scholarly journals Prioritized Solutions for Overcoming Barriers When Implementing Lean in the Healthcare Supply Chain: A Saudi Perspective

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz M. Almutairi ◽  
Mohammed Almanei ◽  
Ahmed Al-Ashaab ◽  
Konstantinos Salonitis
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Body ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Research Gap

The main purpose of this paper is to propose solutions for overcoming the obstacles that healthcare organizations might face when implementing lean. An in-depth review of existing barriers for lean implementation in healthcare supply chain is presented and validated by experts. Although there is a widespread use of lean concepts in developed countries, little attention has been paid to implementing a lean approach by healthcare providers in developing countries. The present study’s key novelty and contribution is related to this research gap. The study is thus focused in proposing solutions for healthcare organisations in developing countries, especially in Saudi Arabia. The efficacy of these solutions is assessed through experts’ opinion. The paper enhances the body of knowledge for the successful implementation of lean in a hospital setting.

CHALLENGES HINDERING THE ATTAINMENT OF SMART CITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Aghimien ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Wellington Thwala ◽  
Ifije Ohiomah
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
The Body ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Paper Form ◽  
Average Individual

The concept of smart cities has become a buzzword in most developing countries. Most professionals within developing countries are quick to adopt this idea in their every day discuss on developing the state of their nation, without actually considering what this concept means to the average individual on the streets. Even lesser consideration is given to the readiness of these developing nations in terms of adopting the concept of smart cities. It is based on this notion that this study, through the review of existing studies, assessed the readiness of cities in Nigeria in adopting the concepts needed for achieving smart cities. The study gives an insight on the challenges impeding the attainment of city smartness in the country. It was observed that solving the problems caused by rapid urbanization within cities is the first step towards making these cities "smart ready". Therefore, if cities in Nigeria are to attain city smartness, first looking inward and solving the endemic problems within these countries is necessary before adopting concepts of smart cities that have been mastered in developed countries. Although the submissions of this paper form part of a much larger ongoing study, it contributes to the body of knowledge as it brings to light the challenges that must be solved if cities in Nigeria are to ever become smart.

scholarly journals Reverse supply chain practices in developing countries: the case of Morocco

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal El Baz ◽  
Regina Frei ◽  
Issam Laguir
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Reverse Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate reverse supply chain (RSC) practices and their obstacles using case studies of Moroccan companies. The authors present the main findings of case studies’ analysis along with a discussion of an RSC framework for further directions of research. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted and semi-structured interviews with Moroccan companies were conducted using an interview guide. Findings The authors present an RSC model that encompasses remanufacturing, refurbishing and disposal processes. The authors believe that this model would constitute a promising framework for further research. The findings show that the successful implementation of RSC depends on many factors, but the company’s attitude (proactive or conservative) is one of the most critical determinants in RSC initiatives. Furthermore, the results of the case studies indicate two types of inhibitors: external and internal. These findings confirm the results of previous research on environmental sustainability obstacles in general and RSC obstacles in particular. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations that provide future research opportunities. Because this study is qualitative, further statistical support is needed to justify wider generalisation of its findings. Further studies might therefore investigate RSC practices in developing countries other than Morocco to increase the external validity of the results. Practical implications The findings can help firms to gain better understanding of their RSC and particularly the link between forward and RSCs. Consequently, companies can upgrade their business models to better control their RSC activities. Originality/value The relevant literature about RSC practices has mainly targeted manufacturing sectors in developed countries, and few studies have been conducted on developing countries. Research on RSC practices in developing countries in general and African countries in particular is sparse. This is one of the first articles written to address this gap by investigating RSC practices in Morocco.

scholarly journals Internet of things issues related to psychiatry

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Monteith ◽  
Tasha Glenn ◽  
John Geddes ◽  
Emanuel Severus ◽  
Peter C. Whybrow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Iot Devices

Abstract Background Internet of Things (IoT) devices for remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment are widely viewed as an important future direction for medicine, including for bipolar disorder and other mental illness. The number of smart, connected devices is expanding rapidly. IoT devices are being introduced in all aspects of everyday life, including devices in the home and wearables on the body. IoT devices are increasingly used in psychiatric research, and in the future may help to detect emotional reactions, mood states, stress, and cognitive abilities. This narrative review discusses some of the important fundamental issues related to the rapid growth of IoT devices. Main body Articles were searched between December 2019 and February 2020. Topics discussed include background on the growth of IoT, the security, safety and privacy issues related to IoT devices, and the new roles in the IoT economy for manufacturers, patients, and healthcare organizations. Conclusions The use of IoT devices will increase throughout psychiatry. The scale, complexity and passive nature of data collection with IoT devices presents unique challenges related to security, privacy and personal safety. While the IoT offers many potential benefits, there are risks associated with IoT devices, and from the connectivity between patients, healthcare providers, and device makers. Security, privacy and personal safety issues related to IoT devices are changing the roles of manufacturers, patients, physicians and healthcare IT organizations. Effective and safe use of IoT devices in psychiatry requires an understanding of these changes.

