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The paper attempts to analyze the network structure of value activity in manufacturing clusters, propose the model of value creation of cluster's value activity network, and explore the inner mechanism and optimization strategies of value creation in manufacturing clusters from the perspective of cluster's value activity network.

This paper applies a genetic algorithm to optimally search in the target space, and repeatedly exerts genetic operation (select, cross, variation) on the population to explore the optimal configuration strategy between value creation activity and resource utilization. It also analyzes the relation between object function of value creation and relative parameters.

The total value created by value activity network was impacted by the degree of effective configuration between all kinds of resources and value activities; the total value created by value activity network is positively related to activity units' elasticity coefficient of value creation of human resource, material resources and relations resource, and is negatively correlated to cost coefficient of human resource, material resources and relations resource; when the cooperative relations between activity units create positive relationship profit, the total value created by value activity network increases with the increase of cooperative relations between activity units.

Enterprises in clusters should reasonably configure and incorporate the resource among value activities through adding, deleting or reconfiguring activities, which makes the value activities network create maximum value; enterprises can transform the type of activity units to increase elasticity coefficient of value creation of human resources, such as transforming production activities into the high value‐added activities; enterprises can optimally incorporate the technical, material resources and human resources among activities to increase value creation elastic coefficient of material resources; enterprises can decrease cost coefficient by maintaining the stability of long‐term cooperation with the suppliers and strengthening the cultivation of talents; enterprises can increase profits from relation resource or reduce cost coefficient of relationship by updating activities, building trust mechanism and communication mechanisms and establishing long‐term cooperation relationship to improve value creation activities.

This paper proposes the model of value creation from the perspective of cluster's value activity network, and applies a genetic algorithm to explore the optimal configuration strategies between value creation activity and resource utilization.

This paper aims to propose an approach by human and material resources combination to reduce hospitals crowding. Hospitals crowding is becoming a serious problem. Many research works present several methods and approaches to deal with this problem. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge – after a deep reading of literature – in all the proposed approaches, human and material resources are studied separately while they must be combined (to a given number of material resources an optimal number of human resources must be assigned and vice versa) to reflect reality and provide better results.

Hospital inpatient unit is chosen as framework. This unit crowding reduction is carried out by its capacity increasing. Indeed, inpatient unit modeling is performed to find the adequate combinations of human and material resources numbers insuring this unit stability and providing optimal service rates. At first, inpatient unit is modeled using queuing networks and considering only two resources (beds and nurses). Then, the obtained service rate formula is improved by including other resources and parameters using Baskett, Chandy, Muntz and Palecios (BCMP) queuing networks. This work is applied to “Princess Lalla Meryem” hospital inpatient unit.

Results are patients’ average number reduction by an average (in each block) of three patients, patients’ average waiting time reduction by an average of 9.98 h and non-admitted patients (to inpatient wards) access percentage of 39.26 per cent on average.

Previous works focus their studies on either human resources or material resources. Only a few works study both resources types, but separately. The context of those studies does not meet the real hospital context (where human resources are combined with material resources). Therefore, the provided results are not very reliable. In this paper, an approach by human and material resources combination is proposed to increase inpatient unit care capacity. Indeed, this approach consists of developing inpatient unit service rate formula in terms of human and material resources numbers.

This paper aims to reveal the impact of five industry forces (IFs) on implementing input‐based competitive strategies (CSs) and to determine relationship of these CSs on cement plants' environmental performances (EPs).

Data were collected from cement manufacturers in Turkey. This study employed structural equation methodology to examine relationships between IFs, CSs, and EP.

Cement plants with the advantage of low buyer bargaining power, low threat of new entrants, and few rivalries exhibit strong energy and raw material strategies. Also, an advantage of low supplier bargaining power and low threat of substitutes causes competitive raw material strategy. Finally, competitive energy and raw material strategies enhance EP, while competitive human resource strategy has no influence on it.

The model should be tested on other organizations in supply chain. Future researches can also investigate the difference of findings to other industries and in other countries and examine reasons behind hypothesized relationships. Moreover, additional factors may be incorporated into the model. However, a larger participation could provide a different perspective of issues in consideration.

This paper can serve as a valuable framework for top managers to draw the direction of their companies in terms of IFs, CSs, and EP. In this context, practitioners should focus on production inputs to withstand external environment and to experience better EP practices.

