Business Results Research Articles

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGY DIFFUSION ON ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PROJECT-BASED ORGANISATIONS: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING APPROACH

This study investigating the utilization of top-down and bottom-up techniques in spreading an organisation’s strategy and getting back the performance. Additionally, project-based organizations may not have yet examined the use of one of the diffusion theories (such as Rogers' Theory of Innovation Diffusion) in contexts related to strategy or projects. Therefore, it was important and essential within project-based organizations to comprehend and use a strategy diffusion (top-down) and report its performance (bottom-up); to fulfil the entire drive of the strategy and increase the competitive advantage of firms. This study included a thorough examination of strategic management, diffusion theory, and project management facets. The strategy spreading techniques were based on Rogers' five well-known skills of diffusion theory; to diffuse the strategy (top-down) and reveal performance results (bottom-up) to feed each level of the project-based organization hierarchy structure, taking advantage of the interactions that exist among the strategy, the portfolio, and the project management facets. Additionally, since it is well known that organizational culture has a significant impact on business outcomes, mediation effects for the organizational culture related to the four organizational levels were considered throughout the relationship's examination between all the research variables. The research framework was therefore adopted and created. A questionnaire was designed and administered to strategy, portfolio, program and project professionals and data was analysed by using structural equation modelling (SEM) to assess the strength of the relationship between the strategy diffusion (top-down) variables, performance feedback (bottom-up) variables at all project-based organizational levels and the organizational performance variables, as well as, considering the mediation effects of the organizational culture. In addition, the direct and indirect causal influence of strategy diffusion influencing factors at all the levels of strategy, portfolio, program, and project and the organizational performance were evaluated. The findings indicate that strategy diffusion has a strong impact on organizational performance within project-based organisations. Whereas significant positive influences on the relationships were found between the research variables. In recent years, many studies have examined topics about relationships amongst strategy management, portfolio management, program management, and project management. However, those studies investigating the traditional one-way cascading of the organizational strategy. Furthermore, a few studies have been conducted to investigate the usage of top-down and bottom-up strategies to propagate an organization's strategy and improve performance. Furthermore, in project-based organizations, the prospect of applying one of the diffusion theories (e.g., Rogers' Theory of Innovation Diffusion) inside strategy or project contexts has not yet been investigated. As a result, this study added value in terms of the application of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to comprehend and apply strategy dissemination (top-down) and report its performance (bottom-up) within project-based organizations.

Opinion pieces: On data and models: Is more always better?

With regards to data and model sophistication, the new mantra for financial services and FinTech seems to be ‘the more the better’, supported by attractive business cases in risk underwriting, fraud detection, customer lifetime value management, conditional investment risk/return optimisation and improving customer journeys, to name a few. However, more data and more sophisticated models are not always a universal panacea and may lead to bad business outcomes if not managed appropriately in the context of the desired business outcome. This paper summarises the evolving business cases for increasing data and models in the risk management domain and their associated risks. Making the associated risks transparent naturally leads to the conclusion that a timeless risk mitigation approach — common sense — is critically necessary to complement the more structured model risk management (MRM) framework that is evolving.

Does chief executive compensation predict financial performance or inaccurate financial reporting in listed companies: A systematic review.

