title: The influence of multi-product production strategy on factory induced bullwhip

authors: Potter, Andrew

subjects: minimum reasonable bullwhip

abstract: Conventional thinking suggests bullwhip should necessarily be minimised within the supply chain. While this may be good practice where no constraints exist, in reality companies have shared resources and capacity limits that affect their ability to do this. Consequently, there is an influence upon their production strategy. This can introduce some bullwhip into the supply chain but, managed effectively, can actually be useful. We call this useful strategy 'minimum reasonable bullwhip' (MRB). The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between production strategy and bullwhip where constraints exist. In doing so, three case studies are presented where distinct clusters of product types exist, each with different observed levels of bullwhip. By considering total supply chain costs, we explain why these clusters exist. The paper contributes to the literature by challenging the contention that bullwhip should always be minimised, given that it is important to achieve performance objectives across the product range. It also identifies areas for future research to extend the MRB concept.

text: The influence of multi-product production strategy on factory induced bullwhip Conventional thinking suggests bullwhip should necessarily be minimised within the supply chain. While this may be good practice where no constraints exist, in reality companies have shared resources and capacity limits that affect their ability to do this. Consequently, there is an influence upon their production strategy. This can introduce some bullwhip into the supply chain but, managed effectively, can actually be useful. We call this useful strategy 'minimum reasonable bullwhip' (MRB). The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between production strategy and bullwhip where constraints exist. In doing so, three case studies are presented where distinct clusters of product types exist, each with different observed levels of bullwhip. By considering total supply chain costs, we explain why these clusters exist. The paper contributes to the literature by challenging the contention that bullwhip should always be minimised, given that it is important to achieve performance objectives across the product range. It also identifies areas for future research to extend the MRB concept.

year: 2009

title: Clinical Governance, Performance Appraisal and Interactional and Procedural Fairness at a New Zealand Public Hospital

authors: Clarke, Carol

subjects: clinical governance

abstract: This paper explores the conduct of performance appraisals of nurses in a New Zealand hospital, and how fairness is perceived in such appraisals. In the health sector, performance appraisals of medical staff play a key role in implementing clinical governance, which, in turn, is critical to containing health care costs and ensuring quality patient care. Effective appraisals depend on employees perceiving their own appraisals to be fair both in terms of procedure and interaction with their respective appraiser. We examine qualitative data from interviews and focus groups, involving 22 nurses in a single department, to determine whether perceived injustices impact on the effective implementation of the appraisal system. Our results suggest that particular issues had been causing some sense of injustice, and most of these were procedural. Potential solutions focus on greater formalisation of the performance appraisal process, and more training for appraisers and appraisees.

text: Clinical Governance, Performance Appraisal and Interactional and Procedural Fairness at a New Zealand Public Hospital This paper explores the conduct of performance appraisals of nurses in a New Zealand hospital, and how fairness is perceived in such appraisals. In the health sector, performance appraisals of medical staff play a key role in implementing clinical governance, which, in turn, is critical to containing health care costs and ensuring quality patient care. Effective appraisals depend on employees perceiving their own appraisals to be fair both in terms of procedure and interaction with their respective appraiser. We examine qualitative data from interviews and focus groups, involving 22 nurses in a single department, to determine whether perceived injustices impact on the effective implementation of the appraisal system. Our results suggest that particular issues had been causing some sense of injustice, and most of these were procedural. Potential solutions focus on greater formalisation of the performance appraisal process, and more training for appraisers and appraisees.

year: 2012

title: Translated application interfaces - issues of engagement

authors: Mato, Paora James

abstract: In New Zealand, English is the language that dominates contemporary technologies. Usability testing was completed on a range of applications, available with a Māori-language interface, to gauge levels of awareness, engagement and perception. Nearly all of the respondents were unaware of the availability of these interfaces but most indicated they would prefer to use the Māori-language versions. In terms of engagement and usability, users initially engaged using Māori but switched to English when they wanted to quickly complete the task at hand. Few remained fully engaged with the Māori-language interfaces. High levels of language switching were reported and some frustration as the participants encountered new and unfamiliar uses of words. At face value the feedback suggests the translated interfaces contained unnecessary complications and that better design and content might have enhanced the user experience. However, there is evidence that extended use would enable users to become more familiar with the interfaces alluding to initial barriers created by a previous competence in another language -- in this case English. With this previous competence in mind it might be more useful to employ design concepts that would alleviate initial difficulties and serve to keep the user engaged in the target language for longer periods of time.

text: Translated application interfaces - issues of engagement In New Zealand, English is the language that dominates contemporary technologies. Usability testing was completed on a range of applications, available with a Māori-language interface, to gauge levels of awareness, engagement and perception. Nearly all of the respondents were unaware of the availability of these interfaces but most indicated they would prefer to use the Māori-language versions. In terms of engagement and usability, users initially engaged using Māori but switched to English when they wanted to quickly complete the task at hand. Few remained fully engaged with the Māori-language interfaces. High levels of language switching were reported and some frustration as the participants encountered new and unfamiliar uses of words. At face value the feedback suggests the translated interfaces contained unnecessary complications and that better design and content might have enhanced the user experience. However, there is evidence that extended use would enable users to become more familiar with the interfaces alluding to initial barriers created by a previous competence in another language -- in this case English. With this previous competence in mind it might be more useful to employ design concepts that would alleviate initial difficulties and serve to keep the user engaged in the target language for longer periods of time.

year: 2015