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This paper proposes a service-oriented manufacturing strategy in a two-echelon supply chain with random demand. When there is no inventory for the retailer to meet demand, customers can choose to order products through the retailer and products will be delivered to them by the manufacturer directly in the promised time, and we call this delivery service in service-oriented manufacturing. We employ a Stackelberg game-theoretic model to analyse the procurement quantity and delivery time decisions by the manufacturer as the leader and the retailer as the follower. Using the performance of the pure-manufacturing strategy as a benchmark, our main results follow. First, the equilibrium strategies of the two players are obtained. Clear decision rules are also given. Second, delivery service in service-oriented manufacturing can be an effective way to reduce the holding cost of the retailer. Third, we describe the customer loss caused by waiting and find how the manufacturer influences procurement quantity of the retailer through the decision of delivery time. Finally, delivery service in service-oriented manufacturing cannot always improve the profit of the manufacturer and the retailer. We give guidance for managers to provide it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction projects are often procured through multidimensional auctions, in which suppliers bid on both price and non-price attributes such as quality. In Korea, a unique scaling method is employed to differentiate bids, adjusting scores to ensure a sufficient point difference between adjacent quality bids. This scaling method aims to enhance the discriminating power of the scoring system and attract more sophisticated project designs. However, it may distort overall bid rankings and lead to inefficient contract allocation. The added uncertainty may incentivize suppliers to inflate their prices, as the effect of price on winning probability decreases with the scaling factor. Using Korean procurement data, I analyse cases of rank reversal, and I reveal a tendency among suppliers to bid less aggressively on price when quality differences are magnified, with the effect varying with the level of uncertainty in bid evaluation. This highlights the preference of buyers for a less distortionary scoring system to enhance the value of procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, both federal and local governments have instituted various financial incentives to promote the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) within their transportation sectors. However, it remains unclear whether these procurement incentives can effectively stimulate the adoption of ZEVs to achieve the expected targets, especially given the wide range of financial and non-financial factors anticipated in the coming decades. To investigate the energy, economic, and environmental aspects of the transition toward ZEVs, we developed the Integrating Market Penetration and Cost Technologies (IMPACT) model. In this study, it was tailored as a detailed analytical and quantification tool for investigating financial incentives for medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs). The IMPACT model comprises three interconnected sub-models: a vehicle cost model, a vehicle choice model, and an infrastructure model, each specifically tailored for the California market from 2024 to 2040. We designed three different incentive plans based on current policies: the IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credits (CVTC) and the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). The proposed hierarchical method facilitates a robust analysis of these incentives in relation to FCET sales and market shares, providing a quantitative basis to gauge the fiscal impact and effectiveness of these incentives over time. Our findings indicate that while financial incentives are crucial for enhancing FCET adoption, their design and implementation must be meticulously planned. Careful balancing of factors such as vehicle cost, infrastructure availability, and long-term sustainability is essential to optimize policy outcomes. This study underscores the complexity of incentive strategies and offers critical insights for policymakers aiming to expedite the deployment of FCETs and supporting hydrogen infrastructure in California and beyond. • Develops the Integrating Market Penetration and Cost Technologies (IMPACT) integrated model. • Tailors IMPACT to analyze procurement strategies for fuel cell truck (FCET) adoption in California. • Evaluates expenses associated with tax credits and voucher projects for the FCET market penetration. • Quantifies the impact of procurement incentives on FCET sales and market shares from 2024 to 2040. • Provides insights for policymakers to set strategic policies to achieve the 100% ZEV sales target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine stockouts at the national level has been recognized as a critical challenge in ensuring sustained and equitable immunization coverage. These stockouts often arise from inherent issues within countries, including delays in government funding, suboptimal forecasting and stock management practices, and inefficiencies in the procurement process amongst others. Understanding the complexities and barriers within vaccine procurement and financing systems is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance vaccine availability and strengthen immunization programs. This is particularly relevant in the context of reaching zero dose children and transitioning from Gavi. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the vaccine procurement and financing landscape in Cameroon from 2015 to 2020. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a desk review of pertinent documents and engaged in in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in the procurement and funding mobilization processes. Through data collection and analysis using Microsoft Excel 365 and Dedoose software, we delineated the intricacies of the procurement process and pinpointed specific barriers that have contributed to vaccine stockouts. The mapping of vaccine procurement processes revealed complexity, protracted timelines, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) faced a USD 4 million funding deficit for vaccine procurement between 2016 and 2019. Consequently, the program experienced delays in acquiring 20 million vaccine doses, leading to 41 months of stockout for at least one antigen. Major bottlenecks identified by key stakeholders in vaccine procurement and financing encompassed delayed fund mobilization, inefficient and lengthy processes for fund mobilization and disbursement, poor data utilization, and discrepancies between forecasted, allocated, and mobilized funds. The findings of this research hold significant implications for many EPIs. By elucidating procurement and financing challenges, we can formulate evidence-based recommendations aimed at optimizing resource allocation, streamlining procurement processes, and bolstering vaccine availability. These insights are essential for fostering collaboration