Assessing the impact of supply chain agility on operational performances-a PLS-SEM approach

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of supply chain agility (SCA) on operational performance (OP) measurements of steel manufacturing firms. It also investigates the role of cost efficiencies concerning enhance OPs. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on an experimental research design by collecting data from responses 398 responses of key officials of India’s steel manufacturing firms. Analyses are carried to explore this modern concept with the help of Smart-partial least square (PLS) version 3.3.2 with confirmatory factor analysis and PLS structural equational modelling. Findings SCA factor (SCAF) directly has influenced the firm’s OP. It also represents cost efficiencies that have partial mediation between the SCAF and OP. The impact of cost efficiencies on OPs is strongly significant as compared to the impact of SCAF on cost efficiencies. Practical implications Management teams in the manufacturing industry should stress the role of SCA as a comprehensive concept in responding to market needs in a volatile environment. SCA reflects one of its winning strategies in today’s dynamic and competitive world. Managers must thoroughly know the ramifications of agility to develop a mechanism for determining the procedures and identifying inequality in SC operation. Originality/value This study speaks explicitly about the linkage between SCAF, OP, CE. It is an addition to the existing theories of RBV. Enhancements in OP measurements, specifically performance and flexibility, will lead to better firm performance. study conceptualizing the complementing effects of SCA (IS capability) and OPs and second cost efficiencies play positive partial mediating effect in between the link. The achievement of SC agile is especially a critical approach to Boost customer satisfaction and differentiate market position.

Problem zamówień publicznych w PRL

The article characterises selected legal solutions applied in the process of public contract award in the realities of the nationalised centrally-planned economy in the times of the Polish People’s Republic. In the study, manifestations of discrimination of private businesses in the access to public contracts are presented. Such discrimination was one of the foundations for the legislation applicable at the time. The article also highlights other features of legal acts of statutory rank governing contracts awarded by state-owned organisational units, such as the fragmented nature of their regulations, including the omission of regulations governing the procedure of reaching an agreement and executing a contract. This allowed formulating conclusions about the merely superficial role of the provisions on supplies, services, and works for state entities and the fundamental inability of these regulations to play the role attributed to public procurement in the market economy, consisting in deploying the mechanism of competition between entrepreneurs for cost-efficiencies in public spending.

Towards an increased understanding of learning: a case study of a collaborative relationship between a retailer and a logistics service provider

PurposeThis study aims to explain how learning occurs in collaborative retailer–logistics service provider (LSP) relationships. The research is guided by two research questions, addressing absorptive and desorptive capacities and the interaction between these capacities.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a case study of a Swedish, collaborative retailer–LSP dyad. The empirical data are structured around five specific learning situations within the retailer–LSP dyad.FindingsThe findings provide an explanation for how learning occurs within a collaborative retailer–LSP relationship based on subprocesses of absorptive and desorptive capacities. The interaction between these processes is found to rely on two types of support: one-directional and bidirectional. The findings also indicate positive outcomes of learning, such as improved cost efficiencies in warehouse operations, better customer services and improved long-term strategic planning.Practical implicationsThis study shows how retailers and LSPs can learn from each other and together create an improved logistics system for end customers.Originality/valueThis research takes into account absorptive and desorptive capacities in a collaborative retailer–LSP relationship. This study enhances the understanding of inter-organisational learning processes in a retail logistics context.

The Adoption of International Arbitration as the Preferred ADR Process in the Resolution of International Intellectual Property Disputes

This article, which is intended for arbitration practitioners, demonstrates that international arbitration as a subset of the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) offers a useful toolkit for the expeditious resolution of international intellectual property law disputes. The article demonstrates how the theory and practice of international arbitration is particularly well poised to address some of the specific considerations and requirements of paramount concern to the international intellectual property lawyers and their clients. The article will explain how the inherent features of the international arbitration legal landscape combine to indicate that it should be considered as the preferred method of ADR and explain how each of these features can provide both time and cost efficiencies. The article will identify the legal reasoning behind the benefits inherent to choosing international arbitration and will also address those circumstances when international arbitration may be precluded or otherwise considered unsuitable for intellectual property matters. The article examines several distinct benefits that international arbitration uniquely offers to international intellectual property law users and highlights some areas of the field that require additional caution.

