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Human resource professionals continuously search for methods to demonstrate the impact of their work to managers in their organizations. The authors of this article contend that the traditional measures of human resource productivity have been inappropriate and irrelevant because they have focused on tracking administrative activities and costs. Given the expanding role of many human resources organizations, the authors suggest that more appropriate measures must be closely aligned with the mission of the human resource organization. This article describes the expanding nature of human resource organizations, along with the corresponding implications for the appropriate metrics to evaluate effectiveness. INSET: Phases of an HR Organization.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present paper has been indicated. We will begin with a brief description of historical cost regulation without inflation. We then examine the consequences of inflation at a rate that is known with certainty for an unregulated company, for a bond, for a public utility under historical cost rate base regulation, and for a public utility under price level adjusted cost rate base regulation. Comparative analysis of the two modes of regulation reveals that investors should be indifferent between them if the regulatory process and capital markets are free of imperfections. However, under the reasonable assumption that there are no markets in what is called human capital, the consumer is better off under price level adjusted rate base regulation than under historical cost regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To evaluate potential health and economic returns from implementing smoking cessation interventions in Hungary. Methods: The EQUIPTMOD, a Markov‐based economic model, was used to assess the cost‐effectiveness of three implementation scenarios: (a) introducing a social marketing campaign; (b) doubling the reach of existing group‐based behavioural support therapies and proactive telephone support; and (c) a combination of the two scenarios. All three scenarios were compared with current practice. The scenarios were chosen as feasible options available for Hungary based on the outcome of interviews with local stakeholders. Life‐time costs and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated from a health‐care perspective. The analyses used various return on investment (ROI) estimates, including incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs), to compare the scenarios. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses assessed the extent to which the estimated mean ICERs were sensitive to the model input values. Results: Introducing a social marketing campaign resulted in an increase of 0.3014 additional quitters per 1 000 smokers, translating to health‐care cost‐savings of €0.6495 per smoker compared with current practice. When the value of QALY gains was considered, cost‐savings increased to €14.1598 per smoker. Doubling the reach of existing group‐based behavioural support therapies and proactive telephone support resulted in health‐care savings of €0.2539 per smoker (€3.9620 with the value of QALY gains), compared with current practice. The respective figures for the combined scenario were €0.8960 and €18.0062. Results were sensitive to model input values. Conclusions: According to the EQUIPTMOD modelling tool, it would be cost‐effective for the Hungarian authorities introduce a social marketing campaign and double the reach of existing group‐based behavioural support therapies and proactive telephone support. Such policies would more than pay for themselves in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an inflection point at which ambiguity and the definition of project boundaries have to give way to the rigor of implementation—and design's contribution has frequently been positioned to the right of that point. This tool helps bridge the disconnect between early design research and the specifics of design requirements, reducing cost and time to market while delivering a higher quality and more appropriate solution to the end user. The most successful company is not necessarily the one that spends the most on research and development; rather, it's the company that spends its limited development funds in the right areas. Design can help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We study the wealth effect of offshoring by analyzing the announcement-period returns as well as the long-run operating and stock return performance of firms that offshored their activities in the period 2000–2005. Announcement-period stock returns are positive for firms that offshore activities primarily to reduce costs but are negative for firms that offshore activities for other reasons. Also, announcement-period stock returns are higher for firms with a larger size, better operating performance, lower growth potential, and a higher cost of goods sold in the year prior to the offshoring announcement. Firms that offshore activities primarily to reduce costs enjoy improved operating and stock return performance in the years following the offshoring. Overall, our findings indicate that not all firms enjoy the benefits of offshoring; rather, only those that offshore primarily to reduce costs do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on how to achieve targeted cost. In an order to focus their employees' attention on reducing both manufacturing and non-manufacturing costs, companies have adopted a process for controlling costs known as target costing. Target costing involves the establishment of target costs for each product and each product-related activity, starting with the design of the product and culminating with the sale of the product. The product's targeted cost is set based on the product's expected market prices and the company's desired mark-up. By setting the target cost in this way, the company assures itself that when the product's target cost and market price are realized, the product will generate its expected returns.

Existing empirical evidence suggests that the announcement-day reaction to equity issuance is about 2.88 percent more negative than the reaction to debt. However, announcement-day returns do not accurately reflect investor reaction if issue announcements are anticipated. I re-examine the announcement-day reaction to equity and debt issues after controlling for the predictability of security type and for firms' previous issue experience. Results indicate that the reaction to a first-time seasoned equity issue is more than 4. 15 percent more negative than the reaction to debt. This increase over the conventional estimate suggests that the reaction to equity may be more negative, relative to debt, than previously believed. The evidence supports the assertion that giving preference to debt over equity could reduce issue costs when asymmetric information is a problem. Timing and certification strategies for lowering issue costs appear to be relatively unimportant for debt issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]