Organizational Resource Allocation Research Articles

TRANSFORMATION OF FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: GOVERNANCE BETWEEN THE CATHEDRAL AND BAZAAR

ABSTRACT It is common for community-based free software projects to be associated with an organizational scenario that resembles “a bazaar more than a cathedral,” and to differ from the traditional, or ‘bureaucratic’ way of organizing work. This paper analyzes the governance of these organizations from the perspective of their structure and control, considering the development trajectory of three community-based free software projects in Brazil. Results show that the constant need to produce modern technologies gives rise to external pressures that promote change - albeit temporary - in the governance of these projects, making them resemble a cathedral more than a bazaar. Governance does not follow a cycle of sequential improvement; it changes depending on the external organizational actors present, such as sponsors. This suggests the need for strategic and flexible governance to deal with the acquisition and allocation of organizational resources. Governance of the projects described here varies along a spectrum of (in)formality that allows both production models - cathedral or bazaar - to exist in the same organization at different periods.

Organizational Resource Allocation by Mobile Edge Computing in the Context of the Internet of Things

In recent years, the number of electronic devices and users has increased sharply with the rapid development and progress of electronic information technology. The motivation of this paper is to optimize the organization’s resource allocation strategy in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment. The optimal path planning and information processing efficiency are improved through Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and migration optimization algorithm. The research method is migration optimization algorithm and UAV dynamic network. The information processing capability of traditional wireless communication systems has gradually been unable to meet the actual information processing needs. Therefore, a static network migration algorithm is constructed based on multiple-user multilateral edge computing servers. It migrates each user’s information processing task to the neighboring edge confidence processing server and uses the information processing server to perform auxiliary calculations. The simulation model adds a utility function that simulates energy consumption, delay weighting, and maximum extreme value, combined with the allocation strategy of optimizing each user’s information processing task to achieve the optimization goal. The static network migration algorithm established in this simulation has better results than other benchmark algorithms. Both scenario 1 and scenario 2 in the simulation show very close performance to the optimal solution. Meanwhile, a migration algorithm that can provide wireless charging for UAVs is built by a dynamic edge computing model based on the time associated with the UAV base station and multiple end users. Combined with completing the information processing tasks in each time slot, the energy arrival is also non-directional. The dynamic network migration algorithm can optimize the number of tasks absorbed by the end-user based on the current online status of the system without knowing the global information. The optimized target equation is related to the queue stability, and the parameter V has a linear relationship with the queue backlog length. Here, the problem of computing migration is studied in Mobile Edge Computing (MEC). The results show that the utility function of the weighted sum has an approximately linear relationship with the weights. As the value of the utility function increases, so does the weight function. The optimal data throughput of the proposed model is 70,000 bits, while the optimal data throughput of the state-of-the-art model is 68,000 bits. Therefore, the data transmission performance of the model presented here is better than that of other models. MEC can be significantly improved the efficiency of organizational resource allocation. Combining UAV and wireless charging technology, the computing and communication resource allocation issues of the UAV’s edge computing system are comprehensively discussed to improve the performance and efficiency of the network.

Modeling of resource allocation in industrial organizations

The paper analyzes the possibilities of modeling the distribution of resources in organizations. A methodology has been developed on the basis of which stocks of parts of heating equipment are managed. An adaptive model with dynamic parameter adjustment has been developed; A simulation model with algorithmization of the search engine optimization system has been developed. A simulation model with unplanned needs for spare parts for heating equipment has been developed. The results of the simulation demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Who really counts in Iran's National Food Assistance Program? Lessons from multi-stakeholder processes in the wicked policy area of food security.

