Realising benefits in primary healthcare infrastructures

Purpose: This paper focuses upon the requirements to manage change, tangible and intangible benefits in a joint approach to deliver outputs on time, to quality and cost without failing to realise the benefits of the change. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the need for benefits driven programme/project management as well as the importance of identifying the stakeholders’ level of involvement and contribution throughout the process, and manage their expectations. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used is based on an action research approach, combining findings from a literature review and case studies within UK’s primary healthcare sector. Findings: Findings demonstrate development of a Benefits Realisation (BeReal) approach in healthcare through looking at case studies taking place within UK’s primary and acute healthcare sector Research limitations/implications: The framework development is based upon theoretical evidence and further research is needed to test and validate its robustness. Originality/value: The application of Benefits Realisation and Management in developing and delivering primary healthcare facilities. Keywords: Benefits management, Benefits realisation, healthcare infrastructures, process and LIF

MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT OF HAPPINESS : A PRIORITY IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

If bigger objects go into a jar, then there will be space to fill it with smaller objects in sequence. If the order of the objects are reversed, then it ends in filling it at the starting point. Happiness in life is similar to this. Fill high priority needs in the life, and smaller needs can be subsequent, for progressive happiness. Money cannot bring happiness, and it can induct problems as well. GDP, a vague relation builder is used as an index to measure the progress and happiness. Governments and Private corporate sectors in developed nations have attempted to induct happiness to their employees, through earning improvement, lower working hours etc… But, these did not increase happiness. Priority needs change over a period of time, and people compare themselves with others. It is because, the Tangible wealth generation is dribbled by Intangible feelings, to disturb the Happiness. These are Aggregate and Complex. Intangible aspects are Psychological, Social, Local, International and Universal in nature. Author’s Research and Development approach for these vicious combination infers that, all nations, irrespective their level of development, should evaluate Productivity/Management Decisions with reference to Socio-Economic Development units, and Intangible components should have priority over Tangibles (Algebraic Model). Domestic investments should be from Domestic Savings. Domestic Technology should be manned by Domestic Manpower. These could lead people towards more satisfaction and happiness (Geometric Model)Algebraic, Decision, Development, Dollar, Domestic, Economic Scenario, Euro, GDP, Geometric, Government, Happiness, Intangible, International, Investment, Local, Logical Info, Magical Demo, Management, Manpower, Mathematical Expo, Money, Private, Priority, Productivity, Psychological, Public, Savings, Social, Tangible, Technology, Universal

Managing knowledge to promote sustainability in Australian transport infrastructure projects

To deliver tangible sustainability outcomes, the infrastructure sector of the construction industry needs to build capacities for the creation, application and management of ever increasing knowledge. This paper intends to establish the importance and key issues of promoting sustainability through knowledge management (KM). It presents a new conceptual framework for managing sustainability knowledge to raise the awareness and direct future research in the field of transport infrastructure, one of the fast growing sectors in Australia. A holistic KM approach is adopted in this research to consider the potential to "deliver the right information to the right person at the right time" in the context of sustainable development of infrastructure. A questionnaire survey among practitioners across the nation confirmed the necessity and identified priority issues of managing knowledge for sustainability. During infrastructure development, KM can help build much needed industry consensus, develop capacity, communicate decisions, and promote specific measures for the pursuit of sustainability. Six essential elements of the KM approach and their priority issues informed the establishment of a conceptual KM framework. The transport infrastructure sector has come to realise that development must not come at the expense of environmental and social objectives. In practice however, it is facing extensive challenges to deliver what has been promised in the sustainability agenda. This research demonstrates the importance of managing sustainability knowledge, integration of various stakeholders, facilitation of plans and actions and delivery of tangible benefits in real projects, as a positive step towards meeting these challenges

ITSM Best Practices: Global Themes, Local Solutions

Implementing the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) IT service management (ITSM) best practices is an expensive and time consuming endeavour. In spite of guidance, many organisations experience failed attempts before experiencing success. A detailed analysis of 12 organisations\u27 ITIL ITSM improvement projects shows that tangible business value is obtainable but that necessary conditions must be met. The analysis reveals that, while the organisations used a variety of strategies, approaches and practices in implementing ITIL and also experienced differing challenges in their journeys, there is a ‘sweet spot’ of organizational structuring and practices for necessary conditions which appear to be required for success. Change management themes found across the cases that appear to encompass the necessary set of conditions include strategy, scope, management approach, workforce planning and development, tools, vendors, outcomes, culture, customer influence, motivation and communication. Key aspects of these themes with case examples are presented

Change and Innovation Management in IS/IT: A Simulation Approach

Why do so many IS/IT-related projects fail to deliver the level of tangible and sustainable performance improvements organizations target and expect? Why are the new mindsets and ways of operating enabled by IS/IT innovations so difficult to be integrated and adopted in organizations? Why do factors such as resistance to change, insufficient executive sponsoring, unrealistic expectations, or ineffective leadership still nullify the efforts put into the implementation of conceptually and technically sophisticated information and communication (including enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, collaboration, knowledge management and similar IS/IT-based) systems? These questions, which are relevant to both IS/IT research and practice, are at the core of a simulation-based experience aimed at deepening and extending our understanding of issues related to managing organisational change and transformation in the context of IS/IT implementation projects, providing at the same time a new approach to model, validate and diffuse efficiently (through a gamelike experience) knowledge in this relevant domain

