Key Performance Outcomes Research Articles

Canada’s Top 5 in 5

In 2011, the Canadian Nurses Association made a decision to establish and fund a national commission focused on health system transformation, the National Expert Commission. In 2012, the commission presented an action plan, the lead recommendation of which was to ensure that Canada ranks among the top five nations on five key population health status and system performance indicators in the next five years. In this article, the authors outline the selection of the these indicators and the associated goals for improvement.

Empirical Development of a Model of Performance Drivers in Organizational Change Projects

In order to investigate the drivers that impact on the success of change projects, a major research project was commenced in 1998. Extensive quantitative studies of organizational change processes were conducted across industries, countries and companies, in order to establish the determinants of successful change projects. This article presents the initial step in this project, the development of a descriptive model that provides the basis for the assessment of change projects and the analysis of interactions between key success factors and performance outcomes. Forty-four survey questions were put to 117,355 employees involved in or affected by organizational change. The results of factor analyses were used to guide the development of a descriptive model of the drivers of performance in organizational change projects. This article presents the results of the factor analyses, and the ChangeTracking model that has been developed. The ChangeTracking model consists of: two outcome variables, realizing business benefits and business performance; and six key drivers, the amount of change and turbulence, available resources, alignment with the company's vision and direction, quality of change management, work roles and emotional energy. The ChangeTracking model provides an empirically derived model of change management to guide future research and practice.

The Design and Rationale of the Australian Cooperative National Registry of Acute Coronary care, Guideline Adherence and Clinical Events (CONCORDANCE)

Cardiovascular observational registries characterise patients and describe the manner and use of therapeutic strategies. They facilitate analyses on the quality of care among participating institutions and document variations in clinical practice which can be benchmarked against best practice recommendations. The Cooperative National Registry of Acute Coronary care, Guideline Adherence and Clinical Events (CONCORDANCE) is an Australian observational registry that describes management and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and feeds back both performance and outcome measures to participating hospitals. The CONCORDANCE registry has been designed within a comparative effectiveness research (CER) framework to collect and report data from hospitals located in geographically diverse regions of Australia. Information including patient demographics, presenting characteristics, past medical history, in-hospital management and outcomes at six months and two years are entered into a web-based database using an electronic clinical record form (eCRF). Individual hospital information is returned to the sites in a real time confidential report detailing information on key performance indicator (KPI) process measures and outcomes benchmarked against the aggregated study cohort. Governance rules ensure data security and protect patient and clinician confidentiality. Consistent with a CER framework, additional characteristics of the registry include: (a) the capacity to evaluate associations between the inter and intra hospital systems and the provision of evidence based care and outcomes, (b) ongoing data collection from representative hospitals which allow spatial and temporal analysis of change in practice and the application of treatment modalities in the real world setting and (c) the provision of a data spine for quality improvement strategies and practical clinical trials. The CONCORDANCE registry is a clinician-driven initiative describing clinical care for ACS patients admitted to Australian hospitals. The registry generates high quality data which is fed back to clinicians, and key stakeholders in ACS care. Using a CER approach, the registry describes the translation of randomised trial evidence into practice, and provides insights into strategies that could improve care and ultimately patient outcomes.

Efficiency or innovation

Firms invest in a variety of information technologies and seek to align their IT asset portfolios with two key performance outcomes: efficiency and innovation. Existing research makes the universal...

Inferring Upon Heterogeneous Associations in Dairy Cattle Performance Using a Bivariate Hierarchical Model

Multivariate hierarchical Bayesian models provide a flexible framework for comprehensive study of biological systems with more than one outcome. Recent methodological developments facilitate modeling of heterogeneous associations between outcomes by specifying a linear mixed model on (co)variances at different levels of the data structure. Motivated by previous evidence for heterogeneous correlations in animal agriculture, we apply the proposed hierarchical Bayesian models to study the nature of the correlations between key performance outcomes in dairy cattle production systems, namely milk yield and reproduction. That is, the association between these outcomes might depend upon various fixed and random effect sources of heterogeneity both at the individual cow (residual) level as well as the herd (cluster) level. We thus propose a sequential modeling approach based on the deviance information criterion to select relevant explanatory variables on both types of associations. Furthermore, we extend the proposed methodology to accommodate right-censored outcomes, as common for dairy reproduction data, and use it to analyze field data from the Michigan dairy industry. The nature of the associations between milk production and reproduction in dairy cattle was inferred to be strongly heterogeneous and driven by multiple farm management practices and herd attributes, as well as by random clustering effects, at both cow and herd levels, thereby suggesting potential between-herd and within-herd intervention strategies to optimize performance of dairy production systems. Supplementary materials are available online.

