Management Tool Research Articles

Public-Private Partnerships in the Healthcare Sector and Sustainability: Managerial Insights from a Systematic Literature Review

This article aims to critically understand the current state of the art of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the health sector and to highlight implications useful for implementing sustainability-oriented PPPs. By employing text mining to analyze the sampled articles, we identify the main themes distinguishing healthcare PPPs and sustainability. We critically discuss the narrative underlying the results achieved in terms of emerging topics: governance, managerial tools, barriers, advantages/disadvantages, and big data. Finally, we propose a literature-driven framework on PPP management that identifies implications – systemic approach, technical managerial skills, governance balance, operational instruments – that can facilitate the development of sustainability-oriented PPPs in the healthcare sector.

Future ecosystem business model tool: Design science and field test in the efuel ecosystem towards the sustainability transition

This paper presents a novel business model design tool called Future ecosystem business model (FEBM). The FEBM aims to address the lack of managerial tools linking business models, foresight, and ecosystem strategizing in the context of systemic technological changes, as those characterizing the sustainability transition in a multi-level perspective. The tool has been shaped through a design science approach building on a structured review of the literature. A field test was conducted through a case study to test the proposed tool. The empirical context was that of a publicly funded project in the field of electrofuels (efuels). The project foresaw the development and integration of several technologies, whose adoption was likely to have significant implications within and across industries. The proposed approach contributes to the literature on business model design in the context of technology-driven transformations characterized by high uncertainty and interdependence, such as those related to the sustainability transition. Strategy and innovation managers may find in the proposed FEBM tool an actionable approach to shape decision-making against far-reaching technological and societal challenges.

Practices of Management Accounting Techniques in Service Sector Public Enterprises in Nepal

Management accounting is the act of making sense of financial and costing data and translating that data into useful information for management and officers within an organization. This research aims at examining the practice of management accounting and the major difficulties in applying management accounting tools in the public enterprises of the service sector of Nepal. It also tries to assess the impact of management accounting system on the performance of sampled organizations. The specific survey research has been followed with a descriptive-analytical approach. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from the respondents which were analyzed by the multiple correlation and regression model. The study employed simple judgmental sampling procedure to draw the samples. Out of the seven public enterprises in Nepal that operate in the service sector five were selected as the samples. The results revealed that there is a significant impact of management accounting systems on organizational performance. The study suggested to implement the effective managerial tools and techniques a separate managerial accounting department should be established within an organization. The study also recommended that academicians who have better knowledge about MA tools and techniques should put in the effort to develop environmentally friendly tools and techniques into practice and also to keep management accounting information system. It helps to keep them informed from time to time about every aspect of MA and its application.

Does Citizen Feedback Influence Public Service Motivation? Evidence From a Survey Experiment in the Context of Urban Service Provisions

Despite the growing interest of research on public service motivation (PSM), limited studies have considered the interaction between street-level bureaucrats and citizens. This study examined the impact of citizen feedback on PSM among street-level bureaucrats. Anchoring on the social exchange theory, this research posits that citizen feedback plays a pivotal role in influencing PSM. Using a vignette–survey experiment in the context of urban service provisions in Magelang city, Indonesia, this study empirically tested the causal relationship between citizen feedback and PSM. The finding reveals empirical evidence that positive citizen feedback enhances PSM, while, conversely, negative feedback diminishes PSM. These results underscore the importance of citizen feedback as an alternative managerial tool to motivate street-level bureaucrats who directly engage in service delivery. Public managers can also use these findings as a starting point to design a citizen feedback handling system in public service delivery.

