Bibliometric review of the knowledge base on healthcare management for sustainability, 1994–2018

Abstract: In response to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), health care organizations throughout the world have adopted management initiatives designed to increase their sustainability. This review of research used bibliometric methods to analyze a dataset comprised of 477 documents extracted from the Scopus database. The review sought to document research on sustainable healthcare management (SHM) that has accumulated over the past 25 years. Results indicated that the intellectual structure of this body of knowledge is comprised of three schools of thought: (1) sustainable change in health care services, (2) innovations in managing health care operations, and (3) prioritizing and allocating resources for sustainability. The review also highlighted the recent topical focus of research in this literature. Key topics were linked to organization and management of health care services, quality of patient care, and sustainability of health care delivery

An analysis of a structured benchmarking project: the case of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s benchmarking project

Purpose: The study investigates a benchmarking project carried out by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) as part of a structured benchmarking initiative. The project was based on the TRADE benchmarking methodology and this paper examines the tools, activities and outcomes that relate to each stage of the adopted methodology Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on case study methodology. Data was collected from various sources including analysis of project reports written by DEWA’s benchmarking team reporting on their activities during the project. Data was also collected from four project presentations given at different stages of the project. In addition, the research team held three meetings with the DEWA Benchmarking team at different stages of the benchmarking project. Findings: The results show the key challenges and successes faced during each stage of the benchmarking project. It indicates the actions taken to overcome the challenges and the role played by internal and external stakeholders in facilitating the success of the benchmarking project. Practical implications: The study presents information that would guide organisations that wish to carry out a benchmarking project – and particularly those implementing benchmarking for the first time. The study provides a summary of the key lessons learnt by DEWA’s benchmarking team as a guide for other organisations. Originality/Value: Academic research has not adequately examined and analysed the stage-by-stage elements of a benchmarking project from the perspective of the implementing organisation. This study addresses this gap by detailing and analysing the experiences of a benchmarking project by tracking the stage-by-stage activities of the benchmarking team

Web-based application technology in supporting VMI: Enabling factors and expected outcomes

This paper uncovers the experiences of automotive suppliers in Thailand, which have implemented web-based application to support vendor managed inventory (VMI). First, we identify enabling factors with greatest influence on the outcomes of web-based application implementation. Data was obtained from seventy tier-1 suppliers of the two biggest automobile assemblers in Thailand. Then, exploratory factor analysis was employed to construct enabling factors and outcomes of this implementation support VMI. The results indicate technology readiness is the most important enabler in implementing web-based application technology to support VMI. It is followed by leadership, and systems integration. In the implementation of such technology, it is important to understand the crucial role that management support and the deployment of relevant technical skills play in the success of such implementation

Bouncing from the Covid-19 Pandemic:Response of an Online Medical Tourism Facilitator Platform

People have increasingly engaged in medical tourism to find effective medical treatments but more economical overseas. These travellers use the service of online Medical Tourism Facilitators (MTFs) in choosing and arranging medical trips. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the ban on international travelling disrupted travel and thus seriously affected the tourism businesses, including MTFs. Businesses need to be resilient and pivot their business models to survive and bounce back from the crisis. However, it is less clear how MTFs navigate this Covid-19 pandemic. This paper adopts a case study to explain how an online MTF platform (Dental Departures) responds to the opportunities and challenges and examines how it pivots business models

Improving supply chain operations by adopting RFID technology: Evaluation and comparison of enabling factors

The purpose of this article is to identify and prioritise enabling factors based on the different objectives that determine the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) in Thailand. Three main objectives of RFID implementation and five enabling factors were identified after reviewing literature. Interviews with 12 RFID experts were carried out to answer the proposed research questions. Analytical hierarchy process was then used to prioritise the relative importance of the enabling factors based on the three objectives of RFID implementation. The results show that ‘Softer’ factors are more important than the ‘Harder’ factors when cost competitiveness is the key objective of RFID implementation. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by evaluating and prioritising the objectives and enabling factors in implementing RFID in supply chain at firm level from experts’ experience. In particular, the focus is on an emerging economy context

