Current Operational Problems Research Articles

ОЦІНКА ПЕРСОНАЛУ ЯК ОСНОВА СИСТЕМИ МОТИВАЦІЇ ФІНАНСОВИХ УСТАНОВ У КРИЗОВИХ УМОВАХ

This article addresses the issues of employee performance evaluation, which is central to the formation of a system of motivation, since skills, knowledge and efficiency of employees affect the financial and economic performance of the entire enterprise. The external environment of the business entity is risky and unpredictable; therefore, to maintain a high level of competitiveness, special attention should be paid to evaluating and improving the employee efficiency. The article uses general scientific and special methods of system-structural analysis to clarify the motivating influences; identify the latest methods of motivation; group different types of motivation and establish links and relationships between motivation and employee efficiency; it uses diagnostic techniques (Bennett test) for employee performance evaluation in a financial institution The purpose of the work is to study the specifics and analyze the existing methods of employee performance evaluation as a basis for motivation in crisis conditions. Theoretical research revealed that the existing system of motivation for pawnshop employees provides for marginal (tentative) surcharges, allowances, bonuses to the basic salary; the specific amount of incentive payments is defined by the manager depending on the employee’s qualifications, complexity and scope of work, and the employee’s performance. It has been found that the standard of efficiency and criteria for its evaluation are set for each employee. It has been proven that the employee’s performance evaluation is documented and a decision is made on the choice of an appropriate system of motivational factors and incentives. For a network of pawnshops, performance evaluation of middle-level managers was carried out according to the method of R. Bennett, in order to determine the management style. An analysis of evaluating the effectiveness of 7 managers working for the network of pawnshops showed that 5 out of 7 managers promptly settle current operational work problems; poorly cope with operational work problems – 2 managers; show a balanced approach to decision-making – 6, do not take into account the factors of the external and internal environment - 1; allow subordinates to take initiative – 4, suppress it – 3; personally communicate with employees – 5, prefer written orders – 2; have an innovative mindset – 6, ignore innovations – 1; are considerate towards subordinates – 6, are indifferent to subordinates – 1; motivate employees – 5, do not consider motives – 2. The analysis shows that to eliminate any negative consequences, it is necessary to dismiss the personnel manager whose results were all negative. Based on the definition of basic principles of the impact of employee performance evaluation on the motivation system in crisis conditions, it is advisable to introduce a grading system as a further step.

A two-stage EBM-based approach to evaluate operational performance of unattended convenience store

PurposeDue to recent technological advances, the retail industry has changed significantly. This paper examines a novel unmanned retail mode-unattended convenience store to identify the possible operational problems and develop appropriate managerial recommendations.Design/methodology/approachA data-driven two-stage epsilon-based measure (EBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was developed to evaluate operational performance data from 33 unattended convenience stores and assess the impacts on efficiency of the internal factors, and a Tobit regression analysis was employed to examine the external environment.FindingsIt was found that the overall economic performances were relatively low and fluctuated significantly; however, the social performances were slightly higher. The out-of-stock rate was found to have a negative impact on efficiency, and regional characteristics were found to have significant effects on performance.Practical implicationsThis study sought to identify current operational problems with unattended convenience stores to provide managerial insights. The cross-sectional assessment suggested that to achieve better performance, particular attention needed to be paid to store locations and surrounding store environments.Originality/valueFirst, this paper establishes a novel theoretical framework to evaluate the economic and social operational performances at unattended convenience stores. Second, it contributes to research on unattended convenience stores and the unmanned retail industry and offers significant guidance on detecting operational deficiencies and improving future performances.