Metastability and emergent performance of dynamic interceptive actions

ObjectivesAdaptive patterning of human movement is context specific and dependent on interacting constraints of the performer–environment relationship. Flexibility of skilled behaviour is predicated on the capacity of performers to move between different states of movement organisation to satisfy dynamic task constraints, previously demonstrated in studies of visual perception, bimanual coordination, and an interceptive combat task. Metastability is a movement system property that helps performers to remain in a state of relative coordination with their performance environments, poised between multiple co-existing states (stable and distinct movement patterns or responses). The aim of this study was to examine whether metastability could be exploited in externally paced interceptive actions in fast ball sports, such as cricket. DesignHere we report data on metastability in performance of multi-articular hitting actions by skilled junior cricket batters (n=5). MethodsParticipants’ batting actions (key movement timings and performance outcomes) were analysed in four distinct performance regions varied by ball pitching (bounce) location. ResultsResults demonstrated that, at a pre-determined distance to the ball, participants were forced into a meta-stable region of performance where rich and varied patterns of functional movement behaviours emerged. Participants adapted the organisation of responses, resulting in higher levels of variability in movement timing in this performance region, without detrimental effects on the quality of interceptive performance outcomes. ConclusionsFindings provide evidence for the emergence of metastability in a dynamic interceptive action in cricket batting. Flexibility and diversity of movement responses were optimised using experiential knowledge and careful manipulation of key task constraints of the specific sport context.

Efficiency or Innovation: How Do Industry Environments Moderate the Effects of Firms' IT Asset Portfolios?

Firms invest in a variety of information technologies and seek to align their IT asset portfolios with two key performance outcomes: efficiency and innovation. Existing research makes the universalistic assumption that both outcomes will always be realized through firms' IT asset portfolios. There has been limited research on the conditions under which firms' IT asset portfolios should be oriented more toward efficiency or innovation. Here, we argue that the nature of the industry where a firm competes will have a significant moderating effect on the link between firms' IT asset portfolios and efficiency or innovation outcomes. Using panel data that covers a wide range of industry environments, we find that at lower levels of dynamism, munificence, and complexity, IT asset portfolios are associated with a greater increase in efficiency. In contrast, in environments with higher levels of complexity, IT asset portfolios are associated with a greater increase in innovation (i.e., development of new products and processes, and exploration of growth opportunities). These results provide insights about how firms could realize strategic alignment by tailoring their IT asset portfolios toward an efficiency or innovation focus.

Key Performance Outcomes of Patient Safety Curricula: Root Cause Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, and Structured Communications Skills

As colleges and schools of pharmacy develop core courses related to patient safety, course-level outcomes will need to include both knowledge and performance measures. Three key performance outcomes for patient safety coursework, measured at the course level, are the ability to perform root cause analyses and healthcare failure mode effects analyses, and the ability to generate effective safety communications using structured formats such as the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) situational briefing model. Each of these skills is widely used in patient safety work and competence in their use is essential for a pharmacist's ability to contribute as a member of a patient safety team.

Whole-body and multi-joint kinematic control strategy variability during backward rotating dismounts from beam

The aim of this study was to develop insight into the whole-body and multi-joint kinematic control strategy variability associated with the execution of fundamental backward rotating dismounts from beam. Two-dimensional joint centre coordinate data were obtained for ten backward piked and backward tucked somersault dismount skills performed by four female gymnasts (N = 80 trials). Gymnast-specific and group variability in whole-body and multi-joint discrete kinematic measures were compared for the aerial and impact phase of backward piked and backward tucked skills. The backward tucked skill was executed using a more variable knee joint angular velocity at take-off (mean difference in standard deviation ± SD: −2.6 ± 1.0 rad · s−1; P < 0.01) than the backward piked skill. The variability in the whole-body and multi-joint kinematic responses produced between the impact phases of each skill was gymnast-specific. The greater variability in the localized knee joint action at take-off was considered indicative of the diverse shape element demands and key performance outcomes of the two skills. Self-selected modulations to the multi-joint kinematic strategy used in the impact phase suggested customization of the joint loading adjustments in executing the fundamental dismount skills.

