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Introduction The topic of healthcare human resource planning for diagnostic radiographers has received limited research attention to date. This research is concerned with developing a framework that can be used to determine diagnostic radiographer staffing requirements at a unit- or department level (i.e. at the micro-level). Methods An inductive approach is applied to formulate requirement specifications that inform the development of the framework. A number of verification and validation activities are performed, including theoretical verification and a case study application. Results The diagnostic radiographer staffing framework consists of seven steps that comprise a workload-based approach to determining the number of full time equivalent diagnostic radiographers that are required for each modality, or group of modalities. Both clinical and non-clinical activities are considered, and guidance is provided on calculating staffing requirements to cover leave allowances. A number of potential approaches to determining activity times are also discussed. Conclusion The framework represents a holistic approach to determining the required number of diagnostic radiographers at a practice-level, that is designed to remain relevant as technological advances are made in the field of diagnostic radiography. Implications for practice By providing a practical guideline, with accompanying examples, the framework is expected to hold value for individuals involved in the management of diagnostic radiography practices. The framework proposes an approach to a topic that affects every radiography practice in operation yet has received limited attention in literature to date.

This study investigates the effect of a participative management practice, ‘mini-business activities’ (MBAs), on three outcome variables: team effectiveness, team innovation, and job satisfaction. An empirical approach is employed, with survey data gathered from 340 individuals working in 50 teams in South African manufacturing organisations. The results indicate that MBAs have a significant and positive effect on team effectiveness and team innovation in a similar way to that of quality circles. However, MBAs are found to have no direct or indirect effect, through employee engagement, on job satisfaction. The findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the impact of participative management practices in different contexts, and indicate that future research considering the impact of high unemployment levels on the relationship between participative management practices and job satisfaction would be valuable.

Purpose Limited research where team creativity (TC) is positioned as an independent variable constitutes a weak point in the body of knowledge. This paper aims to offer three contributions to address this research gap: empirical research that has been conducted on the outcomes of TC is summarized; a person–environment fit perspective is applied to develop a conceptual model for TC; and directions for future empirical research are proposed. Design/methodology/approach A literature review is conducted to identify empirical research on the outcomes of TC. This is summarized into an extension of an existing framework that organizes empirical research on the antecedents of TC. Furthermore, the fit model for TC is developed, based on a person–environment fit perspective. Findings Research on the outcomes of TC has focused on three themes: performance; affective state; and processes. Gaps in this body of knowledge include limited knowledge on performance outcomes and a lack of research on potential negative outcomes. Recommendations for future research include: potential moderators of the relationship between TC and two outcome, innovation and team performance, are proposed; strain and unethical decision-making are proposed as potential negative outcomes of TC; and it is proposed that incorporating a temporal dimension would improve the understanding of the cyclical manner in which certain variables and TC may interact over time. Originality/value The organizing framework extension summarizes existing knowledge on the outcomes of TC, and together with the fit model for TC, this offers a basis for identifying research gaps and directions for future research. Specific directions for future empirical research are proposed.

The under-performance of supply chains presents a significant hindrance to disease control in developing countries. Stock-outs of essential medicines lead to treatment interruption which can force changes in patient drug regimens, drive drug resistance and increase mortality. This study is one of few to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of supply chain policies in reducing shortages and costs. This study develops a systems dynamics simulation model of the downstream supply chain for amikacin, a second-line tuberculosis drug using 10 years of South African data. We evaluate current supply chain performance in terms of reliability, responsiveness and agility, following the widely-used Supply Chain Operation Reference framework. We simulate 141 scenarios that represent different combinations of supplier characteristics, inventory management strategies and demand forecasting methods to identify the Pareto optimal set of management policies that jointly minimize the number of shortages and total cost. Despite long supplier lead times and unpredictable demand, the amikacin supply chain is 98% reliable and agile enough to accommodate a 20% increase in demand without a shortage. However, this is accomplished by overstocking amikacin by 167%, which incurs high holding costs. The responsiveness of suppliers is low: only 57% of orders are delivered to the central provincial drug depot within one month. We identify three Pareto optimal safety stock management policies. Short supplier lead time can produce Pareto optimal outcomes even in the absence of other optimal policies. This study produces concrete, actionable guidelines to cost-effectively reduce stock-outs by implementing optimal supply chain policies. Preferentially selecting drug suppliers with short lead times accommodates unexpected changes in demand. Optimal supply chain management should be an essential component of national policy to reduce the mortality rate.

