Viable Service Research Articles

Online Counseling

This article reviews the online-counseling literature with an emphasis on current applications and considerations for future research. It focuses on primary themes of counseling psychology including the history of process-outcome research and multiculturalism. It explores current gaps in the literature from a counseling psychology framework, including the field’s focus on normal and developmental challenges and tasks, client strength and resilience, education and career development, prevention and wellness, and multiculturalism. In general, current evidence indicates that online counseling may be a viable service option for some clients, especially those who are typically isolated; however, questions remain regarding the effectiveness and appropriateness of online counseling.

Single, transcervical insemination using frozen–thawed semen in the Greyhound: A case series study

Transcervical insemination (TCI) has generated recent interest as an assisted reproductive technique in the dog. A case series study was performed to determine if TCI using frozen–thawed semen was a viable technique to offer in a general veterinary practice setting. Over a period exceeding 28 months, 137 Greyhound bitches were presented for assisted breeding. A single, timed insemination using a rigid cystoscope to aid in transcervical deposition of a frozen–thawed semen dose was given within 72 h after the behaviorally estrual bitch had a >4 ng/mL serum progesterone concentration and estrus-categorized vaginal cytology. Litter size, pregnancy and whelping rate were collected; their association to semen center and stud dog were quantified. Of the 137 bitches, 117 were bred for one cycle and 20 were bred for two or more cycles, giving a total of 161 single, timed inseminations. Pregnancy rate was 89.4%, with 141 (87.5%) whelping. Litter size was 6.9 ± 2.7 (mean ± S.D.) pups. Semen center ( P = 0.84) and stud ( P = 0.79) had no effect on pregnancy. These results were quite favorable when compared to prior TCI studies, and are possibly due to the use of a single breed (i.e., Greyhound) with good fertility. This study supported the application of TCI, in Greyhounds, as a successful and viable service to offer in private practice. Additionally, these results have value in their use for benchmarking future breed-specific and TCI research. Serendipitously, the apparent fecundity results obtained in this observational study suggests a possible greater appreciation be given to breed composition and choice in assisted reproductive technique studies.

Demand responsive transport: towards the emergence of a new market segment

This paper focuses on recent British experience with telematics-based Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services in rural areas. In recent years, the ability of DRT concepts to provide efficient, viable transport services has been greatly enhanced by the use of transport telematics as demonstrated in a variety of environments across Europe. The success of British local authorities in winning substantial funding under the Rural and Urban Bus Challenge programmes for the implementation of DRT has resulted in widespread interest in flexible forms of transport. It is thus timely to evaluate the impact of this substantial investment. Drawing on the experience of a number of UK schemes, the paper assesses the reasons for the new-found success of what is becoming a relatively well-accepted mode by concentrating on a variety of factors including: service characteristics (particularly route flexibility, flexibility of booking method and pre-booking regime), emerging markets and the overall contribution of DRT to increased social inclusion and intermodality. Impediments to the development of DRT services are highlighted. The paper also discusses current research into the next generation of DRT services and concludes by identifying some key issues for policy-makers concerned with the future implementation of DRT services.

Competition in Wireless Telecommunications

This paper presents an analysis of competition in wireless telecommunications that models the interdependence between spectrum availability, network infrastructure deployment, the generation of transmission technology, average traffic levels and service quality. We show that the constraints on spectrum availability and infrastructure that characterize this industry lead to service quality levels that are endogenously affected by market share, and this negative externality leads to bilaterally higher pricing power for competing providers. We incorporate the effects of these negative usage externalities into a two-stage game of quality competition with required minimum infrastructure levels, and establish two distinct kinds of fulfilled-expectations subgame perfect equilibria. Under the first equilibrium, which occurs at both very low and very high levels of average traffic, providers deploy the minimum permissible network infrastructure and price symmetrically. The second kind of equilibrium is asymmetric in both network deployment levels and pricing, though the equilibrium extent of quality differentiation is moderated by the externalities highlighted earlier. Analysis of these equilibria reveals three phases in a wireless market's evolution. In early-stage markets, providers should maintain minimum infrastructure levels and avoid active quality-based differentiation, relying instead on externality-based pricing power. As wireless markets mature, providers need to pursue an aggressive quality differentiation strategy, accompanied by continuous and rapid growth of their network infrastructure. Our model explains why the observed industry trend of relatively flat average revenue per user may be a natural equilibrium outcome during this phase, even though usage levels and value grow steadily. Finally, we identify a threshold level of average per-user traffic at which viable service quality levels and positive profits are not sustainable, and discuss how the rapidly declining profits and quality levels that precede this threshold should trigger active migration to the next generation of transmission technology

The building blocks of a data-aware transport network: deploying viable Ethernet and virtual wire services via multiservice ADMs

SONET/SDH technologies constitute the core transport infrastructure of major telecom service providers worldwide. As the percentage of packet-oriented traffic in the overall traffic demand continues to rise, prompted by the widespread adoption of the Internet protocol suite, and recently by the fast adoption of Ethernet services, there is increasing pressure to improve the service provider's transport infrastructure in ways that make it data-aware and cost-effective for packet-oriented applications. Steps in this direction include the adoption of native physical interfaces, for Ethernet and storage area networks as service interfaces, or full integration of packet switching capabilities from Ethernet, resilient packet ring, and MPLS technologies. This article discusses the emerging building blocks for next-generation data-aware transport networks and next-generation transport network elements.