Financial incentives for chief executive officers (CEOs) are thought to motivate them to lead their company toward achieving important business objectives. Based on the Rousseau et al. (2019) protocol, this systematic review assesses the predictive effects of CEO incentives on certain business outcomes. This review addresses whether CEO financial incentives predict: (1) firm financial performance and (2) financial restatement due to misreporting. We searched nine research databases for published peer-reviewed literature (to July 23-26, 2021 and an attenuated search from those dates to July 27-31, 2023) and thirteen professional association websites for non-published gray literature (to August 2021). We also hand-searched selected relevant journals. We reviewed peer-reviewed and unpublished studies available in English since 1980. Eligible studies regarding our first question assessed CEO financial incentives (1) 1 year or more before the measurement of outcomes, (2) controlled for pre-incentive firm performance or market conditions, and (3) analyzed CEO financial incentives as predictors of firm outcomes. Eligible studies regarding our second question assessed whether financial restatement had occurred and analyzed effects of CEO incentives on this outcome. We extracted standardized regression coefficients for each effect or converted unstandardized regressions to standardized. Analyses were conducted using STATA. All studies were assessed to have moderate risk of bias. For our first question, 20 studies (15,398 firms) met our criteria for meta-analysis of effects. Bonuses, the most commonly studied incentive, had a small positive effect on next year's accounting performance metric Return on Assets (ROA, 0.046 [k = 7, 95% confidence interval(CI) = 0.014, 0.078]). The bonus effect in the market-related metric of Stock Returns (-0.026 [k = 5, 95% CI = -0.119, 0.067]) fell within a CI including 0, as did its effect on another market-related metric, Market-to-Book value (Tobin's Q, 0.028 [k = 3, 95% CI = -0.024, 0.08]). We conclude that Bonuses show no predictive effect on the following year's market-related metrics but do affect ROA. Stock Options had no effect on next year's ROA (0.027 [k = 5, 0.95% CI = 0.000, 0.052]), nor on Market-to-Book Value (Tobin's Q, 0.097 [k = 5, 95% CI = -0.027, 0.220]) or Stock Return (0.042 [k = 6, -0.033, 0.117]), indicating no predictive effect for Stock Options on either accounting or market-related performance. We sought but found too few studies to report on effects of incentives on other financial outcomes or for lags greater than 1 year. For our second question, three studies (n = 2044 firms) met our criteria. The overall effect size for CEO Incentives on Restatement (-0.09 [k = 3, 95% CI = -0.363, 0.184) fell within a CI including zero. We conclude that current evidence does not support a direct relationship between CEO financial incentives and Restatement. This review affirms a small effect of CEO Bonuses, but no effect of Stock Options, on the accounting performance metric ROA. In contrast, neither Bonuses nor Stock Options predict a firm's market-related metrics. CEO incentives also are unrelated to Financial Restatement. Despite widespread use of CEO financial incentives, lack of evidence supporting their use, beyond the bonus-ROA effect we identify, suggests caution regarding current CEO financial incentive practice and greater consideration of alternative arrangements to enhance firm performance.

Ideating a framework for sustainable livelihood of handicraft producers at the bottom of the pyramid: a mix-method study from India

PurposeThe handicraft sector is unorganized with huge potential for the economic upliftment of the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) craft producers. To ensure the sustainable livelihood of the artisans living in BOP, it is essential to identify the hurdles being faced by them so that they can be worked upon. This paper aims to look at the existing handicraft value chain in an integrated way to identify these hurdles and suggest probable solutions to mitigate them.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage study involving quantitative and qualitative approaches is used. Empirical observations from 218 artisans were analyzed using the relative to an identified distribution to rank the different variables affecting the functioning of the handicraft value chain. Next, 17 handicraft entrepreneurs were interviewed to identify solutions for the hurdles.FindingsA two-stage study examining the perspectives of artisans and handicraft entrepreneurs identified five significant challenges affecting the handicraft sector and viable solutions to address them. While presenting an operational model, a comprehensive picture of the handicraft business ecosystem was studied, from the procurement of raw materials to the marketing and sale of finished products. This can assist handicraft producers in sustaining their livelihoods and expanding the industry.Originality/valueStudies on the handicraft value chain at BOP are rare, and none have tried to look at the sector holistically to find solutions and propose an operational framework. The study has captured the voices of the artisans and handicraft entrepreneurs and, through a mixed-method approach, identified the main pain points of the BOP artisans to arrive at a workable solution for better business outcomes.

