Matching Skills Research Articles

Home Healthcare Staffing, Routing, and Scheduling Problem With Multiple Shifts and Emergency Considerations

ABSTRACTEffective planning of human resources is critical in designing an efficient home healthcare system. In this study, we present a novel home healthcare staffing, routing, and scheduling problem inspired by a real‐world application. The proposed problem addresses a set of patients, with varying daily visit requirements, being served by a set of caregivers with different qualification levels over a multi‐day multi‐shift planning horizon. The problem aims to minimize the number of extra shifts for caregivers, maximize the allocation of caregivers to emergencies, and minimize the sum of route durations over the planning horizon. These objectives are optimized hierarchically while considering a set of restrictions, including time windows, skill matching, synchronization, care continuity, and labor regulations. To tackle the problem, we introduce a mixed‐integer linear programming model. The model is then extended and two sets of valid inequalities are incorporated to enhance its tightness. Computational experiments are conducted on a set of 20 instances. The results highlight the efficiency of the proposed extension in increasing both the number of instances that can be solved to optimality and the number of instances for which a feasible solution is found.

Exploring the Impact of HR 4.0 on Organizational Performance

This study investigates the relationship between the adoption of HR 4.0 technologies and quality hires, focusing on the mediating and moderating effects of skill matching. The hypotheses propose that the adoption of HR 4.0 technologies significantly influences quality hires directly. as well as indirectly through skill matching as a mediating factor and moderating factor. This study explores the significant impact that HR 4.0 technologies have on hiring excellent employees for businesses. This study explains the complex effects of cutting-edge technology tools like automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics on the hiring and selection process through a thorough examination of the literature and empirical evidence. These findings highlight the importance of both the adoption of HR 4.0 technologies and the implementation of effective skill matching strategies in enhancing the quality of hires within organizations. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.

Digitalization of industries and labor mobility in China

The paper utilizes data from the China Family Panel Studies (2014–2018) and China's Input-Output Table to investigate how digital development affects labor mobility decisions at industry level. Our findings demonstrate that the increased levels of digitalization, both in manufacturing and services dimensions, significantly boost the likelihood of labor mobility across industries. This relationship remains valid even after considering endogeneity issues. Mechanism analysis shows that digitalization affects the cross-industry mobility decision of workers by affecting the quality of skill matching, income level, and occupational prestige. The heterogeneous results show that the impact of digital development on industry mobility decisions in the overall and manufacturing dimensions exists in the labor force in economically underdeveloped regions, the labor force engaged in consumer services, and entrepreneurs. The development of digitalization in the services dimension mainly has a strong industry crowding-out effect on the workers from economically developed regions, the workers engaged in non-productive service industries, and the workers with employment security.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Performance in Matrix Organizations: A Research Perspective

In today's complex business landscape, matrix organizations represent a prevalent structural framework characterized by overlapping reporting structures and cross-functional project teams. This organizational model, while offering flexibility and specialization, also presents unique challenges in resource allocation, decision-making, collaboration, and project management. This research paper investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address these challenges and enhance the performance of matrix organizations. Drawing upon an extensive review of existing literature and relevant case studies, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of AI's role in optimizing various aspects of matrix organization operations. Specifically, it examines how AI technologies can streamline resource allocation processes by analyzing project requirements, team capabilities, and individual skill sets to ensure optimal staffing levels and skill matching across projects. Additionally, the paper explores AI's capabilities in providing decision support to managers and team leaders by leveraging data analytics to offer insights into project progress, risk assessment, and performance evaluation.

Comparison of Color Matching Ability of Dental Students and Dental Graduates using Vita Tooth Guide 3-D Master

Background: Achieving a satisfactory color match for dental restorations necessitates the effective selection and replication of shades. The knowledge of color science provides an understanding of the fundamental principles governing color mixing and interactionObjective: To compare the ability of color matching of dental students and dental graduates using vita tooth guide 3-D master.Material and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 participants (100 dental students and 100 graduates) at the Prosthodontics department, LUMHS, Jamshoro using convenience sampling technique. At some time between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The vita tooth guide 3D master® shade guide (VITA, Japan incorp) was used to compare the ability to match colors. Each participant was asked to color matched three shades (2L1.5, 1M2, and 2R1) of porcelain maxillary right central incisors. The comparison of color identification between dental students and graduates was conducted using the chi-squareResults: The gender distribution analysis revealed that group A had 43 (43%) male participants and group B had 37 (37%) male participants. Dental graduates were more competent in correct identified proper shade than dental students for sample I(shade 2L 1.5) (p<0.001), II (shade 1M2) (p<0.001), and III (shade 2R1) (p<0.001). The association experience with Vita tooth guide 3D master with color identification test was only statistically significant for sample II (p=0.04). The results were similar among genders. For all samples and in both genders dental graduates were better than dental students in color identification statistically.Conclusion: Training and experience significantly contribute to the enhancement of color matching skills in shade selection.Keywords: Color Matching, Dental Students, Dental Graduates, Vita toothguide 3D master.

