Key Performance Outcomes Research Articles

Mixed Methods EvAluation of the high-volume low-complexity Surgical hUb pRogrammE (MEASURE): a mixed methods study protocol

IntroductionThe waiting list for elective surgery in England recently reached over 7.8 million people and waiting time targets have been missed since 2010. The high-volume low complexity (HVLC) surgical hubs...

Optimizing Last-Mile Delivery: A Case Study Analysis of the Dark Store Model

Abstract: The last-mile delivery has emerged as a critical challenge in the e-commerce industry, impacting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. The dark store model has gained traction as a solution to address these challenges by enabling faster order fulfillment and minimizing delivery times. This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the dark store model, its implementation, and its impact on last-mile delivery. Through a series of case studies and empirical research, this paper examines the key features, operational strategies, and performance outcomes associated with dark stores. Furthermore, it explores the implications of the dark store model for e-commerce businesses, logistics providers, and urban infrastructure. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for companies seeking to optimize their last-mile delivery operations and enhance customer experience in the digital age

Lean vs agile project management in construction: impacts on project performance outcomes

PurposeThe present research aims to investigate how lean project management (LPM) and agile project management (APM) affect project performance outcomes in the construction sector in Jordan. This study focuses on six key project performance outcomes, namely cost, time, quality, client satisfaction, innovation and responsiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe present study employed a quantitative approach to achieve the research objectives. Accordingly, a multi-item survey questionnaire was prepared to gather data from 392 project managers from construction companies in Jordan. The study’s model showed acceptable levels regarding reliability, validity, fit indices and discriminant validity. In order to test the hypotheses of this study, path analysis was employed using Amos 24.0 software.FindingsLPM demonstrated a remarkably high positive impact on cost performance. It also positively affected quality performance and client satisfaction. However, LPM insignificantly affected time, innovation and responsiveness performance measures. On the other hand, APM showed a notably high positive impact on innovation and responsiveness. The findings also revealed that APM positively impacted quality performance and client satisfaction. In addition, APM negatively impacted cost performance and insignificantly impacted time performance.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first comprehensive studies to empirically examine the impact of both LPM and APM on various project performance outcomes in the construction industry in the context of a developing country. It reveals some similarities and differences between LPM and APM with regard to their impacts on project management outcomes. The findings are expected to guide managers in selecting the appropriate project management approach based on the desired performance outcomes. Accordingly, it offers important implications for project managers in construction companies.

20 How do Producers and Nutritionists Determine Which Levers to Pull to Optimize Feed Cost and Profitability Under Differing Economic Conditions?

Abstract Numerous factors including geopolitical unrest, supply chain disruption, government policies, and hyperinflation have resulted in a global increase in the cost of feed ingredients. Pork producers and swine nutritionists continuously answer the tricky question of how to best manage feed costs to maximize profitability under an everchanging economic landscape. Applied nutritionists must design and implement feeding programs that take into account and balance several key nutrition levers including energy, SID lysine to energy ratio, SID amino acid to lysine ratios, and feed processing along with factors including ingredient prices, pork price, barn space, feed mill throughput, and pig livability. Biological and economical models are developed and utilized to assist with prediction of key performance and profitability outcomes leveraging results from published and unpublished controlled research trials along with historical production data. The objective of this presentation is to provide insights into the decision-making process for feeding program design and implementation under current and theoretical economic situations.

Clearing the hurdles: Revisiting the under-performance hypothesis for women-led VC funded firms

ABSTRACT This study revisits the female underperformance hypothesis by investigating the influence of CEO gender on key performance factors for VC funded firms from 2011–2016. We used a matched case-control sample approach to reduce the confounding influence of industry sector on gender differences for four key performance outcomes – total capital, raised total rounds of funding, successful exit or business failure. Results show gender does not predict funding raised or firm performance, and that key legitimacy markers, including elite education, external endorsement and high-status investors, offset potential gender discounts for women-led firms. Implications are that the female underperformance hypothesis should not be perpetuated as a legitimizing myth or stereotype predicting performance of women entrepreneurs in management studies. In practice, VCs should not rule out investments or expect poor performance based on CEO gender.

