspects: technical attributes and user opinions. For the ranking of the EVs, a recently developed multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model, the alternative ranking order method with two-step normalization (AROMAN), was used. The present work is a novel hybridization of the entropy method, full consistency method (FUCOM), and AROMAN in an uncertain environment. The results show that the electricity consumption criterion (w = 0.0944) received the greatest weight, while the best ranked alternative was A7. The results also show robustness and stability, as revealed through a comparison with the other MCDM models and a sensitivity analysis. The present work is different from the past studies, as it provides a robust hybrid decision-making model that uses both objective and subjective information.
The research deals with the market assessment of pear varieties in Serbia. Market assessment represents the willingness of customers to consume a certain fruit or a certain variety. This research ...applies a market assessment of pear varieties based on expert decision making. Together with the experts, the criteria and varieties of pears used in the research are determined. Ten criteria and six varieties of pears that are mostly grown in Serbia are used. Experts evaluated pear varieties based on linguistic values according to selected criteria. Based on these values, and using fuzzy logic, the weights of the criteria are first determined using the fuzzy CRITIC method (criteria importance through intercriteria correlation), and pear varieties are ranked using the fuzzy CRADIS method (compromise ranking of alternatives from distance to ideal solution). The obtained results show that the highest rated varieties are Konferans and Viljamovka, while the lowest rated variety is Šampionka. Sensitivity analysis confirms these results. The obtained results will help cultivators and fruit vendors to choose those varieties that will achieve the best market results. This study is conducted to provide guidelines for the use of fuzzy methods in marketing assessment in fruit growing.
The paper aimed to examine if the mechanical characteristics (tensile strength, elongation, and friction) of the selected flexible packaging materials (BOPP and PET/PE) change after the packaging ...process. Some researchers have shown that mechanical characteristics can change because of the various effects to which foils are exposed (temperature, transport devices, solvents, etc.). The measurement of tensile strength and elongation was carried out according to SRPS G.S2.734, and the measurement of friction according to ASTM D 1894. The results show that there were no significant changes in the examined mechanical characteristics that could affect the functionality of the packaging.