International Journal of Management and Decision Making (14 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Empowering innovation in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs: the influence of organisational resources and knowledge sharing with HRM practices as a moderator  
  by Haniruzila Hanifah, Hasliza Abdul Halim, Ali Vafaei-Zadeh, Shafrizal  
  Abstract: This study examines how structural capital, human capital, internal and external relational capital, and entrepreneurial orientation influence knowledge sharing, which impacts innovation performance in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. It also investigates the role of human resource management practices in moderating this relationship. Analyzing data from 133 manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia via Partial Least Squares, the research reveals that structural, internal, and external relational capital, and entrepreneurial orientation, are positively linked to knowledge sharing. Surprisingly, human capital and international relational capital do not mediate between knowledge sharing and innovation performance. However, knowledge sharing positively correlates with innovation performance and is further enhanced by human resource management practices. These findings indicate the significance of intellectual capital and knowledge sharing in driving innovation, highlighting the crucial role of effective human resource management practices in this process. This study offers valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars, informing strategic organizational decisions and future research.
  Keywords: intellectual capital; entrepreneurial orientation; knowledge sharing; innovation performance; HRM practices; manufacturing SMEs.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10065312
   
  
• Deep learning based a hybrid traffic flow prediction model for freight transport  
  by Anil Utku, Sema Kayapinar Kaya, Umit Can 
  Abstract: Urban freight transportation is crucial to sustaining domestic and international trade and fulfilling the regular requirements of community companies and customers. Therefore, this study developed an efficient convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) based hybrid deep learning model for predicting traffic flow in freight transportation. It was predicted number of freight trucks would travel along 663 Street in Anderlecht, Belgium, and their average speed. The created model was compared with support vector machine (SVM), linear regression (LR), multilayer perceptron (MLP), random forest (RF), LSTM, and CNN using the success measures. The critical finding of this study is that combining the feature extraction ability of the 1D CNN model with the learning ability of the LSTM model from multivariate traffic data increases the traffic density prediction success compared to other traditional methods. Based on the results of the experiments, the CNN-LSTM model outperformed all the other models employed in this study. With this model, freight density can be successfully predicted, assisting in planning freight transport activities.
  Keywords: deep learning; freight transportation; machine learning; traffic flow; traffic prediction.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10065663
   
  
• Assessment of performance indicators for sustainable agri-retail sector  
  by Murat Ulgu, Yesim Deniz Ozkan-Ozen 
  Abstract: The value of the agriculture sector is becoming even more pronounced due to increase in consumption. Therefore, ensuring sustainability in the agriculture sector is critical for the future of humanity. With the increasing power of retailers in the supply chain, they have gained importance in sustainability efforts in the sector. To achieve social, environmental, and economic sustainability in the agriculture sector, retailers need to enhance their own sustainability practices. Therefore, the agri-retail sector becomes one of a crucial area. In this study, social, environmental, and economic sustainability criteria were examined in the agri-retail sector through a sample study. The importance of the criteria was determined using the fuzzy Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, and Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) method is used for determining interrelations between the criteria. Based on the results, the prominent sustainability criteria for the agri-retail sector were identified and evaluated.
  Keywords: agricultural retail; sustainability; performance assessment; supply chain management; total interpretive structural modelling; TISM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10067339
   
  
• Unleashing potential for SMEs in resource-constrained economies through decision making practice: the mediating role of organisational learning and IT adoption  
  by Mugaahed Abdu Kaid Saleh, Fozi Ali Belhaj, Harold Andrew Patrick, Abdullah Yahia Al Gharsi 
  Abstract: Managers and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) invest in their competences, organisational learning and utilising information technology to promote their businesses. Covering this aspect in the context of lower income countries is lacking in the literature. Further, the role of organisational learning and utilising information technology in facilitating the effect of decision making practices (DMPs) on SMEs performance. The current study fills this gap by exploring the aspect of manufacturing SMEs in Yemen as a lower income economy. By relying on cross-sectional design and primary data collected conveniently from 400 SMEs managers/owners in Yemen, the findings confirm a significant and positive direct effect of adopting DMPs on SMEs performance, and this effect is significantly mediated by utilising information technology and not by organisational learning. The results also show a direct effect of entrepreneurial competencies on SMEs performance. The implications and future directions of this study’s findings are discussed.
  Keywords: decision making; small and medium enterprises; SMEs; organisational learning; IT adoption; performance; decision making practices; DMPs.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10068041
   
  
• Reducing Muda with Industry 4.0: a case study on ERP system enhancement  
  by Hedayat Ebrahimi, Zahra Hassani, Sajjad Jalali, Vahid Hajipour 
  Abstract: This paper is to explore the integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies into a customised enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, with a specific focus on reducing Muda in the manufacturing environment. As a fresh perspective, assessing the catalyst role of ERP is not limited to a certain module of the ERP but contains the main streams of functionality in the core business processes of the given context. The methodology involves conducting interviews with experts plus using ranking and inferencing approaches. This leads to pre-selecting, prioritising, and measuring the effectiveness of I4.0 enablers in reducing Muda besides justifying the implication of ERP’s applicability in the given context. Results demonstrate the contribution of enablers in reducing Muda while signalling the most substantial ones. Leveraging the core business processes of the ERP across the interaction between I4.0 enablers and Muda, the adaptability of the ERP to embrace the enablers is also conveyed.
  Keywords: Industry 4.0; lean practices; enterprise resource planning; ERP; waste management; best-worst method; BWM; integration.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10068403
   
