Suchergebnisse

PurposeTo investigate how providers of product-service bundles design and manage their contracts with upstream suppliers to incentivise incremental innovation for the benefit of their downstream customers, who contract the provider based on performance.Design/methodology/approachAn embedded multiple-case study was conducted to examine elements of a European jet fighter's manufacturing and after-sales supply chain. The embedded cases concern provider contracts with first-tier suppliers of product and service offerings. Data collection involved 21 semi-structured interviews, documents and other secondary data sources. Data analysis was informed by agency theory to assess the effectiveness of contract design and management in delivering incremental innovation and to identify related contracting strategies.FindingsWe identify four strategies for fostering incremental innovation in contracts between providers and their first-tier suppliers. These include two contract design strategies, i.e. reducing goal incongruence and addressing information asymmetry; and two contract management strategies, i.e. reducing outcome uncertainty and promoting inter-firm integration between providers and sub-suppliers.Practical implicationsThe research offers managerial guidelines regarding how providers can design and manage their tier-one supplier contracts to achieve incremental innovation. These include encouraging early supplier involvement, using focussed KPIs in contracts, and managing product and service-offering suppliers differently.Originality/valueThe research shows the contingent effect during contract design and management of a sub-supplier's product vs. service offering, which, in turn, impacts incremental innovation. We also find that using focussed key performance indicators in sub-supplier contracts can be effective in improving product and service quality.

Patient-centered care is increasingly recognized as a fundamental component of high-quality healthcare, emphasizing the need for healthcare systems to optimize patient procedures. This systematic review explores the role of process improvement methodologies in enhancing patient procedures while aligning with patient-centered care approaches. A comprehensive search of studies published between 2016 and 2023 was conducted across multiple databases, focusing on healthcare interventions using Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management methodologies. The findings demonstrate that process improvement techniques significantly reduce waiting times, procedural errors, and inefficiencies, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and safety. Moreover, integrating patient-centered care approaches ensures that patients' needs, preferences, and values are central to healthcare decision-making, further enhancing procedural effectiveness. However, challenges such as resistance to change and resource limitations were noted. This review underscores the importance of combining process optimization with patient-centered care to achieve sustainable improvements in patient outcomes and procedural efficiency. Future research should focus on the long-term impact of these methodologies and the role of technology in further advancing patient-centered approaches.

Medication therapy management is a critical service that involves medication reviews, patient education, and care management to enhance patients' therapeutic processes. The presence of pharmacists as easily available healthcare professionals who specialize in the use of drugs and medication is vital in avoiding causes of medication risks and complications, medication compliance, and better outcomes for patients' health. This review will discuss the involvement of pharmacists in MTM, the advantages or disadvantages of using the technique, patient safety, and noncompliance. We also review how MTM interventions conducted by pharmacists are being practiced and evaluated in the present literature, their strengths and weaknesses, and the future direction of this practice.