Operational efficiency subpanel advanced mission control

Herein, the term mission control will be taken quite broadly to include both ground and space based operations as well as the information infrastructure necessary to support such operations. Three major technology areas related to advanced mission control are examined: (1) Intelligent Assistance for Ground-Based Mission Controllers and Space-Based Crews; (2) Autonomous Onboard Monitoring, Control and Fault Detection Isolation and Reconfiguration; and (3) Dynamic Corporate Memory Acquired, Maintained, and Utilized During the Entire Vehicle Life Cycle. The current state of the art space operations are surveyed both within NASA and externally for each of the three technology areas and major objectives are discussed from a user point of view for technology development. Ongoing NASA and other governmental programs are described. An analysis of major research issues and current holes in the program are provided. Several recommendations are presented for enhancing the technology development and insertion process to create advanced mission control environments

To investigate operations efficiency at ShineOn Car Wash and Grooming Specialist and its impact on service quality

The aim of this research project is to investigate the operational efficiency at Shine On Car Wash & Grooming Specialists and its impact on customer satisfaction and service quality. At the beginning of the study, background of Shine On is discussed to gain a greater knowledge regarding the company and its operations. Further, a PEST analysis is conducted for identifying factors affecting the business activities of the firm. Besides external environmental assessment, an analysis of its internal environment is also carried out through SWOT analysis, so that the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats for the firm can be identified. Then an inclusive review of the literature is conducted that includes the concept and theory of operational efficiency, service quality and customer satisfaction (Expectation and disconfirmation theory). The Kano model is also analysed. Background of the research and methods to be used in the research are also mentioned. Primary data collected by using qualitative methods involved interviewing the manager and staff members. The proposed cost and ethical considerations (storage and use of data, withdrawal and confidentiality) are also discussed along with research limitations (lack of time and experience) and a timeline for the entire research. Results of the research: Operational efficiency was low due to the small size of the workplace. Service quality was low due to shortage of staff, and extra workloads. On a few occasions, shortage of chemicals was the reason behind low customer satisfaction. To conclude, operational efficiency is associated with customer satisfaction and service quality. Operational efficiency is directly proportional to the service quality and customer satisfaction. The main recommendation is, The Shine On Car Wash and Grooming Specialists should assess operational efficiency regularly

Bank efficiency in the enlarged European Union

This paper aims to estimate bank efficiency differences across member states of the European Union and tries to explain their causes. We show on an empirical basis that the level and spread of bank efficiency in the EU and their changes are significantly determined by characteristics of operational environment and the “conscious” behaviour of management. In the long term, through the integration of financial markets and institutions, as well as the establishment of the Single European Banking Market, the impact of advantages and disadvantages underlying the operational environment is reduced or eliminated; therefore only managerial ability is of any relevance. Our findings suggest that there is a costefficiency gap and convergence between the old and new member states, irrespective of the specifications of the model. With respect to profit efficiency, however, differences in efficiency between the two regions are only established after controlling for some major characteristics of the varying operational environments. Our study also investigates the relevance of and the correlation between accounting-based and statistics-based efficiency indicators. We conclude that the accounting based efficiency indicators are inadequate for managing heterogeneity arising from institutional and operational environments. Hence such indicators only allow limited cross-sectional comparison through time

Insight private equity : [Version 18 June 2013]

We are able to shed light on the black box of restructuring tools private equity investors use to improve the operational performance of their portfolio companies. By building on previous work considering performance evaluation of PE backed companies, we analyze whether private equity improves operating efficiency and which of the typical restructuring tools are the main performance drivers. Using a set of over 300 international leveraged buyout transactions of the last thirty years, we find that while there is vast improvement in operational efficiency, these gains vary considerably. Our top performing transactions are subject to strong equity incentives, frequent asset restructuring and tight control by the investor. Furthermore, investors’ experience has a positive influence while financial leverage has no influence on operational performance