Pioneering digital platform ecosystems: The role of aligned capabilities and motives in shaping key choices and performance outcomes

AbstractResearch SummaryWe inductively analyze rich qualitative and quantitative data on the global census of pioneering mobile money firms to examine how firm characteristics shape digital platform ecosystem configuration choices regarding (a) internal versus external integration and (b) the creation of network externalities through open versus closed end‐user access. In contrast to received wisdom, we find pioneering firms were equally likely to engage in external and internal integration; moreover, diversifying entrants were less likely to internally integrate than startups. We uncover the important role of motives, in addition to capabilities, for creating alignment between pioneering firms and their partners. Such alignment was key for addressing path‐dependent implementation challenges through experimentation and navigating nascent industry uncertainty for success.Managerial SummaryOur study showcases how enterprising firms pioneered and diffused mobile money, a digital platform that improves access to financial services. The successful take‐off and growth of this industry, as revealed by our inductive analysis, was contingent on aligned capabilities and motives among platform co‐providers and critical partners. We illuminate why and how pioneer capabilities and motives influenced key platform choices regarding internal versus external integration, and open versus closed end‐user access. These choices then created different implementation challenges. The successful pioneers navigated these challenges to create a robust ecosystem for network effects by engaging in two actions: they developed lasting partner relationships, and they experimented to determine distinct demand segments, identify unmet needs, and develop value propositions.

Generation of reference cell lines, media, and a process platform for CHO cell biomanufacturing.

Due to the favorable attributes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for therapeutic proteins and antibodies biomanufacturing, companies generate proprietary cells with desirable phenotypes. One key attribute is the ability to stably express multi-gram per liter titers in chemically defined media. Cell, media, and feed diversity has limited community efforts to translate knowledge. Moreover, academic, and nonprofit researchers generally cannot study "industrially relevant" CHO cells due to limited public availability, and the time and knowledge required to generate such cells. To address these issues, a university-industrial consortium (Advanced Mammalian Biomanufacturing Innovation Center, AMBIC) has acquired two CHO "reference cell lines" from different lineages that express monoclonal antibodies. These reference cell lines have relevant production titers, key performance outcomes confirmed by multiple laboratories, and a detailed technology transfer protocol. In commercial media, titers over 2 g/L are reached. Fed-batch cultivation data from shake flask and scaled-down bioreactors is presented. Using productivity as the primary attribute, two academic sites aligned with tight reproducibility at each site. Further, a chemically defined media formulation was developed and evaluated in parallel to the commercial media. The goal of this work is to provide a universal, industrially relevant CHO culture platform to accelerate biomanufacturing innovation.

Green banking adoption practices: improving environmental, financial, and operational performance

PurposeThe increased concerns for the environment have led organizations, businesses and nations to act environmentally friendly. This has also pressurized the banking sector to adopt green practices. However, there is a dearth of studies related to green banking (G-banking) adoption practices (GBAP) on banking performance. Hence, by considering the resource-based view theory, this study aims to examine the impact of GBAP on banking performance, i.e. financial, operational and environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data was acquired from banking personnel in Pakistan using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire and a non-probability purposive selection technique. In total, 400 responses were gathered, on which data screening was performed to detect and delete outliers. On a useful sample of 360, partial least square-structural equation modeling was used to validate the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings revealed that GBAP positively affects the environmental, operational and financial performance of the banks. The findings further revealed that GBAP largely affects environmental performance followed by operational performance and financial performance, respectively.Practical implicationsThe study findings offer various insights to the policymakers and the banking sector to better implement G-banking practices in improving banking performance.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to look at the effect of GBAP on key performance outcomes, i.e. financial and operational performance. This study also verifies the use of resource-based perspective theory in the context of G-banking.

Six Months Of Objectively Measured Group Exercise Supports Adults Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines

PURPOSE: Physical inactivity is associated with a myriad of negative health outcomes and thus continues to be a public health concern. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights a need for novel health intervention strategies that improve moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity and resistance training levels. Group exercise is one built environment strategy that should be better leveraged to improve physical activity levels. METHODS: Study participants self-selected to engage in a commercially-available group exercise program. Workouts ranged from 45-90 minutes and included interval training on treadmills, rowers, and total body resistance training. All participants attended at least two classes weekly for 28 consecutive weeks, while wearing heart rate monitors (HRMs) to objectively assess intensity. RESULTS: Participants (n = 295; mean age: 39 ± 11 years; 72% female) attended an average of 4.5 ± 0.9 group exercise sessions per week for 28 weeks. Data from HRMs indicate that participants spent an average of 50 ± 5 minutes in vigorous intensity activity (defined as heart rate > 60% max; VPA) across all classes, with an average working HR of 139 + 10 beats per minute, equating to an average weekly VPA dose of 221 + 46 minutes (range: 134-398 minutes). Age was associated with VPA (r = 0.166, p = 0.04). No significant differences in workout attendance or time spent in VPA were observed between sexes (p = 0.29, p = 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This group exercise program provided a sustainable solution for adults to exceed VPA guidelines over a 6-month period. The availability of group exercise facilities in many communities facilitates access to long-term coaching, accountability, equipment, and a safe environment that should be used to improve public health. Future studies that include a control group, as well as pre-and post- data comparisons on key health and performance outcomes of interest, are warranted.

Co-creating an arts-based eye health education strategy in Zanzibar: process, outcomes and lessons learnt

IntroductionPublished examples of health programme co-creation are scarce and we found none in the field of eye care. We described the outcomes and lessons learnt from the ZANZIbar Arts for...

Effects of (In)Congruence in Leader-Team Proactive Personality

This research investigates the congruence and incongruence effects of leader-team proactive personality on team cohesiveness and collective team identification, which in turn affect team performance. Drawing on dominance complementarity theory, we propose that the incongruence of leader-team proactive personality exerts positive influence on team performance through team cohesiveness and collective team identification. In addition, we hypothesize that the congruence in leader-team proactive personality has an inverted-U shaped relationship with team cohesiveness and collective team identification, thus affecting subsequent team performance. Using a sample composed of 286 team leaders, 1,893 team members, and 286 manufacturing work teams, our hypothesized relationships received empirical support. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of how (in)congruence in personality traits functions differently at the team level. Our findings highlight both leader-team complementarity and a middle (rather than high/low) leader-team congruence in proactive personality facilitated key team processes and performance outcome.

Genesis of improved quality in imaging through a national Australian echocardiography registry.

BackgroundDespite rapid technological advances and growth, quality in imaging has not received the focus seen elsewhere in cardiovascular medicine, resulting in significant gaps between guidelines and practice. Contemporary echocardiography practice requires comprehensive real-time data collection to allow dynamic auditing and benchmarking of key performance indices. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) proposed additional data standardisation, structured reporting identifying key data elements and imaging registries. In the absence of an Australian echocardiography registry, we developed a national clinical quality registry (GenesisCare Cardiovascular Outcomes Echo Registry). We hypothesised that measurement and local reporting of data would improve compliance of echo studies with quality guidelines and hence their clinical value.Methods and resultsWe prospectively collected data on 4 099 281 echocardiographic studies entered directly into a central electronic database from 63 laboratories across four Australian states between 2010 and 2021. Real-time auditing of key data elements and introduction of quality improvement pathways were performed to maximise completeness and uniformity of data acquisition and reporting. We compared completeness of key data element acquisition (AV peak velocity, left ventricular ejection fraction, E/e’, LA area, rhythm, RVSP) by time and state using de-identified data. Key performance outcomes benchmarked against the aggregated study cohort and international standards were reported to individual sites to drive quality improvement. Between 2010 and 2014 there were significant improvements in data completeness (72.0%+/-26.8% vs 86.8%+/-13.5%, p=0.02), which were maintained to 2020. In addition, interstate variability fell for both EF and E/e’ (p<0.002).ConclusionsThis large-scale collaboration provides a platform for the development of major quality improvement initiatives in echocardiography. Introduction of local quality assurance programmes via a unified national data set significantly improved the completeness of reporting of key echo quality measures. This in turn significantly improved the quality of, and reduced the interstate variability of, echo data. Developing a centralised database allowed rapid adoption nationally of local quality improvements.

Measuring B2B social selling: Key activities, antecedents and performance outcomes

Sales research has widely noted the growing importance of social media in contemporary B2B selling. Yet, scholars have noted that measurement issues represent a challenge for advancing the study of social media use in selling, since research is lacking on high-rigour measures that provide insights into how salespersons are leveraging social media in their work. Accordingly, this study develops and validates activity-based measures for social selling based on two empirical studies. We find support for all three social selling dimensions of insight generation, connecting and engagement. The findings also extend the current knowledge about the outcomes of social selling by showing that salesperson thought leadership and acquisition performance mediate the sales performance relationship. On the antecedents' side, we show novel evidence that management plays a central role in boosting social selling among the sales force through social media strategy, social media sales tools and firm content support. In turn, sales technology orientation and social influence represent the key individual-level drivers.

