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This study proposes the factors influencing career commitment among public servants in Vietnam. By applying perspectives of the investment model with the moderating effects of perceived economic conditions, this study suggests that commitment to a career of public servants depends on career satisfaction, career alternatives, career investment, and professional self-efficacy. Additionally, the study proposes that perceived economic conditions moderate the relationships between these factors and career commitment. As economic instability may influence job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and investment decisions, understanding its interaction with career dynamics is crucial for public sector management. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the complexities of career commitment among Vietnamese public servants and provides policymakers with more insights on how to improve employee commitment.

The aim of this study is to empirically explore and analyze the concrete tasks of output measurement and the inherent challenges related to these tasks in a traditional and autonomous professional public work setting – the judicial system.

The analysis of the tasks is based on a categorization of general performance measurement motives (control-motivate-learn) and main stakeholder levels (society-organization-professionals). The analysis is exploratory and conducted as an empirical content analysis on materials and reports produced in two performance improvement projects conducted in European justice organizations.

The identified main tasks in the different categories are related to managing resources, controlling performance deviations, and encouraging improvement and development of performance. Based on the results, key improvement areas connected to output measurement in professional public organizations are connected to the improvement of objectivity and fairness in budgeting and work allocation practices, improvement of output measures' versatility and informativeness to highlight motivational and learning purposes, improvement of professional self-management in setting output targets and producing outputs, as well as improvement of organizational learning from the output measurement.

The paper presents empirically founded practical examples of challenges and improvement opportunities related to the tasks of output measurement in professional public organization.

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how general performance management motives realize as concrete tasks of output measurement in justice organizations.

The study tests the relationships between continuous improvement (CI) and clinical practices (CP) with perceived operational performance in Australian and New Zealand (NZ) emergency departments.

A survey instrument was designed to collect data from Australian and NZ Emergency Department physicians to test a model developed from the literature, the continuous improvement and clinical practice (CICP) model. Hypotheses were developed and tested using bivariate correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

ED operational performance is positively impacted by CI culture, reinforced by an established CI governance structure built on employee education of CI tools and methods. The lack of nonclinical time allocation for CI activities has remained a major impediment for the implementation of a sustainable CI culture. The study found physicians experience tension between continuous improvement and clinical practice.

Developing a CI mindset across all levels of emergency departments would encourage staff to embrace change to support the implementation of CI and to improve clinical practices. The study highlights potential implications for national bodies, academics, policymakers and ED physicians. Study insights suggest that continuous improvement and effective clinical practices are crucial for enhancing ED performance results in their day-to-day responsibilities.

The paper is original by applying methodological rigour to identify the best predictors of performance in EDs and how a theoretical causal model can be tested to identify the best predictors of operational performance in EDs.

The patient flow performance achievable by care pathways is constrained by competing flow and resource efficiency, which can negatively impact improvements. This paper probes the divergence between resource and flow efficiency and how care pathways can lead to improved patient flow. By framing the problem through the lens of paradox theory, a set of design principles is proposed to assist decision-makers in care pathway implementation. Implications are derived for research and practice.

The authors used conceptual research to develop design principles for care pathways based on a systematic review of relevant care pathway research. The initial search contained 515 unique articles, resulting in a final sample of 56 studies.

When applying care pathways, patient flow may be negatively affected in relation to the dimensions of bottlenecks, non-value-adding activities, and variability. However, the findings also indicate methods that can be applied to manage organizational paradoxes, which can contribute to more efficient patient flow along each of the three dimensions.

The study is limited to care pathways and therefore could have missed relevant studies in similar fields, such as care coordination.

Health care managers, politicians, and IT developers can apply the proposed design principles when developing, implementing, and improving care pathways and supporting technologies.

While existing research has studied care pathways from a medical perspective, this is the first paper to the author’s knowledge that addresses care pathways directly by considering paradox theory and in light of the operations management literature.

The rising focus on effective pathways to sustainable development has led to the conceptualization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as an institutionalization of public value. However, further exploration of public value creation processes, particularly through the lens of public (dis)value, is now advocated by scholars and policymakers. This study aims to understand the role of local ecosystems in enabling sustainable development within local communities through a public value regeneration process.

This research uses a case study methodology to examine Fattoria dei Primi, a social agriculture and urban regeneration initiative led by the Italian social cooperative Semi di Vita, with the mission to transform confiscated assets into new public goods.

A framework is developed to facilitate practices of public value regeneration and sustainable development. This framework offers a structured approach to understanding the actors, roles and stages involved in the regeneration process, identifying enablers and triggers across the stages of (1) value destruction, (2) value regeneration and (3) new value creation.

The findings offer valuable guidelines for public administration managers, institutions and policymakers to support public regeneration initiatives and progress toward the sustainable development in alignment with the UN Agenda 2030.

This study provides an initial examination of the mechanisms driving public value regeneration, demonstrating how collaboration among various stakeholders, including public, private and hybrid organizations, can facilitate regenerative processes and advance the SDGs.

This paper aims to identify the readiness factors (RFs) required for the deployment of lean initiatives within the context of higher education (HE), a field not yet significantly explored.

This research employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to thoroughly identify and consolidate all relevant scholarly literature concerning lean practices and readiness in the context of HE. Subsequently, a three-phase Delphi study was conducted to evaluate and enhance the findings of the SLR.