Review of US ESCO industry market trends: an empirical analysis of project data

This comprehensive empirical analysis of US energy service company (ESCO) industry trends and performance employs two parallel analytical approaches: a survey of firms to estimate total industry size, and a database of ∼1500 ESCO projects, from which we report target markets and typical project characteristics, energy savings and customer economics. We estimate that industry investment for energy-efficiency related services reached US$2 billion in 2000 following a decade of strong growth. ESCO activity is concentrated in states with high economic activity and strong policy support. Typical projects save 150–200 MJ/m 2/year and are cost-effective with median benefit/cost ratios of 1.6 and 2.1 for institutional and private sector projects. The median simple payback time (SPT) is 7 years among institutional customers; 3 years is typical in the private sector. Reliance on DSM incentives has decreased since 1995. Preliminary evidence suggests that state enabling policies have boosted the industry in medium-sized states. ESCOs have proven resilient in the face of restructuring and will probably shift toward selling “energy solutions”, with energy efficiency part of a package. We conclude that appropriate policy support—both financial and non-financial—can “jump-start” a viable private-sector energy-efficiency services industry that targets large institutional and commercial/industrial customers.

The process of transformation of scientific and technological knowledge into economic value conducted by biotechnology spin-offs

This paper addresses the role played by academic spin-offs in the process of transformation of scientific and technological knowledge originating from research organisations (ROs) into viable technologies, products or services. It first discusses the need for such transformation, the reasons why, in some circumstances, spin-offs firms are particularly well positioned to conduct or orchestrate it, and subsequently looks in detail at the transformation process as it occurs in practice, in the biotechnology field. Three types of transformation functions are identified and described in detail, emphasising the outcomes that might not have taken place without the entrepreneurs’ intervention. It is concluded that, in performing these functions, biotechnology spin-offs play a valuable agency role in the access, application and dissemination of knowledge produced by ROs, emerging as an alternative to ‘technology transfer’ organisations and mechanisms.

Learning Communities in a Learning Region: The Soft Infrastructure of Cross-Firm Learning Networks in Silicon Valley

The ability of firms, industries, and regions continually to translate information and knowledge into viable new products, services, and production processes in the face of constantly changing technology and market conditions is increasingly at the core of competitive success in the contemporary economy. Such economic learning is ultimately dependent on the ability of individuals to learn, and yet most of the literature in this area has focused on firms and organizational learning processes, and is only beginning to engage seriously with people's learning processes. This paper explores the links between social learning processes and dynamics of innovation in Silicon Valley, arguing that cross-firm, occupationally based, ‘communities of practice’ provide a critical context for individuals to learn and maintain the competencies they need to be successful in the region's dynamic but volatile economy. These cross-firm occupational learning communities in many cases are being built through the activities of formal professional associations, which are playing an increasingly important role in providing the organizational infrastructure to sustain these learning communities. Using a case study of an association of women in Internet design and development occupations, the author illustrates the value of such communities in supporting individual and collective learning processes. These findings suggest that economic development strategies could productively be focused on identifying, strengthening, and expanding access to such cross-firm occupational learning communities.

An agile server for cross-provider service peering and aggregation

Telecommunications and next-generation network IP-based services can be increasingly delivered at network edges and in peered third-party networks. As a result, subscribers bypass operators' services in favor of alternative novel services; accordingly, potential revenue is lost. By bundling existing viable network-based services across providers, however, service providers can create new revenues and avoid further erosion of their market share. Business announcements attest to this growing trend, but thus far cross-provider solutions take the form of point-to-point customized integrations. In the emerging service delivery paradigm, providers must be able to interwork fluidly with partners already operating profitable services, and do so without going through the risky and costly service development cycle, and without the need for extensive customized software development. We outline an intelligent-agent-based service peering and aggregation server whose deployment on service provider networks enables such interworking.

The Performance of Long Day Care Centres in Rural and Remote Areas

In the past decade growing numbers of privately operated child care centres have been established as a result of encouragement by government. Although extensive study about centre management and leadership issues has been undertaken there exists a gap in research about the performance of centres from a viability perspective.Therefore, this paper extends knowledge and understanding about successful centre operation and considers the obstacles that hinder performance. A theoretical business performance framework is utilised to discuss the findings from a research project conducted Australia-wide. The study serves to clarify relevant issues in an effort to inform centre managers and policy- makers about what is needed to support the development of viable child care services.

