Outsourcing Research Articles

Hubungan Disiplin Kerja Terhadap Pelatihan dan Kualitas Pelayanan Pegawai Outsourcing Dinas Perhubungan Kota Surabaya

This research aims to identify and analyze the influence of work discipline and training on the service quality of outsourcing employees at the Department of Transportation in Surabaya. This study is associative and employs a quantitative approach. The sample size of this research is 65 employees, using a saturated sampling technique. Data collection was conducted through interviews and questionnaires. The analytical tool used is the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The results of this study are: 1) training has a positive and significant effect on the service quality of outsourcing employees at the Department of Transportation in Surabaya, and 2) work discipline has a positive and significant effect on the service quality of outsourcing employees at the Department of Transportation in Surabaya.

Strategic alignment and performance measurement in outsourced business processes: A comprehensive analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and streamlining strategies

A dearth of studies has been conducted to figure out the positive spin-offs of outsourcing services by organizations. Most studies are focused on establishing the relationship between outsourcing and financial efficiency. However, outsourcing has benefits that reach beyond financial and operational efficiency. This study was aimed at examining the progression, utilization, and synchronization of key performance indicators (KPIs) to optimize the outsourced services. Specifically, the study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of KPIs used to measure the efficiency of outsourced services, evaluating tactics used by organizations to align their objectives with outsourced services, and assessing the difficulties experienced by organizations in their attempt to optimize outsourced services. To achieve its objectives, the research employed qualitative, quantitative, and content analysis to collect data. Further, the study applied thematic analysis and inferential statistics to derive conclusions from the data that was collected. The analysis indicated that there is a strong positive correlation between performance metrics and success of outsourced services. Additionally, strategic alignment emerged to be an important factor in the success of outsourcing. Also, the findings indicated that alignment of key performance indicators with strategic objectives results in success of outsourcing. The study concludes that performance metrics, strategic alignment, and key performance indicators are determinants of outsourcing success.

The Practice of Employee Assistance Program in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in The Internet Era Based on Harmonious Society

With the arrival of the internet era, information technology and digital transformation have profoundly changed the operations of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study explores the practice of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) in SMEs, analyzing how EAP, from the perspective of a harmonious society, promotes employee mental health and career development, while enhancing organizational cohesion and competitiveness. The core components and implementation steps of EAP, including psychological health support, career development guidance, and stress management, are discussed. Due to resource limitations, SMEs often adopt flexible EAP models, such as online counseling and workplace training. However, the implementation of EAP faces challenges such as limited resources, privacy protection, and a lack of professional expertise. To optimize EAP, companies need to strengthen management support, use outsourcing services, and establish privacy protection mechanisms. In the future, SMEs can explore more innovative and feasible EAP models, such as AI-based intelligent support, adaptation to remote work environments, creation of culturally adaptable models, and establishment of data-driven effectiveness assessment methods. These approaches will help SMEs address the challenges of the internet era, enhance employee satisfaction, and promote sustainable development.

Evaluating the environmental and financial performance of additive manufacturing at scale in the consumer goods industry

As corporate sustainability commitments and environmental regulations intensify, additive manufacturing users must balance the technology's maturing economic value with its application- and process-dependent environmental impact. With limited methods to navigate this multi-dimensional variability at scale, additive manufacturing stakeholders face challenges when making growth and investment decisions. To bridge this gap, this study applies system modeling methodologies to a case study of an additive manufacturing service unit in the sporting goods industry aiming to improve its product portfolio's economic and environmental impacts and scale its capabilities. A tradespace model compares the value of additive manufacturing to injection molding across product characteristics and life cycle decisions, and a flexible design analysis evaluates additive manufacturing scaling strategies, considering market and technology uncertainties. The tradespace analysis reveals that additive manufacturing reduces product environmental footprint by 95 % and unit cost by 93 % for 1-to-20-part production volumes compared to injection molding, while injection molding lowers environmental footprint by 72 % and unit cost by 56 % for 100-to-50,000-part production volumes compared to additive manufacturing. This analysis also suggests that additive manufacturing's economic and environmental value increases when located in geographies with low-carbon footprint energy and when manufacturing very low production quantities or small parts that maximize build capacity. The flexible design analysis indicates that expanding internal production capacity to a larger facility with renewable power, once higher demand is confirmed, can reduce part environmental footprint by up to 49 % and increase Net Present Value by more than 600 % compared to maintaining current operations that leverage external service bureaus. The results demonstrate the potential of these system modeling methodologies in integrating financial and environmental impact assessments at the company level for strategic scaling decisions. Future model developments are recommended to incorporate additive manufacturing's unique design impacts on the product life cycle, more nuance in the impact analyses, and the social component of the technology's sustainability.