The power of machine learning methods to predict crowdfunding success: Accounting for complex relationships efficiently

The objective of this paper is to both demonstrate and explain the power of machine learning (ML) methods to predict crowdfunding success. The first step to achieve this objective is to compare the predictive performance of four ML methods (boosted trees, random forest, Shallow Neural Networks and Deep Neural Networks) to standard binary logit estimation using a dataset of more than 108,223 Kickstarter projects. The data used for the comparison is a set of categorical and continuous variables for each project that can be analyzed using all 5 modelling methods. The second step to achieve the objective is to show that the presence of complex relationships between the explanatory variables and outcome variable explains the power of ML methods. These relationships can be categorized as threshold-type (when a certain level of a explanatory variable is need for an effect to occur), Goldilocks-type (where a very specific level of an explanatory variable is needed for an effect to occur) and interactions (where the effect of one explanatory variable on the outcome variable is moderated by the levels of other explanatory variables). Our estimations show that these relationships are embedded in the context of crowdfunding. Because crowdfunding is a marketing activity, factors like attention, saturation, and synergy between levers are pervasive. It is because machine learning has the ability to account for these relationships (without knowing where they are in advance) that these methods are both better predictors and better managerial tools than standard binary logit models. We further show that even greater prediction power is unleashed by activating the text-analysis capabilities of ML methods. However, even when this is not possible, the value realized by employing ML approaches to predict crowdfunding success is substantial.

The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Perceived Stress Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy via inhalation as a stress management modality for patients in cardiac rehabilitation. This was a quasi-experimental design. Aromatherapy was provided via inhalation to participants before a cardiac rehabilitation session over 8 minutes using lavender essential oil. The same protocol was used in the non-aromatherapy session without the essential oil. Blood pressure and radial pulse were measured, and subjective data were also collected including assessment of stress level (1-10 scale) and affect using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics version 20. Quantitative measures were analyzed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric equivalent to the t test. Inferential measures were analyzed using the χ 2 or Fisher's exact test. In the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, 25 patients participated in this study. The average change in negative affect (PANAS-) between pre and post-aromatherapy compared with pre- and post-non-aromatherapy sessions was statistically significant. Results showed a reduction in blood pressure following both aromatherapy and non-aromatherapy sessions with no statistical significance between sessions. Heart rate decreased equally post-aromatherapy and non-aromatherapy sessions. Aromatherapy may be a useful stress management tool for cardiac rehabilitation patients.

СПЕЦИФИКА SWOT-АНАЛИЗА КАК ИНСТРУМЕНТА СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ

This article presents the definition and ana-lyzes the specifics of such a strategic man-agement tool as SWOT analysis. The au-thors reveal the role and characteristics of the components of the analytical method, determine the importance of additional tools when analyzing the macroenvironment of an enterprise. A study of a non-profit project and its results is presented and an inde-pendent assessment of the qualitative con-tent of the SWOT analysis of the project under consideration is carried out, con-clusions about the dependence of the effec-tiveness of the results obtained on the hu-man factor are reflected. The characteristics of the use of SWOT analysis as an inde-pendent tool of strategic management are derived.

Impacts of the Ban on the Soil-Applied Fumigant Methyl Bromide.

The loss of the soil fumigant methyl bromide (MeBr) and adoption of soil fumigant alternatives has been challenging for farmers, particularly for those crops in which pathogens previously controlled by MeBr have emerged as significant problems, but it has resulted in some unanticipated benefits for the scientific community and the environment. Applauded as one of the most effective environmental agreements to date, the universally accepted Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances has had a significant impact on the environment, reducing the release of halogenated compounds from anthropogenic sources enough to mitigate global warming by an estimated 1.1°C by 2021. The funding associated with various MeBr transition programs has increased collaboration across scientific disciplines, commodity groups, industry, and regulatory agencies. Chemical alternatives and improved application strategies, including the development of gas-retentive agricultural films, coupled with sound efficacy data and grower ingenuity have resulted in the sustained production of many of the impacted crops; although there has been some loss of acreage and value, particularly for Florida fumigated crops, for some, value has continued to increase, allowing production to continue. The loss of a single, broad-spectrum tool for pest control has led to a deeper understanding of the specific pest complexes impacting these at-risk crops, as well as the development of new, biologically based management tools for their control while increasing our understanding of the role of the soil microbiome in pest control and crop production.

