Project Completion Report Analysis: Factors Behind Project Success and Effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Álvarez ◽  
Leonardo Corral ◽  
Ana Cuesta ◽  
José Martínez ◽  
César Montiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Project Success ◽  
Project Design ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Development Effectiveness ◽  
First Results ◽  
Report Analysis ◽  
Project Monitoring ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Robust Evidence

The goal of development assistance is to deliver measurable results. At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Effectiveness Framework (DEF) was adopted to enhance the likelihood this goal is met. The key objective of this analysis is to enhance our understanding of the role the set of tools and processes adopted at the IDB, from project design to completion, play in the assessment of a projects success and effectiveness. Specifically, we are interested in teasing out the role different dimensions of project design, assessed through the Development Effectiveness Matrix (DEM), and execution performance indicators, as per the Project Monitoring Report (PMR), have on the delivery of effective and successful projects measured through the Project Completion Report (PCR) methodology implemented at the IDB. We also explore the validation process of PCRs and delve into the effectiveness analysis at the level of specific objectives and result indicators, identifying key pitfalls associated with objectives not being met. Overall, our findings provide strong validation for the DEF and its tools. We find robust evidence for the importance of the quality at entry assessment conducted through the DEM. In particular, the quality of the results matrix at approval is a strong determinant of project success and effectiveness at closure, and the quality of the Evaluation Plan is strongly associated with the effectiveness of a project. In terms of execution performance, our analysis finds that, on average, projects that execute a lower share of their approved loan amount, are put on Alert, or are classified as a Problem, in its first three years of execution; and projects that experience a higher share of their outputs discontinued, with respect to their first results matrix, are most likely to be ineffective in achieving their objectives and will likely be rated as unsuccessful.

OVE's Review of Project Completion Reports (PCRs) and Expanded Supervision Reports (XSRs): The 2020 Validation Cycle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Rodrigo ◽  
Claudia Figueroa ◽  
Oliver Peña-Habib ◽  
Xiomara Rojas-Asqui ◽  
Melanie Putic
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Development Bank ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Development Effectiveness ◽  
Project Monitoring ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
Project Supervision

This report summarizes the results of the Office of Evaluation and Oversight's (OVE) annual validation of the self-assessments of project performance and results completed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest in 2019-2020. The IDB and IDB Invest have systems in place to measure the development effectiveness of their operations. These systems use a number of instruments to assess projects at the design, implementation, and completion phases. The design-phase assessment uses a “Development Effectiveness Matrix” (DEM) for sovereign guaranteed (SG) operations. The effectiveness of non-sovereign guaranteed (NSG) operations is measured with a “Development Effectiveness Learning, Tracking, and Assessment tool” (DELTA). Implementation-phase assessments measure SG operations with “Project Monitoring Reports,” while NSG operations are assessed with “Project Supervision Reports.” Upon completion, SG projects are self-evaluated with “Project Completion Reports,” or PCRs. NSG operations, use “Expanded Supervision Reports,” or XSRs when they reach early operation maturity (EOM). OVE validates Managements self-evaluations (PCRs and XSRs) and assigns a final project performance rating to each operation. As part of the 2020 validation cycle, OVE reviewed PCRs for 63 operations, 62 with operational closure (CO fully justified) in 2018 and one in 2013. XSRs were reviewed for 36 IDB Invest operations that had reached early operating maturity (EOM) in 2018.

’Propylene glycolate’ used as a top coat seal to protect thick juice from degradation in ellipsoidal storage tanks

2013 ◽  
pp. 215-218
Author(s):  
Robert O. Hatch ◽  
Craig M. Giles ◽  
Jay S. Creiglow ◽  
David R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Propylene Glycol ◽  
Barrier Layer ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Polypropylene Glycol ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
First Results ◽  
Thick Juice

The use of sodium propylene glycol for thick juice storage was investigated at Spreckels Sugar Company, in Brawley, California (USA). Sodium-polypropylene glycol has a density of 1.07 and does not mix with thick juice. Therefore it is suitable as a barrier layer. Chemical properties of propylene glycol, and the deposition on the top of thick juice are described. First results of the last campaign are compared with data from previous years. A significantly lower tendency in the reduction of the quality of the thick juice was found.