Multi-stakeholder processes - as a necessary part in the development of public policies - can provide diverse perspectives to inform and to improve food security policy-making. Iran's National Food Assistance Program (NFAP) is one of the major welfare programs in Iran that reduces food insecutiry to low-income households. This study aimed to identify and to categorize actual and potential stakeholders in NFAP using the stakeholder salience model. According to Mitchell's theory, stakeholders' attributes (power, legitimacy, and urgency) were assessed based on the nature of their interactions, roles, and level of engagement. Results revealed a number of significant but marginalized stakeholders, including Iranian Ministry of Health (office of community nutrition improvement), academia, center for food and nutrition research, target group, charities, and international organizations, who have not received any targeted organizational attention and priority to their claims. The unbalanced attention provided to some stakeholder groups characterized as "definitive" and "dominant" and ignoring some important ones will jeopardize long-term viability and undermine support for the program with inevitable declines in legitimacy. Understanding the change in the stakeholders' characteristics is the main variable to determine the allocation of organizational resources in response to different and rising stakeholders' demands and possibly the projects outcomes. This will facilitate and enhance the possibility of knowledge exchange and learning, and greater trust among stakeholders during the food and nutrition policy-making process.

Headquarters Resource Allocation within Multinational Corporations: Antecedents, Consequences, and Related Methodological Issues

The allocation of HQ resources to entrepreneurial initiatives in subsidiaries is crucial to their realization. However, such allocation does not always follow rational decision making, and corporations potentially forego important opportunities while financing unpromising ones. I investigate biases of senior headquarters managers in the allocation of financial resources to subsidiary initiatives, as well as consequences of organizational and human resource allocation on the operational management practices of MNC subsidiaries. My doctoral research further entails important methodological findings regarding survey methods used in my dissertation and their implications for practitioners and academics relying on the insights published in the top IB journals.

Web-Based DSS for Resource Allocation in Higher Education

The allocation of scarce resources is a complex higher education decision problem, especially when it comes to budget constraints. Therefore, the authors propose a multicriteria web-based decision support system for resource allocation in higher education organizations. To do so, they define an MCDA/M resource allocation model, based on a project portfolio selection problem to set the percentage of the total budget that every alternative should receive. For the web-based DSS, they develop a database model to store and retrieve data, define the user's interface, and they use a web platform to transform the prototype into a web-based system. Also, they run an empirical analysis with an end-user to test the DSS. They show that the system can provide a clear vision of how the resource allocation system works; the mechanism as a whole becomes more transparent to those involved, enabling them to make efficient and reasonable decisions.

Information Technology on Economic Growth and Stability

This research aims to analyze how the role of information technology on economic growth and stability. Information technology at this time can be an important indicator of economic growth and stability. It is hoped that with information technology, a country can increase the production of goods and services. This research used descriptive qualitative in nature and with a literature review. The sample in this study is the growth and stability that occurs in various countries, especially Indonesia. This research discusses how information technology helps in increasing growth and stability in a country. The results of this study indicate that information technology is very influential on economic growth and stability. The role of information technology has the most influence on economic growth is to increase the effectiveness of resource allocation in organizations by 85.2%. and 77.8% of the response to information technology can increase the amount of investment in a company. The use of information technology will also speed up the production process by reducing the time needed to sort components and raw materials while reducing the potential for errors. it can be concluded that information technology is very influential in the economic growth rate of 96.3% respondents

Rethinking corporate governance in the digital economy: The role of stewardship

Digital technologies are increasingly changing the nature of competition and generating externalities that impact society. On the one hand, digitalization allows organizations to create substantial economic value in shorter periods of time through improved economies of scale, scope, and learning, resulting is increasing returns on capital and competitive concentration. On the other hand, ensuing societal concerns with inequities, regulatory lapses, and lack of transparency and truthfulness represent significant challenges for effective corporate governance. This article addresses the consequences to stakeholders that emerge from the digital economy, discussing how traditional governance mechanisms are ill-equipped to subvert negative externalities. We offer a stewardship-based model of corporate governance as a solution to the pressing problems plaguing consumers, employees, and other salient stakeholders of digital business excesses, with an emphasis on truthful disclosures, enhanced transparency, improvements in equitable allocation of organizational resources, and heightened trust relationships. The focus is on the positive role that organizational leaders can play as exemplars of virtuous stewardship in a highly networked society. The article redefines a modern view of stewardship in a digital economy and applies its principles to the four Ts of virtuous stewardship, a practical corporate governance model that encompasses truthfulness, transparency, trust, and technological equity.

The Factors Affecting Unsafe Behaviors of Iranian Workers: AQualitative Study Based on Grounded Theory.