between government agencies, technical partners, and financial partners to achieve sustainable vaccine access in Cameroon. Establishing a joint procurement working group could streamline processes, potentially reducing stockouts and improving vaccine coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study was designed to evaluate the impact of enterprise inventory optimization (EIO) technology and analytics on pharmacy labor, costs, and medication availability within a large integrated delivery network (IDN). Methods This article describes a mixed-methods, postmarket observational study assessing the impact of a solution of disparate technologies including automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), centralized pharmacy inventory software, and controlled substance vaults connected by an inventory optimization analytics (IOA) tool. Four study modules were implemented over a 10-month period. The intervention consisted of implementation of the IOA software, linking the disparate automated technologies. Transactional data was collected and aggregated with user perception survey data in both the pre- and postintervention periods. Descriptive and comparative statistical testing was used to assess outcomes. Results A total of 11 facilities with bed counts ranging between 22 and 908 beds were included in this study. At an enterprise level, users were able to complete an average of 2.8 times more periodic automated replenishment (PAR) level changes post intervention, resulting in an estimated enterprise labor avoidance of over 1 full-time equivalent (2,099 labor hours) annually. Despite an enterprise decision to increase ADC inventory on hand from a 3-day supply to a 5-day supply, 5 sites (45%) had a decrease in total inventory, while 9 sites (82%) saw a decrease in ADC inventory costs. Additionally, 7 sites (64%) saw a reduction in the ADC stockout percentage and all 11 sites (100%) saw a decrease in the central pharmacy stockout percentage post intervention. Conclusion Integration and optimization of connected inventory management technology was observed to have positive impacts on improving labor productivity, reducing ADC inventory carrying costs, and increasing medication availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public procurement, a critical facet in acquiring goods and services, has garnered scholarly attention in e-procurement. However, its application in healthcare remains underexplored. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a decentralized blockchain-based e-procurement system in healthcare (B-ePS) to enhance transparency, reliability, and security. The study leverages the Ethereum blockchain and smart contracts to establish B-ePS, aiming to mitigate traditional e-procurement concerns. By emphasizing the blockchain's non-tampering characteristics, information traceability, and decentralization, the authors contribute a practical framework that goes beyond descriptive methods. The research reviews existing literature, identifies challenges, and recommends specific solutions within the B-ePS framework. This approach positions B-ePS at the forefront of advancing trustworthy e-procurement in healthcare, addressing security implications, lack of trust among stakeholders, and the absence of a fully reliable e-procurement solution. In summary, this paper focuses on the purpose of improving public procurement in healthcare through a decentralized, transparent, and secure e-procurement system. The methodology involves the implementation of B-ePS using Ethereum blockchain and smart contracts. The major findings highlight the system's potential to address longstanding issues in traditional e-procurement. The paper concludes with implications for advancing reliable e-procurement solutions in healthcare, emphasizing the transformative impact of blockchain technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The antioxidant effects of vitamins may attenuate the oxidative stress on organs imposed by ischemia–reperfusion injury during the process of organ transplantation from brain-dead donors. Circulating levels of vitamins A, C, and E-α in donors after brain death and their relationships to donor demographics, management, organ utilization, and recipient outcomes are largely unknown. Methods: An observational, prospective, cohort study of 84 consecutive brain-dead organ donors managed at a single organ procurement recovery center was conducted. Vitamin levels were drawn immediately prior to procurement. Results: Levels of serum vitamins A and E-α and plasma vitamin C were below normal in 80%, 85%, and 92% of donors and deficient in 40%, 62%, and 63%, respectively. Vitamin C deficiency was associated with a longer time between death and specimen collection (P =.004). Death from head trauma and stroke were associated with lower levels of vitamin A than from anoxic causes (P =.003) and smokers had greater vitamin C deficiency (P =.03). During donor management, vitamin C deficiency was associated with longer vasopressor support (P =.03) and normal levels of vitamin E-α were associated with reaching a lower alanine transferase compared to those with subnormal levels (P <.05). Donors deficient in vitamin E-α were less likely to have a liver recovered for transplantation (P =.005). Vitamin levels were not associated with the recipient outcomes examined. Conclusion: Circulating vitamins A, C, and E-α is profoundly low in brain-dead organ donors, associated with relevant demographic features of the donor, and may influence donor management and organ utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Some family members who previously made the decision to donate a family member's organs support the organ procurement organization (OPO) through volunteer work. Volunteers were asked to describe their family's organ donation story to educate the general and medical communities about organ donation. This study explored the transformative learning experienced by volunteers during and following the organ donation consent process and throughout their volunteer work. Methods/Approach: A narrative inquiry research methodology and transformative learning theoretical framework was used and 6 volunteers were recruited to participate. Two semistructured virtual interviews were conducted. Interviews were transcribed, radically reduced, and subjected to holistic-content and holistic-form narrative analysis. Findings: Participants experienced strong emotional responses during and after the loss of their family member, characterized as a period of disorientation, which lasted for an extended period preventing transformative learning. After the OPO contacted participants regarding the opportunity to volunteer, participants experienced a period of self-examination when they reengaged with the topic of organ donation. Critical reflection occurred through the act of storytelling about their family's organ donation story during their volunteer work. Storytelling to the community facilitated making meaning of their loss and transformations. Conclusion: Volunteering for an OPO played an important role by initiating self-examination and critical reflection of their