An integrated nurse staffing and scheduling analysis for longer-term nursing staff allocation problems

The efficient and effective management of nursing personnel is of critical importance in a hospital's environment comprising a vast share of the operational costs. The adopted nurse workforce practices and policies highly affect the nurses' working conditions and the provided quality of care. Policy decisions on the staffing level have an impact on the outcome of the scheduling level and vice versa. Isolated reasoning typically leads to suboptimal decisions often resulting in ineffective outcomes of care. In order to overcome these inefficiencies, we propose in this paper a new integrative nurse staffing and shift scheduling approach. We test and assess the benefits of our approach in a reallife environment. Moreover, we examine the impact of several personnel policies on the staffing decision.     

战略国际人力资源管理与企业绩效关系研究——基于在华跨国企业的经验证据

企业国际化中人力资源实践如何影响绩效,既是一个国际企业管理问题,更是人力资源管理领域的中心问题;因为任何一种国际化战略的成功都离不开恰当的人力资源管理方式,而成功的跨国公司对人力资源管理的导向选择也主要取决于它能否更好地支撑其国际化战略的实施.本文以100家在华跨国企业为研究样本,在战略国际人力资源管理(SIHRM)的框架下,将人力资源管理系统和国际化程度对企业绩效的影响作为主要研究问题,构建层级回归模型,通过实证检验考察人力资源管理与企业绩效的关系.研究结果表明,企业绩效不仅同人力资源管理与企业战略的整合程度有关,而且同人力资源管理系统与国际化程度之间存在积极的联系.该研究结论为中国企业在国际化过程中如何实施有效的战略国际人力资源管理以提升组织绩效并获取持续竞争优势提供借鉴与参考.     

基于场景分析的应急资源布局模型研究

突发事件越来越频繁地发生,对应急物资保障提出了更高的要求,好的资源布局方案对地区需求的保障程度至关重要。本文利用场景分析的方法,给出一个适于多点需求,多点救助的应急资源布局多目标规划模型,并根据资源的具体配置情况决定选址,以期为选址决策者提供选址的依据。求解该问题时,针对模型设计了算法,并进行了算例分析。     

Survey of resource allocation methods for distributed manufacturing systems

Distributed manufacturing systems are more flexible in their arrangement and use of their resources. This permits a more dynamic and opportunistic allocation of manufacturing resources to work elements than is possible with today's centralized allocation systems. However, unlike solving the problem from a single solver view, there is no absolute control or tight coordination over how and when to decompose the problem, when to undertake a solution or the procedure for verifying consistency. Such activities will largely be left to the distributed entities to decide either individually or jointly. As a consequence the resulting allocations may suffer and induce myopic behaviour lacking in stability and regularity in the performance of the total system. Thus, the issues connected with solving the problem often move beyond the pure algorithmic focus of computation to include how the problem is decomposed, how or to whom it is assigned, and the organization for solving the subproblems, strategies used for resolving conflicts, the manner in which communication is conducted, etc. These issues, in fact, highlight the holistic nature of the solution and are used here as parameters to compare and contrast the approaches reported in the literature.     

Supporting the allocation of software development work in distributed teams with multi-criteria decision analysis

In the fast moving software industry, projects have been increasingly developed by distributed teams, which are located in geographically remote offices and collaborate using information communication technologies. In such environments, project distribution presents specific challenges, as work in distributed teams increases project technical complexity, communication lines multiply and stakeholders’ interests may be divergent. Despite the importance and complexity of this type of problem, it seems that there is a lack of reports, in the literature, of systems that could support these decisions. This paper presents a real-world case study, where we developed a multi-criteria model for supporting the distributed team work allocation decision for a major global software company. It was developed with a group of software development project managers, using decision conferencing and multi-attribute value analysis. The model deals not only with software engineering attributes, but also “soft” and strategic issues, like team satisfaction and training opportunities. We also discuss some issues and challenges faced during this modelling process.     

基于效率的企业资源配置部门剥离条件研究

研究企业中资源配置部门的剥离条件问题.首先,建立了企业资源配置部门的控制模型,并定义了效率概念;然后,分别对企业中的单一资源配置部门和多资源配置部门的剥离条件进行分析,给出判断这2种资源配置部门的剥离分界点公式.由此得到结论:完全竞争市场中,企业根据剥离分界点,把要配置的资源分为稀缺程度较高和稀缺程度较低2类,前者应由企业资源配置部门来配置,后者应由市场来配置;如果市场配置某种资源的效率低于企业部门的配置效率,则企业部门是市场的替代,反之,市场则替代企业部门.     

