The educational orientation of participants in postgraduate managerial study programmes in Poland

The health care industry in Taiwan has faced many challenges in recent years. To tackle those challenges, many hospitals in Taiwan began using management techniques used in other industries. As a result, quality management has become important within Taiwan's health care industry. This study provides a perspective on how this health care industry, by developing both quality control circle (QCC) practices and organizational learning techniques, responded to those challenges. In this study, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of studies published between 1995 and 2007 in Taiwan. The review focused on the quality management, QCC, organizational learning and health care organization aspects reported in previous studies. The authors applied the 4Is (intuiting, interpreting, integrating and institutionalizing) conceptual framework of Crossan et al. (1999 Crossan, M. M., Lane, H. W. and White, R. E. 1999. An organizational learning framework: From intuition to institution. Academy of Management Review, 24(3): 522–537. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) (Crossan, M.M., H.W. Lane, and R.E. White. 1999 Crossan, M. M., Lane, H. W. and White, R. E. 1999. An organizational learning framework: From intuition to institution. Academy of Management Review, 24(3): 522–537. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. An organizational learning framework: From intuition to institution. Academy of Management Review 24, no. 3: 522–37). in their discussion of the linkage between quality improvement activities and organizational learning. The results revealed the existence of a link between organizational learning and QCC activities. In addition, the reviewed QCC activities facilitated organizational learning and contributed to health care quality improvements in the studied hospitals. Finally, QCC practices in hospitals facilitated dissemination of organizational learning concepts in those hospitals.     

Two-stage time minimizing assignment problem

This paper deals with the optimal selection of m out of n facilities to first perform m   given primary jobs in Stage-I followed by the remaining (n-m)$(n-m)$ facilities performing optimally the (n-m)$(n-m)$ secondary jobs in Stage-II. It is assumed that in both the stages facilities perform in parallel. The aim of the proposed study is to find that set of m   facilities performing the primary jobs in Stage-I for which the sum of the overall completion times of jobs in Stage-I and the corresponding optimal completion time of the secondary jobs in Stage-II by the remaining (n-m)$(n-m)$ facilities is the minimum. The developed solution methodology involves solving the standard time minimizing and cost minimizing assignment problems alternately after forbidding some facility-job pairings and suggests a polynomially bound algorithm. This proposed algorithm has been implemented and tested on a variety of test problems and its performance is found to be quite satisfactory.     

An approximation algorithm for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-level capacitated facility location problem

We consider the k-level capacitated facility location problem (k-CFLP), which is a natural variant of the classical facility location problem and has applications in supply chain management. We obtain the first (combinatorial) approximation algorithm with a performance factor of \(k+2+\sqrt{k^{2}+2k+5}+\varepsilon\) (ε>0) for this problem.     

Relationships among JIT practices: an interpretive modeling approach

Abstract

This research develops a model of relationships among components of Total-JIT, including JIT-information, JIT-manufacturing, JIT-purchasing, and JIT-selling, to establish an implementation hierarchy based on relative importance. The data collected relates to the relationships among JIT components and two performance measures, supply chain competency and organizational performance. Two groups are used in the research, one group of five operations management academics and another group of 30 practicing operations managers working in U.S. manufacturing firms. An interpretive structural modelling methodology is used to develop alternative structural models. The academics’ data show JIT-information emerging as lynchpin of relationships, directly impacting all other JIT practices and both performance measures. The practitioners’ data indicates that all JIT practices and performance measures are interactive as components and outcomes. This study is the first to apply interpretive structural modelling to investigate the interplay among total-JIT components and the performance measures of supply chain competency and organizational performance.     

Reverse exchange of healthcare devices: the case of hearing aid equipment in the UK

Abstract

Reverse exchange (RE) in dealing with the return, recycle and reuse of products is receiving a growing focus. When properly handled, RE in healthcare can deliver an economic benefit of cost minimisation and has extensive positive impacts on both human health and the environment (Li and Olorunniwo 2008 Li, X., and F. Olorunniwo. 2008. “An Exploration of Reverse Logistics Practices in Three Companies.” Supply Chain Management: An International Journal 13 (5): 381–386. doi:10.1108/13598540810894979[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) but to date, RE research is mostly limited to pharmaceutical return. This paper investigates the potential for RE benefits in the UK National Health Service (NHS) supply chain for medical devices. Hearing aids supplied to adults with hearing loss are used as an illustrative example. This research applied a consensus approach through the use of dispersed nominal groups in order to obtain qualitative data on information, barriers, solutions and priorities to support findings. Findings illustrate that the end user behaviour of returning the device, and the requirement by NHS Procurement for manufacturers to meet RE targets are secondary to the importance of audiology departments who have the autonomy to design RE processes and successfully implement initiatives. A schematic highlighting the information and materials flow of the supply chain and the barriers and facilitators to RE is presented for hearing aid devices with potential for transferability to other small medical device supply chains.     

Precision parameter in the variable precision rough sets model: an application

Despite their diverse applications in many domains, the variable precision rough sets (VPRS) model lacks a feasible method to determine a precision parameter (β)$(\beta )$ value to control the choice of β$\beta$-reducts. In this study we propose an effective method to find the β$\beta$-reducts. First, we calculate a precision parameter value to find the subsets of information system that are based on the least upper bound of the data misclassification error. Next, we measure the quality of classification and remove redundant attributes from each subset. We use a simple example to explain this method and even a real-world example is analyzed. Comparing the implementation results from the proposed method with the neural network approach, our proposed method demonstrates a better performance.     