E-Health Research in Southeast Asia: A Bibliometric Review

eHealth or digital health innovations expanded tremendously during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation and digitalization offer creative solutions to build up a healthy society. The eHealth technologies are quickly taken up by Southeast Asia countries and continue to flourish to alleviate the burden of healthcare challenges. This study is the first review exploring and analyzing the whole literature of eHealth, specifically in the Southeast Asia region. The objective of this study is to document the size, growth trajectory, and geographical distribution of eHealth in Southeast Asia research, identify high-impact authors and documents, explore the intellectual knowledge structure, and analyze the topical trends of the field. The bibliometric analysis was used to analyze a data set of 1405 Scopus-indexed documents between 1976 and 2021. Descriptive analysis, citation, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses were conducted to gain insights into eHealth in the Southeast Asia knowledge base. The growth rate of literature has rocketed up since 2018, reflecting the significant increase in demand for eHealth in Southeast Asia. Among the eleven Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand were the top four countries where the most eHealth-related research was conducted. The intellectual structure of eHealth in Southeast Asia literature comprises four schools of thought (i.e., four groups of similar theoretical perspectives and research interests): (1) analysis and adoption of hospital information system/eHealth records, (2) user intention and acceptance of information technology, (3) technology for healthcare and disease management, and (4) mobile health technology (m-Health). Mobile applications, social networks, the COVID-19 pandemic, patient referral, follow-up, self-care, quality of life, psychology, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are the recent emerging research themes in the field of study. The eHealth development should consider long-term sustainable management along with the rapid evolution of the field. Additionally, eHealth systems should be holistic and pay attention to technology adoption, data security, and ethical issues involved in medical practices. This bibliometric review delivers reference points for scholars interested in Southeast Asia eHealth, reveals the emerging intellectual structure of this interdisciplinary field, and provides guidance to future research on this domain

TQM and organizational management practices: Are they really complementary?

The objective of this research is to explore if TQM firms execute various organizational management practices significantly different from non-TQM firms in the ASEAN automotive supply chain. Datasets were collected from ASEAN automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their Tier 1 and 2 suppliers. Then, datasets were tested by using statistical analysis. The results show that seven TQM practices including leadership, strategy and planning, customer focus, information and analysis, people management, process management, and supplier involvement are significantly higher in TQM firms than Non-TQM firms. ASEAN OEM suppliers in the automotive industry can use the results of this study to select and deploy suitable TQM practices to enhance their competitiveness in the first instance in the automotive sector and then to other value-adding sectors. This study also indicates that automotive industry and others need to consider TQM practices, as an organizational innovation or organizational development intervention, along the entire supply chain

A review of theoretical perspectives in lean manufacturing implementation

This paper provides a broad overview of the literature on theoretical perspectives in the context of lean manufacturing. Four organizational behavior (OB) theories (contingency theory, resource-based view theory, institutional theory, and transaction costs theory) are reviewed and analyzed on how these theories support the implementation of global manufacturing strategy. The results of this study provide opportunities for future inquiry of theory-based research in operations management

Awareness and impact of business excellence in Asia

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the use of business excellence (BE) in Asian organisations. The study examines the drivers of implementation of BE, levels of awareness of BE in Asian organisations as well as the impact of its adoption. A questionnaire survey of 74 organisations in five Asian countries was carried out and, furthermore, qualitative data were collected from 21 discussion groups held in all five countries and from 13 interviews held with senior executives of organisations that had won BE awards. The study indicated that the drivers of adoption were primarily linked to their competitive priorities. In addition, while organisations that have implemented BE had found it to be beneficial, more needs to be done to improve awareness, particularly among small-to-medium enterprises. The implications for more mature BE organisations is to play a more active role in promoting BE in their supply chain while BE custodians need to facilitate more sharing of best practices

A study of quality management practices in TQM and non-TQM firms: Findings from the ASEAN automotive industry

Purpose – The primary objective of this research is to explore whether total quality management (TQM) firms execute various quality management practices significantly differently from non-TQM firms in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) automotive supply chain. The study also aims to analyze differences between different tiers of this supply chain and to examine the relationship between the implementation of quality management systems and adoption of TQM. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 165 datasets collected from ASEAN automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their tier 1 and 2 suppliers in five ASEAN countries were tested by using cross-tabulation analysis and ANOVA with post hoc test. Findings – The results show that firms that have successfully implemented the concept of work standardization or process-approach through quality management systems (QMS) certification have tended to pursue TQM as the subsequent stage in their quality journey. In addition, the study found that all seven TQM practices – leadership; strategy and planning; customer focus; information and analysis; people management; process management; and supplier involvement – were significantly higher in TQM firms than in non-TQM firms. Finally, the study found that tier 3 suppliers were less likely to implement TQM practices compared with higher tiers (1 and 2), except in supplier involvement. Originality/value – The study presents an insight into TQM constructs evolution in the ASEAN region, which has gained increased prominence and world impact as a result of international outsourcing. It therefore addresses a significant gap in the literature about how quality management is deployed in this important region of the world