Effective Management Decisions Research Articles

COGNITIVE MODELING OF PROCESSES RELATED TO PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION

When managing organizations, it is necessary in many cases to implement personnel management procedures. The paper proposes to use the methodology of cognitive modeling. Then the most effective management decisions and scenarios for the development of events can be selected using the fact that concepts are distinguished that will characterize the current situation in a qualitative and quantitative way. In addition, estimates of the mutual influence of factors are considered. The method of cognitive modeling of the processes of managing the development of the organization's personnel is proposed. In the course of its implementation, cognitive maps are formed. A block diagram aimed at cognitive and simulation dynamic analysis and modeling is presented. The implementation of the development of strategies and forecasts of how the personnel of the organization will develop with the involvement of a cognitive approach is considered in the form of the presented analytical technology. Suggestions for an intelligent advising system are given. The functions that are designed to solve problems related to the development of the company's personnel are shown. In the results, based on the proposed approach, an illustration of the developed scheme of causal relationships in the analysis of violations of technological discipline is given. The results of the work can be useful in modeling and managing the work of personnel in corporate information systems.

Organizational and legal ensuring the administrative activities of managers

This paper is devoted to a thorough analysis of the legal basis for ensuring management activities in the conditions of modern Ukrainian legislation. The authors note that in the conditions of dynamic changes in the business environment, legal protection acquires strategic importance for making informed management decisions, minimizing risks and ensuring stable development of the organization. The administrative and legal status of the manager in Ukraine is analyzed in detail - his role and powers in the management system, subordination, implementation of the principle of single leadership, the scope of competence and legal responsibility. The main principles of legal support of the manager's managerial activity were considered. Among them, the principles of legality, responsibility, transparency, ethics, as well as mechanisms of internal and external legal regulation are analyzed in detail. Examples of its practical application are provided for each principle. The authors also pay attention to the influence of key branches of law on managerial activity. These are corporate, labor, tax, antimonopoly legislation, laws on the protection of intellectual property, on the protection of consumer rights, etc. The conclusions emphasize that in modern conditions management of the organization is impossible without comprehensive legal support. It makes it possible to make effective management decisions, avoid legal risks, ensure stability and development of activities. The paper examines the administrative and legal status of the manager, the principles and components of legal support for his activity from the point of view of modern Ukrainian legislation. A reasonable conclusion is made about the key importance of legal aspects for effective management.

Выбор критерия оптимальности при принятии управленческих решений в сложных технических системах

Criteria for the optimality of a management decision make it possible to predict possible options for solving a problem, analyze the influence of various factors and optimize the operation of the system. An effective management decision implies the choice of an option for solving a given problem that corresponds to the best achievement of the goal, in terms of initial information about the problem. Automating the search for multiple valid management decisions can significantly speed up the design process and provide more effective interaction between humans and systems. The use of a rational optimality criterion, taking into account the various stages of the system’s operation, will help to select optimal management decisions and achieve the goals of the project. Thus, the correct choice of optimality criterion ensures an effective search for solutions and helps to determine the set of optimal solutions for the designed technical system. This in turn allows you to increase the efficiency and quality of the organization. The purpose of this work is to substantiate the choice of optimality criterion for a management decision when designing a complex system - a logging highway. An analysis of existing criteria was carried out. An optimality criterion has been proposed and justified, denoting the effect of the construction of a logging road, calculated over the period from the beginning of its construction to the start of the first major repair. A system for automated search for management decisions is described.

An improved case-based reasoning approach for sustainable rural development applied to strategic responses

Sustainable development has become a worldwide consensus in recent years. It has become increasingly important to study how to make effective management decisions in rural areas to achieve sustainable development. In this paper, we develop a new approach to strategic responses for sustainable rural development by using case-based reasoning (CBR), the bi-direction Choquet integral (BDCI), and the Shapley index (SI). First, to deal with the complexity of sustainable rural development, we develop an ontology-based sustainable rural development domain model. Second, we propose a case retrieval algorithm based on BDCI to improve the case retrieval method used in CBR to solve the problem of the relationship between the features. Third, we propose a case reuse method that is inspired by SI, in which each solution is evaluated relative to its value, and the implementation step for the response strategy is determined based on its priority. The proposed strategy response method for sustainable rural development is demonstrated through a case study and its effectiveness is demonstrated empirically.

