Business Case For Investment Research Articles

It's Time! The Path for Nursing Reimbursement Reform.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and nurse leaders are increasingly vocal about chronic understaffing and the impact the staffing crisis continues to have on nurses' well-being and patient outcomes. The American Nurses Association's Nurse Staffing Task Force addressed the importance of staffing standards as a critically needed step toward improving patient and population health outcomes. Against the backdrop of ongoing nursing shortages, hospital leaders have been hesitant to embrace staffing ratios, expressing concerns about their ability to hire and retain sufficient nursing staff, as operational revenue margins remain thin and nursing labor is costly. This article explicates structural issues within the current nursing reimbursement model that harms hospitals' business case for investments in nurse staffing and work environments. We argue that nurses must advocate for nursing reimbursement reform to increase the nursing workforce and improve nurse staffing and work environments. Such reform is necessary to support sustained hospital investments, financial philosophies, and approaches to meaningfully address and improve nurse staffing.

OGC P29 Cost of complications after Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer surgery: the case for pre-habilitation illustrated

Abstract Background Upper Gastro Intestinal (UGI) cancer surgery carries considerable risk and cost in terms of human and financial resource. Reported complication rates after oesophagectomy and gastrectomy are 65% and 42% respectively and can range from relatively minor morbidity to major life-threatening events, all with the potential to increase Length of Stay (LoS) and cost which can be graded by the Clavien-Dindo (CD) system. This study aimed to study the impact of complications on LoS and quantify the associated economic costs. Methods Consecutive 754 patients with UGI cancer (420 oesophageal, 334 gastric), undergoing potentially curative treatment (median age 67 yr., 590 m, 164 f, 684 Adeno Ca, 36 SCC, 205 Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy, 146 Trans Hiatal oesophagectomy, 142 total gastrectomy, 134 subtotal gastrectomy, 97 open and close, 11 Three-stage oesophagectomy, 10 salvage resections, 8 oesophagogastrectomy) were studied. The cost of each night’s stay was limited to direct costs, including ward and medical staff expenditure. Results Median LoS was 13 (IQR-7) days. The number of patients related to CD score were; Zero-326, I-41, II-224, IIIa-44, IIIb-28, IVa-36, IVb-4 and V-16, with median LoS of 11, 14, 14, 23, 25, 32, 44 and 9 days respectively. The added LoS for each complication cohort was 3 days for CD I and II, then 12, 14, 21, and 33 days for CD IIIa, IIIb, IVa and IVb respectively. Average added cost for each grade of complication per patient was £844.44 for CD I and II, £3,377.76 for IIIa, £8,519.40 for IIIb, £14,927.70 for IVa and £36,047.85 for IVb. Conclusions Overall hospital and CC LoS increased related to complication grade, other than CD V, with an average ward cost per additional day of £281.48 and CC cost of £1426.15. Average cost of an uncomplicated oesophagectomy or gastrectomy was estimated to be £16,544. As well as the adverse impact on patients’ recovery and well-being, complications have a large fiscal impact on healthcare systems and in many cases can dwarf the first treatment cost. These findings illustrate a strong clinical and business case for investment in effective strategies to boost complication free surgery including pre-habilitation.

The Business Case for Investment in Forensic Science Enabled Public Safety

The Business Case for Investment in Forensic Science Enabled Public Safety

A Primer on Global Environmental Change

This paper sets out the science behind global environmental change, defined by the US Global Change Research Act as ‘changes in the global environment (including alterations in climate, land productivity, oceans or other water resources, atmospheric chemistry, and ecological systems) that may alter the capacity of the Earth to sustain life’. We explain why there is still scepticism about the science in the business world and introduce eight gestalt shifts that are likely to change how executives think about environmental change and the threats and opportunities such changes present. The paper concludes with future research directions on business and global environmental change and outlines how the business case for investment in clean technology means that the transition to clean tech is inevitable.