High-dependency care: developing a joint surgical recovery unit.

High-dependency care is a rapidly expanding specialty. The focus of this article will be on the joint development between military and NHS staff of a surgical recovery unit offering high-dependency care to patients following major surgery. Pitfalls, benefits and indicative points to be learnt from this development will be identified. In addition, the staff training necessary and learning opportunities available will be highlighted. The position of the unit one year after opening, and future plans, are outlined. Throughout the development of the unit it became clear that an organized, well-established plan of action was needed. Staffing must be in place at the earliest opportunity and appropriate staff training is essential with adequate support from the relevant areas being imperative. Communication is the key to the efficient functioning of the unit. It is clear that an area never ceases to develop as the findings of this article show. Further collection and auditing of data are essential in the future to ensure a useful, viable, quality service.

1.4.1 Enterprise Systemics: Systems Thinking for plotting Strategy at the ‘Extended Enterprise’ level”

AbstractThis paper demonstrates the value of various systems techniques, and the system of systems concept in particular, to the design and management of key Extended Enterprise activity. By the Extended Enterprise (EE) we mean the context for the complete set of activities undertaken by companies operating together in a competitive market environment to deliver commercially viable products and services to consumers. We have coined the term ‘Enterprise Systemics’ to describe the use of a portfolio of systems techniques that facilitates, inter alia, plotting strategy at the EE (or network) level – perhaps the most challenging of corporate activity.We describe what we mean by the Extended Enterprise and some of the difficult challenges that it presents for current design methods and techniques. We report on work done to develop an approach that draws from diverse sources of systems type thinking. Case Study material is provided, from work done with a shared learning group in the UK over the last two years and from the successful industrial development of a UK Government funded research project.

Program management of telemental health care services.

Telemedicine is a new adjunct to the delivery of health care services that has been applied to a range of health care specialties, including mental health. When prospective telemedicine programs are planned, telemedicine is often envisaged as simply a question of introducing new technology. The development of a robust, sustainable telemental health program involves clinical, technical, and managerial considerations. The major barriers to making this happen are usually how practitioners and patients adapt successfully to the technology and not in the physical installation of telecommunications bandwidth and the associated hardware necessary for teleconsultation. This article outlines the requirements for establishing a viable telemental health service, one that is based on clinical need, practitioner acceptance, technical reliability, and revenue generation. It concludes that the major challenge associated with the implementation of telemental health does not lie in having the idea or in taking the idea to the project stage needed for proof of concept. The major challenge to the widespread adoption of telemental health is paying sufficient attention to the myriad of details needed to integrate models of remote health care delivery into the wider health care system.

Railroads in Greece: History, Characteristics, and Forecasts

Greece was relatively tardy in implementing a national rail network. The Greek Railways Organization (OSE) was formed in 1970 and united a number of regional railroads, some dating back to 1884. The current rail network in Greece has a length of approximately 2500 km with standard- and metric-gage tracks. Disadvantages of the network include a high percentage of single-line track, lack of homogeneity of track gage, inefficient alignment, absence of intermodal connections, and many at-grade intersections. Advantages include double tracks in a significant part of the Athens-Thessalonica axis that serves more than half of Greece’s population, improved operational controls, and popular intercity trains offering speedy service. Factors that affect railroad passenger and freight volumes include competition from airlines and motor carriers, gas prices, inflation, and the gross national product. These factors were used to estimate time-series models. Forecasts indicate increasing passenger demand and decreasing freight demand. OSE could provide a valuable and viable passenger service if cost-effective expenditures for improving it are possible. The future of freight operations is not hopeful. Additional emphasis may be placed on lines with historical and cultural significance. Further study is needed to assess the sustainability of forecasts vis-à-vis actual market shares and costs.

Deaf Society: Issues of Training and Contextualization

Continued attention to the dynamic processes of Deaf society will allow churches and organizations to allocate resources most effectively to serve Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Of chief need are creative consortiums such as the effort of European organizations to serve Ugandan Deaf children. What brings together this kind of creative consortium? What else around the world is taking place to serve the world's Deaf and hard-of-hearing population? What needs to be done? How can churches and mission organizations approach these challenges? This article will answer some of these questions while presenting a strategy for viable services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Reply

