69 research outputs found

    The process of hospital consolidation: a case study in Anhui Province, China

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    JEL: I11, I18, M1, M54Hospital consolidation is an important topic both in theoretical research and practical exploration in the healthcare sector as it allows for the improvement of the utilization efficiency of medical resources and for the optimization of cost reduction. Based on the strategic management theory, especially the resource-based theory, this thesis makes an in-depth analysis of the strategic choices of the First People‘s Hospital group of Hefei City, Anhui Province, China. Combining with the process of China‘s health system reform, the motivating factors of establishing hospital groups, the basic concept of hospital groups and modes are reviewed while the reasons and background for public hospitals consolidation in China are introduced. Under this setting, the thesis studies the motivations behind strategic choices and incentives towards consolidation as well as the environment and the strengths and weaknesses of the internal resources of the hospital. Based on the case study method, 25 semi-structured interviews to 25 experts and participants and field visits were conducted for data collection. The research shows that the consolidation strategy followed by the hospital allows for its sustainable development. However, in identical situations, for positive results to be achieved, a core member of the group should be selected to lead the consolidation process during the transition period and to balance the relationship between centralization and decentralization while respecting each specific situation The analysis of the strategic consolidation of the hospital studied allowed for the identification of difficulties and challenges, which may serve as a theoretical base for the practice of other organizations undergoing a similar processA consolidação de unidades hospitalares é um tópico de investigação importante para a teoria e para a prática, pois permite reorganizar os recursos médicos através da sua utilização eficiente e da optimização da redução de custos. Com base na teoria da gestão estratégica e em especial na teoria dos recursos, esta tese analisa em profundidade as escolhas estratégicas com que se debateu um grupo hospitalar da cidade de Hefei, província de Anhui na China: o First People‘s Hospital Group. Tendo como base o processo de reforma do sistema de saúde na China, a tese estuda as motivações inerentes à tomada de decisão, bem como os incentivos à consolidação. São analisados os pontos fortes e fracos do hospital, os seus recursos principais e a envolvente procurando-se entender as escolhas estratégicas que levaram à consolidação. A tese utiliza o método do estudo de caso tendo sido realizadas 25 entrevistas semiestruturadas a peritos e participantes no processo bem como diversas visitas que permitiram observação direta. A investigação demonstra que a estratégia de consolidação permite assegurar o desenvolvimento sustentado do hospital mas, para isso, a melhor opção é escolher um dos membros do grupo para assumir um papel de liderança durante o período de transição e cuidar do equilíbrio da relação entre centralização e descentralização sem descurar a especificidade da situação local. A análise da consolidação estratégica do hospital estudado permitiu ainda identificar as dificuldades do processo contribuindo com uma base teórica que poderá ser útil ao desenvolvimento de outras organizações em idêntica situação

    Dynamic capabilities of Chinese small private vocational education and training institutions: a case-based research

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    China’s vocational education and training (VET) industry is undergoing rapid growth and transformation. Small private VET institutions face the dual dilemma of a shortage of educational resources and low market reputation. Thus, it is important to understand how these institutions may develop and sustain competitive advantages. This dissertation has analyzed the strategic development of ZK, a small private VET institution in China, using the dynamic capabilities framework. The company’s strategic success in the last years was due to its dynamic capabilities of sensing opportunities and threats, seizing opportunities, and managing threats and reconfiguring resources. The study has shown that ZK’s dynamic capability of sensing opportunities and threats has two micro-foundations, namely entrepreneurship and social capital at individual and organizational levels. Seizing capability were grounded on microfoundations such as the firm’s value chain positioning, integrating resources including complements, organizational flexibility, and commitment to implementation. The microfoundations of ZK’s dynamic capability of managing threats and reconfiguring resources were organizational learning and knowledge management. To support the future strategic development of ZK, four strategic initiatives were devised using the SWOT framework. The study contributes to management practice by increasing the understanding of the capabilities and microfoundations that can support the development of small private VET institutions in China. It also sheds light on the relationship between these capabilities and the obtention of competitive advantages in the Chinese market. Its conclusions are of interest to other VET institutions, government departments and other stakeholders, as well as foreign institutions interested in the Chinese VET industry.A indústria chinesa da educação e formação vocacional (inglês: Vocational Education and Traning ou VET) está em plena expansão e transformação. O estudo das estratégias das pequenas instituições de VET tem grande importância, no sentido de compreender como as mesmas podem se manter competitivas. Esta dissertação tem o objetivo de analisar o desenvolvimento estratégico da ZK, uma pequena instituição chinesa de VET, através da teoria de capacidades dinámicas. O éxito estratégico da ZK deveu-se ao seu dinamismo em antever oportunidades e riscos e reestruturar os seus recursos. Este dinamismo resultou de um forte espírito empresarial e de um elevado capital social, tanto ao nível individual como institucional. O aproveitamento das oportunidades deveu-se a cinco micro-fundamentos: o posicionamento da empresa na cadeia de valor, a integração de recursos, a inclusão de complementos, a flexibilidade organizacional e a dedicação na implementação. Por sua vez, a capacidade de minimizar riscos e reconfigurar recursos resultou de aprendizagem organizacional e de uma boa gestão da informação. Com base nas referidas capacidades dinâmicas, e através da matriz SWOT, foram desenvolvidas quatro linhas estratégicas para o desenvolvimento futuro da ZK. A dissertação contribui para uma melhor compreensão das capacidades dinámicas e dos micro-fundamentos que podem suportar o desenvolvimento das pequenas empresas de VET na China. Além disso, revela a íntima relação entre as referidas capacidades e as vantagens competitivas no mercado chinês. As conclusões são úteis para outras instituições de VET, departamentos governamentais relacionados, partes interessadas em VET na China e instituições estrangeiras interessadas nesse mercado