Evaluating the business case for investment in the resilience of the tourism sector of small island developing states

Over the last decade, a number of disasters severely affected tourist destinations. At the same time, the management of disasters has shifted from a reactive, top-down approach to a more inclusive approach that seeks to proactively include the private sector in reducing the risk of disasters. Considering that a significant proportion of tourism occurs in the potentially hazardous coastal zones of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), private tourism sector stakeholders can – and maybe have to – play an active role in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Establishing the business merits associated with investment in disaster resilient measures would be necessary to support increased private sector DRR investment. This study therefore evaluated the business case for investment in the resilience of the tourism sector in SIDS. As such, it offers: 1) a greater understanding of the root causes of destination vulnerability and risk using a cross-regional, comparative case study approach; and 2) a qualitative evaluation of the business case for investment in the resilience of SIDS tourism. Semi-structured interviews with 80 private and public sector stakeholders in the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS regions revealed that some private sector stakeholders already self-regulate based on individual evaluations of a variety of tangible and less tangible benefits. More research is needed to develop the economic and financial data that may possibly encourage greater private sector investment in DRR, as well as, create a supportive and enabling national economic context for resilient tourism investment.This Background Paper was commissioned and financially supported (award no. OBMO#51870) by the Global Assessment Report team led by Andrew Maskrey based at the Secretariat of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Geneva, Switzerland

Construction by Replacement: A new approach to simulation modeling

Simulation modeling can be valuable in many areas of management science, but it is often costly, time-consuming, and difficult to do. To reduce these problems, system dynamics researchers have previously developed standard pieces of model structure, called molecules, that can be reused in different models. However, the models assembled from these molecules often lacked feedback loops and generated few, if any, insights. This paper describes a new and more promising approach to using molecules in system dynamics modeling. The heart of the approach is a systematically organized library (or taxonomy) of predefined model components, or molecules, and a set of software tools for replacing one molecule with another. Users start with a simple generic model and progressively replace parts of the model with more specialized molecules from a systematically organized library of predefined components. These substitutions either create a new running model automatically or request further manual changes from the user. The paper describes our exploration using this approach to construct system dynamics models of supply chain processes in a large manufacturing company. The experiment included developing an innovative “tangible user interface” and a comprehensive catalog of system dynamics molecules. The paper concludes with a discussion of the benefits and limitations of this approach

Intelligent Transportation Systems: Fusing Computer Vision and Sensor Networks for Traffic Management

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) represent a pivotal approach to addressing the complex challenges posed by modern-day urban mobility. By seamlessly integrating computer vision and sensor networks, ITS offer a comprehensive solution for traffic management, safety enhancement, and environmental sustainability. This paper delves into the synergistic fusion of computer vision and sensor networks within the framework of ITS, emphasizing their collective role in optimizing traffic flow, mitigating congestion, and enhancing overall road safety. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning, image processing, and Internet of Things (IoT), ITS harness real-time data acquisition and analytics capabilities to facilitate informed decision-making by transportation authorities. Through a comprehensive review of recent advancements, challenges, and opportunities, this paper illuminates the transformative potential of integrating computer vision and sensor networks in ITS. Furthermore, it presents compelling case studies and exemplary applications, showcasing the tangible benefits of this fusion across diverse traffic management scenarios. Ultimately, this paper advocates for the widespread adoption of integrated ITS solutions as a means to usher in a new era of smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban transportation systems

Cost-benefit Analysis on Iso 9001 Certification and Higher Education Accreditation

ISO certified institutions expect to enjoy high level of accreditation as both ISO and accreditation support quality management system of higher education. This study aims to analyze the costs and benefits of the application of ISO 9001 which intersects with accreditation (APT) in the quality management system of higher education. The research was conducted through case study and descriptive approach. The research team conducted a survey of 120 new students of State Polytechnic in Batam with quota sampling technique for benefit estimation. Furthermore, a survey was conducted to 17 employees of the polytechnic who is responsible for the fulfillment of ISO 9001 certification and accreditation in all departments with purposive sampling technique to compare the benefits and costs. The research team found that both accreditation and ISO benefited the polytechnic. However, accreditation offers more benefits on performance improvement, student number, student satisfaction, and organizational reputation compared to that by ISO. Nevertheless, ISO benefits more on document improvement than accreditation. In terms of costs, ISO is considered to require a larger cost and more work time than accreditation. Thus, based on cost benefit analysis of both tangible and intangible aspects, quality management of higher education using accreditation is superior to using ISO alone

Affordances of Historic Urban Landscapes: an Ecological Understanding of Human Interaction with the Past

Heritage has been defined differently in European contexts. Despite differences, a common challenge for historic urban landscape management is the integration of tangible and intangible heritage. Integration demands an active view of perception and human-landscape interaction where intangible values are linked to specific places and meanings are attached to particular cultural practices and socio-spatial organisation. Tangible and intangible values can be examined as part of a system of affordances (potentialities) a place, artefact or cultural practice has to offer. This paper discusses how an ‘affordance analysis’ may serve as a useful tool for the management of historic urban landscapes