Unlocking Continuous Improvement in Heart Failure Remote Monitoring: A Participatory Approach to Unveil Value Dimensions and Performance Indicators.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) constitutes a public health concern affecting quality of life, survival, and costs. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) can enhance HF management, involving patients actively and improving follow-up. While current HF RPM assessments emphasise cost-effectiveness analysis, there is a need to consider wider RPM impacts and integrate stakeholders' perspectives into assessments for better comprehensiveness. Methods: We developed a four-stage participatory approach to select value dimensions and indicators for continuous HF RPM assessment: Stage 1 involved building a literature-informed initial list; Stage 2 utilized expert interviews for validation and list expansion; Stage 3 involved a web-Delphi process with Portuguese stakeholders and experts for agreement assessment; and Stage 4 included a conclusive expert interview. Results: A literature review identified fourteen studies on telehealth, RPM, and HF, informing an initial list of four value dimensions (Access, Clinical aspects, Acceptability, and Costs) and 22 indicators. Seven semistructured interviews validated and further adjusted the list to 38 indicators. Subsequently, the web-Delphi process engaged 29 stakeholders, giving their opinions regarding assessment aspects' relevance and proposing additional elements - 1 dimension and 12 indicators. Five value dimensions and 38 indicators (76.0%) reached group agreement for selection, while 12 did not reach an agreement. Upon expert appreciation, 5 dimensions, 43 indicators, and 6 case-mix parameters were considered relevant. Discussion: This comprehensive social approach captured diverse stakeholder perspectives, achieving agreement on pertinent HF RPM monitoring and evaluation indicators. Findings can inform visualization and management tool development, aiding day-to-day RPM evaluation and identification of improvement opportunities.

Training on Reference Manager Tool (Mendeley) for Students of Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu

Reference Manager Tool (Mendeley) training for students at the Faculty of Islamic Religion, Muhammadiyah University was carried out with the aim of assisting students in creating bibliographies automatically and searching for references from leading international and national journals that have accreditation, especially in writing quotations. Training is carried out through lecture methods, practice and question and answer sessions led by the team. This activity was held at campus IV, Muhammadiyah University on Wednesday, December 6 2023, with the participation of 95 students from the Faculty of Islamic Religion, Muhammadiyah University, Bengkulu. The implementation of this service uses several techniques, namely lectures, discussions and demonstrations. The implementation stages of this service consist of several opening and introduction sessions, introduction to Mendeley installation and initial preparation, Mendeley account creation, main feature training, reference organization, use of citation tools, making a bibliography, question and answer sessions and practice. This service concludes that 80% of students understand well how to insert citations and create a bibliography using Mendeley. This service provides significant benefits and makes a positive contribution in preparing students at the Faculty of Islamic Religion, Muhammadiyah University of Bengkulu to face academic challenges, as well as assisting in producing more structured written work. Some suggestions that should be considered for better implementation of service include conducting initial surveys to identify student knowledge and needs, providing complete and easily accessible training materials in various formats, conducting evaluations and collecting feedback from training participants to improve and adjust the program in the future.

The impact of ESG performance, reporting framework, and reporting assurance on the tone of ESG disclosures: Evidence from Chinese listed firms

This study explores the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework adoption, and ESG reporting assurance on the tone of ESG disclosures among Chinese listed firms. The research analyzes a dataset of 5985 observations from Chinese listed companies. It employs empirical methods to examine the relationships between ESG performance, GRI framework adoption, ESG reporting assurance, and ESG disclosure tone. The study finds a positive link between high ESG performance and a more optimistic ESG reporting tone, aligning with signalling theory. Conversely, adopting the GRI framework and ESG reporting assurance limits the use of positive tones, consistent with impression management principles. This underscores the importance of governance mechanisms in influencing responsible reporting and mitigating corporate hypocrisy. Additional tests affirm these findings, addressing potential endogeneity concerns. This study contributes to the existing literature on ESG reporting by providing empirical evidence on the influence of ESG performance and managerial tools on reporting tones. It establishes a positive link between ESG performance and ESG reporting tone and highlights the governance function of ESG reporting assurance and the GRI framework in curtailing managerial tendencies to manipulate tone. The paper bridges a research gap by responding to calls for more research into what drives the tone of ESG information. It cements the relevance of signalling theory in ESG and affirms that the deployment of GRI and ESG reporting assurance can serve as tools to inhibit impression management.