Exact Time-Dependent Thermodynamic Relationships for a Brownian Particle Navigating Complex Networks

The thermodynamic characteristics of systems driven out of equilibrium are examined for M Brownian ratchets organized in a complex network. The precise time-dependent solution reveals that the entropy S, entropy production ep(t), and entropy extraction hd(t) of the system in complex networks increase with system size, which is plausible as these thermodynamic quantities display extensive properties. In other words, as the number of lattice sites increases, the entropy S, entropy production ep(t), and entropy extraction hd(t) increase, demonstrating that these complex networks cannot be reduced to the corresponding one-dimensional lattice. Conversely, the rates for thermodynamic quantities such as velocity V, entropy production rate e˙p(t), and entropy extraction rate h˙ d(t) become independent of the network size in the long-term limit. The exact analytic results also indicate that the free energy decreases with system size. The model system is further analyzed by incorporating heat transfer via kinetic energy. Since heat exchange via kinetic energy does affect the energy extraction rate, the heat dumped to the cold reservoirs also contributes to internal entropy production. Consequently, such systems exhibit a higher degree of irreversibility. The thermodynamic features of a system operating between hot and cold baths are also compared and contrasted with a system functioning in a heat bath where temperature varies linearly along the reaction coordinate. Regardless of the network arrangements, the entropy, entropy production, and extraction rates are significantly larger for the linearly varying temperature case than for a system operating between hot and cold baths.

EDI&S SO04 Accuracy of Outsourced Radiology Reports in Emergency Surgical Care; Do they provide a high-quality cost-effective service?

Abstract Background Computed Tomography (CT) scans play a crucial role in emergency surgical care enabling proper management and prompt decision making. In our study we aimed to compare abdominal CT scan reports created by inhouse radiologists to those created by outsourced radiology reporting service for patients admitted with acute surgical pathologies. The study also looked at the impact of the reporting style (free text or structured format) on the quality of scan reports. Method The study was conducted in a busy general surgery unit located in the North West of England. Patients who were admitted acutely under the surgical specialty and had abdominal CT scans over a period of three months from August 2023 to October 2023 were included. Patients who were admitted following trauma or had non abdominal CT scans have been excluded. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare inhouse radiology reports to outsourced ones. Scan reports were thoroughly scrutinised to identify whether they included all relevant information needed and whether they were written in structured or free text format. Results A total of 192 patients were identified with a median age of 59 years. Outsourced radiology reports were found to be significantly underreporting comments on the biliary system (OR=0.369, P=0.046), spleen (OR=0.414, P=0.044), kidneys (OR=0.354, P=0.027), lymph nodes (OR=0.412, P=0.011), mesentery and peritoneum (OR=0.364, P=0.004), vasculature (OR=0.381, P=0.002), bones and soft tissues (OR=0.273, P=0.003), as well as lung bases (OR=0.300, P=0.009). Structured format was found to outperform free text style on comments on spleen (OR=8.064, P=0.044), adrenals (OR=8.468, P=0.039), mesentery and peritoneum (OR=4.618, P=0.000), as well as bone and soft tissues (OR=9.295, P=0.031). Conclusion CT scans reported by outsourced radiology service were found to be significantly underreporting certain key elements. Additionally, free style reporting format was found to miss some crucial aspects of abdominal scan reports. That adds further challenges to clinicians assessing and managing acute surgical patients. Further studies auditing different outsourced companies are recommended to ensure patients are provided with high-quality cost-effective emergency service.