텍스트 분석을 통한 숙련 수요와 교과 역량 간의 매칭 분석

The purpose of this study is to analyze the matching between job skill demands of industries and curriculum competencies provided by universities, focusing on data science majors, using textual data on online job postings and university curricula, and to provide useful implications for university curriculum program development and industry response. We collected curriculum texts and job posting texts from K-MOOCs, Job Korea, and PersonIn, derived and categorized competency and skill keywords, and calculated the cosine similarity between competencies and skills for analysis. The analysis shows that data science curriculum competencies are largely well matched to IT occupational skills and are in line with labor market occupational skill types. The “data security” and “market analysis” competencies have a high similarity to occupational skills, while the “statistical modeling” competency has a low similarity. In addition, the “database” and “manufacturing SI” skills have a high similarity to the curriculum competencies, suggesting that the university is doing a good job of meeting these skills. This study shows that analyzing the matching of competencies and skills based on textual data analysis can help universities adjust their curricula to meet the needs of the labor market, and has implications for analyzing industry skill needs, analyzing job mismatches, and linking education and industrial policies.

The sustainability-to-employment pipeline: the impact of SDG-related curricula on graduates’ employability

ABSTRACT Public and private organizations—including higher education institutions—frequently adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to facilitate a better future. In their efforts to realize the Agenda 2030, universities are focusing on how teaching and curricula shape students’ competencies in interpreting and contributing to current societal challenges. Likewise, with businesses increasingly engaged in sustainable development issues, students will need SDG-related skills to align with current job-market requirements. Here, we examine the relationship between master graduates’ employability and the presence and type of SDGs in their curricula. We run a series of logistic regressions where we use three different model specifications: (i) curriculum with an SDG-related ECTS above the mean, (ii) curriculum related to a specific class of SDG (well-being, environment, economy, governance), and (iii) curriculum related to a specific SDG. Further, we consider three aspects of employability: having a job, job coherence (i.e. the match between a job and one’s field of study), and employment quality (i.e. having a higher salary). For this purpose, we collected data from 5,784 master's graduates at the University of Bologna in 2017. We derived employability measures from 2020 AlmaLaurea data to have a three-year time lag from graduation. Generally, we find that students who attended courses with SDG-related content achieved a higher and better occupation or a better skill match. At a grouped level, we find that SDG categories have a different impact on the students’ working outcomes. For instance, students with more SDG-related ECTS in the economy area have higher odds of being employed, finding a better job-skill match, and getting better salaries. In addition, the single goals were studied by showing the effects on finding work, having a skill match and earning a better salary.

Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital

BackgroundA growing body of evidence clearly documents the benefits of integrated systems approaches to protecting and promoting the safety, health and well-being of workers. The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic view of the work ability of employees of an Italian University Hospital measuring their resources in relation to job demands. In particular, it examines socio-demographics, family and organizational antecedents of health professionals’ work ability.MethodsA survey was conducted to assess the work ability of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses and administrative staff, working at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy). The data collection allows us to get a sample of 443 workers, who correspond to 11% of the target population. The data were analyzed using preliminary statistics on the main characteristics of the sample in terms of work ability, socio-demographic variables, family and organizational characteristics. In addition, logit models of the likelihood of having high work ability were estimated using SPSS version 25.ResultsWork ability decreases with increasing age, comorbidity, high body mass index, having at least one child under 5 and/or a dependent adult, having a poor work-life balance, and doing more than 20 h of housework. Specific job resources can significantly promote work ability, including relationship-oriented leadership, autonomy in decision making and individuals’ skill match. The nursing profession is associated with a low work ability. Finally, a significant gender gap has been documented. Women find it more difficult to reconcile life and work, especially when they have children of preschool age and work in professions with greater responsibilities, as in the case of women doctors, who experience lower work capacity.ConclusionsOur results suggest that it is necessary to consider other factors, in addition to age, that are equally relevant in influencing work ability. Consequently, organisational interventions could be implemented to improve the work ability of all workers. In addition, we propose targeted interventions for groups at risk of reduced work capacity, in particular older workers (45 years and over), nurses, women with children of preschool age and in the position of physician.

