Maximizing Profits of Routing in WDM Networks

Let G = (V, E) be a ring (or chain) network representing an optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network with k channels, where each edge e_j has an integer capacity c_j. A request s_i,t_i is a pair of two nodes in G. Given m requests s_i,t_i, i = 1, 2, ..., m, each with a profit value p_i, we would like to design/route a k-colorable set of paths for some (may not be all) of the m requests such that each edge e_j in G is used at most c_j times and the total profit of the set of designed paths is maximized. Here two paths cannot have the same color (channel) if they share some common edge(s).This problem arises in optical communication networks. In this paper, we present a polynomial-time algorithm to solve the problem when G is a chain. When G is a ring, however, the optimization problem is NP-hard (Wan and Liu, 1998), we present a 2-approximation algorithm based on our solution to the chain network. Similarly, some results in a bidirected chain and a bidirected ring are obtained.     

Medical Practice under Managed Care: Cost-control Mechanisms and Impact on Quality of Service

The paper investigates the US experience of Managed Care. It describes the cost controlling measures and the new modes of payment that were implemented along with managed Care. Using theory and field surveys, it reviews how these measures have affected physician practices. The paper also investigates their impact on the quality of health services.     

Finding a Length-Constrained Maximum-Density Path in a Tree

Let T = (V,E,w) be an undirected and weighted tree with node set V and edge set E, where w(e) is an edge weight function for e E. The density of a path, say e₁, e₂,..., e_k, is defined as ^k_{i = 1} w(e_i)/k. The length of a path is the number of its edges. Given a tree with n edges and a lower bound L where 1 L n, this paper presents two efficient algorithms for finding a maximum-density path of length at least L in O(nL) time. One of them is further modified to solve some special cases such as full m-ary trees in O(n) time.     

A Framework for the Complexity of High-Multiplicity Scheduling Problems

The purpose of this note is to propose a complexity framework for the analysis of high multiplicity scheduling problems. Part of this framework relies on earlier work aiming at the definition of output-sensitive complexity measures for the analysis of algorithms which produce “large” outputs. However, different classes emerge according as we look at schedules as sets of starting times, or as related single-valued mappings.     

New Public Management,Service Provision and Non-Governmental Organizations in Bangladesh

New public management (NPM) is now a universal phenomenon dominating the reform agenda of all countries. Bangladesh is no exception. Following the dismal performance of the state-led development the old paradigm of public sector has come under scrutiny. There is now a call for a minimal government. The scale of operations and the role of the government have to be drastically reduced to focus on core functions. In doing so, this will pave the way for the private sector and the civil society organizations to undertake developmental responsibilities in their areas of expertise. This article is an attempt to analyze the significant role played by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in rural development service provisions. It argues that the government has to share the developmental responsibilities with NGOs, which have proved their potential in reaching the target population and that an effective partnership is a sine qua non for the meaningful rural development in Bangladesh.     

Beyond trust: towards a practice-based understanding of governing ‘network organizations’

In recent past the concept of the ‘network’ or ‘network organization’ has emerged as one of the most prominent concepts for thinking, understanding and conceptualizing the coordination of ‘productive activities’. In the literature on network organizations, ‘trust’ is commonly understood to be the main coordinating mechanism of this organizational form. Highlighting the problematics involved in this prime focus on trust, this study combines practice-based theory (Schatzki in Social practices: a Wittgensteinian approach to human activity and the social, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008) and a Foucauldian understanding of governing to contribute to a more differentiated understanding of the coordination of everyday activities in network organizations. By focusing on how the ‘network organization’ and its subjects are ‘produced’ in power-infused practices, this study provides insights into the complexity of mechanisms involved in such organizations. Empirically this is illustrated at the example of a consulting company which describes itself—internally and externally—as ‘network organization’. Based on an ethnographic participant observation and in-depth semi-structured interviews, the analysis of the case questions the centrality of trust as coordinating mechanism and provides deep insights into the constitution of this specific ‘network organization’.     

The impact of family owners’ monitoring on CEO turnover decisions and the role of trust

Even though there is clear evidence that large shareholders play an effective monitoring role over poorly-performing CEOs, the monitoring of family owners is yet quite unexplored. This study investigates the impact of family ownership on the CEO turnover-performance sensitivity, examining two potential factors that can affect the ability of the family owners in ensuring a prompt replacement of an underperforming CEO. First, we examine whether the monitoring of family owners is weakened by the existence of family ties with CEO. Second, we investigate whether the monitoring of family owners over professional CEOs is affected by the cultural propensity to trust or distrust a stranger. Our findings show that family owners are able to ensure a prompt replacement of an underperforming CEO only when the CEO is not a family member but rather an outside professional. Moreover, we find that the effectiveness of the family’s monitoring over professional CEO is weaker in environments characterized by the cultural propensity to distrust a stranger, rather than in contexts characterized by the cultural feeling to trust an outsider.     

Quality splitting in waste incineration due to non-convex production possibilities

Using a real case study of waste incineration, we show a new form of non-convexity in the transformation process of the inputs into the outputs. Its consequence is quality splitting, i.e. the separate use of different input qualities, yielding a better result than a homogeneous mix. For waste incineration plants (WIP), this leads to surprising practical implications for strategies of waste collection and supply, as well as for the control of a WIP. The insights are based on the evaluation of a basic model of waste incineration developed for the case study. Thus, the paper also contributes to production research by modelling waste incineration as a central process for the “reduction” of waste from manufacturing and consumption.     

Maternity Management in SMEs: A Transdisciplinary Review and Research Agenda

This paper provides a transdisciplinary critical review of the literature on maternity management in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), embedded within the wider literatures on maternity in the workplace. The key objectives are to describe what is known about the relations that shape maternity management in smaller workplaces and to identify research directions to enhance this knowledge. The review is guided by theory of organizational gendering and small business management, conceptualizing adaptions to maternity as a process of mutual adjustment and dynamic capability within smaller firms’ informally negotiated order, resource endowments and wider labour and product/service markets. A context‐sensitive lens is also applied. The review highlights the complex range of processes involved in SME maternity management and identifies major research gaps in relation to pregnancy, maternity leave and the return to work (family‐friendly working and breastfeeding) in these contexts. This blind spot is surprising, as SMEs employ the majority of women worldwide. A detailed agenda for future research is outlined, building on the gaps identified by the review and founded on renewed theoretical direction.     

Corporate governance and social norms during financial crisis: evidence from France and Saudi Arabia

The resistance to financial crisis and compliance with social norms and effectiveness of corporate governance mechanisms is considered recently as a good matter of concern. Focusing on differences between French and Saudi firms, we examine the effect of (1) board of directors, (2) audit committee, (3) compliance with Corporate Social Responsibility activities, (4) compliance with Shariah principles on financial volatility during subprime crisis of 2007. We find that larger boards, larger audit committees, independent members on boards and audit committees are related negatively to financial volatility. The result supports corporate governance theory which suggests that corporate governance variables outlined provide effective of monitoring of the management thereby enhancing firm’s resistance to financial crisis. In addition, we find that compliance with CSR alone does not explain the financial volatility. Its concert with corporate governance variables is necessary. This result supports stakeholder theory which argues that companies compliant with CSR activities in their business strategy and have larger boards and audit committees, and independent directors on boards and audit committees resist more financial downturns and any economic shock. Furthermore, we find that compliance with Shariah norms plays a significant role in protecting shareholder interests, improving functioning of corporate governance mechanisms and affect positively the resistance of Saudi firms to financial crisis.