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The purpose of the paper is to develop an integrated quality management model, which identifies problems, suggests solutions, develops a framework for implementation and helps evaluate performance of health care services dynamically.

This paper uses logical framework analysis (LFA), a matrix approach to project planning for managing quality. This has been applied to three acute healthcare services (Operating room utilization, Accident and emergency, and Intensive care) in order to demonstrate its effectiveness.

The paper finds that LFA is an effective method of quality management of hospital‐based healthcare services.

This paper shows LFA application in three service processes in one hospital. However, ideally this is required to be tested in several hospitals and other services as well.

In the paper the proposed model can be practised in hospital‐based healthcare services for improving performance.

The paper shows that quality improvement in healthcare services is a complex and multi‐dimensional task. Although various quality management tools are routinely deployed for identifying quality issues in health care delivery and corrective measures are taken for superior performance, there is an absence of an integrated approach, which can identify and analyze issues, provide solutions to resolve those issues, develop a project management framework (planning, monitoring, and evaluating) to implement those solutions in order to improve process performance. This study introduces an integrated and uniform quality management tool. It integrates operations with organizational strategies.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated quality management model that identifies problems, suggests solutions, develops a framework for implementation and helps to evaluate dynamically healthcare service performance.

This study used the logical framework analysis (LFA) to improve the performance of healthcare service processes. LFA has three major steps – problems identification, solution derivation, and formation of a planning matrix for implementation. LFA has been applied in a case‐study environment to three acute healthcare services (Operating Room utilisation, Accident and Emergency, and Intensive Care) in order to demonstrate its effectiveness.

The paper finds that LFA is an effective method of quality management of hospital‐based healthcare services.

This study shows LFA application in three service processes in one hospital. This very limited population sample needs to be extended.

The proposed model can be implemented in hospital‐based healthcare services in order to improve performance. It may also be applied to other services.

Quality improvement in healthcare services is a complex and multi‐dimensional task. Although various quality management tools are routinely deployed for identifying quality issues in healthcare delivery, they are not without flaws. There is an absence of an integrated approach, which can identify and analyse issues, provide solutions to resolve those issues, develop a project management framework to implement those solutions. This study introduces an integrated and uniform quality management tool for healthcare services.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated patient-focused analytical framework to improve quality of care in accident and emergency (A & E) unit of a Maltese hospital.

The study adopts a case study approach. First, a thorough literature review has been undertaken to study the various methods of healthcare quality management. Second, a healthcare quality management framework is developed using combined quality function deployment (QFD) and logical framework approach (LFA). Third, the proposed framework is applied to a Maltese hospital to demonstrate its effectiveness. The proposed framework has six steps, commencing with identifying patients’ requirements and concluding with implementing improvement projects. All the steps have been undertaken with the involvement of the concerned stakeholders in the A & E unit of the hospital.

The major and related problems being faced by the hospital under study were overcrowding at A & E and shortage of beds, respectively. The combined framework ensures better A & E services and patient flow. QFD identifies and analyses the issues and challenges of A & E and LFA helps develop project plans for healthcare quality improvement. The important outcomes of implementing the proposed quality improvement programme are fewer hospital admissions, faster patient flow, expert triage and shorter waiting times at the A & E unit. Increased emergency consultant cover and faster first significant medical encounter were required to start addressing the problems effectively. Overall, the combined QFD and LFA method is effective to address quality of care in A & E unit.

The proposed framework can be easily integrated within any healthcare unit, as well as within entire healthcare systems, due to its flexible and user-friendly approach. It could be part of Six Sigma and other quality initiatives.

Although QFD has been extensively deployed in healthcare setup to improve quality of care, very little has been researched on combining QFD and LFA in order to identify issues, prioritise them, derive improvement measures and implement improvement projects. Additionally, there is no research on QFD application in A & E. This paper bridges these gaps. Moreover, very little has been written on the Maltese health care system. Therefore, this study contributes demonstration of quality of emergency care in Malta.