Volunteer dispatch considering fatigue effect and satisfaction in emergency situation

Rescue organization scheduling is a hot issue in the field of emergency management, in which the participation of volunteer rescue organizations, a social force, is of great significance to improve the efficiency of emergency rescue. In the case of known rescue services required by the affected place and the information of rescue services provided by volunteer rescue organizations, the goal is to maximize the satisfaction of the victims and minimize the fatigue of the volunteer rescue organizations. The volunteer rescue organization scheduling problem is an NP-hard problem. To solve the studied problem model, two multi-objective optimization algorithms are applied in this article. With the goal of improving the overall rescue efficiency of volunteer rescue organizations implementing rescue at the disaster site during a single emergency, this study analyzes the practical problems related to emergency rescue, taking into account the effects of the time sensitivity of the disaster victims, the preference of the rescue services, the fatigue accumulation rate of the volunteer rescue organizations, and the matching of the rescue skills. Finally, this article distills some scheduling strategies applicable to emergency volunteer rescue organizations, hoping to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the Emergency Management Center and related emergency management departments to better configure and optimize emergency human resource scheduling problems.

Effect of Formal Training on Tooth Shade Matching Ability among Indian Dental Students in Diverse Clinical Settings: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: Selecting a correct shade is the key to success of any prosthesis, especially in the aesthetic zone. Variations of shade in a single tooth or the polychromatic nature of a tooth can impose greater challenges in shade matching. Therefore, it would be best if it is taught during the undergraduate course in dental schools. Aim: To evaluate the knowledge and shade matching skills among dental undergraduate students with and without training in three different clinical conditions. Materials and Methods: This post-test only quasi-experimental study was conducted with 377 undergraduate students of Indian origin studying in a dental teaching institute. The students were divided into two groups based upon their clinical training in shade matching: Group I (trained, n=197) and Group II (untrained, n=180). Three different patients, in terms of their shade complexity, were presented to both the groups and their shade matching ability was assessed. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Chi-square test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Statistical analysis showed that the mean correct scores of the trained students were significantly higher than those of the untrained students (p=0.0001) in all three patients. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.0001), as the trained group was better able to identify the correct or clinically acceptable shade compared to the untrained group in all three cases. Conclusion: The study concluded that training significantly improved the shade matching ability of dental undergraduate students in clinical conditions presenting varied complexities.

SUBJECT COMPETENCE IN STUDENTS FROM SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS WITH ACCELERATED CURRICULA AS A PREREQUISITE FOR DEVELOPING FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

The development of functional literacy of students from specialized schools is currently relevant. The aim of the study is to analyze the process of development of functional literacy and its component of natural science literacy in chemistry lessons in the conditions of implementation of shortened curricula in specialized general education schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The scientific achievements of foreign and Kazakh scientists on the identified problems were studied, on the basis of which conclusions were made about the need to use the capabilities of the activity methodology. This necessity is a consequence of the observed transformation of the education system in the country. The content of normative documents regulating the system of general secondary education is also analyzed, according to which the chemistry teacher has the right to independently determine the number of hours allocated to study, which gives the teacher of a specialized school the opportunity to independently decide on the choice of ways to develop special competencies of students within their subject. The requirements to the tasks for assessing the level of science literacy were studied, and as a result, the necessity of defining the competence-skill as a parameter of competence was revealed. A table of matching skills (competencies) corresponding to tasks with a description of their characteristics was derived. It is concluded that it is possible to develop tasks that would ensure the development of competencies that include: scientific explanation of phenomena, understanding of the features of scientific research.

Analysis of the potential relationship between linguistic logical coherence ability and English writing level

Abstract This paper investigates the relationship between linguistic logical coherence ability and English writing level. By analyzing the English writing samples of 120 students, it was found that the high level students had a significantly more heightened awareness of the importance of writing, writing ideas and skills than the middle and low level students, with a mean score of 3.5. Regarding logical coherence, the means of the three level groups were 398.456, 388.874, and 369.596 respectively, showing that the high level group performed better. It was further found through multiple linear regression analysis that logical coherence skill significantly affects English writing. Specifically, logical connectivity, identification, and matching skills contribute the most to improving English writing. The study results suggest that training linguistic analytical coherence skills, especially in logical connection and identification, is essential for improving students’ English writing level.

