Federico Cosenz

Designing dynamic performance management systems to foster SME competitiveness according to a sustainable development perspective: empirical evidences from a case-study

The role of performance management (PM) systems has become crucial for steering small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to successfully compete during the ongoing critical economic transition. To improve decision-maker strategic learning processes, traditional PM frameworks need to be combined with system dynamics (SD) modelling. This paper shows how to design and use a dynamic performance management (DPM) approach to assess and support SMEs competitiveness according to a sustainable development perspective. The emerging framework is applied to a real case of an Italian small business to analyse the empirical effectiveness of the approach hereby suggested.

A Dynamic Viewpoint to Design Performance Management Systems in Academic Institutions: Theory and Practice

This article illustrates how to design and apply Performance Management systems in academic institutions by identifying and modeling those factors affecting academic performance through a dynamic performance management view. Particularly, combining performance management with System Dynamics modeling may allow academic decision-makers to better identify key performance drivers for pursuing a sustainable performance improvement in universities. In the second section of the article, a number of examples based on empirical findings from a field project aimed at designing a dynamic performance management model for the University of Palermo (Italy) are discussed.

A Dynamic Simulation Approach to Frame Drivers and Implications of Corruption Practices on Firm Performance

Corruption is a multifaceted socio-economic phenomenon widely spread – although with different intensity – all around the world. Many studies on corruption have been conducted at a country-level, but relatively little effort has been placed in evaluating its implications, in terms of both financial and competitive performance, at a firm-level. Therefore, this paper aims at exploring the causal relationships underlying the effect of corruption on firm performance in order to show the different scenarios that may emerge from the combination between external (i.e., contextual conditions) and internal (i.e., organizational characteristics) forces that drive corruption. To this end, we adopt a Dynamic Performance Management approach, that is, a combination between traditional Performance Management schemes and System Dynamics methodology, which allows analysts to frame complex physical and social systems by identifying and modelling those variables and related cause-and-effect relationships that mainly affect firm performance. As a result, the emerging quantitative model identifies different scenarios that highlight how a firm may react – in terms of performance simulation – to corruption practices.

Supporting public sector management through simulation-based methods: a dynamic performance management approach

Abstract Though it draws a number of precursors, simulation-based techniques applied to traditional performance management frameworks constitute a novel approach to support public sector institutions in framing organizational performance dynamics and, as a result, improving public service delivery. This paper aims at contributing to the improvement of the outcomes achievable from the use of traditional performance management systems in the public sector by combining them with a simulation-based method named System Dynamics modeling. Such an approach is called Dynamic Performance Management.

Designing Outcome-Based Performance Management Systems to Assess Policies Impacting on Caesarean Section Rate: An Analysis of the Sicilian Maternity Pathway

The reduction in Caesarean sections (CSs) is widely considered a priority in the public decision makers agenda. Though the World Health Organisation has strongly encouraged countries to implement policies to reduce CSs to 10–15%, after almost thirty years this goal appears still far from its achievement. The literature depicts CS as a multifaceted phenomenon whose causes involve different factors, ranging from the patient sphere to the health care level of services provided, and the societal preference of CS practice. Policy makers aiming to standardise cares and to reduce CSs often implement maternity pathways (MP). By investigating the MP introduced in the Sicilian region, the authors highlight the need to adopt an outcome-based performance management approach to assess the effectiveness of CS reduction policies. The suggested perspective also reveals the necessity to frame and coordinate the interdependencies between the different actors playing a crucial role in the MP.

Supporting the Natural Gas Supply Chain Public Policies Through Simulation Methods: A Dynamic Performance Management Approach

Natural gas is considered the transitional fuel par excellence between fossil and renewable sources, considering its low cost, greater efficiency and lesser impact on the environment. This is the reason why its demand levels have increased worldwide, requiring intervention of public and private stakeholders in order to meet these increments. The participation of diverse interconnected stakeholders (key actors) of the supplier-client form, constitutes a supply chain for natural gas, in which the effects of the application of public policy actions can be analysed in the time, using Dynamic Performance Management DPM methodology. The results of the model show the behaviour of the reserves, production and transport levels compared to scenarios that combine the implementation time of capacity expansion projects and supply reliability percentages, in which the national government can intervene, facilitating decision makers to identify the impact of the actions to be implemented, in the planning of policies aimed at guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of this resource.

Demand and Supply Model for the Natural Gas Supply Chain in Colombia

Natural gas is considered the transitional fuel for excellence between fossil and renewable sources, considering its low cost, greater efficiency and lesser effects on the environment. This has led to increased demand levels worldwide, requiring the intervention of public and private actors to meet such demand. In this research, we study the natural gas supply chain in Colombia using system dynamics modelling. The results allow to contrast both the behaviour of the production and transport levels and the behaviour of the demand from the consumption sectors, allowing to identify capacity levels to be developed considering implementation times and percentages of coverage in the supply.

Alternative Energy Policy for Mitigating the Asynchrony of the Wind-Power Industry’s Supply Chain in Brazil

High dependency on hydroelectricity has revealed drawbacks in the security of power supplies as a consequence of the climate variability in South America. Under these conditions, Brazil is starting to consider alternative renewable sources for energy production, seeking to avoid periods of scarcity while also promoting clean technologies in its electricity market. Since 2004, wind power has shown a significant rise in terms of installed capacity in this country. Despite increases in wind-power units, Brazil suffers from delays in setting up its transmission infrastructure, which affects the performance of the wind-power supply chain. This chapter presents a simulation model that helps assess the long-term effects of an alternative sustainable energy policy, which may contribute to overcoming the asynchrony between renewable generation policy and the insufficiency of transmission infrastructure. Using lessons learned from simulations, the research concludes that the transmission industry in Brazil requires appropriate investment incentives for just-in-time synchrony with the expansion of the wind industry.

Framing Caesarean Section Reduction Policies Through a Dynamic Performance Management Approach: A Maternity Pathway Case-Based Analysis

The World Health Organization since the last three decades strongly encourages countries to reduce the caesarean section (CS) rate down to 10–15%. However, this goal nowadays appears still far from its achievement. Public decision-makers are indeed struggling to design and implement effective policies to reduce the CS rate. The literature provides a wide range of factors causing a change in the CS rate, such as the patient clinical profile and the healthcare service quality provided. Maternity pathway (MP) is considered a mean through which to standardize the cares and to reduce CSs. This study investigates the MP recently introduced in Sicilian local health authorities. Based on such an analysis, an outcome-based performance management approach has been used by the authors to build a system dynamics model. Scenario simulation results reveal that such an approach may support decision-makers to learn how to design CS reduction policies. It particularly remarks the necessity to implement policies oriented to coordinate the actions undertaken by the different actors playing a crucial role in the MP.