Technical and organisational aspects in enterprise resource planning systems implementation: lessons from a Spanish public hospital

Public resources should always be managed efficiently, more so in times of crisis. Due to the specific characteristics of the healthcare sector, there is a need for special attention, especially in regards to hospitals. Administrators need useful tools to be able to efficiently manage available resources, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Therefore, an analysis of the effects of their implementation and use in hospitals is valuable. This study has two purposes. One is to analyse the role ERP systems play in aiding the integration of hospital data, with focus on user satisfaction as well as possible resistance to change. The other purpose is to analyse the effects of implanting and using ERP systems in the hospital environment and identifying how certain variables influence the process, especially the existence of different organisational cultures. Results indicate that clinical information has become notably more integrated, despite the lack of flow in the economic–financial area. The heterogeneous nature of the different groups, clinical (Medical, Nursing) and non-clinical (Economic–Financial, Accounting), had a negative influence on the implementation process, and limited the integration of information as well as the system's performance.     

Multi-period layout planning for hospital wards

Layout planning for hospitals is a long-term decision. Nevertheless, medical and organizational factors change over time. For example, demand for different-sized bed rooms varies based on medical requirements and patient preferences. In this paper, we consider the planning of ward layouts over multiple periods using different approaches. The fixed ward layout models aim at minimizing either the number of demand violations or costs for installing fixed patient rooms. In contrast, the variable ward layout model allows for layout adaptations to satisfy demand. Thus, additional costs for the movement of walls have to be considered. The application of the different approaches as a decision support tool for hospital planners is explained. Hence, it can be derived in which settings the costs for adapting a layout do not exceed the benefits of such a change. Computational experiments demonstrate the applicability of the models for realistic instances.     

Designing production planning and control systems

This paper presents a contingency model designed to explain aggregate differences in the specifications for production planning and control systems across firms. The specifications for a firm's system, stated broadly in terms of the investment in information processing systems and organizational integrativeness, are related to that firm's competitive strategy and environment. An analysis of data from a limited sample of companies, and a panel of managers, provides insights into the applicability of the concepts used in the model, and its potential usefulness.     

A planning model for regional systems of CT scanners.

For the last couple of years the number of CT scanners has increased considerably in the Federal Republic of Germany. This development has led to regional disparities in the provision of CT scanner installations. For the purpose of evaluating additional locations for CT scanners a planning model is proposed. The model contains two planning options: the number of CT scanners and the regional distribution of scanner locations. It allows one to calculate overall operation costs and transportation costs, as well as additional criteria relevant to decisions about regional systems of CT scanners. The model has been applied to the northeast of Baden-Württemberg. One of the interesting findings is that an increase in the number of CT scanners may result in lower total costs for a regional system of CT scanners.     

Use of systems analysis and management systems in project planning and evaluation

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate possible relationships which can exist between the techniques of systems analysis and management information systems as they might be employed in the planning of an educational project and management control of the project during the operational phase.

Systems analysis employs a principle of disassembly to determine the unit elements which make up the total system. Using this principle, the essential elements of a project can be delineated which lead to the accomplishment of the project objective. The result of this step is essentially the same as the first step in the application of management systems which is that of project definition. Within the PERT technique, this step is normally identified as the work breakdown structure. Based upon the project definition phase, the network is then constructed which is basically a synthesis of the elements identified through the principle of disassembly but where the elements are now sequenced with their necessary interrelationships and dependencies and placed within a time frame for management control.     

Issues in management information systems planning

lt has been advocated that management information Systems (MIS) planning is an important activity which an organization must perform in order to achieve organizational goals. In this paper, based on a field study of 131 large organizations, several issues related to MIS planning have been examined. These issues include: the impact of current MIS services on the overall competitive position of an organization; the impact of future MIS capabilities on the long-term competitive viability of the organization; the factors which prompted organizations to develop an MIS plan; the formal business planning processes used for the MIS function; the areas covered in the MIS plan; the main driving force in undertaking the development of a long-term MIS plan; and, the usefulness of the MIS plan in directing the organizational MIS activites.It has been shown that organizations vary significantly on each of these major MIS planning issues.     

The “systems view” and planning theory

This paper evaluates the British “systems view” of planning in terms of its success in providing a basis for planning theory. It is argued that it falls short of fulfilling all the criteria of a satisfactory base for planning theory, i.e. it does not provide a rationale for physical planning. Instead of making full use of the potential for criticising their practise inherent to its concept, the systems view merely rationalises what physical planners do anyway. In an attempt to investigate what the rationale of physical planning might be, the author then suggests one should conceive physical development plans as resource budgets which act mainly as constraints on, rather than as guides for, action.     