BackgroundSome researchers state that they are not yet able to provide a deep understanding of the underlying causes of unsafe behaviors (UBs). Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the attitudes and experiences of Iranian workers of UBs.MethodsThis present study was conducted in 35 industries using a semistructured interview based on grounded theory. Forty participants were interviewed, including 13 industrial safety and health experts and 27 workers and supervisors. The analysis of the present study consisted of a three-step coding process including open, axial, and selective coding.ResultsThe results showed that the factors affecting UBs could be classified into three categories: organizational, individual, and socioeconomic factors. Organizational factors were divided into 6 parts: procedure and environmental conditions, communications, monitoring, organizational safety culture, resource allocation, and human resources. Socioeconomic factors had three subcategories: community safety culture, type of organizational ownership, and economic problems. Finally, the individual factors were classified into two categories of personality traits and individual competence.ConclusionThe results showed that organizational factors were the most categorized, and it is estimated that this factor has a more important role in the UBs. Of course, to better understand the close relationship between these factors and find the weight and importance of each factor, it needs to measure it with multicriteria decision systems.

To what extent are the underlying concepts of integrated reporting applicable for hi-tech knowledge-based organizations?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the proper structure for the integrated reporting of hi-tech knowledge-based organizations (KBOs); in particular, the authors evaluate the appropriateness of the concept and elements of integrated reporting for hi-tech KBOs.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach, including an initial qualitative case study, then an instrument development phase (Delphi), and finally, a quantitative survey.FindingsThe resulting analysis concluded that hi-tech KBOs have the potential to prepare a simplified, integrated report. The organization overview, governance, business model, strategies and resource allocation, performance, opportunities and risks are the content elements relevant to be included in the hi-tech KBOs annual report. However, the organization’s future outlook is not confirmed to be included. Due to liability and competitive concerns, organizations do not provide targets, forecasts, projections or even scenarios.Research limitations/implicationsFocus on a single country and a small sample of interviewees participated.Practical implicationsThis paper concludes that the existing integrated reporting framework is useful for different types of organizations, but with some modifications. In addition, it analyzes how directors of Iranian hi-tech KBOs perceive and value content elements of integrated reporting.Social implicationsThis paper suggests that the fulfillment of corporate transparency for Iranian hi-tech KBOs can be achieved by the policymaker’s support on integrated reporting.Originality/valueIran is swiftly moving toward a knowledge-based economy, and hi-tech KBOs will become the powerhouse of the economy. It is important to understand how managers of Iranian hi-tech KBOs perceive and value integrated reporting. The previous practical studies are not focused on Iranian firms and the impacts of integrated reporting on hi-tech KBOs and its implementation and effectiveness had not been studied before.

How to Assign Scarce Resources Without Money: Designing Information Systems that are Efficient, Truthful, and (Pretty) Fair

Matching with preferences has great potential to coordinate the efficient allocation of scarce resources in organizations when monetary transfers are not available. It is well known that it is impossible to combine all three properties of truthfulness, efficiency, and fairness (i.e., envy freeness) in matching with preferences. Established mechanisms are either efficient or envy free, and the efficiency loss in envy-free mechanisms is substantial. We focus on a widespread representative of a matching problem: course assignment where students have preferences for courses and organizers have priorities over students. An important feature in course assignment is that a course has a maximum capacity and a minimum required quota. This is also a requirement in many other matching applications, such as school choice, hospital-residents matching, or the assignment of workers to jobs. We introduce RESPCT, a mechanism that respects minimum quotas and is truthful, efficient, and has low levels of envy. The reduction in envy is significant and is due to two remarkably effective heuristics. We provide analytical and experimental results based on field data from a large-scale course assignment application. These results have led to a policy change and the proposed assignment system is now being used to match hundreds of students every semester.