Liberalizing passenger rail: The effect of competition on local unemployment

Competitive passenger rail can help people access new or better jobs or bring new business opportunities. This paper studies the wider economic impacts on local unemployment of the liberalized passenger rail between Ostrava, the third-biggest city in the Czech Republic, and Prague, its capital. The local impacts are estimated at the LAU 1 level (administrative districts) using the event study and difference-in-differences method. The liberalization motivated the entry of two new private providers to compete with the public provider. The resulting competition in ticket prices, the number of connections, and service quality had a strong beneficial effect on labor market connectivity and business opportunities in connected districts. It significantly reduced unemployment in the districts along the rail line compared with the control districts. The effect, however, weakens with the level of urbanization of the treated district and with the distance from the rail. It could partly be transmitted through better skill matching on the back of higher inward and outward migration, higher firm entry and lower firm exit from the local market, as well as more business opportunities for self-employed entrepreneurs.

Retraining investment for Alberta’s oil and gas workers for green jobs in the solar industry

If oil sands are to be eliminated from the energy market to protect the global environment, human health and long-term economic welfare, a significant number of workers will be displaced in the transition to renewable energy technologies. This study outlines a cost-effective and convenient path for oil and gas workers in Alberta to be retrained in the burgeoning solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. Many oil and gas workers would be able to transfer fields with no additional training required. This study examines retraining options for the remainder of workers using the most closely matching skill equivalent PV job to minimize retraining time. The costs for retraining all oil sands workers are quantified and aggregated. The results show the total costs for retaining all oil sands workers in Alberta for the PV industry ranges between CAD$91.5 m and CAD$276.2 m. Thus, only 2–6% of federal, provincial, and territorial oil and gas subsidies for a single year would need to be reallocated to provide oil and gas workers with a new career of approximately equivalent pay. The results of this study clearly show that a rapid transition to sustainable energy production is feasible as costs of retraining oil and gas workers are far from prohibitive.

Governance of Microfinance Institutions in Nairobi, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to assess the governance factors affecting microfinance institutions in Nairobi County. Applying descriptive research design, the study targeted senior managers, management and supervisory board members. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed to obtain both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that financial controls and staff competency, significantly impact on the performance of these firms in terms of compliance, internal audits, reporting and payment systems, ethical and integrity values, risk assessment staff experience, training and skills match, employment procedures. It is recommended that financial controls in MFIs should be sustained, while, ensuring continuous adhering to the regulations governing the operations of MFIs. There is need for continuous provide capacity building to staff to ensure that they are updated with current issues in the sub-sector for purposes of making sound decisions to the benefit of the institutions as well as the clients.

Heterogeneous multi-project multi-task allocation in mobile crowdsensing using an ensemble fireworks algorithm

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT), Mobile CrowdSensing (MCS) platform will release projects consisting of heterogeneous tasks, requiring participants with different skills to collaborate to develop such systems. In this paper, a heterogeneous multi-project multi-task allocation model is proposed based on the group collaboration mode to cater for this problem state. Our method would distinguish the roles of members within the group, and incorporate the inherent attributes of participants like skill level and social competence. With the constraints of skill matching and completion time, one needs to simultaneously maximize the sensing quality and to minimize the platform cost by finding an optimal task-participant allocation schedule. To solve the established model, a multi-objective fireworks algorithm with dual-feedback ensemble learning framework is proposed. The weight of the weak optimizer would be adjusted automatically by the evolutionary significance, for which the individual generation method more suitable for the current state would be chosen. The individual evaluation mechanism is updated by the objective exploration degree, so that the evolutionary direction can be adaptively adjusted. To experimentally evaluate the proposed approach, it would be compared with five representative algorithms on 12 real-world instances. Experimental results show that our algorithm can assist platform managers in making better decisions.

Language proficiency of migrants: the relation with job satisfaction and skill matching

We empirically analyse the relation between language proficiency and job level of migrants in the Netherlands. A lack of language skills may induce the migrant to work in jobs of a lower level leading to lower job satisfaction. We analyse information about job satisfaction, the fit between the migrant’s education and skill level and the job, and professional level. Men with a higher proficiency level are more satisfied with their type of work and are employed at a higher professional level. For women, no impact of language proficiency can be found.