Conservation Planning of Multiple Ecosystem Services in the Yangtze River Basin by Quantifying Trade-Offs and Synergies

The importance of protecting ecosystem services has been increasingly recognized due to their substantial benefits for human beings. Traditional conservation planning methods for locating and designing prioritized areas focus on high-value areas. However, ecosystem services have an intrinsic correlation of trade-offs and synergies among them; thus, solely selecting high-value areas cannot ensure efficiency in the conservation of multiple ecosystem services. Pursuing the protection of one ecosystem service may compromise the effectiveness of conserving others. Therefore, this study aims to develop a method for identifying the optimal ecosystem service protected areas in more efficient ways by quantifying the spatial relationships of ecosystem services on a local scale. We examined the correlations between all possible paired combinations of four ecosystem services using the Local Moran’s I and classified them into five cluster types in the Yangtze River Basin. To address conflicting solutions for multiple ecosystem service goals, we employed systematic conservation planning to identify priority areas for ecosystem service protection, following the principles of representativeness, complementarity, and persistence. By establishing scenarios that optimize each and all ecosystem services at target levels of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, we observed that any two of the four services were positively correlated, occupying vast areas in the Yangtze River Basin. However, the high-value areas of each ecosystem service did not coincide in their spatial distributions. Under the same target, more high-value areas could be selected as the best solutions by only optimizing a single ecosystem service. The degree of overlap between priority areas varied considerably across optimizations for individual ecosystem services, particularly when setting lower targets. Our findings suggest that integrated conservation planning for all ecosystem services is more efficient than layering multiple single plans. Understanding the correlations between ecosystem services can lead to more effective management and sustainable decision making.

Personnel security of economic entities: Condition control using management information systems

Subject. This article discusses the issues of control over the condition of personnel security as a part of the general security system of an economic entity. Objectives. The article aims to conduct a critical review and develop an original definition of the Personnel Security concept, evaluate the developed systems of indicators used for monitoring and assessing personnel security, analyze the main modern information systems of personnel management and highlight their positive and negative characteristics, and analyze the capabilities of personnel management information systems as an information base for monitoring the condition of personnel security of an economic entity. Methods. For the study, we used analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, grouping, and comparison. Results. The article presents the results of a review of the definitions of personnel security and offers the author-developed definition of personnel security of economic entities. It systematizes the characteristics of various information systems of personnel management and analyzes the possibilities of using them as an information base for monitoring the condition of personnel security of an economic entity. Conclusions and Relevance. At present, there is no unified approach of scientists to the definition of Personnel Security, as well as to the composition of indicators that are necessary to control the condition of personnel security and the personnel element of the economic security system of any economic entity. A critical assessment of the composition of indicators necessary for the control of personnel security shows that it is not an inert and static system, the indicators are mobile and dynamic for each economic entity. The set of these indicators depends on the specific institution, its organizational and legal form, the reporting period, external and internal environmental conditions, etc. The results obtained can form the basis for further development of ideas about the control and assessment of personnel security, as well as economic security for making informed and effective management decisions.

АНАЛИЗ ВЛИЯНИЯ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ В МИРОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКЕ НА КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТЬ РОССИЙСКИХ СУБЪЕКТОВ МСП

In the context of globalization and accelerated development of the world economy, Russian small and medium-sized businesses face the need to adapt to constantly changing conditions. The article provides an overview of the main factors affecting the competitiveness of Russian small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as explores possible ways to improve their positions in the global economy.
 The analysis of the impact of these changes on the competitiveness of Russian small and medium-sized enterprises is an urgent task. Understanding the factors that determine the success or failure of enterprises in the market allows you to develop development strategies and make effective management decisions.

