caa a22 4500 605520232 CHVBK 20210128100734.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150801xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s11213-014-9334-z doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s11213-014-9334-z Vendor Selection Using Soft Thinking Approach: A Case Study of National Iranian South Oil Company [Elektronische Daten] [Payam Hanafizadeh, Reihaneh Vali Zadeh] Facing the complexity of managerial problems, on which different stakeholders have different viewpoints, has increasingly led to the use of soft systems methodology (SSM). One of these issues that play an important role, particularly in purchasing and supplying resources, is Vendor Selection. Using traditional methods of problem solving as a principal solution for such issues overlooks the significant role of human factors such as the level of knowledge and experience of experts, as well as the culture and norms of the organizations. This crucial drawback of hard methodologies motivated the study of vendor selection issue from another perspective, using a soft thinking approach. Furthermore, Cognitive Map is used to model knowledge and experience of all beneficiaries and combine their mental maps in designing the solution of vendor selection problem. In this study, using the combination of cognitive mapping and SSM, based on a distinctive research approach, namely Action Research, the fundamental factors of an issue were identified to make it possible to combine the views of different experts to reach consensus among several attitudes for choosing the best vendor. The methodology proposed in this study was applied for vendor selection process in National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) as a case study. Springer Science+Business Media New York, 2014 Soft systems methodology nationallicence Cognitive mapping nationallicence Action research nationallicence Vendor selection nationallicence Consensus primary task models nationallicence Hanafizadeh Payam Department of Industrial Management, Allameh Tabataba'i University, P.O. Box 14155-6476, Tehran, Iran aut Vali Zadeh Reihaneh Department of Industrial Management, Allameh Tabtaba'i University, P.O. Box 14155-6476, Tehran, Iran aut Systemic Practice and Action Research Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 28/4(2015-08-01), 355-381 1094-429X 28:4<355 2015 28 11213 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-014-9334-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-014-9334-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Hanafizadeh Payam Department of Industrial Management, Allameh Tabataba'i University, P.O. Box 14155-6476, Tehran, Iran aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Vali Zadeh Reihaneh Department of Industrial Management, Allameh Tabtaba'i University, P.O. Box 14155-6476, Tehran, Iran aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Systemic Practice and Action Research Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 28/4(2015-08-01), 355-381 1094-429X 28:4<355 2015 28 11213