bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementing operations strategy through Lean processes within health care
Authors: Matthias Olga , Brown Steve 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how operations strategy and Lean concepts can be applied within a healthcare organisation and the degree to which both Lean and operations strategy are understood by senior-level National Health Service (NHS) personnel, based on the process of ongoing longitudinal cases studies. Further interviews and data analysis will examine actual performance of Lean capabilities within the NHS.Design/methodology/approachFor this explanatory multiple-case study project the authors collected data through semi-structured interviews with executives in the NHS to understand how operations strategies are developed in the NHS and implemented in NHS hospitals. The unit of analysis is the hospital. Multiple (22) interviews took place over 12 months with senior-level personnel responsible for implementing change via operations strategy goals, and incorporating Lean initiatives. In addition, to triangulate data, the authors examined healthcare reports and strategy policy documents from each case hospital. This forms stage 1 of a longitudinal study which will examine the actual performance of Lean within the NHS hospitals across a range of operations parameters and explore links between such capabilities and the role and importance of operations strategy in more detail.FindingsThe findings lead to the conclusion that operations strategies were not fully developed within the hospitals. In addition, the ongoing data capture shows that “Best practice” was not being disseminated across the NHS, for either patient experience or organisational effectiveness and the role of operations strategy was not fully clear other than as a rather vague “umbrella” term. Despite Lean’s attraction for healthcare at a micro-level, significant operational and cultural hurdles must be overcome for the full strategic benefits of Lean to be realised. A much more holistic approach in providing a full service for the whole of the patient journey is needed.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample provides an initial snapshot. A larger number of hospitals and/or further longitudinal research will be needed to deepen understanding of embedding strategic change to improve overall performance.Practical implicationsTackling cultural performance and operational issues at a macro-level could help healthcare providers reconcile the perceived conflicting goals of improving patient care (i.e. service delivery) whilst simultaneously reducing costs. The role of explicit operations strategies could be pivotal in designing and implementing such change.Originality/valueThis research builds on and extends the work of Toussaint and Berry (2013), Seddon and O’Donovan (2010) and Carlborg and Kowalkowski (2013). The authors highlight how some of the apparent contradictions in the requirements of the various stakeholders create operational and strategic tensions. The authors highlight the multi-faceted nature of design and delivery of a multi-touchpoint service within the complexity of a large healthcare provider.
Integrated resource efficiency: measurement and management
Authors: Koh S.C.L. , Morris Jonathan , Ebrahimi Seyed Mohammad , Obayi Raymond 
Published: October 2016

PurposeDrawing on the systems theory and the natural resource-based view, the purpose of this paper is to advance an integrated resource efficiency view (IREV) and derive a composite “integrated resource efficiency index” (IRE-index) for assessing the environmental, economic, and social resource efficiencies of production economies.Design/methodology/approachUsing sub-national input-output data, the IRE-index builds on the human development index (HDI) and the OECD green growth indicators by including functions for environmental resource efficiency, energy, and material productivity. The study uses multiple regressions to examine and compare the IRE-index of 40 countries, including 34 OECD nations. The study further compares the IRE-index to similar composite indicators such as the human sustainable development index (HSDI) and the ecological footprint.FindingsThe IRE-index reveals a discrepancy between social development and resource efficiency in many of the world’s wealthiest production economies. Findings also show that material productivity has been the key driver for observed improvements in IRE over time. The index is a robust macro-level methodology for assessing resource efficiency and sustainability, with implications for production operations in global supply chains.Originality/valueThe IREV and IRE-index both contribute towards advancing green supply chain management and sustainability, and country-level resource efficiency accounting and reporting. The IRE-index is a useful composite for capturing aggregate environmental, economic, and social resource efficiencies of production economies. The paper clearly outlines the managerial, academic, and policy implications of the IREV and resulting index.
A transaction cost economics model for estimating performance effectiveness of relational and contractual governance
Authors: Wacker John G. , Yang Chenlung , Sheu Chwen 
Published: October 2016

