HEC Montréal

About: HEC Montréal is a education organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Vehicle routing problem. The organization has 1221 authors who have published 5708 publications receiving 196862 citations. The organization is also known as: Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Montreal & HEC Montreal.

Mergers when prices are negotiated: Evidence from the hospital industry

Abstract: In recent years, many hospitals have merged, in part to gain bargaining leverage with managed care organizations (MCOs). We investigate the price impact of hospital mergers by formulating and estimating an equilibrium bargaining model between hospital systems and managed care health insurers over prices for inpatient services. We estimate the parameters of the model using claims and discharge data from Northern Virginia. In 2006, Inova Health System proposed to acquire Prince William Hospital. We nd that this merger would have raised prices signicantly and that the remedy of separate bargaining imposed by the FTC in a separate hospital case would have resulted in a larger price increase.

Process thinking in strategic organization

Abstract: We need more process thinking in research on strategic organization. Others have said this before in different ways (Pettigrew, 1992; Van de Ven, 1992; Meyer, Gaba and Colwell, 2005), but when one looks at the majority of empirical work published in the major journals in strategy, it seems that the message bears repeating. Even Strategic Organization, a journal that represents an ideal outlet for this type of research and which, according to the editors, actively welcomes it, has been able to publish only a limited number of empirical papers that embody what I would call process thinking over the first four years of its existence – in my estimate, no more than one or two papers per year. This essay will summarize the case for more process thinking in strategic organization, suggest some ideas for making process thinking more central, and draw attention to some illustrative studies that have shown the way. I begin however with a definition.

An Optimal Algorithm for the Traveling Salesman Problem with Time Windows

Abstract: This paper presents the development of new elimination tests which greatly enhance the performance of a relatively well established dynamic programming approach and its application to the minimization of the total traveling cost for the traveling salesman problem with time windows. The tests take advantage of the time window constraints to significantly reduce the state space and the number of state transitions. These reductions are performed both a priori and during the execution of the algorithm. The approach does not experience problems stemming from increasing problem size, wider or overlapping time windows, or an increasing number of states nearly as rapidly as other methods. Our computational results indicate that the algorithm was successful in solving problems with up to 200 nodes and fairly wide time windows. When the density of the nodes in the geographical region was kept constant as the problem size was increased, the algorithm was capable of solving problems with up to 800 nodes. For these problems, the CPU time increased linearly with problem size. These problem sizes are much larger than those of problems previously reported in the literature.

Data equivalence in cross-cultural international business research: assessment and guidelines

Abstract: Data equivalence refers to the extent to which the elements of a research design have the same meaning, and can be applied in the same way, in different cultural contexts. Failure to establish data equivalence in cross-cultural studies may bias empirical results and theoretical inferences. Although several authors have encouraged researchers to ensure high levels of data equivalence, no study has assessed the status of the field in relation to compliance with data equivalence standards. Accordingly, this study examines three aspects of data equivalence (construct equivalence, measurement equivalence, and data collection equivalence) within 167 studies that involve cross-cultural data published in the Journal of International Business Studies, Management International Review, Journal of World Business, Strategic Management Journal and the Academy of Management Journal from 1995 to 2005. The findings indicate that international business researchers report insufficient information in relation to data equivalence issues, thus limiting confidence in the findings of many cross-cultural studies. To enhance future research, a guideline for procedures for researchers to follow and report in establishing data equivalence is offered.