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This chapter investigates whether signing more hospital contracts with Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), hospital affiliation in a system, having more system hospital members located in the same area, and increased competition from area hospitals, contributes to improvements in the cost efficiency of U.S. Midwestern hospitals. Hospitals may offer HMOs and PPOs discounts on contracts to provide health care services to firm employees enrolled in HMOs and PPOs (discounts would lead to smaller price mark-ups over costs for hospital services). Enacting policies to enhance cost efficiency may help hospitals maintain a specified level of profits.

This study aims at evaluating the technical efficiency (TE) of healthcare systems in the Arab region and exploring the key factors that affect the efficiency performance.

The study applies a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to a sample of 20 Arab countries. In the first stage, a DEA model is used to calculate the TE scores of the examined healthcare systems in 2019 and 2010, following both the output and input orientations of efficiency. In the second stage, a censored Tobit model is estimated to investigate the determinants of healthcare efficiency.

DEA results of 2019 indicate that achievable efficiency gains of the Arab countries range from 0.4% to 16% under the output and input orientations, respectively. Six countries are efficient under both orientations. Although the average efficiency scores of the Arab countries have deteriorated between 2010 and 2019, Djibouti and Sudan had the greatest efficiency improvements between the two years. Bahrain, Mauritania, Morocco and Qatar proved to be efficient in 2010 and 2019 under the two orientations of efficiency and according to the two DEA specifications followed. The Tobit model reveals that corruption and government health expenditure tend to have an adverse impact on healthcare efficiency.

The author evaluates healthcare efficiency and healthcare's efficiency determinants in the Arab countries. Regardless Arab countries' diversity, these countries are facing common health challenges, including diminishing role of governments in healthcare financing; increased out-of-pocket healthcare spending; poor healthcare outputs and prevalence of health inequities resulting from weak governance institutions. Comparing the efficiency of healthcare systems between 2010 and 2019 gives insights on the potential impact of the Arab spring uprisings on healthcare efficiency. Moreover, examining the determinants of healthcare efficiency allows for better understanding of how to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems in the region.

In the era of common digitalization and far reaching progress in the field of cybernetics, it is necessary to use the knowledge and experience in military cybernetics applications. In the field of machines, control fuzzy expert inference systems open new horizons and possibilities. Generally, the main affect of human efforts in the case of artificial intelligence is to create a machine with a set of behaviors and attitudes that would allow it to work independently, with ability to adjust to changing environmental conditions and an advisory role in the decision-making process. It should be noted that this technology used in some cases has already produced successful results. This paper aims to describe how the fuzzy expert inference membership function shapes influence analysis on selected air tasks efficiency evaluation results. Presented results prove that proper fuzzy membership functions shape selection has fundamental influence on aircraft system level of efficiency evaluation (its calculation accuracy). Using this technology in military aviation air tasks efficiency evaluation aspects is pioneer.

In the era of common digitalization and far reaching progress in the field of cybernetics, it is necessary to use the knowledge and experience in the domain of cybernetics in military applications. Artificial intelligence that so much influences on the imagination of scholars actually opens new horizons when it comes to control the machines. Relatively recently, it is introduced for military applications such departments of artificial intelligence as fuzzy logic, expert systems and fuzzy control theory.

In this paper, fuzzy expert inference membership function shapes influence analysis on selected air tasks efficiency evaluation results are described. Presented results prove that proper fuzzy membership functions shape selection has fundamental influence on aircraft system level of efficiency evaluation (its calculation accuracy).

The issue solved in the paper is based on application of theoretical results in practice. The paper can be estimated to bridge the gap between theory and practice in specific field.

Using this technology in military aviation air tasks efficiency evaluation aspects is pioneer.

As a major agricultural province in central China, Hubei Province mainly carries out the peasant household credit investigation system through rural credit cooperatives (RCCs). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of the peasant household credit investigation system in Hubei RCCs and provide some evidence and ideas to the formulation of relevant policies.

First, this paper briefly reviews the related literature of the efficiency in credit investigation system; second, the paper gives a brief description of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and designs the indicators for efficiency evaluation; third, the paper accounts data sources and processing methods; and finally, the paper performs the empirical analysis and draws a conclusion.