PurposeAs outsourcing continues to grow, supplier management becomes critical to the success of manufacturing firms. Transaction cost economics (TCE) suggests that firms should choose supplier governance mechanisms to ensure fulfillment of contractual obligations and safeguard against opportunism for their outsourcing activities. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to examine how buying organizations govern supplier contracts to improve manufacturing competitiveness and financial performance. The relative effectiveness of two primary governance mechanisms, contractual governance (CG), and relational governance, are examined.Design/methodology/approachExpanding upon previous studies, this study delineates three relational governance mechanisms (negotiation efficiency (NE), problem solving relations, and information sharing (IS)) that are conceptually, statistically and pragmatically different. Based on the TCE literature, a conceptual model is developed to decipher the relationships between pre-contract conditions (supplier asset specificity and environmental uncertainty (EU)), governance mechanisms, performance ambiguity (PA), and performance. Using the data collected from 987 firms, the statistical results present several important findings that would advance current theory and practice in outsourcing.FindingsThe authors find empirical support for the effects of contractual and relational governance in improving manufacturing and financial performance. The governance of supplier contracts clearly facilitates manufacturers’ ability to leverage their resources to improve performance. The relative effectiveness of these two governance mechanisms is related to the levels of EU and supplier asset specificity. Relational governance displays greater influence on performance than CG does. However, CG appears to be complementary to relational governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe interplays between supplier asset specificity and EU should be examined in the future. The relationships among NE, IS, and problem solving should also be examined to facilitate the development of relational governance.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware of the situational performance of governance mechanisms. Moreover, it is important to realize how differently each of the three relational governance mechanisms and CG contribute to performance.Originality/valueThis study extends the academic discussion of supplier governance by investigating the alignment of governance mechanisms (relational governance and CG) with pre-contract conditions to reduce PA and, thereby, enhance manufacturing performance. Under the theoretical framework of TCE, the direct and indirect effects of pre-contract conditions and governance variables are fully examined and discussed. Moreover, relational governance involves multiple mechanisms that are conceptually and pragmatically different, and future studies should not treat it as one single construct.
Researching business interaction: introducing a conceptual framework and methodology
Authors: Abrahamsen Morten H. 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a conceptual framework and a methodology for researching business interaction.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper briefly presents what business interaction is from an international marketing and purchasing perspective. It then discusses some epistemological and methodological challenges that this understanding implies, particularly concerning the time (when) and space (where) dimensions of interaction, the unit of analysis when researching interaction (who interacts), how the actors explain or make sense of interaction (why they interact), and the way in which (how) they interact. The paper subsequently introduces a conceptual framework that enables analysing interaction on the principal dimensions of time (the past, present, and the future) and space (actor, dyadic, and network level), and the ascription or explanation of these dimensions by the actors involved.

Findings
This framework is then applied to interview data from an empirical case study that demonstrates its methodological as well as practical application as a research technique. The paper ends with a discussion on how this framework can enhance the understanding of business interaction as researchers.

Originality/value
The data collection and analysis technique represents a novel way to collect, systematise, and analyse qualitative data that will hopefully add to the understanding of business interaction.
Wroe Alderson, IMP and the evolution of theory
Authors: Gadde Lars-Erik , Hulthén Kajsa 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse how theories evolve within scientific fields: why they receive attention and why they eventually become less attractive.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a literature review and focusses on the theoretical structure developed by Wroe Alderson. His contributions were highly appreciated and generally considered as “the” marketing theory. However, in few years his broad perspective was more or less neglected within the field where it was developed. At the same time, Alderson’s basic thinking was adopted by the evolving IMP approach. The specific objective of the study is to analyse why researchers in marketing abandoned Alderson, while IMP adopted many of his ideas.

Findings
The paper illustrates significant aspects of the evolution of theories. First, the paper shows how well-established conceptualisations, like Alderson’s total systems approach, may lose impact when the focus of research shifts. Alderson’s holistic framing was found too broad and all-encompassing to be useful when research attention was directed to specific aspects of marketing management and the socio-behavioural approach to distribution. Second, the paper shows in what respect IMP found support in concepts and models presented by Alderson in the challenging of fragmented mainstream framings of the business landscape.