Putting the pieces together: towards an integrative framework for healthcare performance

PurposeIn the past few decades, performance measuring systems have become important managerial tools for healthcare organizations. Healthcare performance metrics are a useful tool in understanding how healthcare organizations achieve their goals while satisfying the needs of their patients and conforming to national and international standards. Various efforts have been made to assess healthcare performance. Most of these measures are focused on a single perspective or developed by a single source to meet management and strategic objectives on time.Design/methodology/approachWe develop a review of the literature to shed light on the measures used to assess performance in the healthcare sector at various points in time, as well as to establish a thorough understanding of healthcare performance measurement.FindingsDeveloping real-time digital traceability of metrics and an integrative perspective that increases the actionability of information acquired is an attractive potential made possible by the introduction of new technologies and the digitization of data.Originality/valueWe conclude that a proper measurement system should be one to combine patient, physician, non-medical staff and system perspective, which will further facilitate the assessment of healthcare performance and the comparative function.

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Vermicompost to Manage Bottom Rot in Organic Lettuce.

Rhizoctonia solani Kühn (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris [Frank] Donk) is an aggressive soilborne pathogen with a wide host range that survives saprophytically between crops, presenting a challenge for organic vegetable farmers who lack effective management tools. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at two organic farms to compare anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and worm-cured compost (vermicompost) to manage bottom rot caused by R. solani subspecies AG1-IB in field-grown organic lettuce (Lactuca sativa). At each farm, four replicate plots of seven treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Randomization was restricted by grouping treatments to evaluate ASD, and treatments to evaluate vermicompost in starter plugs. ASD experiment treatments were three different ASD carbon sources that are commonly used and widely available to local farmers in Vermont: compost, cover crop residues, and poultry manure fertilizer, as well as a tarped control. Vermicompost experimental treatments were vermicompost compared with two types of controls: a commercial biocontrol product (RootShield PLUS + G), and unamended (untarped control). This study demonstrated that the ASD method is achievable in a field setting on Vermont farms. However, neither ASD nor vermicompost produced significant disease suppression or resulted in higher marketable yields than standard growing practices. Given the laborious nature of ASD, it is likely more appropriate in a greenhouse setting with high-value crops that could especially benefit from being grown in plastic tarped beds (e.g., tomatoes and strawberries). This study is the first known attempt of field-implemented ASD for soil pathogen control in the northeastern United States.

The issue of corporate mandatory standards in production improvement programmes

Purpose: This paper aims to explore and describe how companies manage the level of standardisation of improvement practices in a multisite context. It seeks to explain the managerial strategies applied to change the standardisation level in manufacturing companies with multiple production sites worldwide.Design/methodology/approach: This paper collects data through interviews, observations and company documents from a large multinational producing company and, specifically, from of the largest production sites in the company. The research design resembles a grounded theory approach by being reflexive and open to emerging themes. The standardisation strategy was analysed at a company that strived to increase the standardisation of problem-solving practices within about 20 production sites as part of their corporate lean programme.Findings: Several managerial tools were applied at the corporate level to increase the standardisation level of problem-solving practices, such as developing standards and a company-specific toolbox aligned with an in-house maturity model. In addition, deploying change leaders and global implementation targets enabled audits and progress. However, consequences at the production-site level became minor adaptations of standards, the design of training models as a "roll-out", and a resource-demanding implementation process.Originality/Value: This paper empirically demonstrates strategic tools that corporate management teams apply to influence the company's standardisation level of practices. The study describes the purpose and consequences of the design of the toolbox, maturity model, training model, and implementation targets, which aims to simplify the complex task of managing standardisation in a corporate group. By applying a knowledge-based view, four processes (i.e. adaptation, integration, upskilling, and learning) were identified to improve the management strategies in multisite contexts.

