Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) are a massive subset of the healthcare industry that negotiate lower costs for healthcare supplies by buying for several hospitals at once. "Group Purchasing Organizations" provides an analysis and critique of this industry.

It is imperative for the business community to act now to create global, industry-wide standards of conduct. Corporate strategy expert S. Prakash Sethi along with notable experts on issues of global codes of conduct take an in-depth look at global structures and how regulation works from a corporate perspective, providing case studies of several industries and governments who have begun implementing voluntary codes of conducts, including Equator Principles, ICMM, and The Kimberly Process. He assesses the many types of self-regulations that are currently underway and provides critical analysis for making these more effective, making this a must-read for academics, policy-makers, and corporate leaders.

This volume brings together the work of several outstanding scholars on the critical subject of human resource management in the health care sector. As the contributors note, the combined pressures of an aging population, higher costs, and reduced Medicare reimbursement formulas have made more efficient delivery of services a primary concern for health care facilities of all kinds. Because of the labor-intensive nature of health services, this goal cannot be achieved without more effective human resource management. Here, noted authorities in the field present the latest techniques and practical applications of human resource management specifically tailored to the needs of health care professionals. Broadly comprehensive in scope, this volume addresses each of the major concerns in human resources: planning, staffing, equal employment, performance appraisal, compensation, training, safety, employee rights, and industrial and labor relations.

The book begins by presenting a conceptual framework for human resource management, the strategic choice model. Subsequent chapters build upon this model by presenting a systems approach to strategic human resource planning and demonstrating the importance of job design and job analysis in this context. The contributors then discuss recruitment strategies, performance-based pay systems, employee evaluations, and the design of compensation systems, focusing throughout on issues of particular relevance in the health care sector. Finally, a number of chapters explore topics of increasing concern to both health care workers and administrators, including quality of work life, the burgeoning home health care industry, collective bargaining and legislation, managing change in the health care environment, and the challenges posed by information technology. An indispensable reference source for health practitioners, researchers, and students, "Human Resource Management in the Health Care Sector" is also a valuable text for courses in health, business, nursing, and management.

One of the first books to provide a comprehensive description of OPNET (R) IT Guru and Modeler software, The Practical OPNET (R) User Guide for Computer Network Simulation explains how to use this software for simulating and modeling computer networks. The included laboratory projects help readers learn different aspects of the software in a hands-on way. Quickly Locate Instructions for Performing a TaskThe book begins with a systematic introduction to the basic features of OPNET, which are necessary for performing any network simulation. The remainder of the text describes how to work with various protocol layers using a top-down approach. Every chapter explains the relevant OPNET features and includes step-by-step instructions on how to use the features during a network simulation. Gain a Better Understanding of the "Whats" and "Whys" of the SimulationsEach laboratory project in the back of the book presents a complete simulation and reflects the same progression of topics found in the main text. The projects describe the overall goals of the experiment, discuss the general network topology, and give a high-level description of the system configuration required to complete the simulation. Discover the Complex Functionality Available in OPNETBy providing an in-depth look at the rich features of OPNET software, this guide is an invaluable reference for IT professionals and researchers who need to create simulation models. The book also helps newcomers understand OPNET by organizing the material in a logical manner that corresponds to the protocol layers in a network.

One of the first books to provide a comprehensive description of OPNET (R) IT Guru and Modeler software, The Practical OPNET (R) User Guide for Computer Network Simulation explains how to use this software for simulating and modeling computer networks. The included laboratory projects help readers learn different aspects of the software in a hands-on way. Quickly Locate Instructions for Performing a TaskThe book begins with a systematic introduction to the basic features of OPNET, which are necessary for performing any network simulation. The remainder of the text describes how to work with various protocol layers using a top-down approach. Every chapter explains the relevant OPNET features and includes step-by-step instructions on how to use the features during a network simulation. Gain a Better Understanding of the "Whats" and "Whys" of the SimulationsEach laboratory project in the back of the book presents a complete simulation and reflects the same progression of topics found in the main text. The projects describe the overall goals of the experiment, discuss the general network topology, and give a high-level description of the system configuration required to complete the simulation. Discover the Complex Functionality Available in OPNETBy providing an in-depth look at the rich features of OPNET software, this guide is an invaluable reference for IT professionals and researchers who need to create simulation models. The book also helps newcomers understand OPNET by organizing the material in a logical manner that corresponds to the protocol layers in a network.

Corporate strategy expert Prakash Sethi takes an in-depth look at global structures and how regulation works from a corporate perspective, providing case studies of several industries and governments who have begun implementing voluntary codes of conducts, including Equator Principles, ICMM, and The Kimberly Process.

Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) are a massive subset of the healthcare industry that negotiate lower costs for healthcare supplies by buying for several hospitals at once. Group Purchasing Organizations provides an analysis and critique of this industry.