Customer journey optimisation using large language models: Best practices and pitfalls in generative AI

Today's business environment is moving faster than ever, and the expressive and adaptive capabilities of generative AI (GenAI) and large language models (LLMs) are redefining the enterprise rails of tomorrow. Given the abundance of industry hype, investor expectations and leadership pressure, the initial impulse is to ‘get in the game’. But how does one implement initiatives that drive business outcomes within ethical parameters while avoiding technical pitfalls? Marketers need practical guidance to navigate through these changes. In this paper, the authors examine multiple considerations for deployment of GenAI in marketing and customer experience. How does the marketer decide on which initiatives and opportunities to begin with? Which use cases will drive value as the organisation adapts to deploying these new capabilities? Once a marketer has identified the opportunities to capitalise on through GenAI, how is the capability deployed? There are a variety of approaches that can be considered given the level of organisational capability with AI and resource levels to be applied. As with any cutting-edge capability, there are potential missteps that must be avoided to ensure success. This paper provides some insight based on practical experiences to date that cover ethical, technical and process concerns. The paper presents thoughtful approaches to the deployment of LLMs and GenAI that can result in concrete ROI and reduced risk even in this early stage of adoption. With this information, marketers can be prepared to confidently begin their journey using GenAI to transform their customer experience and drive enterprise value for their organisations.

Make Microfinance Great Again: Can Flexibility in Repayments Improve Business Outcomes in North India?

Classic microfinance loan contracts characterised by rigid weekly repayment schedules used by most microfinance institutions (MFIs) offer little flexibility—and little benefit—to borrowers who are poor and have seasonal income. Previous research has also shown that such contracts can negatively affect the economic well-being of poor borrowers leading to underinvestment of capital, selling of productive assets, over-indebtedness through cross-financing from informal sources, reductions in consumption and income, and in some cases, a deterioration in borrowersʼ mental health arising from stress and worry. If lenders offered more flexibility in loan repayment schedules, would it help to overcome some of these problems? To explore this, we tested whether clientsʼ business outcomes were sensitive to various repayment schedules using primary data collected from the clients of three MFIs, a cooperative society and a few local traders specialising in business lending in a village in North India. We analysed alternatives to the rigid contract model, focussing on the degree of flexibility and the length of gap between repayments in the loan schedule. This study finds that clients repaying their loans monthly invested more in their businesses and earned higher income, compared both to those who repaid weekly and to those with an irregular payment schedule. JEL Codes: G12, D12, O16, O12

The Greenhouse Model of Nursing Home Care: A Scoping Review.

The study aimed to comprehensively review and assess evidence-based outcomes of the Greenhouse model. We systematically reviewed, assessed, and reported on relevant literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines for the scoping review. We identified qualitative or quantitative studies that met our inclusion criteria from PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, and EBSCOhost. The review yielded 41,515 articles published between January 2015 and December 2022; eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The emerging themes were organizational culture, clinical outcomes, and business effects. The Greenhouse model offers a favorable organizational culture with opportunities to enhance clinical and business outcomes. The scoping review was registered in Prospero: CRD42023389048.

Which workplace health initiatives work, for whom, in what contexts, and how? A rapid realist review

BackgroundThe work environment is an important determinant of health and health inequalities. Workplaces have a key role in preventing ill health. The WHO and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities encourage implementing employer-led workplace health award schemes tailored to specific contexts. Therefore, when designing and developing workplace initiatives it becomes imperative to know what works, for whom, and in what circumstances. This research aims to facilitate understanding of the various contexts and mechanisms through which workplace health initiatives are implemented while considering how these might affect employee health outcomes. MethodsWe did a rapid realist review to explore the different contexts (C) in which workplace initiatives are implemented that may fire a mechanism (M), leading to a change in employee health-related and business outcomes (O). We searched 12 databases for peer-reviewed papers published from June 1, 2019, to March 31, 2022 that referred to a workplace health and or wellbeing programme or intervention. There were no restrictions placed on study design. We recorded the impact of context and mechanisms on any health and business-related outcomes. The review was carried out in accordance with RAMESES publication standards. Findings26 articles were included. Most studies were conducted in North America (n=13) and Europe (n=9), with four conducted in Australia and Oceania and one in Asia. We developed eight realist CMO programme theories. For example, when leaders are committed to employee health and wellbeing (C) (identified in 16 studies), demonstrated by role modelling healthy behaviours and actively promoting workers to engage in initiatives, employees feel valued and “permitted” to engage in healthy and wellbeing initiatives (M) which might lead to greater participation in health promotion activities (O). This review is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022303262. InterpretationFindings contribute towards raising employers' awareness of what interventions might work for their employees. For instance, those interventions that encompass engagement of leadership at all levels to promote health and wellbeing are likely to leave employees feeling valued, motivated, and permitted to engage in interventions. Limitations of this study include potential biases arising from using rapid review processes and the inability to produce standardised recommendations. However, knowledge gained, which considers complexity and flexibility, might help inform, tailor, and support the implementation of future workplace health initiatives. FundingNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Enhancing Cloud Resource Management Based on Intelligent System