Methodology for managing the transparency of enterprise development in condition of convergence of investment processes

Methods. In the process of improving the methodology of transparency management of the development of enterprises in the conditions of convergence of investment processes, methods of analysis and synthesis, empirical methods, methods of induction and deduction, graphic and logical methods were used. The methodological basis of the research is parametric and classification methods, the results of which allow improving the methodology of transparency management of the development of enterprises in the conditions of convergence of investment processes. Results. The article improves the methodology of managing the transparency of the development of enterprises in the conditions of convergence of investment processes, the main purpose of which is to create and implement the necessary management resources and competencies that determine the maximization of the level of development. The methodology is necessary to ensure the competitive stability of industrial enterprises, which, in turn, requires them to make strategic and effective management decisions in order to achieve the main goals of enterprises - maximizing production, sales, profit, resources, thereby ensuring an effective development and potential management policy. Novelty consists in improving the transparency management methodology of enterprise development in conditions of convergence of investment processes. Practical value. The development of a methodology for managing the transparency of the development of enterprises in the conditions of the convergence of investment processes is one of the most important prerequisites for achieving the maximum level of development, competitiveness and security in the current and future time space. The determined methodology includes a complex of interconnected elements, takes into account the presence of short-term and long-term equilibrium interaction and cause-and-effect relationships between the researched components of development transparency and investment processes at industrial enterprises, which makes it possible to assess the positive development effect of financial and investment activity in dynamics, in particular, it allows to identify and predict nonlinear cyclical processes in enterprises as a whole and in certain local directions of transparency of development, to determine the characteristic trends and interrelationships of the behavior of strategic trajectories of the transparency management system of the development of enterprises in the conditions of convergence of investment processes, which is a renovation basis for the formation of a set of general justified strategies and mechanisms of development of industrial enterprises.

Using soundscape to monitor population size, demographics, and antipredator behavior in a dense aggregation of colonial seabirds

Migratory seabirds are vulnerable to decline due to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. Common terns (Sterna hirundo) are highly vocal colonial seabirds that serve as bioindicators of their foraging grounds throughout their migratory range. Historically, monitoring colonial seabirds is invasive and time-consuming, and traditional acoustic approaches are complicated by high amounts of call overlap. Monitoring the behavioral ramifications of disturbance, as well as overall colony size and health, is crucial to implementing effective management decisions. However, methods are needed to do so efficiently and with minimal disturbance. In this study, we demonstrate that population size, demographics, and behavior can be assessed acoustically through changes in acoustic energy across varying temporal scales. To do this, we compared acoustic energy to in-person observations of nest density, chick-hatching, and investigator disturbance. We found that trends in acoustic energy align with observations of nest density, and the distribution of acoustic energy across frequency bands is indicative of colony demographics. Furthermore, we found a significant relationship between acoustic energy and investigator disturbance within 20 meters of an acoustic recorder. Overall, our findings suggest that colony-wide trends in population size, demographics, and behavior can be monitored via acoustic energy without the time-consuming analysis of individual calls.

SYSTEM OF COST INDICATORS FOR ANALOGOUS OBJECTS

The military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine has resulted in a significant number of damaged and destroyed buildings and structures. The challenge of determining the extent of material losses and damage, within tight timelines and under the conditions of active combat in the country, becomes more pressing than ever. To restore normal life in areas that were under occupation or in conflict zones, a series of tasks must be undertaken, including the initial assessment of the extent of destruction, conducting surveys of damaged buildings, and subsequently determining the corresponding requirements for the restoration of real estate. The purpose of the work. To demonstrate the feasibility and appropriateness of applying the Handbook System of cost indicators for analogous objects to determine the reproduction cost (replacement) of objects, with the aim of assessing damages and determining the needs for the restoration of real estate. The Handbook System of cost indicators is developed based on actual cost indicators of analogous objects and consolidated cost estimates or consolidated indicators of construction costs (types of work, structural elements, etc.), adjusted to current price levels. This involves analyzing all possible sources containing accumulated cost information from project and estimate documentation, determining necessary corrective coefficients, and developing models to ascertain the cost of all types of real estate, including specialized properties. Methodology. The statistical analysis methodology was employed, specifically using the method of grouping and consolidating indicators to assess the costs of restoring residential real estate in one of the districts of Dnipro city. This involves the application of the developed Handbook System of cost indicators for analogous objects, determining the structure of the real estate object as a construction object in a two-dimensional system of physical/cost indicators. Scientific novelty. A model for determining restoration costs using the Handbook System of cost indicators for analogous objects has been developed and implemented in the Sobornyi district of Dnipro city. Practical significance. The determination of the structure of any real estate object in the system of physical/cost indicators, based on the results of using the Handbook System of cost indicators for analogous objects, addresses a range of crucial economic, managerial, and legal issues. Specifically, it opens the way for the application of rapid screening of investment projects, assessment of actual damages, standardized and analytical damage assessments. This contributes to making effective managerial decisions in the country's recovery process, ensuring the efficient use of resources in society, and can be applied for other purposes in case of open access to this information, following the experience of leading countries worldwide. Results. A Handbook System of cost indicators for analogous objects has been developed and tested to determine the reproduction cost (replacement) of objects, aiming to assess damages and needs for the restoration of real estate. The results obtained from testing the Handbook System provide grounds for practical application, enabling the acquisition of logically comprehensible outcomes. It can be implemented not only for determining the needs for the restoration of real estate and assessing damages but also for various other purposes.