SP3.2.10 Establishing an Emergency Surgical Ambulatory Care (ESAC) pathway for acute laparoscopic cholecystectomies: a single centre experience from a District General Hospital

Aims Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for acute cholecystitis and gallstone pancreatitis. In order to deliver this service, a local Emergency Surgical Ambulatory Care (ESAC) pathway with a dedicated ESAC theatre list was established. The aim of this audit was to determine whether ESAC was associated with (1) improved length of stay and (2) cost efficiencies. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy between October 2018 to October 2019 were identified. Data related to patient demographics, operating time, complications length of stay (LOS), reason for inpatient stay and re-admissions were collected. A dedicated ESAC service was introduced in July 2020. Outcomes were re-audited (July – December 2020). Results Prior to the introduction of ESAC, 142 patients (42% male, mean age 51 years (range 14 -82 years)) underwent an acute cholecystectomy, of which 13% were discharged on the same day. Median pre-operative LOS was 2 days (range 0-12 days) and median post-operative LOS was 1 day (range 1-16 days). Following the introduction of ESAC, 78 patients (32% male, mean age 49 years (range 22 – 89 years)) underwent an acute cholecystectomy, of which 76% were discharged on the same day and 90% within 1 day. Median pre-operative LOS was 0 days (range 0 to 7 days) and median post-operative LOS was 0 days (range 0-16 days). Conclusions Our results show that the introduction of a dedicated ESAC pathway improved both pre- and post-operative LOS. This subsequently saves approximately £80,000 per annum in hospital bed days.

EP.TH.1046Probing the cost variation in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy using PLICS

Aims This pilot study followed the introduction of PLICS (Patient-Level Information and Costing Systems) in our trust. Data for for Q2 2018 was probed to understand cost variation in procedures and to plan how to utilize this system. Methods Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy data was extracted, providing costing for each procedure across a number of domains. We established a system to assess the domains with the most variation. We calculated the coefficient of variation (CV) for each domain. CV > 1 was seen as high variation and these domains were probed further to identify causes. Results Domains identified to be of notable variation (CV > 1) were length of stay, pathology test costs, drugs administered, medical staffing costs and pharmacy costs. Domains such as interest costs and device costs appeared to be arbitrary and directed our feedback on how to improve the system. Conclusion We identified variation of costs due to dispensation of drugs unrelated to laparoscopic cholecystectomy which can be easily addressed. Staffing cost variation provided data to drive theatre utilization strategies. Improvements in data capture such as device costs per procedure are imperative to evaluate and change practice for further cost efficiencies. Key statement PLICS is a powerful system to probe procedure costs, variation and drive efficiency. Our combined clinical and management team collaborated to understand the data. To use PLICS to the best advantage the data must be accurate, truly recorded at the patient level and be subject to regular scrutiny.

Efektivitas Kawasan Berikat Mandiri dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Logistik dan Kinerja Operasional Pengusaha Kawasan Berikat (PKB) X di Purwakarta

The purpose of this study is to analyze effectiveness of KB Mandiri (autonomous/self-served bonded zone entity) on logistic and operational performance. This study uses qualitative method by evaluating an entity operating in bonded zone as a case study. This study uses five dimensions to assess the effectiveness of KB Mandiri operation on logistic performance, namely: efficiency, logistic cost, effectiveness, responsiveness, and operational flexibility. The results showed that KB Mandiri is effective to enhance logistic performance. KB Mandiri is also effective to enhance operational performance based on its impact on cost efficiencies and quality control. However, this research cannot assess effectiveness dimension and profit indikator for logistic performance and operational performance respectively, due to pandemic COVID-19 that might biased the entity’s financial performance in year 2020. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis efektivitas KB Mandiri dalam meningkatkan kinerja logistik dan kinerja operasional Pengusaha KB (PKB) Mandiri. Metode penelitian yang dilakukan adalah evaluatif melalui studi kasus dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Penelitian ini menggunakan lima dimensi untuk menilai efektivitas KB Mandiri dalam meningkatkan kinerja logistik, yaitu: efisiensi, biaya logistik, efektivitas, daya tanggap, dan fleksibilitas operasional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa KB Mandiri efektif dalam mendukung kinerja logistik perusahaan. KB Mandiri juga efektif dalam meningkatkan kinerja operasional perusahaan berdasarkan indikator efisiensi biaya dan penjagaan kualitas. Penelitian ini tidak dapat menilai dimensi efektivitas dan indikator profit karena data kinerja keuangan perusahaan di tahun 2020 mungkin bias akibat dampak pandemi COVID-19.