The Impact of channel role on the outsourcing of after-sales service with asymmetric retailer competition

After-sales service is support provided to a customer after purchase, which potentially leads to higher customer satisfaction and is demand-enhancing. Using a game-theoretic model in which a manufacturer determines its after-sales service and distribution channel strategies in the presence of two asymmetric retailers, we identify channel position as an important criterion in determining the outsourcing of after-sales service. Specifically, outsourcing to a third-party provider, due to its lack of channel interaction, is never an optimal choice for the manufacturer unless the third-party has a significant cost advantage in providing after-sales service. However, because of the channel role of the retailers, the manufacturer outsources to the large retailer rather than undertaking the after-sales service in-house, when the competing small retailer is less competitive and the cost of service provision is high. The trade-off between the manufacturer outsourcing the service and undertaking that in-house involves whether the manufacturer accommodates the small retailer in the market. When service provision is outsourced, the large retailer enjoys a lower wholesale price if the small retailer is present, and therefore the large retailer subsidizes the manufacturer to induce the manufacturer to accommodate the small retailer. However, the manufacturer, when undertaking the service by itself, forgoes the small retailer. Finally, we show that when the manufacturer adopts a multi-retailer distribution channel, the large retailer benefits because improved after-sales service increases demand and consumer valuation of the product. We also demonstrate the robustness of our key results in multiple extensions.

Distribution Characteristics and Dynamics of Marine Hydrogen in the Eastern Indian Ocean

AbstractThe ocean serves as a significant contributor of atmospheric Hydrogen (H2) with indirect greenhouse effects. However, uncertainties persist regarding internal production and consumption processes of marine H2, as well as controlling factors. Our study examined the spatial distribution and source‐sink dynamics of marine H2 in the Eastern Indian Ocean. H2 concentrations in surface seawater exhibited a range of 2.95–21.96 nmol L−1. High concentrations of H2 were observed in the anoxic water in the Bay of Bengal. Rates of H2 photo‐production and microbial consumption in surface seawater ranged from 1.80 to 17.78 nmol L−1 h−1 and 1.02–9.18 nmol L−1 h−1, respectively. When considering the entire mixed layer, photo‐production contribute to approximately 31%–43% of the total H2 removal, with cyanobacteria potentially serving as another source in the mixed layer. Compared with the sea‐to‐air exchange, microbial consumption was the primary removal pathway of H2 in seawater.

Fiscalização de Contratos - um enfoque gerencial

The article discusses the importance of contract management in the context of public administration and the increasing outsourcing of services. It highlights the need for a contract supervisor to act as a permanent manager, ensuring efficiency and cost reduction. The involvement of various sectors, such as the Bidding Commission and Legal Advisory, is essential in drafting the contract, which should serve as a clear roadmap for the relationship between the parties. The text emphasizes that good management can minimize failures and promote continuous learning, resulting in more competitive bids in future tenders.

Self-Owned or Outsourced? The Impact of Farm Machinery Adoption Decisions on Chinese Farm Households’ Operating Income

Using farm machinery plays a significant role in easing the issue of slowing growth of operating income among farm households in China. Drawing data from CFPS2018, this study adopts a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) to analyze the factors influencing farm households’ choices regarding self-owned farm machinery and outsourced machinery services, as well as their subsequent impact on operating income. The results of the study show that the characteristics of the head of household, family, village, and region have a significant impact on the farm households’ selection of whether to use self-owned machinery or outsourced services. Furthermore, the exclusive use of self-owned farm machinery and the combined use of both self-owned and outsourced machinery substantially enhance farm households’ operating income. An additional analysis indicates that these two types of machinery are complementary, and their combined use generates a superimposed effect that further boosts income. These findings suggest that the combined use of self-owned and outsourced machinery is optimal for farm households who wish to expand their operating income.