The increasing prevalence of prediabetes in South Africa is of great concern. Due to the complex nature and nonlinear interactions that exist within the health care system to address prediabetic health care, a system dynamics-based approach is suggested as an appropriate analysis tool to evaluate and gain insight into the dominant factors that influence the effective management of prediabetes. This is intended to subsequently identify more effective and efficient prediabetic policy and intervention strategies. A six-dynamic hypothesis is proposed in the form of a causal loop diagram that was used in the development of a system dynamics model. In the developed system dynamics model, five interventions strategies, identified as scenarios, were tested. Finally, the increased screening of high-risk individuals for prediabetes was identified as the most effective intervention strategy for reducing the prediabetic population.

In the contemporary healthcare landscape, the implementation of innovative drug manufacturing and distribution systems is becoming increasingly prominent in developing countries. One such a platform is the Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) which grants multiple pharmaceutical manufacturers access to specific drug patents in order to manufacture these drugs. However, research suggests that these ‘niche drug provision systems’ often give rise to challenges which intensify the need for effective drug monitoring and pharmacovigilance (PV) systems that will support these practices of drug delivery. PV is defined as the practice of monitoring the effects of medical drugs after they have been licensed for use. This paper argues for the development and implementation of a ‘niche PV system’ that will support the unique needs presented by these practices; a requirement specification for such a PV system is thus presented.

In a Harvard Business Review of 1997, Fisher, an acknowledged influential figure in the concept of product categorisation, suggested that the reason why supply chains do not perform as expected despite improvement efforts is due to a misalignment of product attributes with supply chain strategies. Various frameworks with diverse product attributes have been recommended to enable this alignment; however, there is no consensus on the most critical attributes to be used in describing product categorisation in supply chains. Moreover, these supply chain-driving product attributes for product categorisation in the public healthcare pharmaceutical supply chain management sector—which has different priorities altogether from those of the commercial sector—have received little attention in research. This paper presents the formulation of a product attributes taxonomy relevant to a public healthcare pharmaceutical supply chain using a triangulation method. The research is provided within the reference framework of the Visibility and Analytics Network of the South African public healthcare pharmaceutical supply chain. Areas necessary for future research are also established.

Pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) is a highly competitive multinational industry that aims to produce innovative solutions to address global health problems. A key challenge faced by this industry is the significant variation in the R&D resources dedicated to different diseases and pharmaceutical research fields. This variation leads to some diseases receiving funding that appears to be disproportionally high when one considers the burden of disease, whilst other diseases remain neglected. This research seeks to identify determinants for the amount of interest in, and therefore the level of resources dedicated to, certain diseases and pharmaceutical research fields. The findings of the research will contribute to a body of knowledge used to inform efforts to achieve greater equity in the allocation of resources to pharmaceutical R&D. An example of such an effort is the structuring of financial incentives to improve commercial interest in neglected diseases.

Since 2010, pharmaceutical organisations have begun to provide drug patents in sub-Saharan Africa through the UN Medicine Patent Pool. This initiative allows any pharmaceutical manufacturer to access these patents and manufacture the drugs, thereby aiming to decrease the associated lead times and costs. The participation of numerous manufacturers, some of whom may not have well-established quality control systems in the market, intensifies the need for effective drug quality monitoring. Research indicates that it is often the case that these 'niche drug provision systems' face many challenges with the quality of new-generation drugs and the implementation of effective pharmacovigilance (PV)¹ systems for the reporting of adverse drug reactions. The lack of resource efficiency in adverse drug reaction reporting within the sub-Saharan context is also a growing concern. Sedert 2010 het farmaseutiese organisasies deur middel van die UN Medicine Patent Pool medisyne patente vrygestel vir lae- en middelinkomste lande. Hierdie inisiatief laat toe dat enige farmaseutiese vervaardiger die patente kan gebruik om medisyne te vervaardig; sodoende word die koste en vervaardigingstyd verminder. Aangesien 'n aantal verskillende vervaardigers, waarvan sommiges nie goed gevestigde kwaliteit stelsels het nie, kan deelneem, moet daar goeie 'pharmacovigilance' (PV) toegepas word. Navorsing dui egter daarop dat dit dikwels die geval is dat hierdie plaaslike medisyne vervaardigers baie uitdagings ervaar in verband met medisyne voorsiening wat weer effektiewe PV-stelsels impliseer. Die gebrek aan menslike hulpbronne vir die monitering van negatiewe reaksies op die medisyne in hierdie lande is ook 'n groeiende probleem.