Transformation einer EPK in eine formalisierte Methode

Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Transformation einer Ereignisgesteuerten Prozesskette in diverse formalisierte Modellierungsmethoden. Die hierfür gewählten formalen Methoden sind Business Process Model and Notation, Unified Modeling Language, Subjektorientiertes Business Process Management und Petrinetze. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Vor- und Nachteile der Methoden zu definieren und eine geeignete Methode für sowohl Modellierung als auch Automatisierung von Geschäftsprozessen zu finden. Zunächst werden theoretische Grundlagen der Geschäftsprozessmodellierung dargestellt. Des Weiteren wird auf die gesonderten Charakteristika der vorgestellten Methoden eingegangen. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt hier auf dem Thema Syntax und Semantik der Methoden. Nachfolgend werden die Ergebnisse der Transformation sowie die Vorteile und Nachteile der gewählten Methoden kritisch betrachtet. Als Grundlage für den Vergleich wurde das Beispiel eines Bewerbungsverfahrens als Ereignisgesteuerte Prozesskette entwickelt

MEANING AND USAGE OF A CONCEPTUAL ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK – A CASE STUDY

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) includes processes and methodologies for organizations to manage companies’ risks. Due to an increase in the environmental complexity, a standardized approach of managing risks and opportunities is not only useful, but absolutely essential for business continuation – the way organizations deal with such risks is the key role for success and can be seen in the company’s overall performance. In a previous paper the authors suggested a model for ERM assessment. In order to proof this model, this paper presents a case study of a production company with a working ERM to evaluate the model, based on a real example. The results demonstrate that a suggested model to assess ERM and its performance is practically useable by organizations and might be further extended in future studies

ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE AND ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is an integrated approach to manage the risks of companies. Despite the wide adoption of ERM into companies' organizational processes, there are neither clear standards for ERM nor ground based theories about the outcome of it. This paper gives an overview of scientific research in the topic of ERM by comparing recent academic papers which focus ERM in the context of performance evaluation or effectiveness by categorizing and evaluating each source against its limitations. The limitations are used to develop a unified view on the question of how ERM influences performance of organizations. This also involves aspects of measuring the current status of ERM within companies and the effects of ERM on the other side. This paper shows that there is diversity in scientific literature of how to measure performance in the ERM-context. The authors identify reasons for that and suggest approaches to solve the problem by identifying best-practice approaches and a generic framework on how to use them to improve ERM-assessment in practice as well as researc

Appraisal of health care: from patient value to societal benefit

Aim: This paper summarizes the deficiencies and weaknesses of the most frequently used methods for the allocation of health-care resources. New, more transparent and practical methods for optimizing the allocation of these resources are proposed. Method: The examples of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and efficiency frontier (EF) are analyzed to describe weaknesses and problems in decisions regulating health-care provision. After conducting a literature search and discussions with an international group of professionals, three groups of professionals were formed to discuss the assessment and appraisal of health-care services and allocation of available resources. Results: At least seven essential variables were identified that should be heeded when applying the concept of QALYs for decisions concerning health-care provision. The efficiency frontier (EF) concept can be used to set a ceiling price and perform a cost-benefit analysis of provision, but different stakeholders—a biostatistician (efficacy), an economist (costs), a clinician (effectiveness), and the patient (value)—could provide a fairer appraisal of health-care services. Efficacy and costs are often based on falsifiable data. Effectiveness and value depend on the success with which a particular clinical problem has been solved. These data cannot be falsified. The societal perspective is generated by an informal cost-benefit analysis including appraisals by the above-mentioned stakeholders and carried out by an authorized institution. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that study results expressed in QALYs or as EF cannot be compared unless the variables included in the calculation are specified. It would be far more objective and comprehensive if an authorized institution made an informal decision based on formal assessments of the effectiveness of health-care services evaluated by health-care providers, of the value assessed by consumers, of efficacy described by biostatisticians, and of costs calculated by economists

Appraisal of health care: from patient value to societal benefit

Aim: This paper summarizes the deficiencies and weaknesses of the most frequently used methods for the allocation of health-care resources. New, more transparent and practical methods for optimizing the allocation of these resources are proposed. Method: The examples of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and efficiency frontier (EF) are analyzed to describe weaknesses and problems in decisions regulating health-care provision. After conducting a literature search and discussions with an international group of professionals, three groups of professionals were formed to discuss the assessment and appraisal of health-care services and allocation of available resources. Results: At least seven essential variables were identified that should be heeded when applying the concept of QALYs for decisions concerning health-care provision. The efficiency frontier (EF) concept can be used to set a ceiling price and perform a cost-benefit analysis of provision, but different stakeholders—a biostatistician (efficacy), an economist (costs), a clinician (effectiveness), and the patient (value)—could provide a fairer appraisal of health-care services. Efficacy and costs are often based on falsifiable data. Effectiveness and value depend on the success with which a particular clinical problem has been solved. These data cannot be falsified. The societal perspective is generated by an informal cost-benefit analysis including appraisals by the above-mentioned stakeholders and carried out by an authorized institution. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that study results expressed in QALYs or as EF cannot be compared unless the variables included in the calculation are specified. It would be far more objective and comprehensive if an authorized institution made an informal decision based on formal assessments of the effectiveness of health-care services evaluated by health-care providers, of the value assessed by consumers, of efficacy described by biostatisticians, and of costs calculated by economists

Nucleocapsid-specific T cell responses associate with control of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper airways before seroconversion

Despite intensive research since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, it has remained unclear precisely which components of the early immune response protect against the development of severe COVID-19. Here, we perform a comprehensive immunogenetic and virologic analysis of nasopharyngeal and peripheral blood samples obtained during the acute phase of infection with SARS-CoV-2. We find that soluble and transcriptional markers of systemic inflammation peak during the first week after symptom onset and correlate directly with upper airways viral loads (UA-VLs), whereas the contemporaneous frequencies of circulating viral nucleocapsid (NC)-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells correlate inversely with various inflammatory markers and UA-VLs. In addition, we show that high frequencies of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are present in acutely infected nasopharyngeal tissue, many of which express genes encoding various effector molecules, such as cytotoxic proteins and IFN-γ. The presence of IFNG mRNA-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the infected epithelium is further linked with common patterns of gene expression among virus-susceptible target cells and better local control of SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, these results identify an immune correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2, which could inform the development of more effective vaccines to combat the acute and chronic illnesses attributable to COVID-19

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ANALYSIS OF CORRELATIONS BETWEEN COPRPORATE STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL STRATEGY CONSIDERING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS

Organizations today have to position themselves correctly in the market in order to survive in the competitive landscape. Corporate strategy often forms the way the operational business is executed. Corporate strategy therefore plays an important role for the internal structure of an organization. But is also the opposite true? The goal of this study is to identify relationships between the internal organization of a company and overall goals and strategic settings of the enterprise. This research empirically compares the use of standardized management systems, developed levels of knowledge management and strategic goals of car manufactures. The main question is how the use of certain methodologies and best practise approaches (TQM, ISO-based management systems, etc.) influences the strategies of an organization. The result of this study shows that there is a correlation between the internal organization and the strategies of corporations. Internal methodologies and processes are defined according to strategic decisions of an organization. Internal processes and methodologies on the other side have an effect on the strategy as well. This study also suggests a holistic framework to assess this effect on strategy