Is it worth it? Linking perceived high-performance work systems and emotional exhaustion: The mediating role of job demands and job resources

The present study utilizes the job demands–resources model and examines the effects of employees’ perceptions of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on emotional exhaustion. For the needs of this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used on a sample of 343 frontline employees in a Greek manufacturing company. The findings do not support the critical arguments regarding HPWS, which suggest that these systems lead to work intensification and emotional exhaustion through increased job demands. In contrast, HPWS was positively related to job resources, although no support was found for a direct and negative relationship with emotional exhaustion. Last but not least, this study calculates HPWS as both a system and bundles of practices and provides useful insights regarding the differences between the two different measurement methods. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are drawn for improving our understanding of how HPWS influences job demands and resources and employees’ emotional exhaustion.     

Evaluation of the Food and Agriculture Sector Criticality Assessment Tool (FASCAT) and the Collected Data

To protect and secure food resources for the United States, it is crucial to have a method to compare food systems’ criticality. In 2007, the U.S. government funded development of the Food and Agriculture Sector Criticality Assessment Tool (FASCAT) to determine which food and agriculture systems were most critical to the nation. FASCAT was developed in a collaborative process involving government officials and food industry subject matter experts (SMEs). After development, data were collected using FASCAT to quantify threats, vulnerabilities, consequences, and the impacts on the United States from failure of evaluated food and agriculture systems. To examine FASCAT's utility, linear regression models were used to determine: (1) which groups of questions posed in FASCAT were better predictors of cumulative criticality scores; (2) whether the items included in FASCAT's criticality method or the smaller subset of FASCAT items included in DHS's risk analysis method predicted similar criticality scores. Akaike's information criterion was used to determine which regression models best described criticality, and a mixed linear model was used to shrink estimates of criticality for individual food and agriculture systems. The results indicated that: (1) some of the questions used in FASCAT strongly predicted food or agriculture system criticality; (2) the FASCAT criticality formula was a stronger predictor of criticality compared to the DHS risk formula; (3) the cumulative criticality formula predicted criticality more strongly than weighted criticality formula; and (4) the mixed linear regression model did not change the rank‐order of food and agriculture system criticality to a large degree.     

Dynamic Risk Management Systems: Hybrid Architecture and Offshore Platform Illustration

This paper describes and illustrates the architecture of computer-based Dynamic Risk Management Systems (DRMS) designed to assist real-time risk management decisions for complex physical systems, for example, engineered systems such as offshore platforms or medical systems such as patient treatment in Intensive Care Units. A key characteristic of the DRMSs that we describe is that they are hybrid, combining the powers of Probabilistic Risk Analysis methods and heuristic Artificial Intelligence techniques. A control module determines whether the situation corresponds to a specific rule or regulation, and is clear enough or urgent enough for an expert system to make an immediate recommendation without further analysis of the risks involved. Alternatively, if time permits and if the uncertainties justify it, a risk and decision analysis module formulates and evaluates options, including that of gathering further information. This feature is particularly critical since, most of the time, the physical system is only partially observable, i.e., the signals observed may not permit unambiguous characterization of its state. The DRMS structure is also dynamic in that, for a given time window (e.g., 1 day or 1 hour), it anticipates the physical system's state (and, when appropriate, performs a risk analysis) accounting for its evolution, its mode of operations, the predicted external loads and problems, and the possible changes in the set of available options. Therefore, we specifically address the issue of dynamic information gathering for decision-making purposes. The concepts are illustrated focusing on the risk and decision analysis modules for a particular case of real-time risk management on board offshore oil platforms, namely of two types of gas compressor leaks, one progressive and one catastrophic. We describe briefly the DRMS proof-of-concept produced at Stanford, and the prototype (ARMS) that is being constructed by Bureau Veritas (Paris) based on these concepts.     

An exploratory study of the influence of the IS function and organizational context on business process reengineering project initiatives

To help evaluate the risk of process reengineering failure and enhance the prospect of its success, three potential sources of influence on BPR initiatives and success are examined in this study. These include the innovative capacity of the organization, IS maturity and strategy-IS interface. It was found that while factors related to IT maturity and influence such as experience in mainframe and client/server computing may facilitate the decision to reengineer, they are not critical in the later stages of the initiative. On the other hand, factors having significant relationships beyond the initial decision include variables pertaining to innovative capacity of the organization and strategy-IS interface. These findings suggest that technical IT competence as a critical enabler is necessary but not sufficient for reengineering success. Based on study findings regarding the innovative capacity of the organization, guidelines for reengineering risk assessment are proposed. In addition, implications of the findings, limitations of the study and opportunities for further research are also discussed.     