面向我国国立研究机构的人力资源配置模型研究

当今世界,科学技术作为第一生产力的作用日益突出,科学技术作为人类文明进步的基石和原动力的作用日益凸显,而国立研究机构作为中国科研体系的国家队和中坚力量,它的地位和规模在整个科研体系中是举足轻重的,因此合理配置国立研究机构的人力资源具有重大的理论和现实意义。目前的人力资源配置研究多针对企业,而中国的国立研究机构有其自身的特点,不能套用企业的人力资源配置方法。中国科学院作为国家在科学技术方面的最高学术机构,作为科技事业的国家队和火车头,具有代表性,因此本文以中国科学院为例,利用问卷调查、专家访谈、文献调研等方法,对影响我国国立研究机构人力资源配置的因素进行研究,并将人力资源的配置看作一个决策问题,综合考虑了发展战略、人均经费当量、人员结构、学科建设等多个约束,采用自上而下和自下而上相结合的方法,建立了面向国立研究机构的人力资源配置模型。该模型克服了以往国立研究机构对子机构人员数量通过简单趋势外推等方法进行预测的做法,集成了历史数据和专家经验,既不脱离历史情况又能够反映机构的发展战略,是一种适合国立研究机构的人力资源配置方法。该方法在中国科学院的应用实践,验证了模型的有效性。     

A Comparison of Due Date Setting,Resource Assignment,and Job Preemption Heuristics for the Multiproject Scheduling Problem*

This research examines a heuristic, rule-based approach for setting due dates in a multiproject, multijob, or assembly shop. Due date estimation is a challenging problem because the operating environment is capacitated, involves the allocation of multiple resources, and allows for the preemption of resources from one project or job to another. The dynamic, continuous arrival of new jobs or orders frequently results in the preemption of resources through the application of managerially determined priority policies. These preemption policies have a significant impact on the ultimate completion time of a job or a project. A three-factor, full-factorial computer simulation experiment is used to assess the relative effectiveness of combinations of four due date setting heuristics, five resource assignment heuristics, and three resource preemption heuristics. Recommendations are made for the selection of due date and resource assignment heuristic combinations under the three preemption policies examined.     

Manufacturing strategies and financial performance—The effect of advanced information technology: CAD/CAM systems

Nowadays, the business environment is characterized by great uncertainty and variability. In this environment, information technology (IT) has proved to be an important strategic ingredient for the creation of competitive advantage. This role of IT has been widely accepted during the past few years [Feeny D. Creating and sustaining competitive advantage with IT. In: Earl M, editor. Information management the strategic direction. Oxford, 1990; Ives B. Wingtip Courriers, Southern Methodist University Case Study #SMY/MIS/90-01, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Dallas, TX, January 1990].     

面向群体利益分配的蚁群劳动分工建模与仿真

建立公平的社会群体利益分配机制是解决当前由利益失衡引发的社会矛盾与冲突的关键所在.基于对蚁群劳动分工在任务分配中所表现出柔性特征的分析,提出借鉴该任务分配柔性来实现利益分配柔性的新思路.首先从分配的角度对利益的概念进行界定,给出了其形式化描述,引入相对剥夺感来衡量利益分配的公平性.随后根据社会群体利益的特点,对基本蚁群劳动分工模型进行扩展,借助恢复因子来协调不同利益群体,建立了面向利益分配的蚁群劳动分工模型,给出了该模型的算法实现流程.选取一个具有代表性的利益分配实例进行仿真实验,从恢复性和分配柔性两方面验证本文模型的有效性.通过仿真分析发现,利益实现能力在利益分配过程中具有主导作用;对于利益分配不公的情况,恢复因子能够起到有效的恢复作用,且在动态环境下显示出良好的利益分配柔性.最后给出了利益型群体事件演化过程的描述,定量分析了其中的恢复情况,阐述了现实中利益型群体事件的演化规律.     

What Affects the Quality of Economic Analysis for Life‐Saving Investments?‡

Economic analysis of life-saving investments in both the public and private sectors has the potential to dramatically improve longevity and the quality of life, but only if the analyses on which decisions are based are done well. In this article, we analyze a data set that provides information on the content and quality of journal articles that measure the cost-effectiveness of life-saving investments. Our study is the first to provide a detailed multivariate analysis of factors affecting objective measures of quality. We also explore whether a series of recommendations by an expert panel convened by the U.S. Public Health Service affect the way analyses of specific life-saving investments are done. Our results suggest that four factors are positively correlated with an index we construct to measure analytical quality: (1) having at least one author affiliated with a university, (2) publication in a journal that has experience in publishing these analyses, (3) if the life-saving investment is located in the United States, and (4) if the analysis considers a measure of social costs or benefits. Somewhat surprisingly, a study's funding source and whether it is affiliated with industry are not significantly correlated with the quality index. Finally, neither time nor the panel guidelines had an impact on the index.     

