The employment impact of future technological change is much debated. Some commentators predict devastating job losses, while others are more sanguine, claiming that technological change raises ...living standards without reducing total employment. Our analysis a use a combination of partial equilibrium and dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) analysis with neo-Keynesian characteristics. These models are employed to assess the implications of skill-biased labour-augmenting technological change. They are calibrated on recent German Social Accounting Matrix data and parameterised using the best available empirical results from developed economies. The numerical CGE multi-sectoral model simulates the system-wide impacts of pervasive technical change affecting all sectors of the economy. The model allows investigation of alternative scenarios based around a common economic structure and set of parameter values. The results suggest that labour-augmenting technological change typically stimulates GDP growth and long-run total employment. However, there are negative short- and medium-run employment and real wage implications which might require government policy intervention. The simulations indicate that for open developed economies, improving the efficiency of skilled workers, as opposed to unskilled workers, is the most beneficial. This improvement has positive long-run impacts that are spread across both skill classifications. On the other hand, increasing the efficiency of the unskilled produces negative impacts on skilled employment and real wages. Additionally, the openness of the economy to migration and trade are important in determining the scale of these system-wide effects.
•Labour augmenting technological change in a computable general equilibrium model.•Potential for labour-market short-term pain but long-term gain.•Openness of the economy to migration and trade are crucial in absorbing impacts.•Policy concern should focus on the skill-group whose efficiency remains unchanged.
The article presents a theoretical generalisation and solution of a current scientific and applied problem which develops theoretical principles, methodological approaches and scientific and ...practical recommendations for improving the mechanism of labour efficiency management in terms of innovation-oriented development of enterprises. It is substantiated that in the conditions of innovation-oriented development of ecosystems, including enterprises, the disclosure of the essence of labour efficiency requires introduction of a dual quantitative–qualitative approach: on the one hand, labour efficiency reflects the ratio of the manufactured products (tangible and intangible benefits) and corresponding living labour costs (quantitative aspect) and, on the other hand, it is the result of using productive abilities of people, characterised by manufactured products of a particular consumer quality with the creation of added value (qualitative aspect). Conceptual bases of improvement of the mechanism of labour efficiency management at enterprises were developed. They are based on certain tasks, functions, principles, methods of labour efficiency management and the formed system of factors of influence and the revealed factors and reserves of an increase in labour efficiency. They presuppose development and realisation of the corresponding programme, which aims to: optimise total labour costs; improve quality of products at a constant mass and satisfaction with the work process of all its participants; ensure positive changes in material well-being and quality of life on the basis of the formation of modern innovation infrastructure of the enterprise.
•Farm expansion and workload seasonality have increased labour demand on dairy farms.•Understanding time-use, through measurement, is essential to manage labour input.•Labour input increased and ...labour efficiency improved between spring 2019 and 2021.•New facilities and technologies reduced labour input and improved labour efficiency.•The on-farm case studies can assure farmers of the labour benefits of such techniques.
The seasonal workload on pasture-based dairy farms, combined with increased herd sizes, have led to an increased focus on farm labour time-use and techniques that can reduce farm labour demand. The objective of this study was to measure labour time-use over time on a sample of pasture-based dairy farms and examine the impact that specific facilities and technologies could have on labour demand in real farm situations. Fifty-seven farms completed two labour time-use studies in spring 2019 and 2021 (1st February to 30th April). Farm labour input was recorded on one day each week during the study period. Results showed that farm labour input increased by 3% (1 364 to 1 403 h) between spring 2019 and 2021 and farm labour efficiency improved by 7% (10.7 to 10.0 h/cow), while herd size increased by 10% (145 to 160 cows). Case study farms that made substantial changes to the milking and calf care facilities and practices (between 2019 and 2021) were selected to examine the impact of these changes on labour demand and efficiency. The four case study farms that implemented new milking parlours or added additional milking units improved their milking efficiency by 15% (2.89 to 2.45 h/cow per farm) and reduced milking labour input by 15% (402 to 342 h per farm). Seventeen farms made substantial calf care changes such as constructing a new calf shed, installing an automatic calf feeder, selling male calves and contract rearing heifer calves preweaning. These farms had on average 26 more cows per farm in 2021 than in 2019 (increasing from 137 to 163 cows), but calf care labour input declined by 5% (240 to 228 h per farm) and calf care labour efficiency improved by 16% (1.83 to 1.53 h/cow per farm). Of these farms, the largest improvement was observed on the eight farms that installed automatic calf feeders, where calf care labour efficiency improved by 23% (1.76 to 1.36 h/cow). Results of this study contribute to our understanding of labour use on pasture-based dairy farms and how it can change over time. The real-time on-farm case studies can reassure farmers of the positive benefits that the facilities and technologies outlined in this study can have on labour efficiency.