Intelligent management and legal regulation of enterprise green supply chain by fuzzy comprehensive evaluation

This study aims to evaluate the risk levels of intelligent management in Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) through the application of the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) model. It begins by outlining the structure of the green supply chain (GSC), encompassing various components such as suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors, while incorporating considerations of environmental and sustainability factors. Data is collected from Company Y through a questionnaire survey, and the FCE model is employed to assess the risk levels of intelligent management within GSCM. The study identifies that Company Y faces high-risk factors in supply chain management, including customer demand fluctuations, inadequate supplier capacity, and reliance on exclusive suppliers, with a risk rating of 4. Additionally, moderate-risk factors, such as partnerships, policies, cash flow, technological capabilities, and internal production management, were rated at a risk level of 3. Based on the risk assessment results, the study proposes several recommendations for improvement. These include reinforcing the enforcement of environmental policies, establishing mechanisms for supply chain information transparency, and promoting clean production technologies. These recommendations are intended to assist the company in better adhering to environmental regulations and fostering sustainable supply chain development. The study's innovation lies in the successful integration of the FCE model into the supply chain risk assessment framework, effectively combining subjective evaluations with objective data to improve the accuracy of the assessment. The findings provide scientific evidence for companies to manage risks and formulate strategies, while also offering new insights into the multidimensional nature of supply chain risks, encompassing social, economic, environmental, and technological dimensions.

Formulation of Boilerplate Clauses in Outsourcing Agreement that is Constanted by the Parties in Give Legal certainty

This research analyzes the formulation of boilerplate clauses in outsourcing agreements, focusing on how these clauses ensure legal balance and certainty for all parties involved. It reviews critical components such as Choice of Law, Language Clauses, and Severability Clauses, identifying their roles in achieving fair and enforceable agreements. Utilizing a normative legal research method, this study examines Indonesia's Employment Law No. 13 of 2003 and Government Regulation No. 35 of 2021, which outline the guidelines for outsourcing, including the legal requirements for contracts with outsourced workers. Findings suggest that incorporating boilerplate clauses within outsourcing agreements strengthens legal certainty and balance between the outsourcing agency, employer, and outsourced workers, addressing potential issues of norm ambiguity and ensuring adherence to national labor standards. The research emphasizes the importance of these clauses in upholding the principle of legal balance and protecting the rights of outsourced employees.

Cultivating Organizational Commitment among Outsourced Workers: A Resource-Based View Perspective

This study aims to identify and analyze the construction of organizational commitment among outsourced workers through the perspective of Resource-Based View (RBV) theory. Organizational commitment is employees’ orientation towards the company, linking one's identity with the organization. It is crucial due to its strong relationship with employee performance and turnover. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method with a case study approach, focusing on outsourced employees at PT. Mitra Karya Prima. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and processed using qualitative data analysis techniques. The findings indicate that work environment, individual characteristics, and perceived organizational support (POS) are critical to forming individual commitment. These empirical findings are expected to contribute to developing a model for organizational commitment among outsourced employees and provide managerial insights for formulating policies to enhance field workers’ commitment to the company.

Evidence for endogenous hydrogen peroxide production by E. coli fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.

Aerobic organisms continuously generate internal superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, which can damage enzymes and impair growth. To avoid this problem cells maintain high levels of superoxide dismutases, catalases, and peroxidases. Surprisingly, we do not know the primary sources of these reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. However, in vitro studies have shown that flavoenzymes can inadvertently transfer electrons to oxygen. Therefore, it seems plausible that substantial ROS may be generated when large metabolic fluxes flow through flavoproteins. Such a situation may arise during the catabolism of fatty acids. Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (FadE) is a flavoprotein involved in each turn of the beta-oxidation cycle. In the present study the catabolism of dodecanoic acid specifically impaired the growth of strains that lack enzymes to scavenge hydrogen peroxide. The defect was absent from fadE mutants. Direct measurements confirmed that the beta-oxidation pathway amplified the rate of intracellular hydrogen peroxide formation. Scavenging-proficient cells did not display the FadE-dependent growth defect. Those cells also did not induce the peroxide stress response during dodecanoate catabolism, indicating that the basal defenses are sufficient to cope with moderately elevated peroxide formation. In vitro work still is needed to test whether the ROS evolve specifically from the FadE flavin site and to determine whether superoxide as well as peroxide is released. At present such experiments are challenging because the natural redox partner of FadE has not been identified. This study supports the hypothesis that the degree of internal ROS production can depend upon the type of active metabolism inside cells.