Enhancing the Efficiency of the Individual Case Safety Report (ICSR) Quality and Compliance through Automation.

Over the past few years, major inspection findings have been identified in the "management of adverse reactions" that may be due to increasing workload in pharmaceutical organizations impacting the correctness of information in individual case safety reports (ICSRs). Although retrospective quality check (Retro-QC) and late submission analyses are important steps in ensuring ICSR quality, their manual application poses several challenges that can be overcome through automation. To improve the efficiency of the Retro-QC analysis and late submission analysis using a computer-operated tool called Compliance and Metrics Management (CMM) tool, and to measure the tool's effectiveness in terms of productivity, time, and cost savings by comparing against the manual process. Time savings were calculated by measuring the difference in time taken during the manual process versus the automated process. Cost savings were measured in terms of hourly remuneration for the time saved. Productivity was calculated as the difference between the number of cases handled in the manual versus automated process. Thus, the overall efficiency was measured in terms of time and cost savings along with increased productivity. Automation resulted in time savings of 49% and cost savings of 43% for Retro-QC analysis, and the productivity level increased by 67%. For late submission analysis, the CMM tool resulted in time savings of 88% and cost savings of 87%. CMM tool enhanced the efficiency of both Retro-QC and late submission analyses by increasing productivity along with time and cost savings. It also reduced the number of errors, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the process and overall compliance.

The Relationship Between the Level of Administrative Performance and The Level of Administrative Creativity Among the Administrative Members of The Golden Square Clubs in The Iraqi League

This study aims to identify the relationship between the level of administrative performance and the level of administrative creativity among of the administrative members of the Golden Square clubs in the Iraqi league. Additionally, it sought to identify differences in the level of managerial performance and managerial creativity among the administrative members of the Golden Square Clubs in the Iraqi League based on the variables of educational qualification and specialization. To achieve this objective, the study was carried out with a sample of forty-eight (48) administrative members of the Golden Square Clubs. Two study instruments were prepared for data collection. The first instrument was the managerial performance tool consisting of 39 items distributed across four areas (planning, organizing and coordinating, directing and controlling, communication and decision-making). The second instrument was the managerial creativity tool consisting of 38 items distributed across four areas (encouraging creativity, problem-solving and decision-making, adaptability to change, spirit of risk-taking). The results of this study indicated that the managerial performance of the administrative members in the Golden Square Clubs was high, with a response rate of 74.93%. However, managerial creativity among the administrative members in Iraqi sports clubs was average, with a response rate of 71.23%. These results also revealed a statistically significant positive correlation at a significance level of 0.05 between the level of managerial performance and managerial creativity among the administrative members in Iraqi sports clubs. The correlation coefficient was high, reaching a value of 0.84. Furthermore, the study identified statistically significant differences at a significance level of 0.05 in the level of managerial performance among the administrative members in Iraqi sports clubs, attributed to the variables of educational qualification and specialization.

Developing Strategies For Mitigating Losses in The Water Supply System of The Jerimum Site in Missão Velha-Ce: A Focus on The Relationship Between Water and Society