prior assumptions. Through storytelling, participants reflected on their roles and made meaning of their organ donation experiences. The act of inviting donor families to reengage with the topic of organ donation through volunteer work fostered positive permanent meaningful transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) Green Paper aims to address the challenge of environmental sustainability in intensive care and proposes actionable strategies for integrating sustainability into intensive care unit (ICU) stakeholder actions. Methods: The ESICM Executive Committee appointed a task force of topic experts and ESICM committee representatives to develop the ESICM Green Paper. The task force convened biweekly from January to June 2024, identifying key domains for environmental sustainability and prioritizing actions. Drafts were iteratively refined and approved by the ESICM Executive Committee. Results: Climate change will impact activities in intensive care in many ways, but also the impact of ICU activities on the environment is considerable; drivers for this include extensive resource use and waste generation in ICUs from energy consumption, use of disposable items, and advanced therapies for critically ill patients. The ESICM Green Paper outlines a structured approach for ICUs to reduce their environmental impact, emphasizing energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable procurement. Furthermore, it endorses the need for awareness and education among healthcare professionals, integration of sustainability into research, and sustainable policies within scientific societies. Conclusions: The ESICM Green Paper reviewed the relevance of climate change to intensive care and provided suggestions for clinical practice, research, education, and ESICM organizational domains. It underscores that reducing intensive care's ecological footprint can coexist with high-quality patient care. Promoting a resilient, responsible healthcare system is a joint responsibility of all ICU stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In response to multiple disruptions, the purchasing supply management (PSM) function in construction supply chain management (CSCM) has gained prominence due to stakeholder pressures, dynamic market conditions and the need to adhere to complex sustainability, safety and health regulations and standards. However, there is a noticeable absence of empirical research on measuring and mitigating PSM vulnerabilities, especially considering the distinct challenges faced by large engineer-to-order project-oriented manufacturers. To address these issues, the purpose of this study is to develop and test a novel method to assist companies in construction supply chains in assessing and managing risks associated with sustainable procuring and sourcing materials. Design/methodology/approach: Grounded in the literature gaps on construction PSM and a real case supply chain, the research uses the design science research (DSR) approach to develop an integrated method for assessing PSM strategies in this sector. The method integrates three essential purchasing dimensions: supply risks, profit impact and sustainability risks of materials, supported by nine subdimensions. Empirical validation took place within a multinational European construction company based in Denmark. Findings: Findings from the supplier–buyer relationships confirmed that the developed method allows for the identification of the key components that significantly impact supplier–buyer relationships, profitability and sustainability. The research further suggests that construction supply chain managers and purchasing practitioners can use the proposed method to evaluate PSM, thus enabling them to make more informed decisions. Practical implications: Through the utilization of the proposed artifact, construction companies can take a more proactive approach to address PSM uncertainties, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in dynamic construction supply chains. Originality/value: The research contributes to bridging the theory and practice, providing valuable assistance for construction companies assessing and managing the PSM and supply risks within global construction value chains. This paper provides original insights for the CSCM, aiding in adopting competitive PSM strategies to improve overall supply chain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the forklift industry, focusing on logistics and procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Romania. Using a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with seven managers from a benchmarked company in the forklift industry (BCFI) and quantitative analysis of operational data, we examine the transformative effects of AI integration. Key findings include a 30% reduction in inventory holding costs due to AI-powered predictive analytics; a 15% decrease in procurement costs through AI-driven supplier evaluation systems; a 25% increase in operational efficiency from AI-optimized route planning; a 40% boost in overall productivity attributed to AI-enabled automation; and a projected 20% reduction in low-skilled labor requirements over the next five years. The study employs environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), balanced scorecard (BSC), benchmarking, and activity-based management (ABM) models to analyze risks and implications of AI integration. A case study of a leading Romanian SME in the forklift industry is presented, examining financial strategies using McKinsey's 7S framework. The paper concludes that while AI offers significant operational benefits, it also presents challenges in workforce transition and ethical considerations that require careful management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) are long-term agreements for procuring public projects that bundle up design, build, finance, operation and management. The UK's version, Project Finance Initiative, was a policy-based framework, now defunct. Instead, PPPs in Caribbean British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are based on rigid models, with early stopovers focused on ensuring financial sustainability. A comparative analysis among Caribbean BOTs concludes that they show common models, and that those BOTs that need PPPs the most have set up the biggest hurdles to get them started. The analysis comprises four features: legal sources, administrative safeguards, scope restrictions for sector and value, and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims at identifying the factors precipitating corruptible tendencies. The study was guided by the Fraud Triangle Theory. The study used an exploratory and descriptive research design methods of investigation, and a simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 179 from a population of 325 people using the Taro Yamane method of sample size determination from the practitioners in Imo state. The study employed a well-structured standardised questionnaire designed in Likert five-point scales, in addition to personal observations to elicit responses from construction firms and projects situated in Imo State, Nigeria. The questionnaires