Environmental differentiation from a supply chain practice view perspective

Differentiation can play an important part in helping managers develop and implement supply chain-wide sustainable practices. While differentiation is widely accepted as a key performance outcome of supply chain management (SCM) and logistics, its strategic role may help explain performance outcomes, something that has not been well explored in the SCM literature. In this research, we investigate one instance of supply chain differentiation, that of environmental differentiation (differentiation through innovative environmentally friendly products and processes), and its role as a strategy rather than as an outcome. We apply the Supply Chain Practice View (SCPV) to propose a theoretical model that highlights the strategic role of environmental differentiation in the relationship between a series of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices and performance outcomes. Structural equation modeling and survey data from over 300 U.S.-based companies are used to test the research hypotheses. Empirical results confirm the critical, mediating role of environmental differentiation in the link between SSCM practices and performance outcomes. Our findings suggest that implementing an environmental differentiation strategy led by integrative SSCM exchange relationships across members of the supply chain can be beneficial to firm performance.

Digital Transformation of Industrial Organizations: Toward an Integrated Framework

ABSTRACT Industrial organizations are responding to new risks and opportunities originating from exponentially growing and disruptive digital technologies, by taking company-wide digital transformation initiatives. However, the key enablers of such digital transformation initiatives that facilitate operational performance outcomes in industrial organizations demand further investigation. Therefore, drawing on the sociotechnical system theory (STS), the objective of this study is to explore the digital transformation enablers and their impact on performance outcomes. Research data was collected from four leading industrial organizations that engaged in digital transformation programmes. Our results indicate that leadership, structures, and culture are the key enablers of digital transformation that help industrial organizations to achieve performance outcomes (i.e. collaboration, customer-centricity, and agility). By providing an empirically grounded integrated framework with future research propositions, this study contributes to the existing literature on digital transformation and sociotechnical system theory. MAD statement This article aims to make a difference by exploring industrial digital transformation in order to identify the key enablers and performance outcomes. We highlight the need for alignment and joint optimization of social and technical systems to effectively capitalize on the digital transformation initiatives. Moreover, we call for urgent attention to the development of leaders, as well as the further identification of supportive digital transformation leadership competencies. Competent leaders assume a central role in correcting outdated and invalid assumptions, conceptualizing new ideas, and reinforcing cultural values. Furthermore, we elaborate the necessity of cultural transformation in industrial organizations for impactful digital transformation. Lastly, our findings confirm the significance of organizational structure in digital transformation and simultaneously warn that too little is happening.

Heat exposure effect on Ghanaian mining workers: A mediated-moderation approach

The lack of empirical evidence on the effect of heat exposure on the health and safety, productivity, psychological behaviour and social well-being outcomes of small- and large-scale mining workers in Africa has derailed concrete policy directions and interventions. An explanatory cross-sectional survey involving 320 small- and large-scale mining workers was used to assess this research gap. A path analysis was used to model health and safety, productivity, psychological behaviour and social well-being as a function of heat exposure, mediated and moderated by adaptation strategies and barriers, while controlling for age, gender, level of education, years of working experience and workplace environment. Significant direct adverse effects of heat exposure on mining workers' health and safety, productivity and psychological behaviour outcomes were found. Using a pick-a-point approach, significant difference was found in simple slopes (SS) for heat exposure on adaptation strategies at medium level of barriers and a trend toward significance at the high level of barriers. Except for health and safety outcomes, there were significant conditional indirect effects of heat exposure on the performance outcomes at the medium and high levels of barriers to adaptation strategies. However, there was no evidence of mediated-moderation for heat exposure and health and safety, productivity, psychological behaviour and social well-being outcomes. We have provided empirical evidence to establish heat exposure effect on key performance outcomes of mining workers to initiate and guide the formulation of heat exposure management policies.

A Failed Cardiac Surgery Program in an Underserved Minority Population County Reimagined: The Power of Partnership.