Originality/value
This paper relates the rise and fall of Alderson’s concepts and frameworks to the evolution of theories of other schools-of-thought. Furthermore, the study shows how Alderson’s ideas were adapted to other research fields than where it was originally developed.
Adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control for redundant manipulators with varying payload
Authors: He Jun , Luo Minzhou , Zhang Xinglong , Ceccarelli Marco , Fang Jian , Zhao Jianghai 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to present an adaptive fuzzy sliding mode controller with nonlinear observer (AFSMCO) for the redundant robotic manipulator handling a varying payload to achieve a precise trajectory tracking in the task space. This approach could be applied to solve the problems caused by the dynamic effect of the varying payload to robotic system caused by model uncertainties.

Design/methodology/approach
First, a suitable observer using the recursive algorithm is presented for an accurate estimation of external disturbances caused by a variable payload. Second, the adaptive fuzzy logic is designed to approximate the parameters of the sliding mode controller combined with nonlinear observer (SMCO) to avoid chattering in real time. Moreover, Lyapunov theory is applied to guarantee the stability of the proposed closed-loop robotic system. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control approach and theoretical discussion are proved by simulation results on a seven-link robot and demonstrated by a humanoid robot platform.

Findings
The varying payload leads to large variations in the dynamics of the manipulator and the tracking error. To achieve high-precision position tracking, nonlinear observer was introduced to feed into the sliding mode control (SMC) which had improved the ability to resist the external disturbance. In addition, the chattering caused by the SMC was eliminated by recursively approximating the switching gain with the usage of adaptive fuzzy logic. Therefore, a distributed control strategy solves the problems of an SMC implementation in improving its tracking performance and eliminating the chattering of the system control.

Originality/value
The AFSMCO is proposed for the first time and used to control the redundant robotic manipulator that handles the varying payload. The proposed control algorithm possesses better robustness and higher precision for the trajectory tracking than classical SMC.
Performance improvement of visual-inertial navigation system by using polarized light compass
Authors: Kong Xianglong , Wu Wenqi , Zhang Lilian , He Xiaofeng , Wang Yujie 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to present a method for improving the performance of the visual-inertial navigation system (VINS) by using a bio-inspired polarized light compass.

Design/methodology/approach
The measurement model of each sensor module is derived, and a robust stochastic cloning extended Kalman filter (RSC-EKF) is implemented for data fusion. This fusion framework can not only handle multiple relative and absolute measurements, but can also deal with outliers, sensor outages of each measurement module.

Findings
The paper tests the approach on data sets acquired by a land vehicle moving in different environments and compares its performance against other methods. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for reducing the error growth of the VINS in the long run.

Originality/value
The main contribution of this paper lies in the design/implementation of the RSC-EKF for incorporating the homemade polarized light compass into visual-inertial navigation pipeline. The real-world tests in different environments demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach.
Space curved fillet weld joints tracking by robots based on rotational arc sensors in gas metal arc welding
Authors: Le Jian , Zhang Hua , Li Jin-wen 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This study aims to improve the welding quality and efficiency, and an algorithm should be designed to realize tracking space-curved fillet weld joints.

Design/methodology/approach
Fillet weld joints tracking based on the two wheels and the horizontal slider coordinated movement has been studied. The method of pattern recognition is used to identify the height deviation, and the analysis of the accuracy corresponding to recognizing height deviations has been researched. The proportional control algorithm is used to control the vertical and horizontal sliders movement, so fillet weld joints tracking in the height direction has been achieved. Based on wheels and vertical and horizontal sliders coordinated movement, the algorithm of space-curved fillet weld joints tracking has been researched.

Findings
Some experiments have been done, and experimental results show that the welding robot can track space-curved fillet weld joints with high accuracy and good reliability.

Research limitations/implications
The welding robot can improve the welding quality and efficiency.

Practical implications
The welding robot can track fillet weld joints in ship panels, and it was shown that the welding robot could track space-curved fillet weld joints with high accuracy and good reliability.

Social implications
The welding robot has many industrial and social applications.