underwent pre-testing and validation to ensure their reliability. The study utilised various statistical tools such as charts, figures, and descriptive statistics to present the collected data. Additionally, Factor Analysis was employed to analyse the data. The results show that out of the ten (10) variables tested for factor analysis, the findings revealed four clusters named in other of significance as a weak system; lack of transparency; phantom bidding and bid rigging. The study recommends that procurement procedure in Imo State must be tightened to reduce corruption in the construction industry and to also ensure a fraud-free procurement system, public sector agencies must ensure regulations are complied with, apply better procurement policies, and support and encourage industry practitioners to execute procurement functions by procurement regulations and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global construction industry expands, it is imperative to prioritize economic sustainability due to the consequential effect on procurement practices. The procurement of building works, a pivotal phase in the realization of construction projects, requires a comprehensive framework to assess tenders that emphasise economic viability and align with sustainability principles. While traditional procurement processes primarily focus on cost considerations, the contemporary construction landscape necessitates a paradigm shift towards sustainable practices encompassing the economic dimension. Several studies have been conducted on public procurement and sustainability. Nevertheless, most of these studies focused on the environmental side of sustainability, leaving the social and economic dimensions unexplored. Hence, this study explores the sustainable economic criteria for assessing tenders in procuring building works. The study adopted the mixed research method; therefore, qualitative and quantitative data were employed in collecting the data for the study. The analysis deduced that the criteria for assessing the economic sustainability of tenders were categorized into management-related, technical, and commercial-related criteria, with the most significant variables being competitiveness, resource management skills, resource requirement assessment and profitability. The study's findings can potentially influence the assessment tenders of construction firms for building works. Thus, it suggested that the management practices of the bidders must be thoroughly evaluated as it is a crucial factor in ensuring economic sustainability from the onset of the project processes. This study presents a novel to ascertain the criteria for assessing the sustainable economy of tenders in procuring building works in the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The results of this study can be a source of data to guide the evaluation of tenders in the construction industry in Ghana and other developing countries within the Sub-Saharan Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Like a well-designed procurement strategy, a well-designed rolling stock strategy promotes the development of a railroad company and contributes to its competitive advantage. Effective implementation of the rolling stock strategy enhances the likelihood of enjoying the benefits of the strategy’s design. A successful implementation relies on the strategy being known, understood, controlled and communicated to the entire organization. Design/methodology/approach – The research consists of an extensive literature review as well as a series of workshops with rolling stock suppliers, railway authorities and representatives and rail users. Findings – This paper presents a collection of solutions for passenger rail rolling stock procurement. The authors offer guidance to the strategic procurement of rolling stock in the European Union (EU) and propose key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of a rolling stock strategy. Research limitations/implications – While this study presents a thorough evaluation of rolling stock procurement practices, it is limited by its geographic isolation. Future studies should compare the procurement practices discussed here to others in the EU, as well as in North America, South America and Asia. Additionally, this study focused on the passenger rail segment. Passenger transport is an important function of the rail network in the EU, but future research should expand the assessment of rolling stock procurement strategies to freight rail as well. Originality/value – Overall, this work provides visibility into common rolling stock procurement practices in complex EU railway markets. This work expands the literature through a review of these practices and through enabling research into best practices or a commonly accepted procurement model.

With the development of information technology, big data analysis has been highlighted in operations and management. From this viewpoint, this paper studies a buyer's optimal purchasing decisions in combined procurement. For combined procurement, a buyer first signs a long-term contract with a supplier to guarantee a certain level of commodity supply, and can then replenish the commodities from the spot market if necessary. The optimal purchasing quantity in the long-term contract is examined to maximise the buyer's expected profit from combined procurement. In view of the imperfectness in the spot market, the spot trading liquidity is considered in the buyer's optimal purchasing decision. The properties of the two optimal purchasing quantities are examined and several interesting results are obtained. For example, it is illustrated that a buyer's expected profit may decrease in the spot capacity, a result that has never appeared in the existing literature, which reveals the importance of a buyer's optimal order decision in the presence of spot replenishment. Numerical results and sensitivity analysis are performed to verify the results. Management insights are suggested for a buyer's optimal purchasing decisions in combined procurement with a long-term contract and spot replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to develop a conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship of determination between the dimensions of the organization that characterize the elements of intellectual capital and each of the stages of the organization, taking into account the importance of an appropriate allocation of resources at the level of the organization in order to acquire the knowledge that the organization needs at the time when the respective knowledge is necessary to achieve its objectives. The study of establishing relationships between the dimensions that characterize an organization's intellectual capital and the stages of the knowledge acquisition process at the level of the organization involves analysis of the variety of relationships between potential organizational factors and one of the management processes. Any organization acts on the market in order to achieve its economic objectives. In recent years, the economy has moved from a resource-based approach to organization to a knowledge-based approach.

