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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to systematically investigate the patient flow and waiting time problems in hospital emergency departments (EDs) from an integrated voice of customer (VOC) and voice of process (VOP) perspective and to propose a new lean framework for ED process.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted to better understand patients' perceptions of ED services, lean tools such as process mapping and A3 problem-solving sheets were used to identify hidden process wastes and root-cause analysis was performed to determine the reasons of long waiting time in ED.FindingsThe results indicate that long waiting times in ED are major concerns for patients and affect the quality of ED services. It was revealed that limited bed capacity, unavailability of necessary staff, layout of ED, lack of understanding among patients about the nature of emergency services are main causes of delay. Addressing these issues using lean tools, integrated with the VOC and VOP perspectives can lead to improved patient flow, higher patient satisfaction and improvement in ED capacity. A future value stream map is proposed to streamline the ED activities and minimize waiting times.Research limitations/implicationsThe research involves a relatively small sample from a single case study. The proposed approach will enable the ED administrators to avoid the ED overcrowding and streamline the entire ED process.Originality/valueThis research identified ED quality issues from the integration of VOC and VOP perspective and suggested appropriate lean tools to overcome these problems. This process improvement approach will enable the ED administrators to improve productivity and performance of hospitals.

Professor Sherif Mohamed, for providing me with the opportunity to complete this PhD study under his supervision. I am greatly indebted to Professor Mohamed for providing the academic and technical assistance. I also appreciate his unlimited support towards improving my research skills. Many thanks for his patience, efforts, and valuable guidance. Special thanks to my wife, Mona, for her patience, care, support, and continuous encouragement, which enabled me to complete this thesis. Her sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. Many thanks are also due to my little son, Abdullah, for being a source of joy, laughter and encouragement throughout. I extend special thanks to my mother, Salma, and my father, Mustafa, for their continuous support and prayers. I owe my gratitude to my brother, sisters, relatives and friends who have always encouraged me during the study period. Many thanks are also due to all individuals (and their respective organizations) who willingly participated in the questionnaire and the semistructured interviews. Last, but not least, I am indebted to all my RHD colleagues, whether from the School of Engineering or from other schools, for their lively discussions and conversations. Thanks to Griffith University for providing such a stimulating and knowledge-sharing environment.

Employee selection is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem for selecting suitable applicants from a ready pool. The selection aims to make use of their knowledge, relevant skills, and other characteristics to perform a specific job. The aim of this study is to develop a systematic approach for selecting the best candidates among the air traffic controllers (ATCs) for aviation in Saudi Arabia. Three integrated methods were employed for decision-making in this study. First, a fuzzy decision tree was applied to determine the criteria weights, then the fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed to rank the attributes. In the last step, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to transform the qualitative variables into quantitative equivalences. A survey was conducted by national and international decisionmakers to elicit the necessary information on the criteria and sub-criteria of the air traffic control system. The decision problem was formulated by employing five criteria and ten applicants. The relationship between the fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy-weighted average was very positive for decision-making. The outcomes of the fuzzy TOPSIS and DEA encouraged the development of a decision support system for the selection of ATCs. OPSOMMINGDie kies van werknemers vanuit 'n lys van gepaste aansoeke is 'n multi-kriteria besluitnemingsprobleem. Die seleksie se doel is om gebruik te maak van die potensiële werknemers se relevante vaardighede en ander eienskappe om 'n spesifieke taak te verrig. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om 'n sistematiese benadering, om die beste kandidate vir lugruimbeheerderposisies in Saoedi Arabië te identifiseer, te ontwikkel. Drie geïntegreerde metodes is ingespan vir die besluitneming in hierdie studie. Eerstens is 'n wasige besluitnemingsboom toegepas om die kriteria gewigte te bepaal. Daarna is die wasige tegniek van Orde Voorkeur deur Ooreenkoms tot die Ideale Oplossing toegepas om die kenmerke te rangskik. Laastens is die Data Omvangs Analise gebruik om die kwalitatiewe veranderlikes tot kwantitatiewe gelykhede om te skakel. 'n Peiling is onder nasionale en internasionale besluitnemers geneem om die noodsaaklike inligting rakende die kriteria en sub-kriteria van die lugruimbeheerstelsel te bepaal. Die besluitnemingsvraagstuk is geformuleer deur vyf kriteria en tien aansoekers in te span. Die verhouding tussen die wasige Orde Voorkeur deur Ooreenkoms tot die Ideale Oplossing en wasig-geweegde gemiddeld was besonder positief vir besluitneming. Die resultate van die wasige Orde Voorkeur deur Ooreenkoms tot die Ideale Oplossing en die Data Omvangs Analise moedig die ontwikkeling van 'n besluitneming ondersteuningstelsel vir lugruimbeheerders aan.

This paper presents a strategic roadmap to handle the issue of resource allocation among the green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. This complex issue for supply chain stakeholders highlights the need for the application of supply chain finance (SCF). This paper proposes the five Vs of big data (value, volume, velocity, variety, and veracity) as a platform for determining the role of GSCM practices in improving SCF implementation. The fuzzy analytic network process (ANP) was employed to prioritize the five Vs by their roles in SCF. The fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was then applied to evaluate GSCM practices on the basis of the five Vs. In addition, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) was used to visualize the optimum implementation of the GSCM practices. The outcome is a hybrid self-assessment model that measures the environmental maturity of SCF by the coherent application of three multicriteria decision-making techniques. The development of the Basic Readiness Index (BRI), Relative Readiness Index (RRI), and Strategic Matrix Tool (SMT) creates the potential for further improvements through the integration of the RRI scores and ISM results. This hybrid model presents a practical tool for decision-makers.