Effects and Risks of Distance Learning in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Yu. M. Tsygalov
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
First Results ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
The Cost

The forced work of Russian universities remotely in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) has generated a lot of discussion about the benefits of the new form of education. The first results were summed up and reports were presented, the materials of which showed that the main goal of online education — the prevention of the spread of infection, - has been achieved. Against this background, proposals and publications have appeared substantiating the effectiveness of the massive introduction of distance learning in Russia, including in higher education. However, the assessment of such training by the population and students in publications and in social networks was predominantly negative and showed that the number of emerging problems exceeds the possible benefits of the new educational technology. Based on the analysis of the materials of publications and personal experience of teaching online, the potential benefits and problems of distance learning in higher education in Russia are considered. It is proposed to consider the effects separately for the suppliers of new technology (government, universities) and consumers (students, teachers, society). It is substantiated that the massive introduction of online education allows not only to reduce the negative consequences of epidemics, but also to reduce budgetary funding for universities, optimize the age composition of teachers, and reduce the cost of maintaining educational buildings. However, there will be a leveling / averaging of the quality of education, and responsibility for the quality of training will shift from the state/universities to students. The critical shortcomings of online education are the low degree of readiness of the digital infrastructure, the lack of a mechanism for identifying and monitoring the work of students, information security problems, and the lack of trust in such training of the population. The massive use of online education creates a number of risks for the country, the most critical of which is the destruction of the higher education system and a drop in the effectiveness of personnel training. The consequences of this risk realization are not compensated by any possible budget savings.

Creation of physiologic rhythm by closed loop stimulation in heart failure patients with severe chronotropic incompetence: worldwide first results of a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Proff ◽  
B Merkely ◽  
R Papp ◽  
C Lenz ◽  
P.J Nordbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Chronotropic Incompetence ◽  
First Results ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Abstract Background The prevalence of chronotropic incompetence (CI) in heart failure (HF) population is high and negatively impacts prognosis. In HF patients with an implanted cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) device and severe CI, the effect of rate adaptive pacing on patient outcomes is unclear. Closed loop stimulation (CLS) based on cardiac impedance measurement may be an optimal method of heart rate adaptation according to metabolic need in HF patients with severe CI. Purpose This is the first study evaluating the effect of CLS on the established prognostic parameters assessed by the cardio-pulmonary exercise (CPX) testing and on quality of life (QoL) of the patients. Methods A randomised, controlled, double-blind and crossover pilot study has been performed in CRT patients with severe CI defined as the inability to achieve 70% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate (APMHR). After baseline assessment, patients were randomised to either DDD-CLS pacing (group 1) or DDD pacing at 40 bpm (group 2) for a 1-month period, followed by crossover for another month. At baseline and at 1- and 2-month follow-ups, a CPX was performed and QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The main endpoints were the effect of CLS on ventilatory efficiency (VE) slope (evaluated by an independent CPX expert), the responder rate defined as an improvement (decrease) of the VE slope by at least 5%, percentage of maximal predicted heart rate reserve (HRR) achieved, and QoL. Results Of the 36 patients enrolled in the study, 20 fulfilled the criterion for severe CI and entered the study follow-up (mean age 68.9±7.4 years, 70% men, LVEF=41.8±9.3%, 40%/60% NYHA class II/III). Full baseline and follow-up datasets were obtained in 17 patients. The mean VE slope and HRR at baseline were 34.4±4.4 and 49.6±23.8%, respectively, in group 1 (n=7) and 34.5±12.2 and 54.2±16.1% in group 2 (n=10). After completing the 2-month CPX, the mean difference between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 modes was −2.4±8.3 (group 1) and −1.2±3.5 (group 2) for VE slope, and 17.1±15.5% (group 1) and 8.7±18.8% (group 2) for HRR. Altogether, VE slope improved by −1.8±2.95 (p=0.31) in DDD-CLS versus DDD-40, and HRR improved by 12.9±8.8% (p=0.01). The VE slope decreased by ≥5% in 47% of patients (“responders to CLS”). The mean difference in the QoL between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 was 0.16±0.25 in group 1 and −0.01±0.05 in group 2, resulting in an overall increase by 0.08±0.08 in the DDD-CLS mode (p=0.13). Conclusion First results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of CLS in CRT patients with severe CI revealed that CLS generated an overall positive effect on well-established surrogate parameters for prognosis. About one half of the patients showed CLS response in terms of improved VE slope. In addition, CLS improved quality of life. Further clinical research is needed to identify predictors that can increase the responder rate and to confirm improvement in clinical outcomes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Biotronik SE & Co. KG

Runner Balance Design of Soap Box Compounding Cavity Based on Moldflow

2014 ◽  
Vol 941-944 ◽  
pp. 1678-1681
Author(s):  
Hong Bing Wang ◽  
Zhi Rong Li ◽  
Chun Hua Sun ◽  
Yi Ping Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Injection Mold ◽  
Balance Design ◽  
Filling Time ◽  
Critical Defect ◽  
Filling Analysis ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Moldflow Simulation

Filling unbalance is a critical defect for injection mould. When the upper and lower covers of soap plastic box are produced by injection mold at the same time, filling unbalance in injection would appear because of the different dimensions of the two parts. For advancing the quality of the soap plastic box, the runner system is optimized with the filling analysis module and flow runner balance module of moldflow simulation software. The three-dimensional geometrical models of the two covers are constructed using Pro/e software. In moldflow the runner balance optimization of the soap box compounding cavity is analysis. The results indicate the optimized cross section of the runners can reduce the flow unbalance ratio from 3.38% to 0.73%, and the filling time and pressure can satisfy the demands. According to the analysis results moldflow is appropriate for runner balance design of the plastic products.