This article explores the relationship between local authorities (mainly municipal organisations) and a central purchasing body (CPB). It critiques, from an agency theory perspective, the difficulties in aligning socio-economic goals of multiple municipal organisations with the pursuit of procurement goals by the CPB. The aim of this study is to explore which solutions, (governance mechanisms) for agency problems within a Dutch municipality–CPB relationship, are critical in aligning socio-economic goals within a collaborative public procurement (CPP) setting. The quantitative analysis of data from a questionnaire was used to conduct an explorative factor analysis (EFA). The questionnaire was issued to all municipalities in the Netherlands. Grounded on the EFA, the underlying factors within five categories of governance mechanisms for agency problems were recognised. Besides supporting the existing theory, this study provides additional knowledge in the field of agency theory and collaborative public procurement (CPP). The study resulted in the development of a comprehensive measurement scale to conduct research based on agency theory within the context of CPP governance and specifically in the area of central purchasing bodies. The results of this study are applicable in practise on an administrative and management level. Municipal organisations that initiate and/or govern a central purchasing body can take the results of this study into account to develop new standards on the further development of the CPB. At a managerial level, this study provides useful insight for decision-makers in municipal organisations to improve the way in which a CPB executes collective tenders at hand and determine if the joint approach delivers the best results in terms of their procurement objectives.

Abstract Background Increased costs in the health sector have put considerable strain on the public budgets allocated to pharmaceutical purchases. Faced with such pressures amplified by financial crises and pandemics, national purchasing authorities are presented with a puzzle: how to procure pharmaceuticals of the highest quality for the lowest price. The literature explored a range of impactful factors using data on producer and reference prices, but largely foregone the use of data on individual purchases by diverse public buyers. Methods Leveraging the availability of open data in public procurement from official government portals, the article examines the relationship between unit prices and a host of predictors that account for policies that can be amended nationally or locally. The study uses traditional linear regression (OLS) and a machine learning model, random forest, to identify the best models for predicting pharmaceutical unit prices. To explore the association between a wide variety of predictors and unit prices, the study relies on more than 200,000 purchases in more than 800 standardized pharmaceutical product categories from 10 countries and territories. Results The results show significant price variation of standardized products between and within countries. Although both models present substantial potential for predicting unit prices, the random forest model, which can incorporate non-linear relationships, leads to higher explained variance (R2 = 0.85) and lower prediction error (RMSE = 0.81). Conclusions The results demonstrate the potential of i) tapping into large quantities of purchase-level data in the health care sector and ii) using machine learning models for explaining and predicting pharmaceutical prices. The explanatory models identify data-driven policy interventions for decision-makers seeking to improve value for money.

In order to speed up the purchases of essential products and services required by the public administration to tackle the sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19, the Brazilian federal government enacted laws No. 13,979 and No. 14,035 in 2020, exempting such items from the procurement process. This research aimed to investigate the impact of the flexibility in Brazilian law on government bids. For this purpose, a database composed of items acquired between January 2019 and December 2020 was built, and the empirical strategy was based on Difference-in-Differences models. The results indicate that the effect of this legal provision on the price of potentially affected items was an increase of approximately 5%. Some explanations for this price increase are due to the pressure of demand, changes in the strategic planning of companies and in the way they allocate their workers, which affect the costs of these companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractRapid urbanization, poverty and socio-economic inequalities are causes of the backlog of informal settlements in South Africa, as dwellers cannot access formal housing schemes. Such unplanned settlements often need more basic services, social facilities and adequate housing. Nevertheless, informal settlements are core parts of the urban form rather than places for eradication. This article examines self-building and community-led upgrading practices in three case studies of partially and non-serviced informal settlements in Durban. It adopts action research participatory methods to coproduce knowledge and map various perspectives around community-led housing upgrading, building materials and construction skills in an effort to enhance community resilience and self-reliance. The findings reveal the key drivers and challenges associated with self-building, informal procurement and overall project management of the housing process. Successful grassroots practices demonstrate community ownership and dweller control beyond the physical upgrading per se. The lessons learned call for inclusive, participatory, and incremental approaches for effective community organization, self-reliance, social capital and livelihood development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the shifting lines between ethics and law in the policing and punishment of prostitution in nineteenth-century Tehran. It begins by exploring Tehran's urban policing and legal institutions before examining how illicit sexual acts were defined alternatively as sins or crimes, depending on the relative publicness of the act, in prescriptive and legal texts. It then turns to how this played out in practice by analyzing a first-hand account of a private party and a rare testimonial document signed by neighborhood residents complaining about a pimping and procurement ring in their midst. Prostitutes and pimps regularly evaded penal sanction through close contacts with the police, which prompted an array of government strategies to address prostitution. Finally, the article ends by discussing known cases of punishment for prostitution and pimping in Tehran, including two Tehrani prostitutes whose crimes drew the attention of Nāṣir al-Dīn Shāh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between local authorities (mainly municipal organisations) and