Categorising on-site problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micael Thunberg ◽  
Martin Rudberg ◽  
Tina Karrbom Gustavsson
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
The Body ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge

Purpose This study aims to identify and categorise common on-site problems from a supply chain management (SCM) perspective and to trace the origin of these problems in the construction project process, the supply chain or in the intersection between these processes. This allows for identification of how on-site problems affect SCM in construction projects and how they can be mitigated. Design/methodology/approach A literature review in combination with semi-structured interviews was used to identify on-site problems. This enabled triangulation and strengthened both construct validity and internal validity. Findings On-site problems can be categorised in one of the four following categories: material flows, internal communication, external communication or complexity. The first category has its origin in the supply chain, the second in the construction project process, the third in the supply chain-construction process intersection on site and the fourth in the construction project as a whole. The findings conclude that on-site problems often originate from construction companies’ lack of supply chain orientation. Research limitations/implications It is suggested that supply chain planning (SCP) can facilitate on-site problem mitigation in construction project management. This extends the body of knowledge of SCP in construction project management and supports the development of effective on-site construction project management. Practical implications The results show that SCP can aid construction project management in handling on-site problems earlier in the project process. Originality/value The main value lies in extending the body of knowledge in construction project management research by applying an SCM perspective and by introducing SCP to support more effective construction project management.

The bidirectional mistrust

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1336-1350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annica Björkman ◽  
Martin Salzmann-Erikson
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Data ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The Body ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Care Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and describe online communication about the experiences and attitudes toward Swedish Healthcare Direct, a national telephone advice nursing (TAN) service. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive research design was adopted using a six-step netnographic method. Three Swedish forums were purposefully selected and data from the virtual discussions were collected. Findings Three themes emerged: expectancy and performativity of the nurses, absurdity in accessibility and the scrutinizing game. The most prominent finding was the scrutinizing game, which included aspects of bidirectional mistrust from both nurses and callers. Another salient finding was the attitudes that callers held toward nurses who used a technique interpreted as “passing the buck.” Research limitations/implications The use of a nethnographic method is novel in this area of research. Consequently, the body of knowledge has regarding telephone advise nursing service has significantly been broadened. A limitation in this study is that demographic data for the posters are not available. Practical implications Bidirectional distrust is an important issue that must be acknowledged by TAN services, since it might damage the service on a fundamental level. Healthcare providers, politicians, and researchers should account for the power and availability of virtual discussions when seeking consumers’ opinions and evaluating the quality of the care provided. Originality/value This analysis of the ongoing discussions that take place on the internet provides insight into callers’ perceptions of a national TAN service. The bidirectional mistrust found from both the nurses and the callers might be a threat to callers’ compliance with the advice given and their care-seeking behavior.

scholarly journals Linking Supply Chain Network Complexity to Interdependence and Risk-Assessment: Scale Development and Empirical Investigation

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samyadip Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Supply Chain Network ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Managerial Implications

Concepts like supply chain network complexity, interdependence and risk assessment have been prominently discussed directly and indirectly in management literature over past decades and plenty of frameworks and conceptual prescriptive research works have been published contributing towards building the body of knowledge. However previous studies often lacked quantification of the findings. Consequently, the need for suitable scales becomes prominent for measuring those constructs to empirically support the conceptualized relationships. This paper expands the understanding of supply chain network complexity (SCNC) and also highlights its implications on interdependence (ID) between the actors and risk assessment (RAS) in transaction relationships. In doing so, SCNC and RAS are operationalized to understand how SCNC affects interdependence and risk assessment between the actors in the supply chain network. The contribution of this study lies in developing and validating multi-item scales for these constructs and empirically establishing the hypothesized relationships in the Indian context based on firm data collected using survey–based questionnaire. The methodology followed included structural equation modeling. The study findings indicate that SCNC had significant relationship with interdependence, which in turn significantly affected risk assessment. This study carries both academic and managerial implications and provides an empirically supported framework linking network complexity with the two key variables (ID and RAS), playing crucial roles in managerial decision making. This study contributes to the body of knowledge and aims at guiding managers in better understanding transaction relationships.