Text Analysis of Project Completion Reports

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
César E. Montiel Olea ◽  
Leonardo R. Corral
Keyword(s):  
Text Analysis ◽  
Text Documents ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Analysis Tools ◽  
Development Effectiveness ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Project Cycle ◽  
Main Instrument ◽  
Unique Dataset

Project Completion Reports (PCRs) are the main instrument through which different multilateral organizations measure the success of a project once it closes. PCRs are important for development effectiveness as they serve to understand achievements, failures, and challenges within the project cycle they can feed back into the design and execution of new projects. The aim of this paper is to introduce text analysis tools for the exploration of PCR documents. We describe and apply different text analysis tools to explore the content of a sample of PCRs. We seek to illustrate a way in which PCRs can be summarized and analyzed using innovative tools applied to a unique dataset. We believe that the methods presented in this investigation have numerous potential applications to different types of text documents routinely prepared within the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Understanding and forecasting taste-and-odour formation in a drinking water distribution system: case study of Lyon (France)

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Corbi ◽  
Valérie Jacquemet ◽  
Alain Quendo ◽  
Francine Manciot ◽  
Adeline Lamy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Distribution System ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution ◽  
First Results ◽  
Mechanisms Of Formation

Lyon, France has the opportunity to distribute in abundance a groundwater resource with a good quality for drinking water. However, the length and the complexity of the distribution network can lead to consumer complaints in some areas of the water distribution system. In order to improve the organoleptic quality of distributed water, the water supplier wants to get a better understanding of potential taste and odour formation and to succeed in controlling it. Since 2006, activities have been taken with targeted analyses and sensory evaluation of water, taking into account both the consumers' private networks and the citywide distribution network. The first results were focused on the occurrence of bromophenols along the water distribution system, the understanding of the mechanisms of formation of such compounds, as well as their incidence on taste-and-odour events at the consumer's home.

scholarly journals Optimisation of dementia care in care homes: Dementia care framework (innovative practice)

Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1316-1324
Author(s):  
Claire Royston ◽  
Gary Mitchell ◽  
Colin Sheeran ◽  
Joanne Strain ◽  
Sue Goldsmith
Keyword(s):  
Care Home ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Robust Evidence

There are an increasing number of people living with dementia in care home settings. Recent reports suggest that people who deliver care to residents living with dementia in care homes require specialist support to provide optimum care. To address this need Four Seasons Health Care, the largest provider of care homes within the UK today, sought to design a dementia care framework that enhanced the quality of life for people living with dementia in their care homes. The framework was designed using a robust evidence base, engagement with people living with dementia, their care partners, policy-writers, multidisciplinary professionals and people within the organisation. This paper describes the methodology behind the dementia care framework and outcomes data from the first phase (of 20 care homes that included the care of 451 people living with dementia). The main outcome was a significant improvement in the quality of the lives of residents across biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

scholarly journals Validation of Two Global and Generic Quality of Life Questionnaires for Population Screening: SCREENQOL and SEQOL

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 412-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Eskild W. Henneberg ◽  
Joav Merrick ◽  
Jes S. Lindholt
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Nottingham Health Profile ◽  
Population Screening ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Health Related Qol ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Different Dimensions

Population screening may harm quality of life (QoL), and traditional health-related QoL tools could be inadequate to evaluate this risk. Two global and generic QoL instruments were developed for studying the QoL consequences of screening (SCREENQOL), and QoL variation in a normal population (SEQOL). SCREENQOL and SEQOL (Self-Evaluation of Quality of Life Questionnaire) are self-administered questionnaires with items rated on 5-point Likert scales. SCREENQOL consists of 21 items measuring QoL across 6 different dimensions based upon validated QoL questionnaires. SEQOL consists of 317 items measuring QoL across 8 different dimensions, based on an integrative theory of QoL, a theoretical framework from a Danish QoL survey involving 7,222 persons 31 to 33 years old. For further validation, SEQOL and SCREENQOL were sent to 2,460 persons 18 to 88 years old randomly selected from the Danish Central Person Register together with Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). For SCREENQOL and SEQOL, test-retest reliability correlation was both >0.8, Cronbach�s alpha was 0.65 and 0.75, correlation (r) to NHP was 0.67 and 0.49, to SIP 0.46 and 0.27, respectively (p

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