Casual Modeling to Improve Customs Services in Iran

In its reality, the world is more complex than we expect it to be predicated and controlled; so, by minor view to issues and suppose many phenomena to be independent, it would be impossible to understand their totality and complexity. Utilizing appropriate scientific tools can provide us with useful information to manage decision making to improve methods to carry out operations and apply resources; one of these scientific tools is system dynamics approach. Therefore, based on stages in the methodology of system dynamics and by taking experts comments, in the present study, causal relations between influential factors in improvement of customs service are identified. So, by knowing these causal relations, one can allocate resources and prioritize activities leading to influence on other factors following with the best results. Finally, after validation and having the confirmation of the experts, the researcher has presented a causal model to improve customs services.

Capacity Decision in Emergency Hospital Operation Rooms

The operations management is a multidisciplinary field that investigates, for instance, the design, management and processes improvement focused on the development, production, distribution and delivery of products and services, encompassing activities such as the implementation of policies, making quota decisions, identification and problem solving, response to uncertainty, among others. Regarding the resources dimensioning in hospitals, the Brazilian scenario is limited to legislative instruments that assume a prior and added sizing. This chapter uses a discrete event simulation tool to set the amount of operation rooms needed for patient care in an emergency department, so that emergency patients have guaranteed compliance, minimizing the cancellation of elective surgeries because of this type of demand. As a result, it was found that the minimum amount established by normative instruments was not appropriate to the specific requirements of the organization.

Using Modeling and Simulation Techniques to Improve the Accountability and the Performance of Human Resource Management

The analysis of human resources function and its contribution to obtain performance dates back to the 1920s. Now, the HR is an equal partner on the board of the companies, having a strategic role in obtaining performance, thus we try to show that compensating appropriately, the human capital it will be motivated to obtain performance. This paper examines the two different visions of different managers in which the human capital is perceived as a major cost for organization and the others which perceive it as an investment on long run. In this article, we analyse the impact could have the direct costs of human capital on individual and organizational performance using samples of some variables from European level, data between 2005-2016. Data used for the different years were analysed using simulation methods. Findings of this study show consistency with the theory in the filed, bringing a value in motivation and accountability of human capital and performance obtained through human capital.

Scenario Planning for Technical Knowledge Development

Localizing and creating technical knowledge in the developing countries to make them able to compete in the international arena will not be an easy task to undertake as it involves complexities and uncertainties. In this regard, methods of modeling and simulation help understanding the reality and thereby delineating the future. This paper discusses using system dynamics methodology in the Petrochemical Research and Technology Company (Iran). After determining causal loop diagrams, a dynamic model, and validation test, in order to improve the system, related scenarios to the research are proposed. The results show that research financing is a major obstacle in the course of growth and development; accordingly, some scenarios are recommended to increase technical knowledge through raising the initiation and completion rates of research projects. The paper closes with a description of the suggested scenarios.

BDI Approach to Build a Single Agent of a Distributed Multi-Agent System

The main purpose of this study is to describe and analyze an agent from a distributed multi-agent based system (ABS) according to the BDI architecture. This agent is capable of autonomous action to propose general technology strategies (TSs) in renewable energy SMEs based on a set of rules and interacts with a core agent in multi ABS. The recognition of internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats takes place on the basis of technological SWOT-analysis. Proposed TSs are categorized into four types: aggressive strategy, turnaround oriented strategy, diversification strategy, and defensive strategy. Agent architecture in terms of three abstraction layers called psychological, theoretical, and implementation is explained. And after system validation by experts, some program codes and output results of this agent are presented. This system provides information to facilitate the TS planning process to be carried out effectively.

Improve Center of Sterilized Material Performance

The health sector in Brazil faces difficulties related mainly to financial, administrative, and organizational structure. Center of Sterilized Material (CSM) provide material for the other components of the hospital, and is essential for the proper working of medical care. This work investigates CSM strategy operation in a public hospital. There is an expectation that it needs additional human resources to meet the current demand. During the research, we evaluated this increment and showed that the critical resource is not the human one. We went forward and presented an alternative that does not prescind of investment and increase the installed capacity. The contributions of this research, brings, in the midst of the financial crisis experienced, the possibility of meeting more and better the internal demand, without any financial contribution. It's about showing the potentiality of bringing together professionals and academics, applying methods and management tools in the health sector.

A Model for the Establishment and Development of Telework in Public Organizations

In this chapter, based on systems dynamics approach, efforts have been made to provide a model for the establishment and development of telework in public organizations of the Iran. The main goal of the study is to find a suitable and practical model for the establishment and successful development of telework in the public organizations of the country. Modeling for the establishment and development of telework for the first time in this research has been done using the systems dynamics approach. One of the main findings of this study is the extraction of the factors and main variables that are effective in the establishment and development of telework. Also, the effect and the relationship between the factors and operational variables of the model were revealed and the components of the causal loop were confirmed. Finally, the final model of the research was presented.

Innovation Success Over Time of Alliances With Different Strategic and Cooperation Objectives

In response to uncertainty of prospective technologies and how they might fit market demand, firms tend to establish R&D alliances. In this chapter the effect over time of continuation of underperforming R&D alliances on innovation performance during the pre-market stage is investigated. This stage is characterized by non-linearity, as expected outcomes and market demands are uncertain. Literature suggests that computational modeling in particular agent-based modeling can be used to investigate such non-linear processes. Agent based modeling starts with simple behavioral rules that develop into emergent system-level behaviors, and in that way controlled system level experiments are used to identify in an inductive way causal mechanisms that drive the system development. In this chapter's simulation model, an agent decides to continue its R&D alliance based on its strategic and cooperation objectives. After evaluating if the strategic goals is met, firms can decide about the extent to which to continue the R&D alliances if the strategic goal is not met. This is called persistency. The model is aimed to explain developmental paths and patterns of the co-evolution of alliances and technology. Despite suggestions to investigate non-linear processes in the pre-market phase by using an agent-based model, agent-based models so far do not focus on the impact of alliance continuation on innovation performance over the path of technology development. In previous research these paths mainly have been investigated in case and cross sectional studies but not in an agent based model. A base-line model is developed and the extent to which it reflects reality is analyzed in order to improve the model's performance.