Leading change towards sustainable green coal mining

Subject area The dilemma falls within the Change Management, Leadership, Organizational Development subject areas. In addition, the case highlights typical issues in “green” or sustainable supply chain, corporate social responsibility and sustainability courses. Study level/applicability The target audience is includes post-graduate diploma-level or master’s level students, such as in Masters in Business Administration. Case overview The case focuses on the dilemma that Phiwokuhle Mhlangu in Mpumalanga, South Africa, faced when his company’s board had not signed off on capital expenditure to improve his colliery’s clean coal technology initiatives. He had to influence his colleagues’ mindsets to adapt to changes in the environment. The case highlights the global coal landscape and South African mining industry’s challenges in terms of infrastructure and strained labour relations, as well as the focus of the South African Government to enhance alternative energy resources. Although a clear business case for investment in clean coal technologies was evident, Mhlangu could still not persuade his colleagues to support these initiatives. A different approach was required […] Expected learning outcomes The learning objectives in this case are: gaining insight into the dilemmas of sustainability in coal mining by exploring various interest groups in difficult sustainability situations and enhancing understanding of getting a buy-in from various stakeholders when leading change in the coal-mining sector. Supplementary materials A teaching plan and particular teaching methodologies is included. The two learning outcomes are posed as questions for groups to discuss and model answers are provided and to relevant literature. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science

AusAgLCI – the business case for investment in a national life cycle inventory for horticulture

AusAgLCI – the business case for investment in a national life cycle inventory for horticulture

Measuring the impact of records management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a source of reliable, empirical data regarding the return on investment (ROI) that can be achieved by an organization through various approaches to improving the management of records. It is hoped that these data will help address the current dearth in such evidence in relation to records management and provide a source of citable reference data as part of the business case for investment in records management elsewhere. The paper also aims to explore some of the issues and challenges surrounding the measurement, analysis and interpretation of performance data in relation to records management.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on the collected outputs of six UK higher education institutions, each of which were funded to pilot the JISC infoNet Impact Calculator. All six of these projects used the same transparent tool (the Impact Calculator) as the basis for their data collection and analysis, but each chose to apply it to different records management projects and organizational contexts. This paper assesses the key findings from each pilot project in turn, whilst also considering the more general issues and challenges regarding the measurement of impact with regards to records management that has emerged through the collective experience of these projects.FindingsThis paper provides demonstrable proof that investment in improvements to records management can realise significant and sustained financial ROI. It also uncovers some interesting variations in this overall picture, making it possible to start to identify which aspect of records management is likely to yield the greatest ROI and at what scale it needs to operate before this can be realised.Originality/valueA previous extensive literature review undertaken by the author indicates that no other such source of empirical data currently exists in an openly accessible published form. It is hoped that doing so in a respected, peer‐reviewed journal such as the RMJ will provide a valuable service to records professionals by not only providing such data, but also a full account of the context and methodology used to generate it.

Valuing flexible operation of power plants with CO2 capture

Abstract The business case for investment in power plants with CO 2 capture is greatly improved if they are able to accommodate uncertainty in future market conditions and variations in local operating requirements.. This paper will outline a range of operating modes that could be important in determining the value of power plants with CO 2 capture from various stakeholder perspectives. Different quantitative techniques that could provide useful insights into plant value with flexible operation are discussed and some preliminary baseline results from a deterministic simulation are reported.

Building capacity for the children's workforce: findings from the knowledge review of the higher education response

AbstractIn the UK, there is rapid and far‐reaching policy change designed to provide integrated services to children, young people and their families, linking education, social care, health, youth and community, criminal justice and other professions. Higher education institutions must play a significant role in this process given the large proportion of its graduates who will join the Children's Workforce. In 2007, a University of Sussex team was commissioned by the Higher Education Academy Subject Centres for Social Policy and Social Work; Education; Health Sciences and Practice; Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science; and Psychology, in collaboration with the Children's Workforce Development Council and the Children's Workforce Network to undertake a Knowledge Review of integrated children's services in higher education. In this paper, the authors explore the policy context for integrated children's services and its interaction with the educational and workforce agenda. They set out the process of the Knowledge Review and examine its findings thematically, drawing on activity theory. They suggest that to advance the integrated children's services agenda in higher education, four crucial issues need to be addressed: stakeholders need to provide a clear‐cut business case for investment; universities and regulators must address disciplinary and associated cultural barriers to change at all levels; funders must invest in supporting pilot initiatives and their evaluation; and finally, academics need to find ways to engage and sustain children, young people and their families in the development process.