    'Sustainability' of what, for whom? Unfolding China's sustainability transitions and green modernisation

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    Today, we face two widespread crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Tackling these twin threats requires extensive cooperation and system change. The crisis is also a catalyst for reforms toward more 'sustainable' futures. However, most discussion of transiting to a more sustainable future is theoretical or niche-based. Moreover, the consensus has not been reached on many fundamental transition questions such as what is the future after transition, how we transit, and is the proposed transition desirable for everyone. Many studies also end up by underscoring the need for collective actions to tackle complex, dynamic and diverse socio-ecological challenges in sustainability transition. To fill the gaps outlined above, this research aims to focus on China, the pioneer of practising sustainability transition and uncover the structural changes during sustainability transitions. This research asked 'What sustainability is China building? And whom do China's sustainability transitions benefit?' To answer these questions, this thesis by compilation followed the grounded theory to examine China's sustainability from international-national scale, regional scale to local scale. At the international-national scale, this research assesses the integration and interplay of sustainability transitions in China's national development strategies and discusses how do sustainability transitions support China's global ambitions. On an international platform, China's eco-development and eco-civilisation logics help China take more and increasingly prominent roles in UN sustainability councils and other global environmental and developmental organisations. At the national level, China values natural resources based on its nation-state and party's interests. By over-emphasising a shared bright future or great mission, the task of solving individual problems and concerns of specific groups is overlooked. At a regional scale, this research examines China's adjustments and changes in policy in coordinating regional development and transitions. In China, radical policy reform triggered by external perturbations and shocks is competing with incremental policy change through policy-oriented learning. An "double-mountain" theory has been proposed by Xi Jinping since 2005 and has become the dominant strategy instructing China's sustainable development plans. Empirical research was undertaken at the local scale discovering the outcomes and effects of sustainability transitions on local people. China's logic of sustainability transitions has unified complicated relations and interactions among different groups in a society under a single set of all-encompassing terms and principles. By overlooking social differentiation, the Chinese Communist Party can avoid solving tricky problems. In China, sustainability transitions are integral to nation-state stability and party legitimacy rather than a sustainable development of a broad community as envisioned by many other sustainability agendas, such as the sustainable development goals. China's case reminds us that the broader the concepts of sustainability transitions are, the more space powerful stakeholders have to manipulate development to favour their demands. However, there do not have to be negative consequences from sustainable development transitions. Politicisation and pluralisation of sustainability transitions could diminish perverse outcomes and unlock positive social outcomes. The key to sustainable development is not co-developing humans and nature because this has happened for millions of years. To live more sustainably, we need to first figure out how humans can live longer, better and happier without depriving everyone's inalienable rights to own life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sustainability transitions should be human-centred and the management of competing values among actors in transitions should be decided through a just and transparent approach

    The influence of millennials' work values on their turnover intention: The role of occupational well-being and organizational Identification: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing industry

