Risk assessment for public–private partnership projects: using a fuzzy analytic hierarchical process method and expert opinion in China

Public–private partnerships (PPP) have been widely used in China to procure public facilities and services. Complicated problems in PPP projects in China arise because of a variety of risk factors. A proper risk assessment model is needed to identify risks and provide risk response strategies for future Chinese PPP projects. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) method provides the ability to solve complex risk assessment of PPP projects. Current risk assessment models are limited to PPP projects in specific countries and do not consider unique risks in China, especially political, economic, social, and legal risks. This paper designed a risk evaluation index system for PPP projects based on the Delphi expert investigation method, and then established an optimized risk evaluation model for PPP projects in China using the F-AHP method. The risks identified are confirmed by interviewing experts from Chinese local government departments, private enterprise, third-party intermediary consulting and regulatory agencies, and academic organizations. The results show that the risks that ranked among the top ten are closely related to China’s political and economic policies and relationships among stakeholders. It can be concluded that government authorities play a critical role in providing a favorable political, social, and economic environment and an effective institutional framework for PPP projects. Furthermore, it is also important to deal with relationships among stakeholders based on the public–private ‘win–win’ principle. This study provides risk response strategies, addressing key issues from eight aspects: an impeccable legal and regulatory framework; a central coordinating and regulating PPP authority; supportive governmental authorities; institutional capacity-building; favorable economic conditions and viability; community, partner, and moral accountability; clear division of responsibilities through contracts; and effective advisory management. These effective measures may be useful in reducing the adverse effects of risk for PPP projects in China.     

基于DEA模型的建筑业环境行为效率评价研究

对建筑企业进行环境行为效率评价是促进我国建筑行业健康可持续发展的重要手段。根据建筑行业特点及我国现有的企业环境信用标准,构建了建筑企业环境行为评价的投入产出指标体系,将改进的数据包络分析方法模型运用到企业环境行为效率评价领域,解决了现有企业评价研究主观性突出的问题,得出建筑企业评价分析方法。在此基础上对某代表性建筑企业2010—2017年环境行为数据进行了评价分析。分析结果表明该企业环境行为总体效率良好,但鉴于出现了奇数年和偶数年的效率波动情况,仍需提高环境行为效率。     

内外融资对企业不同阶段创新投资的异质性效应——基于中国制造业上市公司的数据

根据创新价值链理论，将企业创新活动分为研究阶段（R）与开发阶段（D），探究内外源融资方式对企业不同创新阶段投资的异质性效应，为企业选择创新活动的融资渠道和政府设计精准支持企业创新政策提供参考。基于中国制造业上市公司数据实证研究发现：内源融资对企业研究投资有显著促进效应，对开发投资未产生显著促进作用；债权融资对研究投资和开发投资的作用均不显著；股权融资对研究投资的影响不显著，但对开发投资具有显著影响。内源融资对债权融资与研究投资、债权融资与开发投资的关系不具有调节效应；内源融资对股权融资与研究投资关系具有正向显著调节效应，对股权融资与开发投资的关系具有正向调整作用但不显著。     

COMPARING PPP WITH TRADITIONAL PROCUREMENT: THE CASE OF SCHOOLS PROCUREMENT IN IRELAND

Advocates of public‐private partnerships (PPPs) argue that they can deliver public infrastructure more efficiently than traditional procurement through timelier completion and superior value for money. Despite these claims comparative analysis of the performance of both procurement methods has received scant attention in the PPP literature to date. This paper addresses this issue by providing an in‐depth, case‐based comparison of PPP versus traditional procurement in the schools sector in Ireland. Through detailed semi‐structured interviews with key stakeholders and an examination of the available documentation, we assess whether the key objectives of using PPP have been achieved. Overall, we find no evidence that PPP leads to faster delivery of infrastructure when the overall procurement process from contract notice to delivery is accounted for. In addition, we find only limited evidence to suggest that PPP results in better value for money.     