Recommendation System using Multi-Regression Technique

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is one of today's compelling and promising technologies that profoundly affects nearly all areas of business while continuously transforming people's lives. Workforce management is not an exception to the concept, since AI is advantageously indiscriminately thriving in all industries. By recommending programmes to users based on their preferences and needs, app recommendation systems play a crucial role in this regard. The objective of this project was to create an Android app recommendation system based on machine learning for skill matching. Recommender systems are efficient tools for filtering online information, which is widespread owing to the changing habits of computer users, personalization trends, and emerging access to the internet. Time, effort, and tedious everyday duties will be automated, freeing up human attention for more crucial issues related to improving performance and development. It would be possible for systems to function similarly to the human brain in terms of data analysis and the capacity to build an effective systematic engagement to process the data in a fair, efficient, and quick manner if they acquired automation, cognitive insights, and cognitive engagement during the recruitment process.

Validating midwifery professionals' scope of practice and competency: A multi-country study comparing national data to international standards.

There is a global shortage of midwives, whose services are essential to meet the healthcare needs of pregnant women and newborns. Evidence suggests that if enough midwives, trained and regulated to global standards, were deployed worldwide, maternal, and perinatal mortality would decline significantly. Health workforce planning estimates the number of midwives needed to achieve population coverage of midwifery interventions. However, to provide a valid measure of midwifery care coverage, an indicator must consider not only the raw number of midwives, but also their scope and competency. The tasks midwives are authorized to deliver and their competency to perform essential skills and behaviors provide crucial information for understanding the availability of safe, high-quality midwifery services. Without reliable estimates for an adequate midwifery workforce, progress toward ending preventable maternal and perinatal mortality will continue to be uneven. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) suggest standards for midwifery scope of practice and competencies. This paper compares national midwifery regulations, scope, and competencies in three countries to the ILO and ICM standards to validate measures of midwife density. We also assess midwives' self-reported skills/behaviors from the ICM competencies and their acquisition. We compared midwives' scope of practice in Argentina, Ghana, and India to the ILO Tasks and ICM Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice. We compared midwives self-reported skills/behaviors with the ICM Competencies. Univariate and bivariate analysis was conducted to describe the association between midwives' skills and selected characteristics. National scopes of practice matched two ILO tasks in Argentina, four in India, and all in Ghana. National standards partially reflected ICM skills in Categories 2, 3, and 4 (pre-pregnancy and antenatal care; care during labor and birth; and ongoing care of women and newborns, respectively) in Argentina (range 11% to 67%), mostly in India (range 74% to 100%) and completely in Ghana (100% match). 1,266 midwives surveyed reported considerable variation in competency for skills and behaviors across ICM Category 2, 3, and 4. Most midwives reported matching skills and behaviors around labor and childbirth (Category 2). Higher proportions of midwives reported gaining basic skills through in-service training and on-job-experience than in pre-service training. Estimating the density of midwives needed for an adequate midwifery workforce capable of providing effective population coverage is predicated on a valid numerator. A reliable and valid count of midwives to meet population needs assumes that each midwife counted has the authority to exercise the same behaviors and reflects the ability to perform them with comparable competency. Our results demonstrate variation in midwifery scopes of practice and self-reported competencies in comparison to global standards that pose a threat to the reliability and validity of the numerator in measures of midwife density, and suggest the potential for expanded authorization and improved education and training to meet global reference standards for midwifery practice has not been fully realized. Although the universally recognized standard, this study demonstrates that the complex, composite descriptions of skills and behaviors in the ICM competencies make them difficult to use as benchmark measures with any precision, as they are not defined or structured to serve as valid measures for assessing workforce competency. A simplified, content-validated measurement system is needed to facilitate evaluation of the competency of the midwifery workforce.

Education, Off-the-Job Vocational Training, and Early Employment Outcomes: Evidence from Italy

Education and training are primary sources of individual human capital. We explored the relationship between education and off-the-job vocational training and the impact of training programmes on youth employment in Italy. We focused on three outcomes: employment probability, use of formal/informal job search channels, and skill matching. We identified programme effects by comparing the outcomes of treatment and control groups using propensity score matching with a robustness check to assess the potential bias due to unobservable characteristics. Individuals with vocational high school degrees are more likely to participate in vocational training programmes, but in southern regions, individuals with technical or generalist high school degrees also attend vocational training programmes. Vocational training programmes have positive effects on youth employment outcomes, reduce the use of informal job search channels, and improve skill matching, especially in the centre-northern regions.