Trust evaluation model for fractal-based virtual enterprises using goal achievement probability

In current business environment, competitiveness is no longer between enterprises, but between enterprise networks because individual enterprises often do not have all the necessary skills and competencies to satisfy the new market requirements. In this environment, finding the right and trustworthy partners largely affects the success of a virtual organization (VO) or a virtual enterprise (VE). This paper proposes a fuzzy trust evaluation model of three types of fractal-based virtual enterprises; a single enterprise, a VO, and a VE. The goals and the decision-maker's preferences are the inputs of the proposed model. An evaluated trust value of an enterprise represents a weighted goal achievement probability of how it could contribute to the success of a VO or a VE.