Originality/value
There are various forms of fillet weld joints in the industry, and the fillet weld is curved in the space. Experimental results show that the welding robot can track space-curved fillet weld joints with good stability and high precision.
Seeker optimization algorithm for optimal control of manipulator
Authors: Chen Chunchao , Li Jinsong , Luo Jun , Xie Shaorong , Li Hengyu 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to improve the adaptability and control performance of the controller, a proposed seeker optimization algorithm (SOA) is introduced to optimize the controller parameters of a robot manipulator.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a traditional proportional integral derivative (PID) controller and a fuzzy logic controller are integrated to form a fuzzy PID (FPID) controller. The SOA, as a novel algorithm, is used for optimizing the controller parameters offline. There is a performance comparison in terms of FPID optimization about the SOA, the genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and ant colony optimization (ACO). The DC motor model and the experimental platform are used to test the performance of the optimized controller.

Findings
Compared with GA, PSO and ACO, this novel optimization algorithm can enhance the control accuracy of the system. The optimized parameters ensure a system with faster response speed and better robustness.

Originality/value
A simplified FPID controller structure is constructed and a novel SOA method for FPID controller is presented. In this paper, the SOA is applied on the controller of 5-DOF manipulator, and the validation of controllers is tested by experiments.
New public management and budgeting practices in Tanzanian Central Government
Authors: Goddard Andrew , Mkasiwa Tausi Ally 
Published: October 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the budgeting practices in the Tanzanian Central Government. New budgeting reforms were introduced following exhortations from the bodies such as the UN, the World Bank and the IMF and reflect the new public management (NPM).

Design/methodology/approach
A grounded theory methodology was used. This methodology is inductive, allowing phenomena to emerge from the participants rather than from prior theory. This ensures both relevance and depth of understanding.

Findings
The principal research findings from the data concern the central phenomenon of “struggling for conformance”. Tanzanian Central Government adopted innovations in order to ensure donor funding by demonstrating its ability to implement imposed budgetary changes. Organizational actors were committed to these reforms through necessity and struggled to implement them, rather than more overtly resisting them.

Research limitations/implications
The research is subject to the usual limitations of case study, inductive research.

Practical implications
This research has several implications for policy-makers of NPM and budgetary reforms. These include the recognition that the establishment of the rules and regulations alone is not adequate for the successful implementation of budgetary and NPM reforms and should involve a comprehensive view of the nature of the internal and external environment.

Originality/value
There are few empirical papers of NPM accounting practices being implemented in the public sector of developing countries and none at all based in Tanzania. The paper identifies the existence of struggling to conform to reforms rather than resistance identified in prior research.
Political costs and earnings management: evidence from Tunisia
Authors: Ben Rejeb Attia Mouna , Lassoued Naima , Attia Anis 
Published: October 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the political costs hypothesis in emerging economies characterized by interventionist governments and weak protection of property rights. The paper uses executives’ political connection and state control to measure firms’ political costs.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of Tunisian firms, univariate and multivariate analyses are used to test whether firms’ political costs have any impact on earnings management.FindingsThe empirical analysis indicates that the executives’ political connection is not directly related to earnings management. However, the interaction between executives’ political connection and the state control affects the firm’s sensitivity to political pressure and its earnings management practices. More specifically, this study provides evidence that non-connected firms and state-controlled firms attempt to use accounting policies to decrease their earnings especially during periods of the former government when they had to face high political costs. This finding is robust to comparing means of political cost indicators between different groups. Indeed, private firms with political connection enjoy a significantly lower insurance right, tax and donations and grants compared to other firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides empirical evidence for the specific application of accounting theory in emerging economies.Practical implicationsPolitical influence may be an important criterion that will be used by auditors and investors to appreciate and detect specific manipulations of accounting earnings. Similarly, regulators should be aware of the political factors effect on discretionary behavior of managers to provide appropriate rules and standards.Originality/valueThe study is a pioneer in proving that a firm’s size is not always a suitable measure of its political cost. It extends the accounting literature on the role of political economy in the application of the political costs hypothesis. This hypothesis is confirmed in emerging economies by providing new and significantly measure of firms’ political costs