Cloud computing is a significant technology model with the strongest potential to change the way IT activities are carried out. The cloud offers low-cost and scalable IT resources. Cloud providers strive to improve business outcomes so cloud systems become more complex. The intelligent cloud has a number of issues, including optimizing the cloud service and designing and distributing resources adaptively and economically. There is a rising trend toward adopting intelligent technologies to better cloud management in particular. This paper introduces an intelligent method to manage cloud resources without delay or trouble. Starting with designing a system based on a genetic algorithm (GA) as a computational tool to achieve the goal and plan a predictive request then depending on the round robin (RR) algorithm to allocate the requests for processing. To evaluate the performance of this method, the proposed algorithm was verified in 145 requests. Where the implementation system achieved a reasonable result.

Repayment Flexibility and Risk Taking: Experimental Evidence from Credit Contracts

Abstract A widely held view is that small firms in developing countries are prevented from making profitable investments by lack of access to credit and insurance markets. One solution is to provide repayment flexibility in credit contracts. Repayment flexibility eases both the credit constraint, as it allows for increased spending during the start-up phase, and offers insurance, in case of fluctuations in income. In a field experiment among traditional microfinance clients and larger collateralized borrowers in Bangladesh, we randomly assign the option to delay up to 2 monthly repayments at any point during a 12-month loan cycle. The flexible contract leads to substantial improvements in the traditional microfinance clients’ business outcomes, driven by borrowers in the upper tail of the distribution. In addition, we find a significant impact on socio-economic status, combined with lower default rates. We show theoretically and empirically that these effects are induced by an increase in entrepreneurial risk taking, implying that the primary mechanism is insurance provision. Repayment flexibility also attracts less risk-averse borrowers interested in business expansion. At the same time, the effects for the larger loan are much more modest. Our findings suggest that lack of insurance is an important constraint for small firms but that a simple financial product that increases repayment flexibility can be an effective tool for enabling enterprise growth.

Circular economy implementation in operations & supply chain management: Building a pathway to business transformation

Our aim is to understand the circular economy (CE) transformation challenge and the synergies with operations & supply chain management (OSCM). CE represents a major industry transformation from linear production to circular value creation where products, components and resources are maintained at the highest value for the longest period. Yet despite OSCM’s long association with reverse logistics, the practical means of CE implementation is lacking where business transformation means systemic innovation not incremental change. Our method is to adopt a longitudinal approach where rich data from over 1000 senior practitioners on interactive events identifies 3 stages comprising of identification, initiation, and implementation, and reveals why some companies move between the stages and others become stuck. We illustrate these stages and the successful pathways used in 5 industry cases: Philips, Schweizer Bundesbahn, Renault, Ricoh, and Steelcase. Rather than develop new tools, we present a framework for implementing CE using business elements which are grounded in everyday practice and part of a taxonomic process that is continuously tested over time. We find successful CE implementation requires attention to product design, underlying business models, reverse flow management and enabling conditions (e.g. policy, finance), unlocking new sources of circular value creation and capture. There is no one-size-fits-all model for successful initiation and implementation of CE, but rather a continuous process of identifying value leakage and creation opportunities, progressive initiation of pilots, evaluation of business outcomes, and ability to manage risks associated with complexity and scaling. Our contribution views the challenge as a complex pathway consisting of configuring CE building blocks whose business transformation hallmarks are reflected in architectural change and systemic innovation.