The results indicate the following seven RFs for use in HE: leadership/top management, changing environment and organisational culture, lean initiatives linked with the strategic agenda of the educational institute, employee empowerment and engagement, student value, supplier relations and continuous improvement.

By identifying such factors, the present study acknowledges the strategic nature of lean and recognises that its full strategic benefits can only be realised when properly implemented at a macro-level.

The authors believe that this is the first attempt to provide a consolidated list of RFs in the context of HE validated by a group of experts. This study expands the knowledge of lean in HE contexts, benefiting both researchers and professionals. For researchers, it provides a valuable foundation for further study of the implementation of lean programs. For professionals and practitioners, it offers insights for better preparation that are crucial for the sustainability of lean initiatives leading to overall improved performance.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the literature on lean management and lean six sigma (LM/LSS) in local government organizations (LGOs).

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to extract the most relevant academic publications on LM/LSS in LGOs. ProQuest, Web of Science and Engineering Village were used to obtain the publication set. Studies were then analyzed based on author characteristics, research design characteristics and content characteristics.

The SLR yielded 53 academic publications. The primary finding is that this research area has recently received an increase in attention within these types of organizations. Although this research area attracts new scholars every year, there remains insufficient collaboration across different research groups. Research methods, outcomes and future research areas were also investigated to comprehensively evaluate the literature and specify new research opportunities.

Although the SLR is a rigorous research methodology used to gather relevant publications, it is limited to the chosen information sources (i.e. platforms) to obtain the publications. Therefore, the researchers used multiple sources to maximize the likelihood of capturing publications related to this topic.

The insights presented here provide a foundational reference for researchers interested in investigating and exploring future research opportunities associated with LM/LSS in LGOs.

This study adds value to the research community through its detailed characterization and analysis of the existing research literature on LM/LSS within LGOs, an area that remains largely unexplored in the academic literature. By providing a rigorous understanding of the current status of this research area, this work responds to a notable gap. The review of the existing literature suggests that this effort represents the first comprehensive examination of the research literature on the evolution of LM/LSS, specifically focusing on LGOs as the primary application unit of interest.

Globally, co-production is of great significance in promoting neighborhood regeneration. However, in the Chinese context, characterized by a governance system with strong government discourse power and a tradition of passive public participation, co-production has faced significant challenges. To address issues, this paper aims to deeply understand the co-production behaviors and strategy choices of local governments and residents in the co-produced neighborhood regeneration.

An evolutionary game approach was utilized as the research method to analyze the interest interactions between the two parties, the differences and similarities in strategy choices and the influencing factors in government and resident-initiated project types, respectively. Chongqing was selected as the case area for empirical analysis, with data derived from project materials and in-depth interviews.

This study revealed dynamic interactions between local governments and residents, significant differences between the two project types regarding co-production levels, the positive role of residents' perceived loss and the effect of marginal benefits on critical influencing factors.

Drawing upon co-production theory, this paper elucidates how different levels of co-production are implemented and highlights the differences between the two types of neighborhood regeneration projects within governance systems characterized by strong state discourse power and a lack of public participation tradition. It addresses current issues and provides critical references for government policymakers and urban planners to make informed decisions and promote co-produced neighborhood rehabilitation projects.

Acknowledging the importance of both lean thinking (LT) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) for successful business performance and organisational success, the present study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) for the concurrent implementation of both approaches, a field not yet significantly explored.

The study conducts two systematic literature reviews (SLRs), one on LT and the other one on I4.0 to map out the CSFs for the effective implementation of each approach. These CSFs are subsequently prioritised with the use of a Delphi Study. Finally, from the set of the common CSFs recognised through the two approaches, a more condensed list is put forward as the first step towards achieving a successful synergy between LT and I4.0.

The study’s findings suggest the most important CSFs and determine their definition in the context of a concurrent implementation of LT and I4.0. This can provide managers and practitioners with the awareness of crucial factors, enabling them to take the necessary steps for planning and implementing both approaches.

A concise set of CSFs for the concurrent implementation of both LT and I4.0 has been identified, which can be viewed as a starting point for providing top executives and managers with useful insights into enhanced business efficiency and performance. This study furthermore contributes to the overall body of knowledge on LT and I4.0.

The scholarly literature that explores a common set of CSFs for the concurrent implementation of LT and I4.0 is limited. This gap significantly enhances the importance of the present research, contributing to a better understanding amongst both academics and practitioners of the key supporting factors for the integration of the two approaches.

This study intends to reveal the existing research stream and predict future research avenues for lean healthcare (LH). This paper analyzes the progress of LH research and identifies key trends, research gaps and future directions. By mapping the knowledge structure, the study offers insights into the effects of LH on healthcare efficiency, patient care and organizational performance.

The review used the bibliometric approach, involving 319 journal articles retrieved from the Web of Science database. Two science mapping approaches (i.e. bibliographic coupling and co-word analysis) were performed to investigate the current knowledge structure and future research direction in LH.

The current research trend in LH focuses on developing frameworks and strategic implementation by considering critical determinants and decision-making strategies. In the future, the research on LH will emphasize the holistic frameworks and efficient strategies for healthcare excellence, along with strategies to overcome barriers to its implementation.

This study will benefit researchers and practitioners by advancing their understanding and applying LH principles.

This study provides valuable practical implications for healthcare managers to navigate the complexities of lean implementation, optimize processes and drive sustainable improvements in the healthcare context.