Impact of professional quality management on interdisciplinary emergency care units

In emergency departments (EDs), overcrowding, workload complexity, and cost containment represent current operational problems. In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the effects of a professional quality management (QM) system on patient flow, diagnostic validity, and hospital costs. In 2005/2006, the main ED at the University Medical Center Goettingen was reorganized. A professional QM system according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 was introduced in 2008. In a retrospective observational study, we compared the number of cases, the spectrum of clinical diagnoses, the validity of diagnoses, and hospital costs in the ED before (2005) and 2 years after the introduction of the QM system (2010). In the ED at the University Medical Center Goettingen, the number of cases increased by 22.7% between 2005 and 2010. After the introduction of the QM system, a significant reduction in patients' length of stay within the ED was achieved (P<0.001). Furthermore, the rate of diagnostic errors for patients assigned for admission within the ED could be reduced significantly (P=0.002). A reduction of patient-related hospital costs of 8.9% was achieved by restriction of diagnostic tests according to standard operating procedures for each emergency diagnosis. The introduction of a professional QM system in EDs improves patient flow as well as quality of medical care and results in a significant reduction in hospital costs. Further analyses should evaluate the effects of QM on quality indicators in a prospective multicenter study. Validation of results has to be performed in a dynamic model for process simulation.

국내 설계.감리 등 용역보증제도 현황 및 개선방안 연구

정부는 1990년대 대형건축물의 붕괴사고가 잇따르고 건축물의 사고로 인한 인적, 물적 손해에 대한 보전책이 불충분하다는 지적에 따라 '국가계약법'상에 일정규모 이상의 용역이나 건설공사에 대하여 의무보험에 가입하도록 하였다. 특히 2002년에 설계 및 감리 등의 기술용역 분야를 위한 보증제도가 도입된 후 여러 운영상의 문제점이 표출되고 있으나 이에 대한 구체적인 현황 분석 및 개선방안을 마련하기 위한 연구는 매우 미흡한 상황이다. 본 논문은 델파이 방법을 사용하여 기술용역 보증제도와 관련된 주요 제도 및 운영상의 문제점을 도출하고 이에 대해서 주요 보증시장 참가자인 발주청, 용역사, 보험사의 보험업무 실무담당자를 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하여 개선방안을 도출하였다. 주요 정책적 대안으로는 신용평가에 근간을 둔 보증한도의 조정, 비효율적인 연대보증인 제도의 폐지, 제3자 인적손해의 담보범위 포함과 보험가입금액의 상향, 보험 기간의 연장 및 기타 제도정비사항을 제시하였다. 제안된 개선방안들에 대한 이해당사자간에 공감대 형성은 국내 건설 산업계의 건전한 발전으로 이어질 것으로 기대해본다. After several collapse accidents of large structures in the early 1990s in Korea, the government enacted a law that architectural, engineering and construction firms are obliged to have insurance for projects over a certain size. Particularly, with regard to insurance in design and construction supervision works (i.e. engineering insurance), although several operation-based problems were pointed out from practitioners, still little research has been done on analyzing current regnlartory and operational state and suggesting policy alternatives. Hence, this study applies Delphi technique to solicit current operational problems and propose a series of improvements on engineering insurance based on interview surveys targeting major market participants: municipalities, engineering firms, and insurance companies. Key findings culminate in adopting guarantee limits based on credit evaluation, abrogating joint surety, covering a loss of life, increasing insurance entrance fee, extending time covered, and etc. Reaching a consensus on the proposed alternatives between the market participants will form the foundation for sound developments of construction design and engineering industry.

Simulation Analysis of a PCB Factory using Factorial Design - A Case Study

This study describes simulation modelling and analysis of a serial production line in a printed circuit board (PCB) factory. Simulation technique is applied to evaluate the performance of the existing manufacturing system, which requires modification to achieve two conflicting objectives, i.e. to maximise the average throughput rate and to minimise the average lead time. Based on a full factorial design, the computer model, which is developed using SIMFACTORY, has been used for finding out the active factors that have a great impact on the current operational problems. Then, a new system design is proposed to enhance the overall performance and is verified using a simulation model. The simulation approach presented here is also applicable to a wide variety of complex operational problems.

Power sector reforms in Zimbabwe: will reforms increase electrification and strengthen local participation?

Zimbabwe is a developing country currently in the grips of an economic crisis. The power sector has been starved of investments and there is an inadequate revenue flow into the country to finance new investment. Internal resources are inadequate to maintain the current system and to finance new investment. Financial and operational performance has deteriorated. Rural electrification is very low with only 18% of the population having access to electricity. The government and the utility, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority have recognised their inability to meet these challenges and have initiated a reform program in order to open up the power sector to private investors. This article analyses the current technical and operational problems faced by the utility and their impact on its financial performance. In addition, the article reviews the status of electrification in Zimbabwe, and the participation of local private investors in the power sector. Policy recommendations on how the technical and financial performance of the utility can be enhanced and on how the rate of electrification, especially in rural areas, can be improved are presented. The increased participation of local private sector players into the power industry is a key issue and recommendations are made on how the government can provide incentives to facilitate their effective participation.

