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This article aims to propose an approach for determining reliability of information collected using questionnaires and bipolar neutrosophic sets. Bipolar neutrosophic sets use six membership functions that express the truth membership, the falsity membership, as well as the indeterminacy membership to the set and complementary set. Therefore, bipolar neutrosophic numbers may be suitable for applying in multi-criteria evaluation when a smaller number of complex evaluation criteria are used. Unfortunately, a significant number of membership functions make them somewhat complex for collecting data by surveying respondents. Using reliability of data decision-makers can identify respondents who did not want to participate in the survey, or did not understand the application of BNNs, and take appropriate action. The usability of the proposed approach is presented through two illustrative examples and conclusions were drawn based on obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of suitable individuals for critical roles within the organization can significantly affect the business efficiency and performance of the organization. For this reason, this article presents a multiple-criteria decision-making procedure for candidates' assessment in the Information Technologies industry (IT) using the integrated PIPRECIA-S and WS-PLP methods. The introduced approach involved defining the criteria' significance with the help of the PIPRECIA-S, while the WS-PLP method was used to evaluate candidates and harmonize the views of decision-makers attitudes. The applicability of the suggested technique was reviewed in the situation of selecting an IT Project Manager in an IT company. However, it can easily be adapted for similar cases of candidate selection.

Background: The article presents an MCDM model based on the MEREC and WISP-S methods for pallet truck selection. Purpose: The main purpose of the study was to apply a new MCDM model for pallet truck selection in the textile workshop. Study design/methodology/approach: This article presents a simplified adoption of the Simple Weighted Sum Product (WISP) method, the Simplified WISP (WISP-S) method. The proposed method has fewer computation steps than the regular WISP method. In addition, this study proposes a new hybrid MCDM model in the literature by combining the MEREC method and the WISP-S method. Finding/conclusions: The obtained results can be achieved in a shorter time compared to regular WISP. The application of the new method is considered in this study. In order to check whether the WISP-S method achieves accurate results, the results of the WISP-S method and the results of the ROV and WASPAS methods were compared. As a result of the comparison of the results of the methods, it was observed that the WISP-S method achieved accurate results. Limitations/future research: As a direction for future research, other MCDM models can be applied for solving the same problem. When it comes to the limitations of the proposed model, it can be mentioned that the MCDM model is based on the use of crisp numbers.

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In order for the processes of environment protection and improvement in the Republic of Serbia to be more efficient, certain financial investments are necessary. After an introductory overview, the aim of the research was presented, which is to show correlation between costs and tax revenues in the field of environmental protection. The linear regression model and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for the analyses. The paper presents economic instruments in the field of environmental protection for the period 2009-2018. Data obtained from the National Statistical Office were used. The state of the environment, as well as the goals related to European integration with the opening of Chapter 27, show that the presented data relating to the environment in the Republic of Serbia are very worrying and represent one of the key problems for policy implementation. The obtained results showed that there is a significant degree of correlation (r = 0.887). The current situation indicates that special attention should be paid to this topic, especially in terms of finding mechanisms for providing the necessary financial funds.

Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) denotes the selection of the alternatives based on a set of, often conflicting, criteria. As a result of using it for solving a large number of decision-making problems, a number of MCDM methods have been proposed. Some of these methods are further adapted to use grey numbers, with the aim of ensuring their broader usage. The Operational Competitiveness Rating (OCRA) method is a less frequently used MCDM method, for which the grey extension has not been proposed yet. Therefore, an improved OCRA method is proposed in this paper. In the proposed approach, the ordinary OCRA method is adapted for the purpose of enabling the use of grey numbers, which has enabled its usage for solving decision-making problems associated with uncertain and partially known information. In addition to this, in the improved OCRA method the original normalization procedure has been replaced by a new one. Finally, the usability and effectiveness of the proposed approach are checked on two numerical illustrations. The first is taken from the literature. The ranking results obtained by using the improved OCRA method are the same as the results obtained by using two prominent MCDM methods, which confirms the usability of the proposed approach. In the second one, the usability and efficiency of the improved OCRA method are verified in the case of the selection of the best capital investment project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this work is to identify and analyze the impact of the Chinese economy key determinants on the global market copper price movements. Our research is based on a multilinear regression analysis of the historical data of the time period from 2003 until 2017. The presented multilinear regression model constitutes the 4 (four) statistically most significant macroeconomic variables, that is, determinants of the Chinese economy, which are used for clarifying current trends and can predict the future movements of prices on the global copper market. Statistically significant determinants are the inflation in China, the Chinese export of goods and services, Chinese import of copper, and consumption of refined copper in China. Obtained results of the research show a dominant role of the demand factor and significant influence of the Chinese economy on the movements of the global copper price. At the same time, the results imply that movements of the copper price on the global market can be an indicator of the economic activities slowing down or speeding up, in the countries which are the major traders of this metal.

Underground mining method selection is a very complex task for the mining engineers because the chosen method should fulfill the technical, economic and production requirements. Combining the criteria that cover different aspects of the mining operation and group decision-making increases the reliability of the decisions and minimize its subjectivity. The main objective of this paper is to propose the methodology for the underground mining method selection based on the Extended Pivot Pairwise Relative Criteria Importance Assessment (PIPRECIA-E) and group decision making. The applicability of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by using the numerical example inclusive of 3 main criteria, 18 sub-criteria and 5 alternative underground mining methods pointed to the exploitation of the Upper Zone of the Čukaru Peki deposit in Serbia.

The early XXI century is characterized by the development of network economy, in which companies operate within strategic alliances and integrated supply chains, with a focus on end customers. Numerous studies, carried out in the past three decades, have confirmed the rising risk of natural disasters, as well as their frequency and impact on supply chain performance. Such disasters can cause damage to transport infrastructure, supply and production disruption, lower productivity, growth in total costs for companies and their supply chains, as well as reduction in economic growth rate. In this paper types and consequences of natural disasters are presented, with an emphasis on their negative impacts on the supply chain as well as strategies for reducing the vulnerability of modern supply chains to the disasters.