a central purchasing body (CPB). It critiques, from an agency theory perspective, the difficulties in aligning socio-economic goals of multiple municipal organisations with the pursuit of procurement goals by the CPB. The aim of this study is to explore which solutions, (governance mechanisms) for agency problems within a Dutch municipality–CPB relationship, are critical in aligning socio-economic goals within a collaborative public procurement (CPP) setting. The quantitative analysis of data from a questionnaire was used to conduct an explorative factor analysis (EFA). The questionnaire was issued to all municipalities in the Netherlands. Grounded on the EFA, the underlying factors within five categories of governance mechanisms for agency problems were recognised. Besides supporting the existing theory, this study provides additional knowledge in the field of agency theory and collaborative public procurement (CPP). The study resulted in the development of a comprehensive measurement scale to conduct research based on agency theory within the context of CPP governance and specifically in the area of central purchasing bodies. The results of this study are applicable in practise on an administrative and management level. Municipal organisations that initiate and/or govern a central purchasing body can take the results of this study into account to develop new standards on the further development of the CPB. At a managerial level, this study provides useful insight for decision-makers in municipal organisations to improve the way in which a CPB executes collective tenders at hand and determine if the joint approach delivers the best results in terms of their procurement objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Living donation increases the organ supply, but associated non-medical expenses can disincentivize donation. Programs aimed at increasing living donation need to better understand how financial obstacles, including lost wages, impact the decision to pursue donation. Methods/Approach: Forty-eight interviews were conducted and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Findings: Three key themes were identified that influenced decision-making: emotional attachment, temporal flexibility, and job security. These themes emerged when dividing interview participants into 3 groups: close relationship donors, broader network donors, and non-directed donors, representing donation to a family member or friend, a specific person they do not know well or at all, or a non-specified individual, respectively. Most close relationship donors wanted to donate regardless of personal financial cost, based on emotional attachment to the recipient. Wage reimbursement did not typically affect their decision-making but could reduce stress. Since non-directed donors did not donate to a specific individual, they could wait to achieve financial stability before donating, if needed. While wage reimbursement might create more proximate stability, non-directed donors had the flexibility to postpone donations until they could independently achieve financial stability. Lacking emotional attachment and temporal flexibility, broader network donors were particularly active decision-makers and most influenced by wage reimbursement. Across all groups, donors with job security were more resolute about donating. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of lost wage reimbursement to facilitate donation and reduce stress, and policies to protect donor job security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how a federal procurement regulation, known as the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), affects the competitiveness and execution of government contracts. TINA stipulates how contracting officials (COs) can ensure reasonable prices. Following TINA, for contracts above a certain size threshold, COs can no longer rely solely on their own judgment that a price is reasonable. Instead, they must either require suppliers to provide accounting data supporting their proposed prices or expect multiple bids. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find that above‐threshold contracts experience greater competition (i.e., more bids), improved performance (i.e., less frequent renegotiations and cost overruns), and reduced use of the harder‐to‐monitor cost‐plus pricing, compared to below‐threshold contracts. These findings suggest that TINA's requirements enhance competition and oversight for above‐threshold contracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been consistently underperforming due to deteriorating infrastructure, frequent leadership turnover, corruption, excessive spending, and financial mismanagement, which continue to afflict these corporations. The existence of several regulations and the absence of unified legislation for SOEs in South Africa have significantly hampered their ability to maintain good governance and carry out procurement processes effectively. Hence, it is crucial to analyse the consequences of the fragmentation of the legal framework for governance and procurement procedures. This study aims to investigate employees' perspectives on the fragmentation of the legislative framework governing governance and procurement processes in South African SOEs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with professionals from the governance and procurement business divisions of Eskom and ACSA using virtual platforms. The purpose was to collect detailed data on their perspectives regarding the fragmentation of the regulatory framework in governance and procurement processes. We used thematic analysis to detect patterns and gain a rich understanding of the data. The primary objective of this study is to generate empirical data in the field of governance and procurement processes in SOEs. This study's findings aim to assist SOE executives in improving operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populist governments engage in "unpolitics" when the electoral incentives for doing so outweigh the distributive risks from policy failure. Studying the joint procurement of vaccines against Covid-19, I show that a group consisting of mostly populist governments led by Austria negotiated in bad faith, rejected compromise solutions, and obstructed joint problem-solving. They deployed these "unpolitical" tactics only once the legal framework for joint procurement was in place and the roll-out of the jointly ordered vaccines had begun. At this point, populist governments no longer faced the distributive risk of having limited access to affordable vaccines. By contrast, the electoral incentives for hard-nosed bargaining in bad faith had increased, as the distributive issue of vaccine allocation became more salient and as populist governments came under pressure to deflect responsibility for having ordered insufficient vaccine doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sociotechnical challenges primarily faced by students with disabilities are significantly hindering their active participation in academic programs. This study, therefore, holds immense importance as it aims to examine these challenges and evaluate the factors influencing the introduction of Assistive Technology in response to these issues. The researchers have tried to delve deep into these challenges and establish potential mitigation strategies for fostering inclusive education and a supportive learning environment. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data to understand factors influencing the integration of ATs in inclusive education. As a result, the study's findings, particularly the absence of a framework in the university disability unit responsible for guiding the use and integration of AT, are crucial for understanding the current state of affairs. The delays in acquiring and delivering ATs result in students missing out on learning how to use the technologies. The use of ATs in the university was affected by the lack of training of lecturers who taught the students living with disabilities. Although there are ATs in the disability unit, they seem to be used by students who need urgent support and who need it in a limited time. Due to these factors, the study concluded that several factors influenced the integration of ATs in inclusive education at the university, and these need to be addressed urgently. This paper recommends that training should be conducted with lecturers and students to use ATs for learning and teaching purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) influencing the procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) systems within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) public sector. While AI holds immense potential to enhance public service delivery, its successful integration hinges on critical factors. This research utilizes Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to analyze the CSFs impacting AI procurement within the UAE public sector. Through ISM, a structural model is developed to highlight the interrelationships between these CSFs and their influence on the procurement process, outlining the key elements for successful AI procurement within the UAE public sector. Based on the literature review and expert validation from the UAE public sector, ten CSFs were identified. This study found that clear needs assessment is the most influential CSF, while the long-term value of AI systems or services is the least influential. This study provides policymakers and public sector leaders with valuable insights, enabling them to formulate effective strategies to optimize the procurement process and establish a strong foundation for AI adoption. Finally, this will lead to an improved and more efficient public service delivery in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the development of the health care industry is very rapid. The rapid development of health services will have an impact on increasing the elements of their supporting activities. One of the supporting activities is the procurement of medical equipment. Procurement cases often do not go well, so procurement is not on time. This is due to the very long lead time. This has an impact on decreasing customer satisfaction. Companies try to overcome this problem to be able to compete in the market. This study aims to help companies eliminate waste that occurs in the procurement process so that customer satisfaction is obtained. The approach used is Lean Service with VSM as a process flow mapping tool. Focus Group Discussion was used in the analysis of problems and solutions for improvement. Based on the FGD, there are three problems, namely, the delivery of goods, project creation, and billing documents. The results showed that the overall lead time of the critical care procurement process decreased from 216 days to 110 days, or by 45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To facilitate the implementation of controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) programs even in hospitals not equipped with a local extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team, some countries have launched a local cDCD network with an ECMO mobile team for normothermic regional perfusion (NRP). In the Tuscany region, in 2021, the Regional Transplant Authority launched a cDCD program to make the cDCD pathway feasible even in peripheral hospitals with NRP mobile teams, which were "converted" existing ECMO mobile teams, composed of highly skilled and experienced personnel. Methods: We describe the Tuscany cDCD program, (2021–2023), for cDCD from peripheral hospitals with NRP mobile teams. Results: Twenty‐six cDCDs (26/40, 65%) came from peripheral hospitals. Following the launch of the cDCD program, cDCDs from peripheral hospitals increased, from 33% (2021) to 75% (2022 and 2023) of the overall cDCDs. The mean age was 63 years, with older donors (>75 years) in half the cases. The median warm ischemia time was 45 min (20 min are required by the Italian law for death certification), ranging from 35 to 59 min. Among the 20 livers retrieved and 18 kidneys retrieved, 16 livers, and 11 kidneys (single kidney transplantation) were transplanted, after ex vivo reperfusion, respectively. Conclusions: The use of NRP mobile teams proved to be feasible and safe in the management of cDCD in peripheral hospitals. No complications were reported with NRP despite the advanced age of most cDCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses impact of the formalization of project procurement management and governance on the use of various vendor selection criteria. Formalization was described by four variables: centralization of project procurement strategy, customer bargaining power, standardization of procurement management and governance, formalization of procurement contract. In the study questionary survey among project-based organizations operating in Poland was applied. Research results highlight numerous dominant vendor selection criteria, such as: offered product quality, offered price, experience with vendor collaboration. The research does not confirm hypothesis that formalization of project procurement management and governance could be the driver of implementation of multicriteria vendor selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Relational contracting is increasingly being applied to complex and uncertain construction projects. However, it has proved hard to achieve stable performance and industry-level learning in this field. This paper employs an institutional perspective to analyze how legitimacy for relational contracting has been produced and challenged in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, including implications for dissemination and learning. Design/methodology/approach: A collaborative case study design is used, where longitudinal accounts of the developments in relational contracting over more than 25 years in four Nordic countries were developed by scholars based in each country. The descriptions are underpinned