Intelligent Behaviour Analytics: A Novel Framework for Effective Leadership Style Transitioning

The last three decades saw a reliance on the use of personality tests by businesses and organisations trying to gain a competitive advantage in the market through avenues such as recruitment, team building, leadership development and culture alignment. The commissioning of early 20th Century personality models such as DISC and Myers-Briggs are claimed to provide valuable insights and benefits in various aspects of the employment process. They have however been controversially debated in the academic community due to issues surrounding validity and reliability. Discussions concerning leadership styles and leaders responsible for managing employees, are similarly indeterminate despite being subject to extensive research and analysis for many decades. Academics have yet to provide a comprehensive explanation of the holistic mechanisms underlying effective leadership. Instead, they have argued over factors such as a leader’s traits, attributes, power relations or unidimensional versus collaborative models of engaging a work force. Current leadership theory literature demonstrates a paucity of leader self-understanding and self-reflection. We consider these two attributes as fundamental qualities of effective leadership, whereby an individual can transform and enhance their use of any leadership style. In this paper, we propose an advanced 21st Century solution that leverages the Intelligent Behaviour Analytics (IBA) framework, incorporating a deep and more effective understanding of leaders and their ability to transition between different leadership styles. Additionally, this framework offers methods for transitioning to more effective leadership styles based on situational requirements and takes into account a leader’s own emotional and behavioural registers. This approach offers a structured opportunity for leaders to identify any biases, understand the reasons that these may develop and furthermore, evaluate the efficacy of their own behavioural traits and the way they, as individuals interact, manage and lead a team. The IBA framework is a multi-stage, holistic approach that proposes to improve performance metrics, organisational culture, business outcomes and increased wellbeing.

A Review of the Halo Effect and Its Applications at the Corporate Level

The halo effect is a cognitive bias that twists peoples judgment in the rating process and has a significant influence on HRM(human resource management) practices. However, as a heuristic, the halo effect has shown much potential for improving the economic outcomes of corporate business and management as well. This essay gives a review of the halo effect and its applications at the corporate level based on the literature from 1920 to 2022. While the concept of the halo effect has been fully developed throughout the century, the problem of distinguishing true halo from illusory halo remains unsolved, which leads to the stagnation of further research on HRM practice. However, the study of the halo effect in brand marketing is rather mature, providing diverse advertising, sales, and crisis strategies for corporations to increase long-term gain. Furthermore, the literature on the halo effect has been focusing on more contemporary fields of application, such as the promotion of cultural products in the context of globalization, which could be a trend for researchers in the near future.

Implication of Ifrs 6 on the Financial Performance of Selected Oil Companies in Nigeria

The study aimed at evaluating IFRS 6 and its impact on the financial performance of oil and gas companies. This paper looked at how the adoption of IFS 6 changed the financial outcomes of several petroleum businesses in Nigeria. Five petroleum firms were randomly selected. Data were obtained from the published financial reports, and the necessary key financial performance indices were computed. The research utilized the paired correlation and sample t-test to examine the association and dissimilarity concerning post-IFRS 6 adoption and pre-IFRS 6 profitability, financial leverage, and liquidity under these two periods. The results revealed an insignificant association for the profitability and leverage variables, but found a significant association for the working capital variable for the two periods. The paired t-test result (hypothesis 1 showed t=1.617, p-value=0.140>0.05, hypothesis 2 showed t=1.863, p-value=0.095>0.05 and hypothesis 3 showed t=1.700, p-value=0.123>0.05, all at df=9) revealed that there was no substantial disparity in profitability, financial leverage, and working capital under the post-IFRS 6 adoption and pre-IFRS 6 periods. The outcomes of the research show that IFRS 6 has no outcome on the financial performance of Nigerian petroleum companies. It recommended that, in order to improve the quality of their financial reporting, oil and gas firms should adhere to the guidelines established by the IFRS 6. This could improve performance by bringing in more investments, making it easier to get money, and letting investors and analysts compare financial reports.