A rational road to effectiveness attainment

Operational effectiveness goes beyond efficiency while it incorporates exogenous variables, non-controllable by the service units. Effectiveness is a fundamental driver for the success of an operational unit within a competitive environment. In this context, we seek to identify the active units that meet both the high or technical efficiency and the perceived high quality criteria. We also aim to develop a roadmap for effectiveness for every operational unit and we consider the feasibility of the results produced by the effectiveness assessment process in the short run. The target values uncovered by comparative optimization techniques (e.g. Data Envelopment Analysis) for efficiency and effectiveness measurement generally have limited managerial implications due to production constraints, available resources, and legal status. This paper introduces a modified Quality-driven – Efficiency-adjusted Data Envelopment Analysis (MQE-DEA) model to assess effectiveness and provide a step-by-step path to achieve high quality and high efficiency in every operational unit under evaluation. The MQE-DEA model has particular applicability to the effectiveness assessment of homogenous service units in which an inverse relationship underlies the two dimensions of effectiveness embraced in this study (e.g. bank branches, restaurant chain stores, governmental one-stop-shops).Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA); Context-dependent DEA; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Perceived Quality

Efficiency, Profitability and Quality of Banking Services

This paper develops a general framework for combining strategic benchmarking with efficiency benchmarking of the services offered by bank branches. In particular, the service-profit chain is cast as a cascade of efficiency benchmarking models. Three models-based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-are developed in order to implement the framework in the practical setting of a bank's branches: an operational efficiency mode, a quality efficiency model and a profitability efficiency model. The use of the models is illustrated using data for the branches of a commercial Bank. Empirical results indicate that superior insights can be obtained by analyzing operations, service quality, and profitability simultaneously than the information obtained from benchmarking studies of these three dimensions separately. Some relations between operational efficiency and profitability, and between operational efficiency and service quality are investigated. This paper was presented at the Financial Institutions Center's conference on Performance of Financial Institutions, May 8-10, 1997.

What is the Effect of Operational Managerial Practices on Dairy Farm Efficiency? Some Results from Sweden

The article aims to investigate how operational managerial practices can contribute to improved farm level efficiency at dairy farms. Operational managerial practices are defined as animal health, breeding, and feeding practices. The main contribution of the article is that it investigates aspects that can be adjusted every day to improve farm efficiency. Aspects describing each of the considered managerial practices are regressed on farm level data envelopment efficiency scores based on farm level data from Sweden. The results show that changes in breeding and feeding practices can lead to improved efficiency. Breeding exactly the number of heifers that is needed for replacement of the dairy cows negatively affects long-run technical efficiency. On the other hand, analyzing forage positively affects long-run allocative efficiency and analyzing fodder grain positively affects short-run economic efficiency. Feeding the cows hay instead of only silage, reduces long-run economic efficiency. No significant effects of animal health practices were found. These results suggest that the farms in the sample are homogeneous in terms of animal health practices and that inefficient farms cannot become more efficient by adapting to the animal health practices of more efficient farms.allocative efficiency, dairy farms, data envelopment analysis, economic efficiency, operational managerial practices, technical efficiency, tobit regression, Sweden, Livestock Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis,

Evaluating Greek equity funds using data envelopment analysis

This study assesses the relative performance of Greek equity funds employing a non-parametric method, specifically Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Using an original sample of cost and operational attributes we explore the e¤ect of each variable on funds' operational efficiency for an oligopolistic and bank-dominated fund industry. Our results have significant implications for the investors' fund selection process since we are able to identify potential sources of inefficiencies for the funds. The most striking result is that the percentage of assets under management affects performance negatively, a conclusion which may be related to the structure of the domestic stock market. Furthermore, we provide evidence against the notion of funds' mean-variance efficiency

Bank Efficiency in the Enlarged European Union

This paper aims to estimate bank efficiency differences across member states of the European Union and tries to explain their causes. We show on an empirical basis that the level and spread of bank efficiency in the EU and their changes are significantly determined by characteristics of operational environment and the “conscious” behaviour of management.In the long term, through the integration of financial markets and institutions, as well as the establishment of the Single European Banking Market, the impact of advantages and disadvantages underlying the operational environment is reduced or eliminated; therefore only managerial ability is of any relevance. Our findings suggest that there is a costefficiency gap and convergence between the old and new member states, irrespective of the specifications of the model. With respect to profit efficiency, however, differences in efficiency between the two regions are only established after controlling for some major characteristics of the varying operational environments. Our study also investigates the relevance of and the correlation between accounting-based and statistics-based efficiency indicators. We conclude that the accounting based efficiency indicators are inadequate for managing heterogeneity arising from institutional and operational environments. Hence such indicators only allow limited cross-sectional comparison through time.parametric approach, X- and alternative profit-efficiency, Fourier-flexible functional form, banking system.