CD169+ Macrophages Mediate the Immune Response of Allergic Rhinitis Through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Axis.

CD169+ macrophages are a newly defined macrophage subpopulation that can recognize and bind with other cells through related ligands, playing an essential role in antigen presentation and immune tolerance. However, its role in Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is still unclear. To investigate the characteristics of CD169+ macrophages in AR, this work first detects their expression patterns in the nasal mucosa of clinical patients. These results show a significant increase in CD169+ macrophages in the nasal mucosa of patients with AR. Subsequently, this work establishes an animal AR model using CD169 transgenic mice and compared the advantages of the two models. Moreover, this work also demonstrates the effects of CD169 knockout on eosinophils, Th cells, Treg cells, and the migration of dendritic cells (DCs). In addition, this metabolomic data shows that CD169+ macrophages can upregulate alanine production and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. This process may be mediated through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In addition, this work also finds that SLC38A2 plays an essential role in the process of CD169+ macrophages promoting alanine uptake by DCs. This study confirms that CD169+ macrophages can upregulate their internal alanine production and increase ROS levels through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis, playing an irreplaceable role in AR.

Driving Forces of Strategic Outsourcing in Telecommunication Companies in Tanzania

Abstract This article aims to evaluate the driving forces of outsourcing strategies on the organizational performance of mobile network operators in mainland Tanzania. The objectives are to identify the driving forces of outsourcing and determine the challenges of outsourcing in telecommunication companies. The article adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The selection of mobile companies is based on high market share and operation period. Findings show that customer needs for high-quality services, high-rated change in service, reduction of operational expenditure, and accessing the world’s capability are among the major driving forces for outsourcing. Dependability, loss of security, hidden costs, and selection of competent partners to mention a few are the challenges faced by telecom companies. It is noted that outsourcing enables network operators to advance their organizational performance in terms of operating cost, productivity, profitability, and market share. However, customer satisfaction suffers due to the inconsistency of the quality of service offered. Therefore, it is advised that mobile operators closely monitor outsourcing service providers to ensure that agreed service levels are met, thereby, safeguarding the reputation of the company to customers.

Increasing labour productivity by providing innovative activities in when repair and service sector in livestock industry

At present, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are significantly behind the developed countries in terms of labor productivity and the share of domestic companies implementing technological innovations in the main sectors of the economy (especially in agriculture). One of the significant factors of this lag is the underestimation in past years of the promising potential of various innovative technologies and, as a consequence the very limited and slow implementation of breakthrough innovations in the most signifi cant sectors of the domestic economy. The decisive turn of the state economic policy of neighboring states in the area of deep technological transformation of all sectors of the economy is aimed at an innovative breakthrough and reaching advanced growth rates in the technological and economic development of fraternal countries. However, along with the introduction of the latest technologies the creation of completely new modern high-tech industries, which will require colossal fi nancial investments, the task of comprehensively and thoroughly exploring internal production reserves, searching for new forms and methods of improving the effi ciency of labour organization at existing enterprises, which will also bring a noticeable economic effect, remains relevant. This article describes in sufficient detail practical activities to improve and streamline accounting, planning, certifi cation, rationalization of workplaces of animal husbandry technical service organizations under the current conditions of the developing market. The results of the studies show that certifi cation and rationalization of workplaces are eff ective tools in fi nding internal production reserves to improve the use of labour resources, fi xed production assets, promotes the replacement of obsolete equipment, improves the relationship between workplaces, improves working conditions, and optimally balances the need for labour with the number of existing workplaces. This will significantly increase the overall efficiency of activities and competitiveness of service enterprises in the fi eld of animal husbandry.