ОЦІНЮВАННЯ ВПЛИВУ ІННОВАЦІЙ НА СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНИЙ РОЗВИТОК ПІДПРИЄМСТВ В УМОВАХ ЕКОНОМІКИ ЗНАНЬ

The current state of world economic development leads to the emergence of new paradigms for innovations and the promotion of knowledge related to economic activity, which necessitates the determination of the parameters in which innovations will impact on the socio-economic functioning and development of individual enterprises as subjects of the development in the knowledge economy. The aim of the research. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the impact of innovativeness on the socio-economic development of enterprises in the conditions of the knowledge economy and to highlight the directions of such influence. The subject of the research is the influence of innovations on the development of the enterprise. The methods of the research. In the researched analysis of literary sources, correlation analysis and generalization were used. The hypothesis of the research: innovations contribute to the socio-economic development of enterprises. The statement of basic materials. The main research material. According to the Global Innovation Index (GII), Ukraine took 55th place among 37 countries with a group of economies with income below 132 economies. The main innovative advantages of Ukraine and weak points are identified. As a result of the correlation analysis of costs for innovations of industrial enterprises and the volumes of net profit of enterprises, it was found that innovations affect the volumes of net profit, however, this is not a key factor, but rather one of the factors of growth of the enterprise's profit. As a result of the correlation analysis of the costs of industrial enterprises for innovation and the volume of enterprises sales, it was determined that innovations contribute to the increase of the volume of sales, and, therefore, the growth of the scale of the enterprise, which, in turn, indicates socio-economic growth. A study of the place in the market of the most innovative enterprises of Ukraine determined that innovations contribute to the increase of capital. The originality and practical significance of the research. The conducted research confirms the need for the development of innovations to increase the company's profitability, strengthen competitive advantages and strengthen its position on the market. Conclusions and perspectives of further research. Innovation provides positive business outcomes, allowing them to have sustainable long-term growth, lower costs and automated work for employees. At the same time, innovation leads to increased costs that businesses incur in training staff to adapt to the innovation, or in other cases where the company has to hire new and skilled employees who can be trained and follow the innovation

The Impact of Modern Marketing Communication Tools to Increase Market Performance: The case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Addis Ababa

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of modern marketing communication tools on market performance within the context of the Commercial Bank of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study aimed to explore the relationships between these tools and various business outcomes such as increased sales volume, customer awareness, and market share expansion.
 
 Theoretical framework: The study developed a conceptual framework based on an extensive review of existing literature. The theoretical framework provided the foundation for understanding the relationships between modern marketing communication tools, customer satisfaction, and market performance. It incorporated relevant theories and models from the field of marketing and communication.
 
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The research adopted a mixed research design, combining both descriptive and explanatory methods. A quantitative research approach was employed to gather data from a sample of 384 respondents who are customers of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, specifically focusing on the east district. The data collection methods included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Additionally, secondary data was collected from academic journals, books, and online resources. The researcher utilized a convenience sampling technique for participant selection.
 
 Findings: The study's findings revealed a significantly positive impact of the implementation of modern marketing communication tools on the business. These tools contributed to increased sales volume, heightened customer awareness, and expanded market share within the industry. The research also identified diverse opinions on the role of these tools in enhancing customer satisfaction and their importance in customer retention.
 
 Research, Practical & social implications: The research findings have several implications for research, practice, and society. From a research perspective, the study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the relationship between modern marketing communication tools and market performance. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights for businesses, especially banks, on how to leverage these tools effectively to enhance their sales and customer engagement. Socially, the study highlights the importance of adopting modern marketing communication tools in businesses, potentially leading to economic growth and employment opportunities within the community.
 
 Originality/Value: The originality of this research lies in its focus on the Commercial Bank of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, examining the specific impact of modern marketing communication tools within this context. The study adds value by providing empirical evidence and practical implications for businesses operating in similar environments, offering a valuable resource for academics, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of marketing and communication.

Clearing the path: Leveraging operational optimization strategies to enhance patient access.