BackgroundPrince George's County Maryland, historically a medically underserved region, has a population of 909 327 and a high incidence of cardiometabolic syndrome and hypertension. Application of level I evidence practices in such areas requires the availability of highly advanced cardiovascular interventions. Donabedian principles of quality of care were applied to a failing cardiac surgery program. We hypothesized that a multidisciplinary application of this model supported by partnership with a university hospital system could result in improved quality care outcomes.Methods and ResultsA 6‐month assessment and planning process commenced in July 2014. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative protocols were developed before program restart. Staff education and training was conducted via team simulation and rehearsal sessions. A total of 425 patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures. Quality tracking of key performance measures was conducted, and 323 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures were performed from July 2014 to December 2019. Key risk factors in our patient demographic were higher than the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national mean. Risk‐adjusted outcome data yielded a mortality rate of 0.3% versus 2.2% nationally. The overall major complication rate was lower than expected at 7.1% compared with 11.5% nationally. Readmission rate was less than the Society of Thoracic Surgeons mean for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (4.0% versus 10.1%, P<0.0001). Significant differences in 6 key performance outcomes were noted, leading to a 3‐star Society of Thoracic Surgeons designation in 7 of 8 tracking periods.ConclusionsExcellent outcomes in cardiac surgery are attainable following program renovation in an underserved region in the setting of low volume. The principles and processes applied have potential broad application for any quality improvement effort.

Autism and inclusive practices: mothers speak out

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the role of Mothers of young adults on the autism spectrum in Australia, during the transition to adulthood. Data collected through interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis resulting in two themes relevant to autism and inclusive practices: Inclusion Support and Mothers’ Support. The findings showed that organisational pressure in meeting key educational performance outcomes influenced inclusive practices specifically for young adults on the autism spectrum who were deemed to require high levels of support. The inclusion support theme highlighted that schools, universities, and employers viewed Autism Spectrum Disorder through a deficit lens, with young adults on the autism spectrum positioned as low achievers. Whilst there are policies supporting inclusive education in Australia, individuals on the autism spectrum continue to experience inequity and exclusion, which were challenged by Mothers’ persistence and reflected in the second theme on Mothers Support. The findings highlight the need for educational and socially inclusive interventions to support the heterogeneity in individual, social, communication, and behavioural challenges in young adults on the autism spectrum.

Investing in HR? Human resource function investments and labor productivity in US organizations

This study provides an empirical examination of the relationship between organizational investments directed toward the human resource (HR) function and a key performance outcome – labor productivity. Utilizing a multiple constituency perspective of the HR function, we proposed that organizational investments of financial resources into their HR functions will influence labor productivity; and that the availability of professional HR staff and implementation of high performance work systems will moderate this relationship. Utilizing a sample of 475 organizations drawn from multiple locations and sectors in the United States, we found that HR function investments predicted labor productivity, and the proportion of HR staff occupying professional/technical roles moderated (enhanced) the HR function investment-labor productivity relationship. However, the HR function investment-productivity relationship was found to be stronger in organizations with low (as opposed to high) levels of high performance work systems. We discuss these findings within the context of increasing demand on the HR function to demonstrate returns on investments.

Sport Biomechanics Applications Using Inertial, Force, and EMG Sensors: A Literature Overview.

In the last few decades, a number of technological developments have advanced the spread of wearable sensors for the assessment of human motion. These sensors have been also developed to assess athletes' performance, providing useful guidelines for coaching, as well as for injury prevention. The data from these sensors provides key performance outcomes as well as more detailed kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data that provides insight into how the performance was obtained. From this perspective, inertial sensors, force sensors, and electromyography appear to be the most appropriate wearable sensors to use. Several studies were conducted to verify the feasibility of using wearable sensors for sport applications by using both commercially available and customized sensors. The present study seeks to provide an overview of sport biomechanics applications found from recent literature using wearable sensors, highlighting some information related to the used sensors and analysis methods. From the literature review results, it appears that inertial sensors are the most widespread sensors for assessing athletes' performance; however, there still exist applications for force sensors and electromyography in this context. The main sport assessed in the studies was running, even though the range of sports examined was quite high. The provided overview can be useful for researchers, athletes, and coaches to understand the technologies currently available for sport performance assessment.