Title: Utilisation of interpretive structural modelling method in the analysis of interrelationship of vendor performance factors

Authors: Ya-Ti Lin, Chia-Li Lin, Hsiao-Cheng Yu, Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng

Addresses: Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, No. 1001 University Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan. ' Department of Resort and Leisure Management, Taiwan Hospitalty and Tourism College, No. 268, Chungshin St., Fengshan, Shoufeng, Hualien, Taiwan. ' Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, No. 1001 University Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan. ' Department of Business and Entrepreneurial Administration, Kainan University, No. 1 Kainan Road, Luchu Shiang, Taoyuan 338, Taiwan

Abstract: Vendor performance is a crucial factor affecting the success of outsourcing operations today. It is essential to understand the interrelationship in a complex performance analysis framework, for it helps to identify the root causes that affect other criteria as well as the overall performance. The purpose and contribution of this paper is to propose the use of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) method to provide an understanding of the causal interrelationship in the complex vendor performance evaluation framework, and in return, enables the firms to make analysis and improvements more accurately and efficient. A case study is conducted to analyse the causal interrelationship of a wafer-testing vendor|s performance in Taiwan|s semiconductor industry to present the proposed procedure. The proposed ISM method of this research is not only useful for distinguishing the causal interrelationship in a complex problem but also able to be extended to support other quantitative multiple-criteria decision-making methods in obtaining the weights of each evaluation criterion.

Keywords: outsourcing; interpretive structural modelling; ISM; wafer testing; vendor performance; performance evaluation; Taiwan; semiconductor industry; causal interrelationships; causal relationships; MCDM; multicriteria decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2011.039890

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2011 Vol.12 No.3, pp.260 - 275

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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