This paper aims to explore the changes that an organizational performance and control system should perform to adapt to the current dynamic environment.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the changes that an organizational performance and control system should perform to adapt to the current dynamic environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first presents the features of a typical organizational control system. It identifies current technological developments that affect the control process and evaluates the changes that should be introduced in order for the organization to function effectively.
Findings
Although the components of organizational performance and control systems remain the same, most of them have changed their features, such as strategy should be visited more frequently, processes are digitized and therefore customers are more involved in the process, and actual performance can and should be monitored automatically.
Originality/value
This paper presents a comprehensive model of a control system that can be implemented by every organization, as well as points out control features that should be continuously reviewed and updated.
Details
Keywords
Organisational learning curve analysis and its inverse, organisational forgetting are discussed. The issues involved and a framework for analysing and incorporating forgetting and…
Abstract
Organisational learning curve analysis and its inverse, organisational forgetting are discussed. The issues involved and a framework for analysing and incorporating forgetting and learning in organisational environments are presented. A conceptual model is developed identifying and analysing such factors as turnover, communication and documentation, which have a significant impact on the intesity of forgetting. Mathematical models are developed and applied to production environments. A major finding which results form the models' analysis is related to the asymptotic value of the cycle time as a function of the nature of the item produced and the length of interruption.
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Shlomo Globerson and Michael J. Maggard
The article focuses upon the concept of self‐service within theservice sector. The nature and growth, as well as the present andpotential use of self‐service are analysed and…
Abstract
The article focuses upon the concept of self‐service within the service sector. The nature and growth, as well as the present and potential use of self‐service are analysed and explored. Starting with the service industry, several common classification and evaluation schemes are reviewed. Recent contributions to the understanding of the self‐service industry are next discussed. A model of the self‐service sector is proposed which incorporates attributes drawn from three major sectors: the consumer, the organisation, and the environment. Examples and hypotheses to be explored are included.
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Shlomo Globerson and Gavriel Salvendy
Some of the limitations of the methodologies of productivity measures, human resource accounting and socio‐technical aspects of job design are reviewed. In order to overcome some…
Abstract
Some of the limitations of the methodologies of productivity measures, human resource accounting and socio‐technical aspects of job design are reviewed. In order to overcome some of the limitations inherent in the above methodologies, a Socio‐Technical Accounting System (STAS) is developed and proposed for possible use in evaluation of personnel, jobs, and value of human assets.
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Keywords
Ofer Zwikael and Shlomo Globerson
To identify the industry in which projects are best planned and executed and use it as a benchmark for improving project planning in other industries.
Abstract
Purpose
To identify the industry in which projects are best planned and executed and use it as a benchmark for improving project planning in other industries.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on data collected from 280 project managers, project success and quality of project planning were evaluated and analyzed for four industries – construction and engineering, software and communications, services, and production and maintenance.
Findings
Quality of project planning was found to be the highest in construction and engineering organizations and the lowest in manufacturing organizations. This is a result of a few factors, among them the intensive organizational support which is offered to project managers working in construction and engineering organizations. The other three industries limit their support mostly to tactical aspects, such as the purchasing of project management software. The high quality of project planning in the construction and engineering organizations resulted in their ability to complete projects by almost half the cost and schedule overruns, as compared to organizations belonging to the other industries. Finally, results of the industries in Israel and Japan are compared and analyzed.
Research limitations/implications
Findings are limited to the four industries included in the study.
Practical implications
If organizations, not belonging to the construction industry, wish to improve the probability of success in project planning and execution, they should follow methodologies commonly used in the construction industry.
Originality/value
This paper introduces a valid field study, exploring project management practices in four industries and identifies the one which may be used as a benchmark for the others. It also identifies specific strengths and weaknesses in project management within the explored industries.
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Keywords
The librarian and researcher have to be able to uncover specific articles in their areas of interest. This Bibliography is designed to help. Volume IV, like Volume III, contains…
Abstract
The librarian and researcher have to be able to uncover specific articles in their areas of interest. This Bibliography is designed to help. Volume IV, like Volume III, contains features to help the reader to retrieve relevant literature from MCB University Press' considerable output. Each entry within has been indexed according to author(s) and the Fifth Edition of the SCIMP/SCAMP Thesaurus. The latter thus provides a full subject index to facilitate rapid retrieval. Each article or book is assigned its own unique number and this is used in both the subject and author index. This Volume indexes 29 journals indicating the depth, coverage and expansion of MCB's portfolio.
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Library management is struggling to improve productivity without reducing the quality of service to its users. With downsizing continuing to be a trend, the implementation of…
Abstract
Library management is struggling to improve productivity without reducing the quality of service to its users. With downsizing continuing to be a trend, the implementation of self‐checkout circulation systems may be an important technological investment for libraries to consider. In most large academic institutions, such circulation functions as checking out and renewing library materials have traditionally been performed by staff members. The climate may, however, be right to rethink the mode of service delivery systems and shift from providing full‐service to self‐service models, whereby the patron takes responsibility for checking out his or her own library materials.
Irad Ben‐Gal, Michael Wangenheim and Avraham Shtub
The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for physician staffing requirements that could be generally applied to any hospital department, taking into account factors such as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for physician staffing requirements that could be generally applied to any hospital department, taking into account factors such as occupancy level, professional absences, allowances, physician work duties and patient service levels.
Design/methodology/approach
The ability to generalize the model was tested via its implementation in five hospital departments considered to represent a cross‐section of all hospital requirements: internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics children's (pediatrics), and gynecology. The work is based on a combination of a survey, work sampling and direct time study, conducted by professional observers with a high degree of frequency and over a relatively long period of time.
Findings
The model is based on the concept of “required work capacity” of physicians. The model makes it possible to account for such factors as yearly capacity, level of desired service, increments for work conditions, roster duties and necessary absences.
Practical implications
The findings indicate that the departments studied required a significant increase in their physician staffing. In these departments the present manpower situation stands at 80–90 percent of the necessary staffing based on the average annual occupancy. The new staffing requirements model can be implemented in various departments.
Originality/value
This paper is an original effort to develop a model for physician staffing requirements at hospitals based on a survey, work‐study and direct time study. This contributes to past research that focused on the development of staffing requirements models, e.g. for nurse or family physicians. The paper presents an original model for physician staffing requirements at hospitals.