基于动态和空间分布的城市能源规划方法

本文提出一种新的城市能源规划方法,它是在能源负荷需求的时间动态和空间分布特性分析的基础上对城市热力、燃气和电力等能源基础设施系统进行的综合规划,以城市能源系统的模拟计算和情景分析作为手段,并对城市能源系统进行综合评价。同时,本文分析了该城市能源规划方法的内涵及其规划流程。     

简易快速的物流中心规划方法

本文提供了一种简易快速的物流中心规划方法.应用该方法,企业不需要太多专业知识,在短时间内即可完成物流中心的初步规划方案.     

The new role of material managers in hospital strategic planning

The future direction and challenges of hospital strategic planning require the knowledge and skills of material managers. The approach taken in participating in hospital planning efforts is not as important as the level of involvement. Understanding the strategic planning process at the hospital and knowing what information is critical to that process will improve the ability of the material manager to become an active participant and a valuable contributor to the strategic planning process. Cost management will continue to be the overriding concern of the health care industry in the 1990s. Hospitals will reorganize to control cost and improve productivity, while striving to maintain the quality of care. Material managers must align their departments with hospital strategic goals and assert their new roles in achieving those goals.     

Morphological analysis for health care systems planning

Health care planners are continually challenged by the difficulty of ordering and understanding of the complexities of health care delivery systems. Methods are needed which can aid in extending thought processes into multi-dimensional solution space and rationalizing the thinking of various health care interests. This paper describes a useful approach to designing and evaluating health care systems utilizing a case study of a large metropolitan community.     

A systems approach to integrate manpower planning and operation

Manpower planning frequently involves aggregated planning. This paper addresses the importance of linking manpower planning with operational process. We developed a systems approach to integrate the gross level of manpower planning and the detailed level of policy execution. This integrated system could improve the effectiveness of policy making.     

The contribution of the systems approach to planning

This paper attempts a three-part review and critique of the state of the application of systems theory to planning. The first part is a critique of McLoughlin's thesis expounded in his book Urban and Regional Planning. The critique emphasises the mechanistic bias and passivity assumed in McLoughlin's exposition and suggests directions in which the systems approach may be widened and strengthened to include in particular the political process and to include dynamic profiles of variables in the systems being analysed.The second part considers how far Chadwick in his book A Systems View of Planning has developed the approach, and comes to the conclusion that while the dynamics of the model are more rigorously treated the philosophical and social science assumptions, though hinted at, are not pursued to significantly greater lengths than by McLoughlin.The third part argues that while it is necessary to pursue the assumptions of the model, it is still permissible to continue model-building before the assumptions are finally tested and agreed as accurate, so long as accurate prediction on the basis of hypothetical assumptions is not taken in itself to constitute the proof of the accuracy of the assumptions.     

A systems approach to the management of a hospital for short-term patients.

The endemic problems of health system management are reviewed, as is the difficulty of taking a systems viewpoint. It is argued, and demonstrated, that, by using some very simple ideas of system structure it is remarkably easy to draw up a diagram of system influences. Such a diagram is drawn for the case of psychiatric patients who recycle in the system. The diagram is analyzed from the point of view of its properties as a feedback control system, and it is shown that there are alternative, and probably more satisfactory, management practices. Suggestions are made for the practical implementation of such policies. Finally it is argued that influence diagrams may be useful as agenda for discussions, and that they offer advantages over conventional agenda.     

On the application of systems engineering methodology to emergency communication system program planning.

This paper reports on the application of systems engineering methodology to program planning for emergency communication system implementation. The specific geographical area for this study was the Charlottesville/Albemarle County area of central Virginia in which, unlike many areas in the country, there is no legal mandate to construct an emergency communication system. Thus the study, which appears generally applicable, concerns itself not with a detailed engineering design resulting from a technological fix and legal mandate, but rather, with an attempt to provide local emergency service delivery agencies and decision makers with the results of a substantive planning effort. The program planning model will hopefully enable community officials to formulate emergency communication projects for community betterment based upon institutional and value considerations as well as technological feasibility. Six alternative system configurations were formulated, analyzed, contrasted and compared. For each of these six alternatives, personnel requirements, telephone equipment and major capital cost elements were determined. For the recommended alternative, alternate methods of management, financing, and implementation are suggested.     

浅谈配电自动化规划与应用

配电自动化技术的应用,提高了配电网可靠性水平。文章对配网自动化规划思路,包括网架、系统、通信的建设等关键技术进行了详细分析,并研究了配电自动化应用策略,旨在完善配电自动化规划思路,提高电网供电可靠性。