冗余资源配置条件下的企业技术创新激励合约研究

基于多任务委托代理模型的分析框架,建立了企业同时采用新增资源投入和搜寻企业冗余资源进行技术创新的信息不对称条件下的委托代理模型。通过对模型的分析,得出了企业技术创新所需的新增资源和冗余资源投入的优化配置条件,以及2种资源组合配置模式下的企业员工技术创新活动的最优激励合同条件。企业可以根据新增资源的边际收益、边际成本,以及各行动之间成本函数的相互依存性的不同组合,采取适度激励、重度强化激励、轻度强化激励、重度弱化激励和轻度弱化激励等优化激励组合方案来激励员工进行技术创新活动,从而使企业技术创新资源的配置有更多优化方案选择,以降低企业创新的风险和成本,提高资源效率和创新绩效。     

Computational complexity of algorithms for MRP and JIT production planning problems in enterprise resource planning systems

An enterprise resource planning system (ERP) is the information backbone of many manufacturing companies. At the core of ERP is a conventional material requirements planning (MRP) production planning system or a variation of MRP when just-in-time (JIT) principles are used in manufacturing. MRP and JIT both organize production planning into a hierarchy of long-, medium- and short-range problems. In all there are eight different problems. Some are common to MRP and JIT, others are specialized for a particular system. This paper analyses the computational requirements of these problems. This is important for ERP because it plans for large numbers of products (e.g. 50 000 products at 3M Company and 44 000 products at States Industries in Oregon) at large numbers of locations (e.g. 82 locations in 21 countries for Visteon Automotive Systems of Michigan and 19 locations at Boeing). We show that adequate algorithms exist for some problems, but better algorithms are needed for other problems if ERP is to provide useful production plans.     

战略联盟模式选择的分析框架：资源、风险与结构模式间关系的概念模型

本文从公司在战略联盟中投入的不同种类资源的风险评价角度,综合考虑资源、风险及战略联盟的结构模式选择间的关系,形成了战略联盟结构模式选择的新的分析框架,提出了揭示三者间关系的概念模型及理论假说。本文认为,公司对战略联盟结构模式选择的偏好会受到管理者对未来公司在战略联盟中的各类风险的主观评价的影响,而公司对战略联盟投入的各类资源及其重要性是影响管理者对风险主观评价的重要因素。因此,应综合考虑战略联盟中所投入的不同种类资源及其所引发的风险大小以选择战略联盟的结构模式。     

面向中国管理实践的组织与人力资源管理:反思与探索——首届“中国人力资源管理论坛(2012)”观点评述

全球化和知识经济时代动荡复杂的环境,对中国企业的组织形态和人力资源管理模式形成了严峻挑战.同时,近年来主流西方管理理论在中国遭遇的“水土不服”,也需要中国管理学界在深刻反思的基础上积极探索中国式管理之路.基于对组织和人力资源管理领域回应现实课题和理论创新的双重要求,2012年5月26～27日在南开大学商学院召开的首届“中国人力资源管理论坛(2012):组织创新与人力资源管理变革”学术研讨会上,与会学者就中国人力资源管理的挑战和学科建设方向、人力资源管理研究的方法论、战略人力资源管理、组织行为与领导力、组织学习与变革等专题进行了深入研讨.鉴于此,在介绍诸多学术观点的基础上,对相关问题进行简要评述.     

Application of the multi-criteria analysis method Electre III for the optimisation of decentralised energy systems

The optimisation of decentralised energy systems has to integrate a series of factors, by implementing an approach based on interdisciplinary comprehension. There are technical, financial, environmental and social conditions that determine the selection and dimensioning of energy systems, particularly if these aim at covering the demand of remote regions by utilising renewable energy sources. Such a study requests the overall consideration of the local geological, morphological and climatic conditions, the capacities of the networks, and also the inclusion of the economic and social limitations, an approach that leads to a number of alternative solutions. The application of multi-criteria analysis can integrate the various aspects into a uniform evaluation procedure. This paper discusses the results of a study on determining the achievable penetration of renewable energy sources into an insular system for the purpose of electricity generation. The multi-criteria analysis method Electre III was implemented for this purpose. The research relies on data produced within the framework of the SEDEPIC project, financed by the ALTENER II/DG XVII programme.     

A path analytic study of the effect of top management support for information systems performance

Information systems (IS) have become a vital component of an organization's competitive practices. Organizations have tried to differentiate themselves based on their use and adaptation of new information technology. Top management support (TMS) is a significant factor in influencing the effectiveness of the IS function in an organization. The literature has conceptually supported this notion, but empirical evidence has been sparse. This paper develops a two-tiered framework for studying the relationship between top management support, the IS function, and IS performance. This conceptual model was empirically tested using structural equation modeling based on data collected through a survey instrument. The results support the direct and indirect relationships depicted in the model between top management support and IS performance.