Research of Green Innovation of Companies of Countries with Different Levels of Technological Development of Production

Abstract In the conditions of the transition to higher technological systems in the conditions of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the companies of the world face the question of effective management of green innovative development in their economic activities. The goal of the research is the formation of effective organizational and economic support for green innovations of companies of countries with different levels of technological development of production. This research contains: to describe the known positions of scientific schools regarding the managerial aspects of green innovations of companies of the world; to form the economic support of this administration, by developing an assessment of the potential of green innovations of companies of the world (the data of the Global Innovation Index Report were taken as a source of empirical data), to form criterion values of the potential of green innovations of companies of the countries for the purpose of their clustering. The research methods used include: system method; bibliometric analysis; method of assessing competitiveness; criterion method; method of generalization. The objects of evaluation include companies from five countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The main results of the study include: development of management theory; forming an assessment of the green innovation potential of companies from countries of the world with different levels of technological development of production (the data of the Global Innovation Index Report were taken as a source of empirical data); formation of criterion support for the results of evaluation of the green innovation potential of the countries’ companies. The conclusions of the study should include establishing the actualization of managing green innovations by companies of the world by involving the results of the assessment of the green innovation potential of companies of the world to the formation of the criterion values of this assessment in order to make effective management decisions on the part of all interested stakeholders. For further scientific research, to focus on the formation of effective communication links between different groups of stakeholders, the basis of this scientific direction is the criteria developed by the authors to ensure the level of green innovation potential of companies of countries in order to make effective decisions on the part of stakeholders (state bodies, investors, manufacturers, suppliers, clients, financial institutions) regarding organizational, social, economic support of green innovations of companies of countries with different levels of technological development of production. This study can be useful for the governments of countries in the development of international and national programs for the innovative development of the economy in terms of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; to company managers when forming strategic and tactical plans for green innovative business development; to students and scientists in the implementation of scientific and educational programs.

Socio-psychological aspects of accounting and analytical profession

It is difficult to overestimate the role and importance of economic services of economic entities, since all existing activities are reflected in economic indicators that require collection, registration, monitoring, processing and analysis. In addition, without the management of financial and economic activities, it is impossible to prepare adequate justifications for strategic and operational plans for the development of an economic entity. The leading role in this process belongs to the head and administrative and managerial personnel who make final management decisions. But they can implement this at the proper level only if they use accounting information and conduct its in-depth analysis. Only highly professional specialists in the field of accounting and analytical technologies can provide the necessary data for making adequate and effective management decisions, the role and importance of which remain at the highest level in the changing socio-economic and business environment. The object of the study is an accounting and analytical profession characterized by both certain socio-psychological difficulties and opportunities for long–term career success.