Inequality in the Time of Corona Virus

Inequality in the Time of Corona Virus

Why public organizations contribute to crosscutting policy programs: the role of structure, culture, and ministerial control

The extent to which public organizations contribute to crosscutting policy programs is a question of organizational commitment, resource allocation, and monitoring. In this paper, we triangulate survey and interview data to study the explanatory power of organizational factors to understand the extent of organizational adaptation to crosscutting policy programs. In line with the hypotheses, the organizational task, culture, and the portfolio minister’s level of control seem to explain the extent of adaptation. Policy development as a task has a positive effect on organizational adaptation. However, this effect disappears if we add cultural variables. The second model indicates that a customer-oriented culture has a negative effect on organizational adaptation, and an innovation-oriented culture has a positive one. The portfolio minister’s level of control has a strong positive effect on organizational adaptation. Apparently, incentives are needed to hold organizations accountable and provide them clear direction regarding their contribution to crosscutting objectives.

Are R&D-Intensive firms also corporate social responsibility specialists? A multicountry study

Seeking to obtain efficiency in the development and integration of knowledge about R&D and corporate social responsibility (CSR), firms face hard choices about their resource allocation to these two areas because of the specialized nature of knowledge and related barriers to integration. We address this organizational resource allocation dilemma by relaxing the common assumption that firms are either responsible or irresponsible and examining financial slack as a possible moderator. Using a multicountry sample of 1,957 firms over a 16-year timespan, we find strong empirical support for the positive association between firms' R&D intensity and CSR specialization, a novel concept that—distinct from CSR as such—gauges the extent to which firms specialize in specific environmental, social, or governance aspects of CSR. However, there is insufficient support for financial slack as a moderator in general (except for one noteworthy industry pattern and an alternative operationalization of slack). The exceptions suggest that the nature of organizational slack may influence the relationship between R&D and CSR specialization.

Caring for the carers in a public health district: A well-being initiative to support healthcare professionals.

To assess the impact of the proactive organisational resource allocation in terms of a 6-week well-being initiative to support public healthcare professionals' workplace engagement, well-being and job satisfaction. Burnout of healthcare professionals can be a major cost to the Australian economy and public healthcare sector. According to the social exchange theory, when healthcare professionals perceive that their organisation proactively allocates resources to caring for its employees, then they are more likely to reciprocate and become more engaged in their work roles. The study used a pre- and postsurvey of healthcare professionals who participated in the well-being initiative. Between February-June 2019, 172 healthcare professionals were surveyed before and after a well-being initiative. The survey included questions on workplace engagement, workplace well-being and job satisfaction. Paired t tests were used to determine whether the difference between before and after averages was significant. The TREND statement was used to ensure the quality reporting of this study. The well-being initiative had a positive impact on the healthcare professionals involved in the initiative. Nursing staff benefitted the most from the well-being initiative, while the full-time staff members and highly experienced demonstrated an increase in engagement. Well-being initiatives can be a targeted strategy to help alleviate burnout amongst healthcare professionals and build a mutually beneficial relationship between management and employees. This study shows how implementing a staff well-being initiative increases workplace engagement, which benefits both the individual and the organisation.

The impact of using a cloud supply chain on organizational performance

PurposeThis study aims to indicate the advantages of using cloud computing services, including the ways in which firms use cloud-based services to achieve accessibility, better communication, flexibility and effective provision of services. However, little evidence has been obtained related to the effectiveness of applying cloud computing services to supply management chains.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a sample of 223 top 1,000 manufacturing firms in Taiwan that had implemented cloud-based supply chain management systems (CSCMs) was surveyed to determine what kind of internal resources in these companies were allocated to this implementation effort, how collaborative relationships were established in the existing supply chain to help make the transitions successful, how well their systems are working now that they have been implemented and whether these new systems have improved cycle time performance and the overall performance of their organizations. The study also examines the interrelationships among these variables.FindingsThe results reveal that, from the perspective of the managers who were surveyed, an effective allocation of internal organizational resources does have a positive, strong effect on external CSCM conditions. They also showed that when the relationship between internal and external resources is well constructed, the result is that CSCM improves supply chain management cycle time performance, which, in turn, leads to positive organizational performance.Originality/valueThe study reports some useful insights from the managers of CSCM systems related to how the execution of CSCM solutions can improve cycle time and organizational performance by enhancing internal organizational management and joint collaboration among supply chain partners. The findings from this survey will be useful to managers who are considering creating cloud-based supply management systems in the future.

