Showing papers on "Workflow published in 1983"

Control of Workflow in Organizations: Perspectives from Markets, Hierarchies, and Collectives

Abstract: Three types of control bases, namely, dependence, routinization, and collaboration, are identified as means of controlling workflow in organizations. These bases are seen to reflect the dominant methods of control used in market, bureaucratic, and collective organizations, respectively. It is hypothesized that the total amount of control bases available will lead to effective control, but as organizations will tend to economize upon control costs, it is also hypothesized that these three bases tend to be mutually exclusive. Other hypotheses suggest that the greater the complexity of a transaction the less likely that routinization, but the more likely collaboration, is used as a control base. These hypotheses are investigated in the setting of an aerospace research establishment where users of equipment have to link their activities with providers of technical services.

Human Factor Engineering - Agent of Change:

Abstract: Often, organizations within a large corporation require restructuring for more efficient operations. Human Factors personnel are increasingly becoming the “Agent of Change” when reorganization or restructuring is required. The present paper describes a two-year reorganization process that resulted in the standardization of manual workflow, electronic data processing enhancement, increased work efficiency, and improvements in the quality of the work environment of an engineering organization with a major corporation.

Production modeling with PRISIM

Abstract: This paper describes a software modeling facility that has been developed to provide a powerful and general capability in the production systems simulation area. Based upon the Gasp simulation language, this facility enables one to independently define the five major facets of a production system simulator: workload, workflow, factory operations, factory network configuration, and resource requirements. This simulator is being used to investigate production anomolies, to approximate resource requirements, and to assess production capabilities under varying environmental scenarios. It has proved to be a flexible, valuable tool for the simulation of job-shop activities for factory network configurations using man and machine resources.

Graphic analysis of pharmacy workload as a management tool.

Abstract: As pharmacy planners implement modern services and cost containment measures, a graphic analysis of pharmacy workload can assist the planner in better utilizing personnel time and assuring adequate time for the completion of additional functions by depicting the peak-trough relationship of workflow. Such analysis can be an effective tool to communicate to both peers and superiors.

Computer Applications in Medical Care. Computer Systems in Hospitals. Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Systems: A Flexible Software Scheme for a Clinical Laboratory Computer Network

Abstract: A laboratory information management system (LMS) must disseminate pertinent data to other hospital departments and organize laboratory workflow, while remaining flexible to conform to the organization and practices of the laboratory. While stand-alone LMS's excell at providing versatility through specialized functions like direct instrument interfaces, total hospital information systems (HIS's) are better at combining and distributing diverse data. In general, neither of these approaches have provided the level of performance desired in a modern hospital environment. A formalized scheme of implementing a LMS with a network of computers has been devised to provide the advantages of both approaches, and incorporate advanced levels of customization.