Bridging the Gaps between Impact Assessments and Resettlement Planning: A Case Study of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project,Bangladesh

The traditional methodologies including spatial decision support systems have at times showed their ineffectiveness in terms of gathering, analyzing and incorporating diversified views of affected persons into resettlement planning. This ineffectiveness is in dealing with unstructured problems and uncertainty in analyzing alternative strategies. This paper therefore proposes an integrated methodology (combination of argumentative mapping and qualitative probabilistic networks) to counter these limitations. The new methodology was introduced in a large-scale infrastructure project to verify its applicability. Results derived from the study not only provide better insights into resettlement-related problems, but also indicate critical management options for desired objectives.     

Identifying design criteria for urban system ‘last-mile’ solutions – a multi-stakeholder perspective

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to design and evaluate ‘last-mile’ solutions – encompassing the social and economic perspectives of key stakeholders. While urban system initiatives have been implemented in practice, theoretical gaps remain at the operational design level. A theoretical framework is developed, based on design criteria identified from a critical synthesis of supply chain and operations management literature, and ‘operationalised’ using an in-depth case study demonstrating implementation of a Consumer Choice Portal-Package Consolidation Centre solution, within a densely populated urban geography. Findings suggest that there is a need to re-define the role of institutional actors beyond that of the traditional governance task, to one of being able to facilitate performance outcomes. Similarly, industrial efficiency dimensions need to be reorientated to include consumer participation, social considerations and multi-stakeholder service outcomes. Finally, implications for operations theory and practising managers in city logistics are highlighted, with suggested directions for future research.     

谈谈对几个理论问题的理解

我们要科学理解党的百年奋斗历史主题与社会主义现代化问题。中国式现代化,不是一般的现代化,而是中国特色社会主义的现代化,是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化。三项基本经济制度从其三个领域来说是并列的,但就其关系来说又不是等同的。其中,生产资料所有制是生产关系的核心,决定了我国社会发展的方向和性质。人类命运共同体是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、实现中华民族伟大复兴的基本方略,是我国外交政策的总目标,是建设新型国际关系的新思路,要从时代之问出发准确阐述人类命运共同体。中国共产党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质特征,如果没有以马克思主义为指导的共产党的领导,我国社会主义的其他领域的本质特征,如以公有制为主体、以马克思主义为指导的根本制度、人民民主专政的政治制度等,都将不复存在。     

论城市化进程与农民工问题的制度变革

加快城市化进程与解决农民工问题紧密联系,相辅相成。加快城市化进程的关键在于农民工的市民化。故要加快城市化进程与解决农民工问题,必须对现行土地制度、户籍制度、住房制度和社会公共服务制度进行综合变革。     

信用问题的制度基础分析

信用制度是指信用规范与规则的制度化,它是由社会认可的非正式约束、国家规定的正式约束和实施机制所构成的。尽管从各国的信用制度实践情况来看,诱致性制度变迁和强制性制度变迁似乎各有轨迹,但总体上,信用制度都遵循共同的变迁轨迹,只不过由于各国历史和经济基础的不同,在每个国家的不同历史阶段发展状况也就有所侧重。信用制度也有其供给和需求,并且在社会领域中也发挥着重要的作用,对其研究不仅在理论上极其必要,在我国实践领域也具有极强的现实意义。     

Danger control and fear control during public health emergencies: Considering the roles of fear and hope in the EPPM across different levels of trust

Public health emergencies pose considerable threats to global health and safety. The control of these emergencies requires the efforts of healthcare professionals and calls for the public to take protective actions. The present study not only puts fear back in the extended parallel process model (EPPM) but also considers another similarly productive emotion: hope. We examined the mechanisms behind the effects of four cognitive perceptions on protective actions (i.e., danger control) and information avoidance (i.e., fear control). A national online survey was conducted with 1676 participants during the outbreak of COVID-19 in China from February 1 to 29, 2020. The results revealed that perceived severity and susceptibility could lead to fear, positively affecting protective actions. On the other hand, perceived response efficacy and self-efficacy induced hope, which was positively associated with protective actions but negatively associated with information avoidance. Furthermore, the mechanisms behind the relationships among cognitions, emotions, and behaviors varied across levels of trust in healthcare systems.