450 Background: The complexities of navigating the healthcare system for an oncology patient can be extensive and overwhelming. Prioritizing ease of access to care is essential. The time and effort required to coordinate visits, treatments, and other appointments can result in time toxicity, limiting the patient’s ability to engage in activities that enhance their quality of life. Minnesota Oncology, a practice within The US Oncology Network, is a large community oncology practice in Minneapolis, MN with 90 providers and 14 sites of care. The leadership team at Minnesota Oncology recognized challenges with patient scheduling as a priority. This was based on patient and staff feedback which included patient satisfaction surveys, significant telephone hold times for scheduling, and missed appointments due to a delay in order processing time. Methods: The quality improvement initiative followed a methodological framework that includes identifying the root causes of challenges patients face related to access to care and the subsequent development and execution of effective improvement solutions. The primary objective of the improvement initiative was to address telephone wait times for scheduling, overall patient satisfaction with scheduling and access, and order processing time. To identify the necessary focus for interventions, a ‘Kaizen’ event was hosted involving front line scheduling and clinical staff. The team aimed to identify workflow redundancies, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies via workflow mapping and root cause analysis methodologies. Leveraging the insights gained from these approaches, the following strategies for improvement were executed: Regionalized resource utilization to maximize productivity; strategic redistribution of workload to improve efficiency; workflow redesign to streamline processes and eliminate waste; and redefinition of key performance indicators for business unit performance management. Results: Through the methodological identification of root cause analyses and a tailored execution approach, results were achieved (table.). Conclusions: The improvements in the identified categories were achieved through strategic operational optimization, without the need for additional resources. This underscores the importance of adopting a culture of methodological continuous improvement in the management of clinic operations and highlights the importance of ongoing improvement efforts in delivering efficient care and achieving favorable business and patient experience outcomes.[Table: see text]

Software Managers' Guide to Operational Excellence

Software engineering managers (or any senior technical leaders) have many responsibilities: the care and feeding of the team, delivering on business outcomes, and keeping the product/system/application up and running and in good order. Each of these areas can benefit from a systematic approach. The one I present here is setting up checks and balances for the team's operational excellence.

Maximizing business potential: The symbiotic relationship between employee training and business success

In the modern business landscape, the symbiotic relationship between employee training and business performance in a form of sales and marketing aspects has become increasingly evident. This research delves into the pivotal role of vocational training within European companies, particularly in the context of their impact on business outcomes of organizations. Through a deep analysis of secondary data from the Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS) carried out by Eurostat, this paper uncovers the link between effective training practices and their subsequent impact on sales performance as well as interconnection with marketing initiatives. The findings reveal that businesses can significantly enhance its strategies by investing in employee training programs that foster skills demanded by the evolving market. The results underscore that companies adopting a holistic approach to employee training and aligning it with sales activities are better poised to thrive in a competitive landscape. This article serves as a valuable resource for business leaders, HR professionals, sales managers, educators, and researchers looking to understand and harness the interplay between employee development and business success to navigate the dynamic business world effectively.

Entrepreneurial mindset and SME performance: The mediating role of entrepreneurial behavior

This study aims to examine the effect of an entrepreneurial mindset on SME performance and explore the mediating role of entrepreneurial behavior from an Attribution Theory perspective. The study explains that entrepreneurial behavior mediates entrepreneurial mindset and SME performance. This adds depth to the understanding of the mechanisms through which mindset impacts performance, shedding light on the importance of actual behavior in translating mindset into tangible outcomes. To accomplish these objectives, a quantitative research approach was adopted. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to owners/managers of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). To analyze the data and test the proposed hypotheses, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed due to its suitability for exploring complex relationships with relatively small sample sizes. The dataset comprised responses from 382 owners/managers of MSMEs. Our findings suggest that while having an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for performance, entrepreneurial behavior acts as the intermediary, guiding and directing the impact of mindset on actual business outcomes. In conclusion, by confirming Attribution Theory within the entrepreneurial context, this study extends the theory's applicability beyond traditional domains.