A PCA-DEA method for organizational performance evaluation based on intellectual capital and employee loyalty

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to propose a model to evaluate the performance of organizational units considering intellectual capital (IC) and employee loyalty approach applying principal component analysis and data envelopment analysis (PCA-DEA) method.Design/methodology/approachOrganization units are considered as decision-making units, IC components including human capital (HC), structural capital (SC) and customer capital are inputs and employee loyalty is output. The principal component analysis was used to converts inputs and outputs into the independent variables. As a return to scale is variable, a modified envelopment input-oriented BCC model applied to obtain the efficiency of organization units. Also, all units of organization are ranked. Eventually, sensitivity analysis performed to show how input variables influence on output variable.FindingsOperation, design and construction, production planning, internal affairs, quality control and security were recognized as efficient units. Also, units of operation, internal affairs and quality control ranked first to third, and the human resource unit earned the last rank. In addition, results of sensitivity analysis on input variables showed that the order of impact intensity is: customer capital, HC and SC, respectively.Originality/valueExistence a framework for the development of human resource strategies and prioritization in the allocation of organizational resources to improve the performance of the organization considering human resources is vital. Most of the previous studies, just have examined the impact of IC on different dimensions of organizational performance. Meanwhile, evaluating the performance of IC with employee loyalty approach, using PCA-DEA simultaneously can evaluate and measure the impact of IC on the performance of the organization and its units regarding employee loyalty, which has a significant impact on improving the organization’s level of IC and human resource management.

How organizations shape medical technology allocation: Insulin pumps and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.

Although guidelines for prescribing insulin pumps to patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) focus on patient assessment, sociological research shows decision-making is influenced by the organizations within which actors are embedded. However, how organizational context shapes unequal resource allocation by race and class is less well understood. To investigate this, we compare two pediatric endocrinology centers differing in racial and socio-economic equity in pump use. Using over 400h of observations and 16 provider interviews, we find allocation is shaped by how organizations use patient cultural health capital to determine pump eligibility, frame technology use, and structure decision-making processes. Overall, findings extend health inequalities research by describing how organizations shape technology resource allocation by race and class.

Media Convergence as Exogenous Forces in a NCAA DI Athletic Department: Organizational Climate and Resource Allocation Decision Making

To successfully evolve, organizations should change at the same pace as the environment changes. It is particularly important when adapting and utilizing new media technology is a huge part of an organization’s success. Presently, media professionals in all industries including intercollegiate athletics are experiencing a significant change in their work environment due to the ever-changing nature of new media technology. In particular, media convergence, an integration of production by combining both old (e.g., television) and new media (e.g., the Internet), has been one of the most influential phenomena creating unexpected changes and complex dynamics in the current media industry. Nonetheless, what have been previously overlooked in sport communication literature are challenges generated by media convergence, which affects the nature of sport communication. This case study provides a scenario based on semi-fictitious information so that students can critically examine the dynamic nature as well as the effect of media convergence facing sport communication in intercollegiate sport. Further, the students are provided with an opportunity to practice decision-making skills to address the challenges stemming from media convergence. By doing so, discussion regarding media convergence in the context of intercollegiate sport could be better presented to relevant classroom discussion.

The Behavioural Knapsack Problem: Evidence of a Fundamental Bias in Project Selection

The selection of projects from a set of possible alternatives is a fundamental decision problem for any organization. Governments and businesses that allocate sizeable resource budgets across projects and initiatives face the same fundamental challenge: to select the most valuable projects while respecting budget constraints. The literature proposes efficient algorithms to solve these knapsack problems, but the higher complexity of the real-world selection problems, together with the black-box behavior of these algorithms, make their adoption impractical. Instead, decision makers perform mental searches across the available options, thereby introducing behavioral effects into the knapsack problem. Through a lab experiment, we show that the decision makers’ mental search is biased towards selecting too many small projects compared to the optimal choice. This suggests that selection decisions may lead to inefficient resource allocation in organizations. We provide evidence that this fundamental bias stems from the structure of the search process: decision makers predominantly build up the feasible portfolio of projects (i.e., forward search). We discuss recommendations that could help decision makers reduce this bias and make better project selection decisions.