The efficient use of labour input is essential to the success of farms; however, many countries are experiencing a decreasing family workforce on-farm as a result of perceived labour intensive work ...and poor work–life balance. Four farms identified from two labour time-use studies were selected as case studies to investigate management of the family dairy farm in terms of herd size, while also meeting the labour requirements and maintaining a satisfactory work–life balance. A mixed methods approach was used; quantitative analysis described the labour profile and characteristics of the farms, while the qualitative interviews provided insights into strategies to achieve labour efficiency. The results demonstrate that a family farm with a herd size of ∼120 cows with appropriate facilities and streamlined practices can operate effectively with a total labour input of 2,986 h/yr. The labour contributed by the farmer and the farm family represented 77.5% of the total annual labour requirement. Contractors or hired employees contributed the remaining labour input, depending on individual circumstances. The annual average working day length for the farmer (excluding breaks) was 7.8 h/d. The analysed narratives of the farmers demonstrated their view that a seasonal, pasture-based spring calving system of production is a key influence in achieving relatively high labour efficiency on-farm, if it is ensured that the peak workload in spring is managed effectively. The study highlights that the overall labour demand can be reduced on Irish family farms through the management of facilities and practices. The farmer and family members can then decide on the degree of self-sufficiency with regard to labour, that is, what proportion of that labour they wish to contribute based on their lifestyle choices, cost and availability of contractors and hired workers.
The primary problems pertaining to productivity or - more precisely - efficiency are: how to define it and how to measure it. This article studies technical efficiency in Stochastic Frontier Analysis ...(SFA) - the input-oriented frontier model - in the construction industry and compares it with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) results. The models explored in this paper were constructed on the basis of two outputs and personnel cost as an input. The research sample consisted of European countries. The aim was to determine whether there are substantial differences in estimation of efficiency derived from those two alternative frontier approaches. The comparison of results according to the models may translate into higher reliability of the undertaken labour efficiency analysis in construction and its conclusions. Although the results are not characterized by high compatibility, the conducted analysis indicated the most attractive countries taking into account labour cost to profit and turnover ratios of enterprises. One of the determinants which should not be ignored when analysing the labour efficiency is the level of development of a country; however, it is not the sole factor affecting the efficiency of the sector.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show that intentional demand forecast bias can improve warehouse capacity planning and labour efficiency. It presents an empirical methodology to detect and ...implement forecast bias.
Design/methodology/approach
A forecast model integrates historical demand information and expert forecasts to support active bias management. A non-linear relationship between labour productivity and forecast bias is employed to optimise efficiency. The business analytic methods are illustrated by a case study in a consumer electronics warehouse, supplemented by a survey among 30 warehouses.
Findings
Results indicate that warehouse management systematically over-forecasts order sizes. The case study shows that optimal bias for picking and loading is 30-70 per cent with efficiency gains of 5-10 per cent, whereas the labour-intensive packing stage does not benefit from bias. The survey results confirm productivity effects of forecast bias.
Research limitations/implications
Warehouse managers can apply the methodology in their own situation if they systematically register demand forecasts, actual order sizes and labour productivity per warehouse stage. Application is illustrated for a single warehouse, and studies for alternative product categories and labour processes are of interest.
Practical implications
Intentional forecast bias can lead to smoother workflows in warehouses and thus result in higher labour efficiency. Required data include historical data on demand forecasts, order sizes and labour productivity. Implementation depends on labour hiring strategies and cost structures.
Originality/value
Operational data support evidence-based warehouse labour management. The case study validates earlier conceptual studies based on artificial data.
This study assessed technology use and evaluated rates of technology adoption and milking practices on New Zealand dairy farms. Industry surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2013, when farmers were ...asked a series of questions relating to their physical farm details, their role in the business, their attitudes towards technology, the technologies they had on-farm and their levels of satisfaction. In total, 532 and 500 respondents were questioned in the two surveys, respectively, with a similar representation of rotary and herringbone dairies. Questions relating to attitudes towards new technologies were subjected to a cluster analysis using the 2013 dataset. Farmers were classified into two categories, ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ adopters. Fast adopters are more likely to have a rotary, with a larger farm and more cows. The most common technology in herringbone dairies is automatic vat washing and in rotary dairies automatic cluster removers (ACR). Rotary dairies equipped with ACR, automatic drafting and automatic teat spraying achieve greater labour utilisation (cows/labour unit). Around half of farmers with herringbone dairies sometimes or always wait for slow-milking cows to milk out and 85% of farmers do not know the their ACR settings, highlighting significant potential to improve milking efficiency. Overall, technology is associated with greater labour utilisation. However, the benefits of each technology should be scrutinised to ensure appropriate investment decisions are made by farmers.