Arises from a concern with the relationship between providers of management education programmes and their client groups. Addresses two issues: what the author considers to be the core requirements necessary for the design of effective tailor‐made management education programmes; how this approach has been affected by the introduction of the project framework by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA). Outlines the core factors required in providing effective management education and client‐institutions for it to take place. Considers how to create a productive working relationship between the provider and client institutions. Examines the factors which contributed to the ODA adopting the project framework. Suggests that the prime motive was the need for accountability within the civil service, with direct consequences for the manner in which projectization has been implemented. Critically analyses the approach and contrasts it with the approach of Germany′s Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit. Finally, examines the recent ODA “Logical Framework Approach and TeamUP” and suggests that creative use of this initiative could address the concerns mentioned previously.

The purpose of this paper is to present the application of logical framework analysis (LFA) for implementing continuous quality improvement (CQI) across multiple settings in a tertiary care hospital.

This study adopts a multiple case study approach. LFA is implemented within three diverse settings, namely, intensive care unit, surgical ward, and acute in-patient psychiatric ward. First, problem trees are developed in order to determine the root causes of quality issues, specific to the three settings. Second, objective trees are formed suggesting solutions to the quality issues. Third, project plan template using logical framework (LOGFRAME) is created for each setting.

This study shows substantial improvement in quality across the three settings. LFA proved to be effective to analyse quality issues and suggest improvement measures objectively.

This paper applies LFA in specific, albeit, diverse settings in one hospital. For validation purposes, it would be ideal to analyse in other settings within the same hospital, as well as in several hospitals. It also adopts a bottom-up approach when this can be triangulated with other sources of data.

LFA enables top management to obtain an integrated view of performance. It also provides a basis for further quantitative research on quality management through the identification of key performance indicators and facilitates the development of a business case for improvement.

LFA is a novel approach for the implementation of CQI programs. Although LFA has been used extensively for project development to source funds from development banks, its application in quality improvement within healthcare projects is scant.

The purpose of the paper is to develop an integrated framework for performance management of healthcare services.

This study develops a performance management framework for healthcare services using a combined analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and logical framework (LOGFRAME). The framework is then applied to the intensive care units of three different hospitals in developing nations. Numerous focus group discussions were undertaken, involving experts from the specific area under investigation.

The study reveals that a combination of outcome, structure and process‐based critical success factors and a combined AHP and LOGFRAME‐based performance management framework helps manage performance of healthcare services.

The proposed framework could be practiced in hospital‐based healthcare services.

The conventional approaches to healthcare performance management are either outcome‐based or process‐based, which cannot reveal improvement measures appropriately in order to assure superior performance. Additionally, they lack planning, implementing and evaluating improvement projects that are identified from performance measurement. This study presents an integrated approach to performance measurement and implementing framework of improvement projects.

International development practice has had as its dominant paradigm the rational-analytic model of project planning, management and evaluation. This is reflected in the widespread adoption by donor agencies of results-based management (RBM), side by side with conventionally used tools for monitoring and evaluation (including logical framework analysis (“logframe”), logic model and results frameworks). Donor agencies rely upon such tools to generate the evidence base for measuring “success” across the spectrum of their work, even though projects differ enormously in their nature, scope and time-span. Process-led capacity development projects and input-led infrastructural or straightforward service delivery projects require very different yardsticks of performance monitoring and appraisal. Drawing on insights from the complex adaptive systems (CAS) literature, the purpose of this paper is to explore how projects focused on capacity development necessitate a more eclectic approach, including – but not restricted to – RBM methodology.

Using the insights of CAS theory, and with particular reference to projects which have capacity development as their prime focus, this paper explores a broadening of conventional project management practices.

The paper posits an integrative approach to managing international development projects focused on capacity development – one which would recognise the values of instrumental utility and goal-setting associated with the application of the tools of RBM, while situating that within a more open, system focused and holistic approach to projects and their outcomes, placing emphasis on context, adaptability and learning.