Managing the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Zighan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Bullwhip Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Geographical Distances ◽  
Purchasing Behaviour

Purpose This study aims to answer the question of how firms can deal with the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19? Design/methodology/approach An exploratory research method has been adopted and evidence was collected based on 41 online interviews. Findings The study finds that the bullwhip effect is caused by the sudden changes in customers purchasing behaviour during the pandemic and the businesses’ inaccurate anticipation of the situation. Managing the bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19 requires situation awareness, localisation and an intelligent supply chain. Situation awareness is a vital concept in emergency response, knowing what is going to figure out what should be done. Furthermore, reducing the geographical distances between the firm and other parties in the supply chain, which equates to supply chain localisation, enforces just-in-time inventory. Finally, supply chain digitalisation is no longer an option; implementing such a solution enables end-to-end visibility, collaboration, flexibility and optimisation of orchestration of the supply chain. Research limitations/implications This study presents indicators explaining how organisations can deal with the great bullwhip effects caused by COVID-19. Originality/value The ongoing outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges for supply chain management, and this study contributes to the body of knowledge and proposes a model of reducing the bullwhip effects.

Assessing the Factors Affecting the Implementation of E-Government and Effect on Performance of DVLA

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
Gerald Dapaah Gyamfi ◽  
George Gyan ◽  
Mavis Ayebea ◽  
Florence Naa Norley Nortey ◽  
Prince Yaw Baidoo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Though many researchers have carried out studies on electronic government (e-government) and its effect on performance of public organizations in developed countries not much such studies have taken place in developing countries, creating a gap in literature. The current study seeks to fill the gap. The study highlights the factors affecting the implementation and sustainability of E-government and effect of the factors on performance of the driver and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) in Ghana. The study used purposive sampling technique to gather data from the DVLA (N-50) in 2016. The outcome of the study revealed that the challenges that impede the successful implementation of e-government include regular interruption of the electricity supply, online theft, poor ICT infrastructure, and financial constraints. Based on the benefits associated with the implementation of e-government, the current researchers made recommendations for long-term sustainability of e-government.

scholarly journals A decade of supply chain collaboration and directions for future research

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudine Antoinette Soosay ◽  
Paul Hyland
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chains ◽  
The Past ◽  
Body Of Knowledge

Purpose – This paper aims to conduct a systematic review of the literature on supply chain collaboration published over a 10-year period from 2005 to 2014. It explores the nature and extent of research undertaken to identify key themes emerging in the field and gaps that need to be addressed. Design/methodology/approach – The authors review a sample of 207 articles from 69 journals, after using an iterative cycle of defining appropriate search keywords, searching the literature and conducting the analysis. Findings – Key themes include the meaning of collaboration; considerations for supply chain collaboration theory; emerging areas in collaboration for sustainability, technology-enabled supply chains and humanitarian supply chains; and the need for a more holistic approach, multi-tier perspectives and research into B2C collaborations. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides discussion and scope for future research into the area which would contribute to the field tremendously. Originality/value – There have been very few reviews in the past on supply chain collaboration, and this is one of the first extensive reviews conducted to address how well the body of knowledge on supply chain collaboration corresponds with our contemporary society.

scholarly journals Consumers Become More or Less Ethnocentric? A Meta-Analysis on Level of Consumer Ethnocentrism

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gongxing Guo ◽  
Quan Lin
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Consumer Ethnocentrism ◽  
Research Gap

A huge body of research on consumer ethnocentrism has occurred in cross-cultural consumer behavior research area since the seminal work of Shimp and Sharma (1987). There is, however, a research gap on meta-analysis of the level of consumer ethnocentrism. This study seeks to address this gap by employing, as far as we are aware, the first meta-analysis on level of consumer ethnocentrism. we draw several conclusions with meta-analytical data of 153 mean values in 87 articles during the period of 1987 to 2013 (N = 42840): (1) The average score of consumer ethnocentrism is 3.58 (7 in total); (2) General consumers are more ethnocentric than student consumers; (3) Consumers in developing countries are more ethnocentric than consumers in developed countries.

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