  
• Integrating multi-criteria decision making and simulation modelling to improve health referral processing
  by Mohammed A. Mahyoub 
  Abstract: This research introduces an integrated framework that combines the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and discrete-event simulation (DES) for process improvement in the healthcare sector. By considering multiple criteria and uncertainties, the framework provides a systematic approach to selecting and evaluating optimal process improvement policies. A case study focusing on enhancing a health referral processing unit (HRPU) validates the effectiveness of the framework. Simulation experiments reveal significant reductions in average delay time (ADT) and average time in the system (ATIS) for specific alternatives. The FAHP-DES method ranks improvement policies based on multiple criteria, leading to the identification of the best alternative. This integrated approach offers a comprehensive methodology for healthcare process improvement, emphasising the importance of systematic decision-making to achieve substantial improvements.
  Keywords: simulation modelling; fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; fuzzy AHP; multi-criteria decision making; healthcare process improvement; discrete-event simulation; DES; uncertainty; health referral processing; care management; health referral processing unit; HRPU.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10061087
   
  
• How can the fit between adaptive analytics and organic culture impact organisational performance?  
  by Alamir Costa Louro, Marcelo Moll Brandão, Jurij Jaklic, Arthur França Sarcinelli 
  Abstract: In marketing and information system disciplines, there is considerable interest in understanding the relationship between analytics and organisational performance. To comprehend this relationship, it is first necessary to uncover the role of culture and adaptive marketing. It is also necessary to test a model with intervenient mediation mechanism to narrow the marketing capabilities gap. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design with stratified random sampling to collect data from diverse organisations. Data analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM for hypothesis testing, OLS regression within the SPSS PROCESS macro to investigate mediation effects, and R for post hoc tests. The model has shown an indirect-only effect of adaptive analytics and organisational culture fit using static marketing capabilities and absorptive capacity as mediators. The results suggest precaution for managers because this fit construct also needs pre-existing static marketing capabilities and absorptive capacity to impact performance. It also provides managers with a useful tool to assess their organisations regarding analytics and culture.
  Keywords: adaptive analytics; organisational culture; marketing capabilities; PLS-SEM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10062904
   
  
• A decision support model for online marketing investment decisions  
  by Lucie Waleczek Zotyková 
  Abstract: This study provides a decision support model for starting e-commerce projects. The proposed model uses individual tips from online marketing activities for investment decisions in online marketing using profit simulation and modelling. An e-shop was established and operational in 2022. The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) had a wide-ranging effect on e-commerce, technology, business, travel, and the economy. Regression analysis was used to investigate the viability of e-commerce projects considering seasonal trends. The proposed decision support, along with its assessment model and fine-tuning procedures, is described in this study.
  Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; decision support; e-commerce; changes in shopping behaviour; online marketing; regression modelling; search engines; simulation; small and medium companies; social networks.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10063466
   
  
• The mediating effect of organisational resilience and internal preparedness on the relationship between external vulnerabilities and performance  
  by Godwin Francis, Maria Papadaki, Hamid Saeed 
  Abstract: The performance of an organisation is contingent on external and internal business environments. A resilient business process strengthens the stability of the organisation. The underlying study focused on the effect of organisational resilience on business performance under the influence of external vulnerabilities. A survey was conducted and data were collected from 144 organisations in the UAE. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses. The findings showed that organisational performance was positively and significantly related to external and internal factors with resilient characteristics and capacities. The relationships between resilient characteristics, resilient capacities, and firm performance were also positive and significant. The mediation results showed an indirect relationship between resilient characteristics and firm performance, and resilient capacities fully mediated this association. The research has contributed to resilience theories, and has also provided a framework to managers and decision makers to achieve greater resilience for better business performance.
  Keywords: organisational resilience; business performance; organisational factors; UAE organisations; resilience characteristics; structural equation modelling; mediation analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10063696
   
  
• The attribution of expertise: modelling relational and organisational factors  
  by Robert A. Allen, Gareth R.T. White 
  Abstract: The term 'expert' is frequently encountered both in the management literature and in the common parlance of business. However, the relational dimension of 'expertise' has received little academic attention and lacks clear theoretical underpinning. This study addresses this gap through an exploration of how sources of expertise are identified and utilised in a UK Government Department. A series of semi-structured interviews were used to explore the activities and experiences of 19 staff. The study identifies the complex interactions among institutional, personal and task-related factors. From this, it develops a comprehensive model of the attribution of expertise. This model could be used by organisations to develop appropriate strategies for the management of expert resources and decision making. This study addresses the paucity of empirical research that examines the relational dimensions of the attribution of expertise.
  Keywords: expert; expertise; attribution; decision-making; management; public sector; government; relational.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10063540
   