The paper finds that the efficiency of the resource allocation in both regions is unoptimistic, the general efficiency is somewhat low, and it shows the trend of declination. The efficiency of pure technology in two regions represents the adverse trend. Every year's average scale efficiency in both regions is higher than the pure technology efficiency.

The main contributions of this paper include the first use of DEA model to practically evaluate the efficiency of credit investigation system based on 54 samples of RCCs in Hubei Province and the horizontal and vertical comparisons of the results. The conclusions of this paper not only make the efficiency of credit investigation system in the province's 54 credit cooperatives comparable but also has a great application value to the actual decision‐making departments in formulating credit policies, and each credit cooperative in further building the credit investigation system according to its own conditions. Moreover, it has certain reference value to other similar studies.

Business intelligence (BI) systems (i.e. technology and procedures that transform raw data into useful information for managers to enable them to make better and faster decisions) have enormous potential to improve organisational efficiency. However, given the high expenditure involved in the deployment of these systems, the factors that will enable their successful integration should be thoroughly considered and assessed before these systems are adopted. Absorptive capacity (ACAP) is the ability of organisations to gather, absorb and strategically influence new external information, and as such, there is a strong theoretical connection between ACAP and BI systems. This research aims to empirically investigate the relationship between the dimensions underpinning ACAP (i.e. acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation) and whether and how they affect the efficiency of BI systems, which, in turn, can enhance organisational efficiency.

This study formulates five hypotheses addressing the effect of ACAP dimensions on BI systems efficiency and the effect of BI systems efficiency on organisational efficiency. It synthesises previous qualitative work and current research to derive sets of measures for each of the key constructs of the study. It follows a quantitative methodology, which involves the collection of survey data from senior managers in the telecommunications industry and the analysis of the data using partial least squares – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

The results of the analysis confirmed the validity of the constructs and proposed measures and supported all five hypotheses suggesting a strong positive relationship between the ACAP dimensions, acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation and the efficiency of BI systems and a strong effect of BI systems efficiency on organisational efficiency.

The study offers a comprehensive model of ACAP and BI systems efficiency. The set of measures that underpin these constructs could help researchers understand how ACAP dimensions are practically implemented and could contribute to their efforts to develop ACAP measurement instruments. At the same time, the model can help managers assess the readiness of their firms to adopt BI systems and identify which areas should be further developed, before committing to the substantial financial investment associated with BI systems. It also provides a set of practical solutions that could be implemented to enable a more robust ACAP and support a better integration of BI systems.

Following an empirical approach, this study refines one’s theoretical and practical understanding of ACAP as an organisational dynamic capability and its dimensions; it provides an account on how each dimension affects different aspects of BI systems efficiency, which, in turn, may contribute to the improvement of organisational efficiency. Moreover, the study reframes ACAP measures as a set of requirements that can be practically assessed and followed before attempting to purchase BI systems.

The purpose of this paper is to present and evaluate the performance of innovation systems by considering two indicators of efficiency and effectiveness. The scope of the evaluation is globally and due to the situation of each country, the suggested strategies are proposed to maintain the status quo or move toward the desired situation for countries.

The approach is to compare and benchmark the countries in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of their innovation system. The Global Innovation Index report’s input-to-output ratio and the global competitiveness report are used for the assessment.

The findings indicate that countries such as China, Switzerland and the USA have an efficient and effective innovation system. However, the innovation systems in countries such as Brazil and Zimbabwe are not only inefficient but also ineffective. The findings also indicate that the innovation systems of countries such as Iran, Armenia and Egypt are efficient but ineffective. Finally, the authors can name Australia, Qatar and Russia as countries with effective but inefficient innovation systems.

Assessment of national innovation system using efficiency and effectiveness performances is done for the first time at the global stage.

European justice systems are facing a dramatic performance crisis due to the frequent inability to resolve cases without incurring unreasonable delays and backlogs. In this framework, the Italian Judicial system places itself well below the European countries average, in terms of speed of resolution of administrative, civil and criminal trials. The purpose of the paper was to (1) identify factors affecting Italian judicial system efficiency and (2) identify potential actions to manage them, improving judicial system efficiency.