Understanding investment drivers for UK sustainable property

What progress has occurred in terms of developing the culture of sustainability in which UK property investors, occupiers, and developers are both informed and accepting of the sustainability principles? Although the rise in concern for ‘triple bottom line’ sustainability is now embedded in many government and corporate policies, it is still not integrated into UK property investment practice. Whilst the last decade has seen progress towards ‘green buildings’, there has not yet been a ‘sea change’ in market behaviour. In developing this premise, it draws on the third of three surveys undertaken by the authors spanning a decade and tracking investor attitudes towards ‘green’ and sustainable buildings. Stakeholders' attitudes towards a potential range of fiscal measures that might incentivize market movement towards the adaptation of more sustainable behaviour. The business case for investment in sustainable property currently rests on risk reduction, not proven return advantage. There is support among respondents for a range of fiscal incentives. Although challenges to implementation undoubtedly exist, they are, in the authors' view, worthy of further research and investigation. There is potential to stimulate, via the fiscal system, measures to reward sustainable practices in property investment and management which can be facilitated through a more open dialogue with government bodies. Quels ont été les progrès en termes de développement de la culture de la durabilité pour lesquels les investisseurs immobiliers, les occupants et les promoteurs au Royaume-Uni qui, à la fois, sont informés et acceptent les principes de durabilité? Bien que la préoccupation croissante vis-à-vis de la durabilité ‘triple résultat’ soit maintenant ancrée dans la politique de nombreux gouvernements et entreprises, elle n'est pas encore intégrée en pratique dans les investissements immobiliers au Royaume-Uni. Bien que la dernière décennie ait été le témoin d'un progrès vers les bâtiments écologiques, on n'a pas constaté de mouvements brusques dans le comportement du marché. En développant ces prémices, l'article s'appuie sur la troisième des trois études entreprises par les auteurs au cours d'une dizaine d'années afin d'analyser l'attitude des investisseurs en matière de bâtiments écologiques et durables. Les parties prenantes se tournent vers une palette de mesures fiscales possibles qui pourraient induire des mouvements du marché vers l'adaptation d'un comportement plus durable. Le dossier d'analyse portant sur les investissements dans des biens durables repose actuellement sur la réduction des risques et non sur les avantages de retour prouvés. On constate un certain soutien parmi les personnes interrogées en faveur d'une gamme d'incitations fiscales. Bien que leur mise en œuvre présente indéniablement des difficultés, elles méritent, selon les auteurs, d'autres recherches et enquêtes. Il existe un potentiel pour stimuler, via le système fiscal, des mesures visant à récompenser les pratiques durables dans les investissements immobiliers et dans leur gestion qui peuvent être facilitées par un dialogue plus ouvert avec les organismes gouvernementaux. Mots clés: incitations financières, marchés de l'immobilier, durabilité, biens durables, Royaume-Uni

Agile manufacturing systems in the automotive industry

In the automotive industry, it is thought that agile manufacturing systems will permit fast cost-effective responses to unpredictable and ever-changing product demand, and support rapid product launches for previously unplanned products tailored to meet changing customer desires. We discuss two simple decision models that provide initial insights and industry perspective into the business case for investment in agile manufacturing systems. The models are applied to study the hypothetical decision of whether to invest in a dedicated, agile, or flexible manufacturing system for engine and transmission parts machining. These decision models are a first step toward developing practical business case tools that help industry to assess the value of agile manufacturing systems.