Функціональний базис аграрного маркетингу

The article is examined key principles, func­tions, systems and methods that allow ensuring market orientation of the production and sales activities of the enterprise, where effective management decisions are based not only on the capabilities of the manufacturer, but also prima­rily the needs of the agro-industrial market, existing and potential needs of consumers and buyers of agricultural products. It was the first time to propose a definition of the functional basis of agricultural marketing – it is a system of organizational, economic, technical, financial and commercial functions of enterprises, united by a synergistic effect, and aimed at optimal and adaptive satisfaction of consumer demand for agricultural products and food security. It has been established that agricultural marketing can be implemented in mechanisms of mutually beneficial exchange between various market subjects, create conditions for identifying con­sumer requirements and determining the possibi­lities of their satisfaction, which will provide an opportunity to study the agricultural market and forecast its dynamics, form demand for the products of this market and stimulate it distribution The main aim of the research is to offer the author’s interpretation of the concept of "agricultural marketing" and to determine of the functional basis of agricultural marketing in the conditions of martial law. The main hypothesis of the research is to prove the effectiveness of the functional basis of agricultural marketing in the conditions of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine. It has been proven that for effective planning and management of agrarian business of the national economy in the conditions of a full-scale invasion, as well as taking into account the existing conditions (alienation of territories, damage and occupation of part of the land), entrepreneurs are forced to effectively and quickly implement agricultural marketing in its economic activity for researching consumer needs, forecasting demand, studying assortment policy and developing a production program, studying channels of goods movement and organizing safe sales.

Effects of herbivory, fire, and vegetation type on soil compaction and aggregate stability in a semi-arid savanna

AbstractVegetation type is an important component of savannas contributing to changes in soil health. In savanna landscapes, the tree-grass balance is primarily governed by water, nutrients, fire, herbivory, and their interactions. Here we investigated the long-term effect of herbivores, fire, and vegetation type, and their interactions on selected physical properties (bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregate size fractions, and mean weight diameter (MWD)) of water stable aggregates within the crest and foot-slope of 20-year-old Nkuhlu exclosures located in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Burning, herbivory, and open grassland zones had a significant main and interactive ecological impact on all the soil physical properties under investigation. The interactions between fire, herbivores, and vegetation type within the crest and foot-slope of the Nkuhlu exclosure had a significant impact on soil bulk density, with areas under tree canopies having lower bulk density than open grassland zones in all the exclosures. In all the sampling sites, both burnt and unburnt plots of the full exclosure had lower penetration resistance than the control site and partial exclosure. Moreover, unburnt plots and canopy cover increased aggregate size distribution and mean weight diameter of water stable aggregates. Since fire and herbivory are closely linked and bring about changes in soil physical properties, the understanding of the dynamics of fire, herbivory, vegetation, and their interactions can then be used to help make effective management decisions that incorporate concerns of biodiversity in savanna ecosystems.

Tax policy of Ukraine in terms of martial law

ABSTRACT The introduction of martial law, due to the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, has had a major economic effect on Ukraine. This article argues that it created a need to improve the tax policy to take into account the political and socio-economic situation, as well as the challenges posed by the war to the country. Increasing the efficiency of tax policy can positively influence the attractiveness of foreign investments and can stabilize the economic situation in the country. The measures applied by state authorities are aimed at reducing the tax burden in order to quickly adapt the country’s economy to the realities of the martial law and to ensure its rapid recovery after the war, and are related to import benefits, updating customs legislation, unshadowing the labour market, etc. It has argued that the tax policy of Ukraine needs a systematic update, including through the implementation of the norms of European laws into the national legal system. The formation of the modern tax policy of Ukraine should be based on a rational reduction of the tax burden, integration of innovative technologies into the production sphere and effective management decisions.

Methodology of automated quality management

Abstract This research is devoted to the development of innovative technology for automation of the quality management system (QMS) of enterprises in Kazakhstan and its adaptation to the management system of enterprises. This article deals with quality, as an important strategic tool in business. System effectiveness evaluation of quality management enterprises is of great importance connected with the formation of rational decisions in the management of QMSs, including specificity of quality indicators, multi-level system, the necessity to choose the optimal number of performance indicators, and system status evaluation. The objective and relevance of this research are related to the need to (1) solve the problems of quality management in the digital economy, following from the relevant National programs of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are important at this step of in-depth scientific research; (2) guarantee the competitiveness of domestic enterprises with high-quality requirements for products and services; (3) improve the efficiency of automated QMSs; (4) save resources (human and timing) in data processing. The method and model of automated enterprise quality management and intelligent automated system of quality management of enterprise integrated with ruling MICS (Management Information and Control System) subsystems are offered allowing to automate QMS implementation and support processes and increasing the validity, efficiency and effectiveness of management decisions by automating a number of functions of decision makers and personnel.