Objective: It is intended to analyze the efficiency of the use of water resources in the Water Supply System (SAA) of the Jerimum Site in Missão Velha-CE, through the monitoring of water losses in the distribution system, in order to propose mitigation measures and control of waste. Method: This qualitative and exploratory study used a bibliographic procedure to investigate the effectiveness of the distribution system of the SAA of the Jerimum Site managed by the Integrated Rural Sanitation System (SISAR). Data collection was carried out through meetings with community leaders and the general population served by the system, analysis of the Loss in Distribution index (IPD) in the period from 2018 to 2022, consultation of the SISAR spreadsheet related to loss control and inspection of the SAA. Results of the research and discussions: The results obtained revealed that the distribution system of the SAA of Sítio Jerimum is considered inefficient, as it does not meet the minimum limit established for IPD of up to 25%, as determined by Ordinance No. 490/2021. The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied in the field of SAA management, specifically rural ones. Research Implications: The research contributes to the literature for its practical propositions about the fight against water losses. In addition to implying the awareness of the population of Sítio Jerimum, Missão Velha-CE, to reduce losses in their SSA. Originality/value: The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by identifying that an efficient management to combat losses requires attention in the technical, inspection and socio-environmental pillars. Thus, this research offers environmental managers tools to verify the efficiency of SAA in terms of water loss control, and consequently ways to reduce loss rates.

Risk Coupling Assessment of Vehicle Scheduling for Shipyard in a Complicated Road Environment

Vehicle scheduling at shipyards can involve delays due to numerous risk factors encountered in the complicated shipyard road environment. This paper studies the problems of risk coupling in shipyard vehicle scheduling based on the risk matrix approach, considering the complicated road environment, assessing the degrees of coupling and disorder. Based on safety-engineering theory and comprehensive analysis of the road environment, four key criteria are identified, vehicles, the road environment, the working environment, and humans, including 12 factors and their specific contents. The degree of coupling between various combinations of risk criteria is quantitatively determined utilizing the N-K model. Additionally, the degree of disorder in the risk criteria is assessed based on information entropy theory. The model’s correction coefficients are determined through comparative analysis of experimental data. By integrating the degree of coupling and disorder, delays caused by different combinations of risk criteria in scheduling tasks are computed. The quantitative evaluation model enables accurate appraisal of risk events during shipyard vehicle scheduling. The model provides a valuable managerial tool to analyze delays caused when specific risk criteria are met and to compare these delays to the potential impact on time resulting from adjusting vehicle scheduling plans. This research has significant implications for enhancing vehicle distribution efficiency in shipyards.

Machine Learning as Managerial Tool: A Case Study in ADNOC

In the current business environment, managers are facing challenges in managing different kinds of people. They find it difficult to track, evaluate, and manage employees in a fast-paced work setting. Machine learning is an emerging concept that deals with unsupervised and supervised learning of a machine to provide a usable system. In this matter, this paper aims to investigate how companies can leverage the use of machine learning in people management and in improving the performance, productivity, and motivation of employees and managers. Thus, the research used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to examine the impact of machine learning in an organizational setting.

Trends in Knowledge Capturing and Its Success Factors: A Systematic Literature Review

Knowledge management (KM) is a systematic approach that facilitates the development, dissemination, and creation of value from information and knowledge within an organization. Knowledge management is deemed the most valuable asset for many organizations. However, the implementation of a knowledge capturing model is still a challenging task. In this research, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology is employed to identify and analyze diverse approaches to capturing and utilizing knowledge in various organizational domains. The search process is executed across five databases, namely, Scopus, Science Direct, Emerald Insight, Taylor & Francis Online, and IEEE. The study findings reveal a total of 24 knowledge capture methods employed across diverse organizational contexts and knowledge types. Among these methods, the questionnaire was mentioned in 4 articles, an interview in 2 articles, and an expert interview in two articles. The success factors were classified into 20 types, including common knowledge, organizational capabilities, quality of knowledge, trust and acceptance, leadership capabilities, feedback and learning, performance measurement, reward and recognition, efficiency, knowledge management integration, organizational culture, knowledge managers tools and techniques, effectiveness, motivation, information technology, and knowledge management process, training, knowledge representation, and collaboration. Additionally, the identified trending methods and eight key success factors that influence implementation of various knowledge capture models add a new understanding of the critical elements for success in knowledge capture initiatives. This review, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, provides a foundation for future research efforts in knowledge acquisition and systematic literature review.