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article LetterFull AccessReplyArnold Werner, M.D., and Lance E. Anderson, M.D.Arnold WernerSearch for more papers by this author, M.D., and Lance E. AndersonSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:1 Feb 1999https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.50.2.267aAboutSectionsView EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail In Reply: Chen and her associates and Smith mistakenly seem to think that we are against telepsychiatry. They ignore what we said and misinterpret the purpose of our analysis, although they do not seem to quibble with our figures. In an era of excess enthusiasm for technologic solutions to systems problems, we have simply cautioned people to examine the cost of what they are doing.Chen and Smith support our contention that telepsychiatry is more likely to work in an integrated system. They then ignore the fact that we were describing the far more common problem of providing a service in an environment with many separate entities. They fail to address the problems we raised about costs. They also do not produce data to counter our analysis, and they sidestep our findings about the difficulties involved in decreasing costs in low-population, rural areas. Money comes from somewhere. There are no freebies from tax-funded sources. Our mental health center operates within a budget and covers costs for clinical services through Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, capitation funds, and managed care contracts. An expensive service or project can draw funds away from other services.For the cost of a telepsychiatry medication management visit, we can send a case worker out to see several patients; we can have the worker transport several patients to the center; we can have a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant examine patients under our direction. Patients do not have telepsychiatry hookups in their homes; they have to go somewhere and see someone to use the service.Smith's uninformed comment about rural prejudice deserves a response. One of us (AW) along with several colleagues, has provided regular consultation and patient care to two rural mental health centers for more than 25 years. We have decreased hospitalization rates, set up care systems with on-site part-time psychiatrists, and trained and placed a large number of psychiatrists in rural communities. We reject the notion of a negative rural prejudice.Szeftel's welcome comments suggest the kind of detail and support that is necessary for a viable telepsychiatry service. The specialty setting certainly makes it easier to provide the service. We are uncertain how her program relates to services in rural areas. FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByNone Volume 50Issue 2 February 1999Pages 267a-268 Metrics History Published online 1 February 1999 Published in print 1 February 1999

Organizational management of telemedicine technology: conquering time and space boundaries in health care services

Advanced information technology and improved information infrastructures have made telemedicine an increasingly viable health care service delivery alternative, measured in clinical, technical, and economic terms. Most existing telemedicine programs operate in an investigational setting where filtering or elimination of real-world frictions makes their migration to clinical settings challenging. The ultimate success of telemedicine demands effective technology management which can be systematically analyzed and modified to improve decision making. This paper reports research that identified important decisions that need to be made at each technology-management phase, discusses plausible decision interdependency, and highlights additional management issues that arise when telemedicine involves multiple technologies or extends across organizational boundaries. The authors' analyses of decision interdependency and intertechnology relationships, together with their managerial implications, have contributed to advancing research and practice related to management of suites of complex technologies in organizations participating in the health care service supply chain. Their findings suggest that a paradigmatic shift is needed to surmount the boundaries that have compartmentalized decision making, technology management, and organizations.

Energy Service and Conservation: Exploring the French Connection

Electricity market reform in New South Wales and Victoria has taken different paths. In NSW, explicit attempts have been made to stimulate the development of an energy services market, whereas Victoria has placed greater faith in the ability of the deregulated market to deliver energy efficiency. As this paper notes, energy service companies originated in France, yet France (with its heavy nuclear investment) is not known for its commitment to energy conservation. This article explores and explains this apparent contradiction, and draws lessons from the French experience about the institutional factors conducive to the establishment of a viable energy services sector capable of delivering improved energy efficiency in Australia. On the basis of French experience, it suggests that the key for the development of the sector in Australia may well lie in the provision of services additional to energy, and that building owners and managers might be just as important players in an energy efficiency market as engineering companies.

Towards viable drinking water services.

This paper presents a framework for viable drinking water services and institutional development of the water sector, especially in developing countries. The key dimensions of viable water services: operative technology, appropriate organizations and adequate cost recovery are dealt with. The role of consumers and the need for institutional reforms are discussed. Some tentative implications of the lessons learnt are discussed regarding the role of external support agencies, based on the authors' experience in developing countries and transition economies. It is suggested here that a polycentric form of governance should be introduced in the water sector, and the ultimate goal for the sector's development should be the reliance on financially self‐sufficient and consumer‐responsive water entrepreneurs.

Benchmarking the quality of hotel services: managerial perspectives

With escalating competition in the hotel industry, a growing number of hotels have considered service quality their top priority in maintaining competitiveness. To maintain competitiveness, the hotel management often needs to develop reliable service quality standards. Perhaps one of the best ways of developing such standards is to compare the hotel’s service performance with that of the service leader and reassess its service performance continuously through competitive benchmarking. In an effort to establish practical guidelines for competitive benchmarking, proposes the use of an analytic hierarchy process and a competitive gap analysis. These methods can help the hotel manager formulate viable service improvement strategies in the increasingly competitive hotel industry. Illustrates the usefulness of the proposed benchmarking methodology using the case of Korean luxury hotels.