In order to achieve the aims of this paper, a systematic review to map all critical factors discussed in previous studies was performed. Studies were extracted from Google Scholar, Web of Science and SSRN databases. In total, 22 studies were included.

The identified factors of inefficiency of the Italian judicial system have been divided into three macro-classes depending on whether they concern human resource management, the judicial process or whether they pertain to internal or external outside the judicial organization. For each of these, possible strategies have been developed in a new conceptual framework.

The framework seeks to assist policymakers in forming policy measures that can significantly increase court effectiveness. This is the first attempt to review and map all factors affecting judicial system efficiency systematically, providing a new conceptual framework to manage them.

The wireless power transmission (WPT) system with an embedded coil will achieve a more flexible charging operation and higher system efficiency. However, the comprehensive analysis considering cross-coupling for WPT with embedded coil is rarely investigated. This study aims to improve the system efficiency of WPT with the embedded coil based on circuit analysis and optimization of embedded coil loops.

The circuit model of WPT system with the non-resonant compensated embedded coil is developed by taking the cross-coupling of all coils and the circuit compensation degree of the embedded coil into consideration. On the basis of system characteristics analysis, optimization of embedded coil position and non-resonant compensation are proposed to improve the efficiency of WPT system with embedded coil. Experimental studies demonstrate the correctness of theoretical research.

The WPT system with embedded coil designed by optimizing the position and non-resonant compensation achieves higher efficiency than those of the system with two-coil mode and the three-coil system with a resonant compensated embedded coil.

A WPT system with embedded coil could be more efficient by using a non-resonant compensated coil embedded into the buffer material of the storage box for sophisticated electrical equipment.

The cross-coupling between all coils is considered in circuit analysis for WPT system with embedded coil. Optimization of the position and non-resonant compensation of embedded coil achieves higher efficiency.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy, economic and environmental performance of commercial water heating systems in Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR), China.

The research team contacted 50 facilities managers in Hong Kong, and 16 of them agreed to participate in this territorial-wide survey. The overall efficiency of different water heating systems was determined through measurements of inlet water temperatures, outlet steam/water properties, the amount of steam/water produced and the amount of energy consumed. The cost effectiveness and the amount of greenhouse gases produced per megajoule (MJ) output were also determined.

Results show that electric water heating systems had the highest mean overall efficiency, followed by gas- and oil-fired systems. However, the difference between the mean overall efficiency of the three types of water heating systems was not statistically significant, as the systems had been inspected and maintained regularly. Oil-fired systems were found to be the most cost-effective when taking fuel prices into consideration. Environmental analysis showed that gas-fired systems produced the least amount of greenhouse gases per MJ output.

Water heating is one of the major uses of energy in buildings. Hence, the efficiency of a water heating system can have a significant effect on the overall performance of a building. This paper not only provides insight on the energy performance but it also evaluates the economic and environmental performance of water heating systems.

The issue of energy efficiency is becoming increasingly prevalent globally due to factors such as the expansion of the population, economic growth and excessive consumption that is not sustainable in the long run. Additionally, healthcare facilities and hospitals are facing challenges as their operational costs continue to rise. The research aim is to develop strategic frameworks for managing green hospitals, towards energy efficiency and corporate governance in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

This research employs a qualitative case study approach, with a sample of ten hospitals examined through interviews with senior management, executives and healthcare facilities managers. Relevant data was also collected from literature and analysed through critical appraisal and content analysis. The research methodology is based on the use of grounded theory research methodologies to build theories from case studies.

The research developed three integrated conceptual strategic frameworks for managing hospitals and healthcare facilities towards energy efficiency, green hospital initiatives and corporate governance. The research also outlined the concepts of green hospitals and energy efficiency management systems and best practices based on the conclusions drawn from the investigated case studies.

The study is limited to the initiatives and experiences of the healthcare facilities studied in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The research findings, conclusions, recommendations and proposed frameworks and concepts contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge. This research also provides recommendations for hospital managers and policymakers on how to effectively implement and manage energy efficiency initiatives in healthcare facilities.