EXPRESS: Commercial Success through Commercials? Advertising and Pay TV Operators

The US pay television service market had been dominated by cable operators until the nationwide entry of satellite operators in the early 1990s. The latter have been consistently growing their footprints since. This study documents the role of television advertising to explain the success. Using data on US households’ subscription choices and operators’ advertising decisions, the authors document both demand- and supply-side conditions conducive to the growth of the satellite operators. First, the authors find consumers in this market were sensitive to advertising, and especially so to that of the satellite operators (ad-elasticities of about .05-.06 for satellite operators vs. .02 for cable operators). The authors employ a border strategy to demonstrate advertising-elastic demand and discuss its robustness to potential threats to identification. Second, the authors provide suggestive evidence that a form of asymmetric cost efficiencies in television advertising benefited the entrants more than the incumbents. Specifically, the unit costs of local advertising tend to be higher than of national advertising, which likely allowed the satellite operators to better leverage their national presence with (cheaper) national advertising. Overall, this study highlights the interaction between advertising efficiencies and the scale of entry in explaining the competition between market incumbents and entrants.

Government Expenditure Data Exploration & Analysis Using Python

The goal of improving cost efficiencies is a constant endeavor of all organizations. This is especially true for governments, where public perception often has the ability to affect budget allocations. The data used in this analysis consisted of publically available state expenditures from 2018 and 2019 for the state of Idaho. The dataset contains the record of over 2 million state expenditures across all state agencies. The data analysis was performed using Python and the Pandas library. Visualizations were created using the Matplotlib package. The data exploration showed that Idaho’s Departments of Health and Welfare, Education and Transportation spent the most in this time period. The analysis also determined which Summary Objects, Sub-Object and Vendors experienced the greatest changes between the two years. Comparisons were also done using publicly available data on reported budget allocations by the states of Arkansas, California, Texas and Montana to see how spending differs between Idaho and these states based on percentage and per capita. Finally, suggestions for improvement in the areas of health care and employee transportation were given. These include methods of improving competition in health care, reducing travel through expanded teleconferencing and providing incentives to employees for reduced travel cost. Keywords: data science, budget analysis, python, pandas, government spending

Eupsychian Management: Spirit of the Good in Humanity and Society

Eupsychian management was Abraham Maslow’s term for workplaces of creativity, synergy, and continuous learning. His ideas were crystalized while visiting Non-Linear Systems, founded by Andrew Kay. Eupsychian management, a phrase congruent yet distinct from utopian concepts, specifically referred to environments designed for improving the self-fulfillment and psychological health of all its members. Maslow astutely observed that the characteristics of such environments were its general atmosphere for creative pursuit rather than a specific policy or practice. With retrospective hindsight, Maslow’s managerial ideas, once visionary in nature, have been largely integrated into mainstream management theory and practice. However, his desire for less competitive, controlling, and hierarchical workplaces has been frustrated by ever-increasing global competition, fragmentation, and pressure for cost-efficiencies. The lasting impact of Eupsychian ideals may lie in its humanistic clarity. Human beings long for meaning, purpose, and contribution to a more just and regenerative world. The workplace cannot succeed as an island of psychological health separate from broader efforts to bring forth social justice and environmental renewal.