How perceived empowerment HR practices influence work engagement in social enterprises – a moderated mediation model

Abstract

Drawing insights from the group engagement model and self-determination theory, our research explored the role of perceived empowerment human resource (HR) practices in the hybrid organizational form of social enterprise in China. Based on two studies, this paper developed and examined a moderated mediation model, linking perceived empowerment HR practices, identification motivation, work engagement, and authority work value. Specifically, in Study 1 we found perceived empowerment HR practices increased employees’ work engagement through enhancing employees’ identification motivation. In Study 2, we adopted a two-wave design to duplicate and extend this mediation model. A moderator, employees’ authority work value, was found to weaken both the mediation relationship, and the positive relationship between perceived empowerment HR practices and identification motivation. This study broadens the understanding of what social enterprises look like in alternative contexts, while providing an opportunity to explore how a HRM mechanism and its boundary condition function in large social enterprises in China.     

区域创新方法支撑企业创新活动模式研究——以宁夏为例

在企业创新动力和企业创新机理分析的基础上，从创新方法支撑企业创新活动的角度，重点分析了资金、人才、制度三种创新要素和学习能力、创新管理能力、生产能力和营销能力四种能力如何应用创新方法予以整合和提升。并以宁夏为例，系统阐述区域创新方法支撑企业创新活动的实践路径，提出深化区域创新方法应用推广，支撑企业创新活动的建议，为我国区域创新方法应用推广工作提供参考与借鉴。     

Some issues in blockchain for accounting and the supply chain,with an application of distributed databases to virtual organizations

This paper reviews some recent blockchain‐based applications for information capture, distribution and preservation. As part of that review, this paper examines two key concerns with current blockchain designs for accounting and supply chain transactions: data independence and multiple semantic models for the same information distribution problem. Blockchain applications typically integrate database, application and presentation tiers all in the same ledger. This results in a general inability to query information in the ledger and other concerns. Further, since most applications appear to be private blockchain applications, there is a concern of agents needing to accommodate multiple blockchains depending on who their trading partners are and what they request. Finally, this paper uses a distributed database to design a ‘blockchain‐like’ system for virtual organizations.     

人力资源管理实践对制造企业转型升级的影响——基于泉州企业的实证研究

构建人力资源管理实践行为策略影响制造业转型升级的理论模型，以327家泉州制造企业为研究对象，通过问卷调查和结构方程模型分析,检验人力资源管理实践对制造企业转型升级的作用机制。结果表明，人力资源管理实践行为策略对企业转型升级具有显著的影响，组织创新气氛在两者之间起到部分中介作用。说明制造企业可以通过工作设计与人力资源规划、员工招聘与选择、员工培训与开发、绩效评价及薪酬与激励等策略的调整来促进企业转型升级。     

Performance of impact investing: A value creation approach

The purpose of this article is to present an overview about the origins of value creation in impact investing and propose a measure of value creation. According to this point of view, impact investing, i.e. investing in enterprises with a both social and financial objective can be justified only if those enterprises can provide for a higher performance than with a simple portfolio diversification (separate investment in two types of activity). After an overview about the sources of value creation in impact investees as well as about a discussion on existing methods, we propose a method to measure multidimensional value creation.     

Outward foreign direct investment by Polish state-owned multinational enterprises: is ‘stateness’ an asset or a burden?

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are commonly associated with undue advantages due to preferential treatment by the state. Simultaneously they are often quoted as handicapped given the notorious state interference, management problems and agency tensions. They used to be regarded as a mainly domestic issue but in the context of globalisation and the fact that states enter treaties with new obligations, SOEs’ performance ceased to be solely a domestic problem, increasingly so as state-owned multinational enterprises (SOMNEs) emerge. This article presents the results of research on Polish SOEs’ outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). It offers an overview of overseas activities of nine major Polish firms with a state stake and aims to contribute to the conceptual literature on foreign investments conducted by SOMNEs. We distinguish between FDI by SOMNEs as specific – privileged (facilitated) or discriminated (hampered) – investments subject to the home country’s state power and the host country’s state perception.