A better EP can both enhance sustainability of the overall environment and affect society positively. For such benefits, sustainability of EP should be a subsequent step to be taken to possess long‐lasting societal advantages.

This study is first to propose a model that integrates competitive IFs and input‐based approaches to measure cement plants' EPs. These are relevant issues for competitiveness of cement manufacturers willing to increase their EPs.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

The purpose of this research is to examine how service enablers such as resource management and human resource management practices, identified in prior research as vital, influence both conformance quality and productivity performance. The paper also aims to study how the level of customer contact, a major service differentiator, could moderate the influence of such practices on performance.

Using sample data from 249 service firms in China, hierarchical a regression analyses is employed to test the research questions.

The results indicate that there are common resource management and human resource management practices that positively affect both conformance quality and productivity. Importantly, besides its direct and positive effect on conformance quality and on productivity performance, the level of customer contact was found to have a contingency effect on the relationships between resource management or human resource management practices, and conformance quality or productivity performance.

Future research should consider including other developing countries, more service industries, and a longitudinal study if possible.

Implications of the findings on theory in services and managerial practice in the context of China are offered.

The theoretical value of the research lies in identifying the factors that simultaneously affect both conformance quality and productivity (which are often seen as competing goals) in service sectors, and their dependency on the level of customer contact.

This paper reports on a case study of an internationalized‐industry Engineering Process Plant Contracting (EPPC). The study examines how a leading engineering contracting project management firm has responded to heightened competitive pressures through a process or organizational change. A key aspect of this focused on the contribution of the corporate human resource function to “bottom line” performance. “Exbeck” made its corporate function a full business partner in project management. The paper suggests two conclusions. First, the human resource function can become a full business partner without losing integrity to line managers. Second, examining competitive conditions faced by a particular firm can reveal how unresearched competitive practices may inform and challenge well rehearsed academic positions. Moreover, in particular sectors practitioner perceptions on “best practice” and competitiveness may be ahead of those presented by the academic community.

Preservation is an essential component of library management that requires special skills and competencies. This critical area seems to have been neglected by management of university libraries in Nigeria. This paper aims to examine threats to library information resources and contributions of skills of library personnel to preservation management in university libraries.

Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. This facilitated the collection of data from large population of respondents. Questionnaire and focus group discussion were used as data collection instruments.

Preservation management is one of the core areas of library practice that requires special skills. The study revealed that university libraries in Nigeria are confronted with threats to their information resources. The study found that human, conceptual and technical skills of library personnel significantly determine preservation management in university libraries in Southern Nigeria.

The paper will allow the management of university libraries to appreciate the importance of personnel skills as the key factor for effective preservation management in libraries and accord it the necessary priority.

While literature is replete with different aspects of preservation management in university libraries in Africa, little has been written on personnel skills and preservation management in libraries. The paper presents one of the few empirical studies that focus on the relationship between personnel skills and preservation management in university libraries in Nigeria and Africa.

To achieve the strategic objectives necessary for an organization to face the future with confidence, human resource planning has been implemented in the library system of the Pontificial Catholic University of Chile (SIBUC). Analyses the environment and its impact on SIBUC using an organizational model, which also permits strategic objectives to be established and personnel to be analysed in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Based on this approach, specifies human resource objectives, and assures optimal achievement with well‐defined individual strategies that also include plans for action and control measures. Finally, and as a result of the whole methodology, creates a matrix to structure an organizational design of the direction of human resources in the library system.

I. Introduction For over forty years, a model for Third World development has gained widespread acceptance. Three key premises underpin the traditional development model: (1) the identification of “development” with the maximization of the rate of national economic growth; (2) the quest to achieve Western living standards and levels of industrialization which require the transfer of labor from the agricultural to the industrial sector as well as increased consumerism; and (3) the integration into the interdependence of Third World nations in the global economy and the global marketplace. Increasing the demand for a Third World nation's exports (in other words, export‐led growth) is viewed as leading to the maximization of a nation's Gross National Product (GNP).

The principle of distributing the incomes according to the production elements implies that the value of employees’ human resources should be considered in the distribution. The incomes should be distributed according to employees’ abilities and performances in the course of generating wealth (including realized or unrealized portion). The employees have the rights and interests of participating in the course of distribution, and share the losses which can achieve the goal of combining the rights, responsibilities and interests.