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    As China’s post-80s and post-90s become the backbone of the manufacturing industry, their pursuit of self-worth, a comfortable working environment, work-life balance and the pleasure of enjoying life presents huge challenges for the Chinese manufacturing industry which is characterized with low cost (low pay), overwork and hostile working environment. The inconsistency between employees’ work values and manufacturing enterprises lead to the high turnover rate of millennials. In this context, this study draws on previous research results to construct a model on the relationship between work values and turnover intention of millennial employees in the manufacturing industry, aiming to understand how the work values of millennial employees affect their turnover intention. Two independent studies were conducted to test the hypothesized model. The first study used a sample of 635 millennial employees in the manufacturing industry through a self-reported survey. Structural equation modelling revealed the following results. Firstly, work values negatively influence turnover intention by positively influencing occupational well-being. Further, work values-turnover intention relationship is sequentially mediated by occupational well-being and organizational identification. Lastly, occupational well being fully mediates the relationship between work values and organizational identification. The second study (n=225) using the same measurements and research methods produced similar results, which further validated the research model. This study provides managerial implications and work suggestions for managers and millennial employees in the manufacturing industry and enriches the international literature on millennial study.À medida que as gerações dos anos 80 e 90 na China se tornam a espinha dorsal da indústria produtiva, a procura pela autoestima, conforto no ambiente de trabalho, equilíbrio trabalho-vida e o desfrutar dos prazeres da vida representam enormes desafios para a indústria chinesa que é caracterizada pelo baixo custo (baixa remuneração), excesso de trabalho e ambiente de trabalho hostil. A inconsistência entre os valores de trabalho dos trabalhadores e as empresas industriais leva à uma alta taxa de rotatividade externa entre os trabalhadores da geração millennial. Nesse contexto, este estudo baseia-se em resultados de pesquisas anteriores para construir um modelo explicativo da intenção de saída com base nos valores de trabalho dos millenials a trabalhar na indústria. Dois estudos independentes foram realizados para testar o modelo hipotetizado. O primeiro estudo utilizou uma amostra de 635 trabalhadores da geração millennial na indústria de manufatura com base num inquérito por questionário de auto-reporte. O modelo de equações estruturais revelou os seguintes resultados. Em primeiro lugar, os valores de trabalho influenciam negativamente a intenção de saída devido à sua influência positiva no bem-estar ocupacional. Para além disso, a relação entre a intenção de saída e os valores de trabalho é sequencialmente mediada pelo bem-estar ocupacional e a identificação com a organização. Por fim, o bem-estar ocupacional medeia totalmente a relação entre os valores do trabalho e a identificação com a organização. O segundo estudo (n=225) usando as mesmas medidas e métodos de pesquisa produziu resultados semelhantes, oferecendo mais poder explicativo ao modelo de pesquisa. Este estudo tem implicações para a gestão e oferece sugestões de trabalho para chefias e trabalhadores da geração millennial na indústria e enriquece a literatura internacional sobre o estudo da geração millennial

    Paths to the Emerging State in Asia and Africa

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    This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND license. This book addresses the issue of how a country, which was incorporated into the world economy as a periphery, could make a transition to the emerging state, capable of undertaking the task of economic development and industrialization. It offers historical and contemporary case studies of transition, as well as the international background under which such a transition was successfully made (or delayed), by combining the approaches of economic history and development economics. Its aim is to identify relevant historical contexts, that is, the ‘initial conditions’ and internal and external forces which governed the transition. It also aims to understand what current low-income developing countries require for their transition. Three economic driving forces for the transition are identified. They are: (1) labor-intensive industrialization, which offers ample employment opportunities for labor force; (2) international trade, which facilitates efficient international division of labor; and (3) agricultural development, which improves food security by increasing supply of staple foods. The book presents a bold account of each driver for the transition

    Green Consensus and High Quality Development

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    This open access book is based on the research outputs of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) in 2020. It covers major topics of Chinese and international attention regarding green development, such as climate, biodiversity, ocean, BRI, urbanization, sustainable production and consumption, technology, finance, value chain, and so on. It also looks at the progress of China’s environmental and development policies,and the impacts from CCICED. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing insight for policy makers in environmental issues

    Area-wide Integrated Pest Management

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    Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil. The extensive reliance on insecticide use reduces biodiversity, contributes to pollinator decline, destroys habitat, and threatens endangered species. This book offers a more effective application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, on an area-wide (AW) or population-wide (AW-IPM) basis, which aims at the management of the total population of a pest, involving a coordinated effort over often larger areas. For major livestock pests, vectors of human diseases and pests of high-value crops with low pest tolerance, there are compelling economic reasons for participating in AW-IPM. This new textbook attempts to address various fundamental components of AW-IPM, e.g. the importance of relevant problem-solving research, the need for planning and essential baseline data collection, the significance of integrating adequate tools for appropriate control strategies, and the value of pilot trials, etc. With chapters authored by 184 experts from more than 31 countries, the book includes many technical advances in the areas of genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, resistance management, and social sciences that facilitate the planning and implementing of area-wide strategies. The book is essential reading for the academic and applied research community as well as national and regional government plant and human/animal health authorities with responsibility for protecting plant and human/animal health
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