Electronic commerce applications for supply chain integration and competitive capabilities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impacts of supplier‐ and customer‐oriented electronic communication technologies (ECTs) (electronic data interchange (EDI) and internet‐based) on supply chain integration and manufacturing competitive capabilities (flexibility and quality).Design/methodology/approachThe research model is based on resource‐based view of technology use, ECTs, and supply chain management literature. Data from 711 international manufacturing firms International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS IV) are analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the proposed relationships.FindingsThe results suggest: the importance of applying two specific ECTs (EDI and internet‐based) for both supplier and customer integration; and the direct impact of supplier integration and customer integration on manufacturing competitive capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsExcept for perceptual biases inherent to survey methodology, this research provides rich implications on ECTs (particularly, EDI and internet‐based) on supply chain integration and manufacturing competitive capabilities.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research provide practical management insights on ECTs investment and deployment practices. Creation and delivery of values require effective integration of technologies for key performance outcomes across suppliers, customers and internal business processes.Originality/valueThis paper fills the research gap by presenting a research model and empirically validates how ECTs impact on quality and flexibility based on rich empirical data of 711 firms of manufacturing firms.

California Geriatric Education Center Logic Model: An Evaluation and Communication Tool

A logic model is a communications tool that graphically represents a program's resources, activities, priority target audiences for change, and the anticipated outcomes. This article describes the logic model development process undertaken by the California Geriatric Education Center in spring 2008. The CGEC is one of 48 Geriatric Education Centers across the nation, funded by the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions. Engaging this diverse group of stakeholders to develop a logic model has added substantial value to program planning, implementation, and evaluation of key performance outcomes.

International Diversification: Antecedents, Outcomes, and Moderators

Pursuit of international markets and resources from foreign sources has increased dramatically during the past two decades, and the academic study of international diversification has increased concurrently. Reviewing the literature in management and related disciplines, the authors discuss recent findings of research on international diversification. A conceptual model groups key relationships, including antecedents, environmental factors, performance and process outcomes, moderators, and the characteristics of international diversification. The authors synthesize intellectual contributions, highlight unresolved issues, and provide recommendations for future research.

The contribution of measurement and information infrastructure to TQM success

There is currently some debate about which TQM practices contribute most to superior performance outcomes. Several proponents argue that softer TQM practices such as leadership, human resource management, and customer focus have more impact than benchmarking, process analysis or performance measurement. The evidence for which TQM factors contribute most to improved performance is not yet conclusive, and sometimes contradictory. Using data from a longitudinal study of 67 TQM firms we contribute to this debate. Our central hypothesis is that measurement of key TQM practices and performance outcomes is essential for TQM success. We examine the measurement practices of this cohort of firms, and report on the changes in their measurement behavior over time. Specifically, we analyze seven dimensions of measurement relating to customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, process performance, impact of TQM on costs, impact of TQM on sales, self-assessment, and benchmarking. We calculate a measurement-intensity score for each firm, based on how many of these seven parameters were being measured, and we show that increased measurement intensity is strongly associated with perceived TQM success. Finally, using multivariate discriminant analysis, we identify eight variables that explain the level of TQM success with a classification accuracy of almost 90%. We conclude that to attain the highest levels of TQM success, firms need to engage in the measurement practices of self-assessment and benchmarking, but our data suggest that an appropriate measurement framework needs to be in place beforehand.

Enhancing the Employability of Leisure Studies Graduates through Work Integrated Learning

Graduate employment rates are often used in Australian universities as a key performance indicator in relation to teaching and learning outcomes. While leisure studies and related curricula have always concerned themselves with preparing students for careers within the broadly-based leisure industries, given the climate of funding of higher education, such programs may be vulnerable unless they can demonstrate their professional relevance. This paper examines how incorporating a student-centred whole-life approach to career development into leisure studies curricula can enhance graduate employability, as a key performance outcome. The framework for this examination is provided through a casestudy of a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) initiative developed in the Bachelor of Social Science (Recreation and Tourism) program at the University of Newcastle, Australia. While this paper focuses on the Australian context, many of the issues relating to career development and planning are likely to apply to other countries, since many of the changes relating to careers are a direct result of the globalization of business activity.

Finding key performance drivers: Some new tools

Organizations constantly strive to improve what they do and how they do it. The results of their improvement efforts are measured through key performance indicators (KPIs). Much mystery surrounds the formation, correct reporting and interpretation of KPIs. This paper suggests that KPIs can be decomposed into key performance outcomes (KPOs) and key performance drivers (KPDs). What links the KPOs (the outcomes) and the KPDs (the drivers) are business processes. KPOs measure progress towards corporate objectives and have been the subject of much research and study. KPDs, which provide in-process measurement and have a direct bearing on the KPOs, have received far less attention. This paper proposes several new tools for linking KPOs and KPDs and suggests that (a) performance indicators are essentially a process issue, (b) the 'where' of measurement should be considered along with the 'what' and the 'how' of measurement and (c) the focus of business improvement efforts should be on the drivers, not the outcomes.