  
• Using Malmquist and epsilon-based data envelopment analysis to assess the performance efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturers  
  by Hoang-Phu Nguyen, Thi-Ha Thai, Chia-Nan Wang 
  Abstract: The pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam has seen significant growth, but many components require significant capacity investment. Consumers now prefer pharmacies that comply with good pharmaceutical practice standards over unlicensed outlets, leading to increased competition for market share. This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing the efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturers, focusing on performance evaluation of companies. A hybrid approach using DEA Malmquist and EBM methods was applied to 12 pharmaceutical companies in Vietnam from 2017 to 2020. The study focuses on the technical and technological components of pharmaceutical enterprises, offering customised insights and actionable knowledge. The study introduces an innovative evaluation approach, including proportional adjustments of inputs/outputs and accounting for slacks, providing a comprehensive evaluation of efficiency and inefficiency within decision-making units (DMUs). This comprehensive method offers insights for benchmarking, strategic planning, and decision-making, contributing to the industry's sustainability journey and influencing the development of pharmacological systems.
  Keywords: performance efficiency; pharmaceutical company; data envelopment analysis; DEA; Malmquist; epsilon-based measure; EBM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10063992
   
  
• Decision-making using novel ranking of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers based on vectorial distance and spread  
  by N. Muhammad Farhan Hakim Nik Badrul Alam, Ku Muhammad Naim Ku Khalif, Nor Izzati Jaini 
  Abstract: The intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFN) are powerful in handling the uncertainties in the decision-making world. In this research, a novel ranking function of the IFN based on the vectorial distances and spread of the membership and non-membership functions is proposed. The vectorial distance measures the separation of the IFN from the origin while the spread represents the horizontal slit of the IFN. As a validation, some empirical examples are used to illustrate the strength of the proposed ranking method. Some situations where the IFN having different heights and spreads for the membership and non-membership functions are considered to test the robustness of the ranking approach. Further, a decision-making model based on the proposed ranking method is developed, namely the intuitionistic weighted aggregated sum product assessment (IF-WASPAS). The preference of lecturers either to conduct online, hybrid or physical class was adopted to visualise the applicability of the proposed ranking function.
  Keywords: decision-making; intuitionistic fuzzy numbers; IFN; ranking function; spread; vectorial distance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10064815
   
  
• The impact of RBV on value creation in the pharmaceutical industry  
  by Telma Ferreira Dos Santos, Angelo Pereira, Ricardo Correia, João Geraldes, Rui Gonçalves, Renato Lopes Da Costa 
  Abstract: The theory of the resource-based view addresses all the complexity of adopting strategic methods in competitive environments, such as the pharmaceutical industry, in which there is a constant struggle to acquire competitive advantage and for companies to differentiate themselves from others. Having said this, it is important to understand the impact that the resource-based view can have on the pharmaceutical industry, and how it can generate competitive advantage for different companies. The methodology for data collection was the realisation of semi-structured interviews based on questions that emerged throughout the literature review, where the MAXQDA software was used for analysis and coding of the corpus of each interview. It was concluded that this type of strategy has several positive impacts at the internal and external levels of the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from the creation of more competitive environments through the success of innovation, the allocation of resources in the best way to meet the needs of the company and the market, and clearly a greater internal knowledge of the weaknesses of each company, investing in continuous improvement.
  Keywords: strategy; pharmaceutical industry; competitive advantage; market gaps.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10064404
   
  
• How expat-preneurs make decisions - the role of intuition  
  by Nicole A. Yeung, Marta Sinclair 
  Abstract: Expatriate entrepreneurs (expat-preneurs) are a group of unique people who voluntarily move countries and benefit from entrepreneurial activities. Despite the growing volume of literature dedicated to conceptualising expat-preneurs, little attention has been dedicated to understanding their decision-making patterns. The purpose of this paper is to establish a preliminary view of how expat-preneurs make decisions with a particular emphasis on intuitive decision-making. The exploratory case study used an inductive approach by analysing qualitative interview data from expat-preneurs working in Hong Kong. The findings demonstrated that expat-preneurs frequently use intuition, sometimes in combination with analytical decision-making and revealed more fine-grained insights into how both styles interact. Specifically, data identified that expat-preneurial decision-making processes are predicated on contextual factors such as time dichotomy, decision-making maturity, decision magnitude, intuitive sensing and external stimulus. This study is the first attempt to explore expat-preneurial decision-making processes at the intersection of entrepreneurship, international entrepreneurship and intuition decision-making literature. Based on the findings, the occurrence of 'slow' and 'fast' intuition was identified and their relationships with expert and creative intuition were examined. As a result, it is proposed that entrepreneurial intuition is regarded as a form of professional context rather than a type of intuition.
  Keywords: intuition; decision-making; expat-preneurs; types of intuition; international entrepreneurship.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2025.10065922