by literature sources from research, practice and policy. Findings: The countries share similar problem perceptions that have triggered the de-institutionalization of traditional contracting practices. Models and policies developed elsewhere are important sources of knowledge and legitimacy. Most countries have seen pendulum movements, where dissemination of relational contracting is followed by backlashes when projects fail to meet projected outcomes. Before long, however, relational contracting tends to re-emerge under new labels and in slightly new forms. Such a proliferation of concepts presents further obstacles to learning. Successful institutionalization is found to rely on realistic goals in combination with broad competence development at the organizational and industry levels. Practical implications: In seeking inspiration from other countries, policymakers should go beyond contract models to also consider strategies to manage industry-level learning. Originality/value: The paper provides a unique longitudinal cross-country perspective on the field of relational contracting. As such, it contributes to the small stream of literature on long-term institutional change in the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African preferential procurement policy emerged from the demand for transparency, fair competition, value-for-money, standardised and benchmark pricing, and regulation of public procurement arrangements in the construction industry. The policy aims to address historical inequalities, support economic growth, and foster sustainable development. The effectiveness of the preferential procurement policy in South Africa is affected by the inhibiting factors of its implementation system. Given this, this study assesses the factors inhibiting preferential procurement policy implementation in the South African construction industry. This study reviewed the extant literature from online databases as a secondary data source to identify and understand the factors inhibiting procurement policy implementation. A quantitative research design using a closed-ended survey questionnaire surveyed 31 identified inhibiting factors affecting procurement policy implementation from the literature review. One hundred sixty-seven (167) questionnaires were retrieved from two hundred (200) distributed, representing an 83.5 per cent response rate, distributed through Google Forms to the respondents in Northwest Province, South Africa. The reliability of the data collection instrument was determined using Bartlett's sphericity, Cronbach's alpha, and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin tests. The exploratory factor analysis findings established eight components from the 31 identified inhibiting factors affecting procurement policy implementation, which are the absence of due diligence in procurement screening, corruption and political interference in procurement systems, an ineffective regulatory framework supporting public procurement policy, discrepancies in award of contracts and the absence of dispute resolution, ambiguity in procurement selection criteria, poor enforcement mechanisms, cost discrepancies in advance payment, and excessive bureaucracy in procurement documentation. This study's practical implications provide an understanding of establishing and prioritising procurement selection criteria, such as project requalification requirements, cost performance requirements, technology integration in the prequalification process, and contract change order requirements, which would improve procurement systems in the South African construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased costs in the health sector have put considerable strain on the public budgets allocated to pharmaceutical purchases. Faced with such pressures amplified by financial crises and pandemics, national purchasing authorities are presented with a puzzle: how to procure pharmaceuticals of the highest quality for the lowest price. The literature explored a range of impactful factors using data on producer and reference prices, but largely foregone the use of data on individual purchases by diverse public buyers. Methods: Leveraging the availability of open data in public procurement from official government portals, the article examines the relationship between unit prices and a host of predictors that account for policies that can be amended nationally or locally. The study uses traditional linear regression (OLS) and a machine learning model, random forest, to identify the best models for predicting pharmaceutical unit prices. To explore the association between a wide variety of predictors and unit prices, the study relies on more than 200,000 purchases in more than 800 standardized pharmaceutical product categories from 10 countries and territories. Results: The results show significant price variation of standardized products between and within countries. Although both models present substantial potential for predicting unit prices, the random forest model, which can incorporate non-linear relationships, leads to higher explained variance (R2 = 0.85) and lower prediction error (RMSE = 0.81). Conclusions: The results demonstrate the potential of i) tapping into large quantities of purchase-level data in the health care sector and ii) using machine learning models for explaining and predicting pharmaceutical prices. The explanatory models identify data-driven policy interventions for decision-makers seeking to improve value for money. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the multi-item, multi-sourcing supplier-selection and order-allocation problem. We propose an iterative procurement combinatorial auction mechanism that aims to reveal the suppliers' minimum acceptable selling prices and assign orders optimally. Suppliers use a flexible bidding language to submit procurement bids. The buyer solves a Mixed Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP) model to determine the winning bids for the current auction iteration. We introduce a buyer's profit-improvement factor that constrains the suppliers to reduce their selling prices in subsequent bids. Moreover, this factor enables the buyer to strike a balance between computational effort and optimality gap. We develop a separate MINLP model for updating the suppliers' bids while satisfying the buyer's profit-improvement constraint. If none of the suppliers can find a feasible solution, the buyer reduces the profit-improvement factor until a pre-determined threshold is reached. A randomly generated numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed mechanism. In this example, the buyer's profit improved by as much as 118% compared to a single-round auction. The experimental results show that the proposed mechanism is most effective in competitive environments with several suppliers and comparable costs. These results reinforce the importance of fostering competition and diversification in a supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]