The research enquiry presented is discursive rather than empirical, and builds on established theory and constructs of three distinct conceptual fields: first, the RBM approach to project and programme implementation; second, the “complexity” strand of organisational management literature; and third, the capacity development strand of international development discourse.

The paper intersects disciplinary boundaries between project management, organisational studies and international development theory and practice.

This research aims to develop a strategic planning model for developing, monitoring and evaluating digital and sustainable transformation initiatives in organizations. The purpose of this model is to provide a useful tool for managers and practitioners in the field of digital transformation.

This research draws on the soft systems literature and combines the reference models of the balanced scorecard and the logical framework approach to develop the model. The model identifies the key dimensions to be considered in the planning, monitoring and evaluation phases of a digital transformation initiative

This research makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the literature on digital transformation. This study enriches the literature and proposes a model that is useful both in the strategic planning phase and in the ex-post evaluation. The model identifies the key dimensions to be considered in the planning phase of a digital transformation initiative and describes the dimensions to be taken into account when monitoring the development of the initiative and the final evaluation of the impact achieved.

This model is original in its approach, as it draws on the soft systems literature and combines the reference models of the balanced scorecard and the logical framework approach. The model provides a useful tool for managers and practitioners that has normative and prescriptive value. The research makes important contributions to the literature on digital transformation by proposing a model that considers both the theoretical and practical aspects of digital transformation initiatives.

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a case of local freight stakeholder involvement to plan and design eco-efficient city logistics innovations in Como, a small city in Italy. While the importance of a well-functioning urban goods distribution system is widely acknowledged, city authorities have become increasingly aware of the need to minimise the negative impacts associated to the system. There are now countless examples of attempts to increase the eco-efficiency of urban freight deliveries; however, very few have made a notable impact. The success of such schemes often depends upon the response of a range of private sector freight stakeholders and their involvement during the planning process of these solutions is crucial.

To engage local freight stakeholders within the planning process of a city logistics project, the logical framework approach, in the form of the design and monitoring framework (DMF) developed by the Asian Development Bank, has been applied.

The structured consultation process implied within the DMF approach allowed urban freight stakeholders to share their aspirations from the beginning of the city freight planning process, despite their differences in priorities in adopting eco-efficient logistics innovations. The process ensured that city stakeholders accepted and committed to the city logistics strategies formulated during the consultation process, namely: changes to the Limited Traffic Zone regulation, the use of an urban consolidation centre and hybrid electric truck adoption.

The evaluation of the DMF application will be definitive after the demonstration/implementation stage of the city logistics project. It will then become clear if freight stakeholders have committed to the project and if it is effective in delivering the expected outputs and outcomes.

Local city authorities may find this method useful in situations where a structured consultation process is needed for addressing urban freight issues. This is especially the case in the context of introducing innovative, eco-efficiency solutions.

The application of DMF in the developed environment can be considered novel; this paper extends this with an application to the promotion of sustainable urban freight.

A series of “learning lab” projects on disaster risk management for sustainable development (DRM-SD) have been accomplished from 2014 to 2016 in Malaysia, Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia by the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies. The project is designed for professionals from the disaster risk management field to encourage integration of sustainable development (SD) concerns into the larger planning framework for DRM. As a case study for capacity building (CB) evaluation, the central purpose of this study is to explore the approaches, feedbacks and implications of the DRM-SD CB project that have been developed and carried out.

Three methods have been used which are participation observations, surveys and document analysis. The results show that the project had successfully applied seven different tools to enhance analytical skills and professional knowledge of development practitioners in specific areas of DRM-SD.

Based on the survey, the project received positive response and valuable information from participants for future project development. Regarding the perspective of outcomes, the result indicates that south–south, ASEAN regional and triangular cooperation and role of higher education in DRM-SD are significant impacts from this project which can bring several benefits and should be promoted as an approach for the DRM-CB project as a whole.

It is hoped that this study will serve as a transfer learning initiative to provide approach guidelines and innovative mechanisms for DRM practitioners who will have the know-how and potential for leadership in DRM-SD.