Simulation of a hospital′s theatre suite

Describes a study of sex operating theatres in a modern hospital where management was concerned about the throughput of the system. Senior medical staff were of the opinion that insufficient recovery spaces had been provided when the suite of theatres had been built which, if correct, was a physical constraint requiring considerable financial investment to remedy. They also thought that shortage of porters (¿You can never find a porter when you need one!¿) and recovery nurses were current operational problems. The relationship issues encountered when interfacing with the staff involved, the collection and analyses of relevant data and the building of a visual interactive simulation model are described.

A Survey of Current Operational Problems

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in the Working Group on Current Operational Problems (COPS) forums with the goal of focusing attention of the industry on problems faced by those who are involved in actual power system operation. The questionnaire was sent to System Operation Subcommittee members and to North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) key operating members. One hundred thirty responses were received. The high priority topics identified as problems by the survey can be divided up into three categories of people, analysis and control, and computer system. Some of the items, for example, Dispatcher Training Simulator could be assigned to any of these new categories. We arranged them as follows: People Problems-Dispatcher Training Simulators Management Problems due to Shift Work Evaluation of Training Programs Simulators to Practice System Restoration Job Desirability Dispatcher Selection Relations with Dispatchers Analysis and Control Problems - Key Monitoring Indicators Load Shedding System Condition Assessment Contingency Voltage Levels Transmission Access and Compensation Generation Cycling Resource Scheduling Computer System Problems - Alarms (present techniques need improvement) Alarming (Artificial Intelligence systems are needed) Performance Considerations (Computer systems handling inadequately during emergencies)

Current Operating Problems Associated with Non-Utility Generation

This paper is one of a series presented on behalf of the Systems Operations Subcommittee with the intent of focusing industry attention on current problems faced by electric utilities in the operation of its bulk power system. Four short note reports are presented which direct attention to problem areas being faced by utilities in regard to non-utility generation systems. Each report focuses on different aspects of the nonutility generation problem. Reports which are included address generation and fuel, transmission, distribution, and Energy Management and Control Systems.

Current Electric System Operating Problems from a Cogenerator's Viewpoint

The power system operating problems from a cogenerator's viewpoint are presented considering steam power constraints of the cogeneration process, control of tie-lines to cogeneration plants, voltage support, emergency response, and maintenance. Also discussed is the technical planning problems associated with system protection, under frequency loadshedding and needs for long term operations planning. As the amount of cogeneration increases in the electric utility industry, additional concerns arise in various purchase and sale contracts and administration requirements for both the cogenerator and electric utility.

A survey of current operational problems (of power systems)

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in the Working Group on Current Operational Problems (COPS) forums with the goal of focusing attention of the industry on problems faced by those who are involved in actual power system operation. The results of a survey on operational problems are presented. Statistical information compiled for various categories of operational problems is given with some general observations about the results. A rough comparison is made between the results of this survey and the first COPS problem list of 1976.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Current operating problems associated with non-utility generation

This paper is one of a series presented on behalf of the Systems Operations Subcommittee with the intent of focusing industry attention on current problems faced by electric utilities in the operation of its bulk power systems. Four short note reports are presented with direct attention to problem areas being faced by utilities in regard to nonutility generation systems. Each report focuses on different aspects of the nonutility generation problem. The reports address generation and fuel, transmission, distribution, and energy management and control systems.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Problems in Coping with the Proliferation of Interchange Schedules The Current Operational Problems Working Group

Problems in Coping with the Proliferation of Interchange Schedules The Current Operational Problems Working Group

Artificial Intelligence Solutions to Power System Operating Problems

This paper is one of a series for use in Current Operational Problems (COPS) Forums with the goal of focusing attention on problems faced by electric utility operators. These short notes are intended to describe the problems and the complexity of solution to the problems. The short note papers presented here describe the spectrum of power system operating problems that are believed to be good candidates for Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution. The first short note lists many of these applications and discusses their characteristics and why they are candidates for AI. The second describes an existing application that uses a knowledge base derived from operator experience. The third describes a research project now being conducted toward solving the alarm processing problem and the last short note introduces some of the problems to be encountered in implementing AI in an energy management system.

