Capitation: developing partnerships for health care

As medical-surgical supply distributors begin to establish partnerships with hospitals, thus sharing financial risk, materiel executives must understand all potential contractual ramifications. This article will discuss the types and features of supply capitated contracts and the subsequent need to correctly assess new categories of contractual risk.     

Steady progress with Hazard and Operability Studies

The use of Hazard and Operability Studies is slowly spreading in the production areas of the chemical industry. Not only are applications more widespread within the originating company (ICI), but other companies both in the UK and in continental Europe, are starting to use this approach. The value of the technique in detecting operability problems as well as hazards is starting to be appreciated. Applications in the R&D area are also developing along similar lines although well behind the production area and possibly still confined to ICI. Various forms of training are becoming available and increasing interest is being shown by the regulatory authorities concerned with planning permission for chemical plants.     

From resource munificence to ecosystem integration: the case of government sponsorship in St. Louis

Government sponsorship of entrepreneurship has become a popular policy tool in the last 15 years. Despite this popularity, past academic studies have largely focused on firm-level survival rates and treated the effects of government sponsorship in isolation, which fails to capture the full effect of the sponsorship. That is, the objectives of the public sector include enhancing the macro-level entrepreneurial environment of the region as well as the success of individual firms. We expand research in this area through a case study in St. Louis, Missouri. We focus on the Arch Grants, a public–private coalition that provides $50,000 to 20 winners through their annual competition. Based on interviews of 46 recipient firms and 15 support organizations, we first demonstrate how government sponsorship can create a cohort of entrepreneurs who are able to learn from each other about business strategy, local mentors and other resources. Second, we uncover the process through which sponsorship can facilitate coordination among local entrepreneurship support organizations. Thus, we conclude that the evaluation of government sponsorship should go beyond the traditional firm-level performance measurement and consider the integration and enhancement of the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.     

建构“港深都会”

推进香港和深圳的整合,建构"港深都会"既具备必要性,又具备了可行性。目前的"港深都会"属于区域性国际都会,有条件成为世界级的国际大都会。需要加强基础设施对接,实现机场铁路接驳,开放河套地区和开发香港边境禁区,编制《建构"港深都会"目标蓝图》,联合发展总部经济,深化金融合作,落实"深港创新圈"合作,激活"港深人才培养计划",共同解决环保问题。     

Dealing with the process safety “management gap”

The Process Industry has Corporate Safety Policies, codes of practice, skilled engineers and safety specialists and powerful techniques for Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control. Despite the above and a strong commitment to safety, accidents still occur. Many accidents appear to be due to “gaps” in the management systems rather than to failures of professional skills or to a lack of commitment. This paper will review the many stages in designing, constructing and operating a facility between the initial appraisal of a potential project and the final taking out of service of a facility. The “primary” and “secondary” safety checks will be described. The paper will give examples of gaps in management systems which have led to problems. Finally the paper will suggest ways in which these gaps can be minimized.