The Effect of Female Strategic Managers on Organizational Performance

Little empirical work explores the impact of female managers on organizational performance. This paper uses Miles and Snow’s management strategies to empirically determine if female and male managers use different strategies and what influence these strategies have on organizational performance. Using data and superintendent survey responses from Texas school districts from the years 2000 through 2005, differences between male and female managers are discovered. Female managers and the strategies they use have a positive influence on performance. These results are discussed in the context of the gender and management literature and in the general field of public management.

From social ties to embedded competencies: the case of business groups

Our current views of economic competition are still rooted in the imagery of the isolated firm that transacts with its buyers, suppliers, and competitors via largely anonymous factor and product markets. Yet this view is fundamentally at odds with the growing importance of business groups in the global economy. We thus need a reconceptualized version of our idea of economic competition, which is capable of explaining competitive advantage at the group-versus-group rather than firm-versus-firm level of analysis. In the present paper we build on insights derived from organizational sociology and organizational economics to develop a business group-level theory of competition and competitive advantage based on embedded competencies.

Supply chain relationship quality and its impact on firm performance

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of supply chain relationship quality (SCRQ) on firm performance (FP) through the mediators of supply chain management processes (SCMP) and supply chain performance (SCP). In the literature, these linkages have been examined separately; in contrast, this study takes a holistic perspective on the antecedents of FP. The model was tested using survey data from manufacturing companies. Variance-based structural equation modelling revealed that both SCMP and SCP lead to FP, unlike SCRQ. On the other hand, SCRQ affects SCMP. Drawing on the resource-based view, consistency in SCRQ can lead to not only efficient and effective supply chain management but also improvements in FP and SCP. This research has practical implications, providing supply chain decision makers with insights on enhancing FP. Supply chain decision makers will be able to benefit from the findings of our study by improving supply chain relationships with supply chain members and ensuring FP. This research also highlights how effective management of SCRQ, SCMP and SCP can provide better FP and a competitive advantage.     

Single cycle policies for the one-warehouse N-retailer inventory/distribution system

We address a multi-echelon inventory system with one-warehouse and N  -retailers. The demand at each retailer is assumed to be known and satisfied by the warehouse. Shortages are not allowed and lead times are negligible. Costs at each facility consist of a fixed charge per order and a holding cost. The goal is to determine single-cycle policies which minimize the average cost per unit time, that is, the sum of the average holding and setup costs per unit time at the retailers and at the warehouse. We propose a O(NlogN)$\mathrm{O}(N\log N)$ heuristic procedure to compute efficient single-cycle policies. This heuristic is compared with other approaches proposed by Schwarz, Graves and Schwarz and Muckstadt and Roundy. We carry out a computational study to test the effectiveness of the heuristic and to compare the performance of the different procedures. From the computational results, it is shown that the new heuristic provides, on average, better single-cycle policies than those given by the Muckstadt and Roundy method.     

Integrating performance and risk aspects of supply chain design processes

Abstract

Supply chain design is a complex and relatively poorly structured process, involving choosing many decisional parameters and it usually requires consideration of numerous sources of uncertainty. Many conventional processes of supply chain design involve taking a deterministic approach, using point estimates, on important measures of supply chain effectiveness such as cost, quality, delivery reliability and service levels. Supply chain disruptions are often separately considered as risks, both in the research literature and in practice, meaning that a purely traditional risk management and risk minimization approach is taken. We have developed and applied an approach that combines the intellect and experience of the supply chain designer with the power of evaluation provided by a Monte Carlo simulation model, which uses decision analysis techniques to explicitly incorporate the full spectrum of uncertain quantities across the set of alternative supply chain designs being considered. After defining and setting out the general decision variables and uncertainty factors for 16 distinct supply chain design decision categories, we then apply that approach to combine the decision-makers’ heuristics with the probabilistic modeling approach, iteratively, to achieve the best of both elements of such an approach. This novel approach to fully integrating performance and risk elements of supply chain designs is then illustrated with a case study. Finally, we call for further developmental research and field work to refine this approach.     

多级供应链系统成本分析随机网络模型及算法研究

供应链成本管理是企业战略管理的核心组成部分。为研究多级供应链网络系统的成本组成及其分布特征、分析各节点企业的成本管理对多级供应链网络系统的影响、找到供应链系统成本管理中的薄弱环节和关键企业,本文构建了多级供应链系统成本的随机网络分析模型。首先研究了模型的结构性质特征,给出成本分布特征的解析算法。然后扩展模型,分别从系统成本类型构成(生产成本、库存成本和物流成本)和系统对企业成本波动的灵敏度两个角度深入研究多级供应链网络成本问题。数值算例分析结果说明了多级供应链网络系统成本分析模型和相关算法的有效性和实用性。     

Total business strategy—the missing link

‘Total Business Strategy’ is the missing link between the aloof ‘Mission Statement’ and the particular ‘Functional Strategies’, that will make strategy formulation more implementation oriented. Total Business Strategy addresses five strategic questions:

• 1. 

  1.|What are our markets? What are the needs (existing or to be developed) of the markets and customers that our firm wants to satisfy?

• 2. 

  2.|What should be our ‘generic’ competitive advantage?

• 3. 

  3.|Are we going to be technology leaders or followers?

• 4. 

  4.|What is our attitute to risk? What risks, and to what extent are we willing to take?

• 5. 

  5.|What are our long range quantitative targets?

     

Policy Learning Mechanisms and the Regulation of US Drinking Water

Can regulatory agencies become learning organizations? The purpose of this article is to assert that they can when the right learning mechanisms are in place. This article utilizes the literatures on US regulatory politics, organizational learning, and policy learning to elaborate the concept of learning mechanisms and examine the circumstances under which they are most likely to be utilized within regulatory agencies. The second half of the article examines the utilization of learning mechanisms within US drinking water regulation during the years when the drinking water policy community was working to formulate and implement the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (1996–2015). The article concludes by summarizing the findings and offering some propositions for future research.