On the ways to improve the information content and analyzability of contemporary accounting forms

Subject. This article analyzes the processes and phenomena associated with the improvement of the informative and analytical nature of present-day forms of financial reporting. Objectives. The article aims to identify the main factors that determine the architecture of accounting and reporting based on the assessment of experts, and develop measures to improve the informative and analytical content of accounting and reporting. Methods. For the study, we used the general and specific scientific research methods, such as deduction and induction, synthesis and analysis, comparison, modeling, and observation. Results. The article identifies the main factors and the degree of their influence on the architecture of the accounting and reporting system, which is most suitable for users. It offers the authors-developed measures to improve the level of analytical and informative accounting and reporting for internal and external users. Conclusions. The system of accounting and reporting, the level of their informative value and analytics do not fully meet the needs of internal and external users, which leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of management decisions. In the development of accounting and reporting forms, the characteristics of the technologies related to the activities of the organization and the corresponding organizational structure should be taken into account as fundamental factors in the formation of an information system. Focus on IFRS and digital technologies in accounting cannot solve the problems of improving the information content and analytical nature of financial statements. Measures to improve the informative and analytical nature of modern forms of accounting reporting should be based on "economic thought".

СТРАТЕГІЧНИЙ УПРАВЛІНСЬКИЙ ОБЛІК В СИСТЕМІ ПРИЙНЯТТЯ ЕФЕКТИВНИХ УПРАВЛІНСЬКИХ РІШЕНЬ НА ПІДПРИЄМСТВІ

The article examines the specifics of the role of strategic management accounting in the process of making effective management decisions at the enterprise in modern conditions. The mechanism of the use of the tools of strategic management accounting by enterprises to ensure the achievement of competitive advantages in the market, as well as to increase the productivity of the management system, is considered. The relationship between strategic management accounting and the process of management decision-making is studied, taking into account that an effective strategic accounting system can become a key factor for successful business development. The main aspects of strategic management accounting are studied, including the definition of strategic goals, the collection and analysis of information, the development of key performance indicators and the identification of strategic alternatives. The influence of modern information technologies on the development of strategic management accounting and the possibilities of their implementation in practice are considered. It was determined that the use of strategic management accounting can provide enterprises with a systematic improvement in the quality of management decisions, reduce risks and increase the efficiency of business processes. The importance of strategic management accounting for ensuring the successful functioning of modern enterprises has been proved, and recommendations for improving this process have been formed. The key aspects of the internal and external environment that affect strategic management accounting are considered, including such factors as changes in legislation, the competitive situation on the market, changes in consumer demands, new technological trends, as well as the mechanism of their influence on the decision-making process and accounting. It was determined that strategic management accounting is a relevant tool for business entities in modern conditions of uncertainty and dynamic changes in the business environment, as it enables enterprises to be flexible and respond to changes in a timely manner, while creating conditions for achieving defined strategic goals. The importance of implementing strategic management accounting in modern business as a key factor in making effective management decisions in order to ensure the sustainable development of enterprises in dynamic conditions of market competition and uncertainty is proven.

Effective management decisions as a factor in the development of organizations in the sports industry

The sports industry today is not only an important component of the socio-cultural life of the population, but also an open platform for the development of entrepreneurial projects in sports. Entrepreneurial activity in the sports industry includes the development of new ideas, the implementation of business plans and the search for investors to introduce new directions.Currently, the requirements of the markets for goods and services to enter them are quite high, there is high competition for consumer attention and a fairly short time for the launch of new products and services. Therefore, when implementing a new project in a shortened timeframe, entrepreneurs, including in the sports industry, face a difficult task: to take into account the existing critical factors when developing a new direction and reduce the risks during the implementation of the project. In this regard, managerial decision-making skills and the ability to calculate their consequences come to the fore.

Strategies to Improve Portfolio Management of New Products

Overview: This article presents the findings of an Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) study on practices and outcomes in new product (NP) portfolio management. Given the substantial investments in R&D and the consequential impact on the business’s future, effective portfolio management decisions play a pivotal role in achieving business success. Portfolio decisions influence R&D productivity, the success rates of new products, and several other performance metrics related to NPD.