Power System Operator Training Problems

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in Current Operating Problems (COP's) forums for the purpose of focusing the attention of industry on high priority problems faced by those who are involved in the actual operation of power systems. Five short note reports provide definition and discussion of problem areas of operator training. They are (1) evaluation of the training program, (2) limitations of dispatcher training simulators that are now in use, (3) problems of accurately modeling the dynamic response of the power system, (4) special needs of utilities with decentralized dispatching, and (5) new developments for next generation operator training simulators and the problems to be solved. These reports are intended to clarify the problems and concerns. The objective of the COPs forum is to communicate ideas, solicit discussion and stimulate others to devise responsive solutions to these problems. The Working Group on Operator Training (WG78-4) has identified specific problem areas in Power System Operator/Dispatcher Training. Key persons with experience in each of these problem areas have been identified and assigned the responsibility of preparing the five short note papers presented below.

Future directions in development studies: The case of decentralization

The study of decentralization is used as a case study to illustrate three current conceptual and operational problems in development studies as a whole: the use of language; the relationship between theory and practice; and the legitimacy of “development” as a separate field of study. The conclusion is that future studies of decentralization — and possibly other dimensions of development studies — should include detailed empirical studies, adopt a “contingency” approach to policy evaluation and utilize “developmentalist” approaches in both the so-called developed and developing nations.

Power System Operator Training Problems

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in Current Operating Problems (COP's) forums for the purpose of focusing the attention of industry on high priority problems faced by those who are involved in the actual operation of power systems. Five short note reports provide definition and discussion of problem areas of operator training. They are (1) evaluation of the training program, (2) limitations of dispatcher training simulators that are now in use, (3) problems of accurately modeling the dynamic response of the power system, (4) special needs of utilities with decentralized dispatching, and (5) new developments for next generation operator training simulators and the problems to be solved. These reports are intended to clarify the problems and concerns. The objective of the COPs forum is to communicate ideas, solicit discussion and stimulate others to devise responsive solutions to these problems. The Working Group on Operator Training (WG78-4) has identified specific problem areas in Power System Operator/Dispatcher Training. Key persons with experience in each of these problem areas have been identified and assigned the responsibility of preparing the five short note papers presented below.

Problems Associated with Unit Commitment in Uncertainty A Report by the Current Operational Problems Working Group

This paper is one of a series presented on behalf of the System Operations Subcommittee with the intent of focusing industry attention on current problems faced by electric utility operators. This paper contains four ``short note reports'' from authors in different areas of the electric power industry.

Dispatch Control Center Human Factors???Revisited A report prepared for the Power Control Center Working Group, the Current Operational Problems Working Group, and the System Operations Subcommittee of the Power System Engineering Committee

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in Current Operational Problems (COPs) forums with the goal of focusing the attention of the industry on high priority problems faced by those who are involved in the actual operation of power systems. The following five ``short note reports'' provide viewpoints on human factors considerations in electric utility dispatch control centers. The short notes focus on human factors from the points of view of power system operation information management, information presentation, and stress indentification and alleviation. A common denominator in the first four short note papers is stress in system operations. The fifth paper discusses what to do to overcome stressful situations in system operations. The short note reports presented here are intended to clarify the nature of operational concerns and problems. It is the objective of COPs forums to solicit discussion and stimulate others to devise responsive solutions.

Survey Report on Current Operational Problems A report prepared for the System Operations Subcommittee by the Current Operational Problems Working Group

This paper is one of a series prepared for use in Current Operational Problems Working Group (COPS) forums with the goal of focusing attention of the industry on problems faced by those who are involved in actual power system operation. The results of a survey on operational problems are presented in this paper. Statistical information compiled for various categories of operational concerns is given with some general observations about the results.