Improving Productivity and Reducing Costs in an IT Service Provider: Applying the Lean Six Sigma Methodology

Objective: to present the use of the Six Sigma framework as a framework for IT Governance, in a multinational company that operates in the market of IT outsourcing services, with a view to assisting in the improvement of productivity, in its consequent significant reduction of costs and a better operational performance in the processes of the company providing outsourced IT services. Theoretical Framework: The study addresses concepts of the Lean philosophy, as well as the Six Sigma framework and the marriage of Lean and Six Sigma as a way to obtain advantages from the application of its methods, meeting the needs of the organization. Method: In this study, quantitative and qualitative methods were used from a descriptive research. A literature review and associated issues were carried out and a case study was applied from the results obtained through a project in a large multinational company that provides IT outsourcing services. Outcome and Discussion: The combination of Six Sigma with the business process offered the company an opportunity for cost reduction and improved its competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive and quality-driven market. Regarding the implementation of the incident governance process, a reduction of 24% was obtained; Regarding actions to reduce the number of overtime, a reduction of 40% was obtained. A total monthly reduction of US$ 5,589 was obtained and annually the reduction amount plus benefits reached US$ 67,068. Research Implications: Research contributes to the improvement of quality and significant cost reduction with the application of the Six Sigma framework, properly tested and demonstrated in an organization. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by using the Six Sigma framework as a framework for IT Governance in order to help improve productivity with consequent significant cost reduction and better operational performance in the processes of an outsourced IT service provider. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by the demonstration of the benefits obtained in the environment of the company under analysis.

Sticky Floor, Broken Ladder, and Glass Ceiling in Internal Medicine Academic Ranking, Leadership, and Research Productivity.

Despite more women entering medicine, substantial gender disparities remain in various medical disciplines. This study explores the extent of these disparities in Canadian academic internal medicine, particularly in academic ranks, leadership positions, and research productivity. Cross-sectional. Faculty physicians within internal medicine and subspecialties. Data on faculty physicians with Medical Doctorate (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees were compiled from 17 internal medicine programs listed in the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Research metrics were obtained using Elsevier's Scopus, and analyses were performed with Stata v14.2. Among 5099 physician faculty members in internal medicine, 34% were women, and 66% were men. Among the faculty members holding leadership positions, 68% were men, and 32% were women. There was a significant difference in h-index between men and women physician faculty members (p ≤ 0.001), with men having a higher research output. Across all academic ranks, men faculty had higher median h-index values: Assistant Professor (12 vs. 9), Associate Professor (20 vs. 16), and Professor (40 vs. 30). Women were underrepresented in the procedural specialties, while only a few internal medicine subspecialties, such as palliative medicine and geriatrics, had a women predominance. Our study underscores existing gender disparity within academic internal medicine in Canada, aligning with global trends. Women remain disproportionately underrepresented in academic ranks, leadership positions, and research productivity. Addressing these disparities necessitates a systemic and multifaceted approach, encompassing policy reforms, mentorship, and fostering an inclusive work environment.

Corporate Communication In The Digital Era: Challenges And Opportunities For PT Binajasa Abadikarya

The digital era has significantly transformed corporate communication, presenting both challenges and opportunities for organizations. PT Binajasa Abadikarya, a leading manpower and outsourcing services provider in Indonesia, is no exception to these changes. This research aims to explore the challenges PT Binajasa Abadikarya faces in maintaining effective corporate communication and to identify the opportunities available to enhance its communication strategies in the digital age. The study employs a descriptive qualitative research method, using primary data collected through interviews with key stakeholders within the company, and secondary data sourced from relevant articles, journals, and books. Data analysis was conducted using NVivo software to systematically organize and interpret the qualitative data. The findings reveal that PT Binajasa Abadikarya faces significant challenges, including maintaining consistency in messaging across digital platforms, managing crisis communication in real-time, and overcoming content saturation. However, the research also identifies substantial opportunities for the company, such as leveraging digital tools for broader stakeholder engagement, utilizing data analytics for personalized communication, and implementing an omnichannel communication strategy. These insights provide PT Binajasa Abadikarya with strategic directions to enhance its corporate communication and maintain its competitive edge in the digital era