It is unknown whether calf rearing facilities in the Republic of Ireland are fit for purpose, or if facilities sufficiently consider calf and farmer welfare. The aim of this study was to review ...current calf housing facilities and management practices on Irish farms to determine if calves are reared in structurally appropriate facilities with management decisions that safeguard calf and farmer welfare. Fifty-one farms located in the Munster region in the Republic of Ireland were visited twice: (1) Pre-calving (December-January) and (2) During peak calving (January-March). During visit one, herd owners completed a questionnaire regarding calf housing and management practices on-farm and each facility used to rear calves was measured (measurement of cubic air capacity, ventilation, pen area, drainage etc.) without calves being present. Visit two consisted of a short interview with the principal calf manager to validate previously asked questions and environmental based measurements of each calf house that had been recorded, with any deviation from the first visit noted (measurements of temperature, wind speed, light intensity, facility provisions in-house and in-pen; calves present). Average herd size was 254, operating a spring calving system with a median calving season length of 11.6 weeks. While most farms expanded (88%; N = 51), this did not appear to have negatively affected calf space allowances (9.9% houses overcrowded at a space allowance of 1.5 m
/calf; N = 121). Calves were most commonly housed in group sizes of <12 (71.6% of all groupings; N = 394), with farmers moving away from individual housing for a period immediately post-birth, to grouping them immediately instead (58.8%; N = 51). The number of farmers testing colostrum was 31.4% (N = 51). Although the calving season was compact, most farmers were unconcerned about the upcoming spring workload (58.8%; N = 51). Farms appeared sufficiently prepared for spring, with most using the same number or less sheds during visit two than declared in visit one (76.5%; N = 51). To conclude, farmers made sufficient provision for calf housing and space allowances for calves that facilitated group housing post-birth. While structural and management components of rearing systems appear in line with sectoral recommendations, certain areas require attention on many farms (e.g., colostrum testing) to safeguard calf welfare and reduce the workload associated with calf rearing for farmers.
Productivity effects of outsourcing Broedner, Peter; Kinkel, Steffen; Lay, Gunter
International journal of operations & production management,
01/2009, Letnik:
29, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical investigation of firm level productivity effects of outsourcing against the background of a review of recent theoretical considerations ...about the topic.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical research is based on a large representative data set from the German manufacturing industries containing detailed data about almost 500 establishments. It investigates productivity effects of outsourcing under control of other relevant factors influencing firm level productivity by means of a multivariate regression analysis.
Findings
In sharp contrast to common belief and prevailing management practices, outsourcing, i.e. the extent to which the vertical range of manufacturing is reduced, has a strong negative impact on a firm's labour productivity. Against the background of the theoretical considerations reviewed from the literature, this result can be explained such that mere cost‐efficiency comparisons are insufficient for appropriate decisions on vertical manufacturing range as the effects of opportunism, of disturbed competence formation, and of limited innovative value creation processes may be overcompensating cost benefits.
Research limitations/implications
The investigation focuses on productivity effects of outsourcing as a relevant long‐term performance measure not regarding other firm level performance indicators. Although covering a significant range of industrial sectors in Germany, more empirical evidence is needed from other sectors and regions. Moreover, performance effects of different types of outsourcing implementations (e.g. simple part supply versus outsourcing of whole business processes including design, production, and marketing) should be investigated as they might have different impacts.
Practical implications
The findings strongly recommend a revision of established decision‐making schemes for vertical manufacturing range based on cost‐efficiency considerations. Decision making should instead integrate cost efficiency and transaction cost analysis with the competence and innovation capability formation perspectives. Procedural schemes for this integrated view are still to be developed, however.
Originality/value
The research described in this paper considerably widens the empirical knowledge about productivity effects of outsourcing and has strong impact on management practice.
Technological development goes beyond the acquisition of requisite skills through environmental exposure, education and training to the ability to engage in innovative tasks whose results include ...improved processes, systems, higher levels of performance, greater efficiency and new products. This article reports the results of a study centred on the links between technology diffusion and economic growth in order to present an alternative interpretation of their role. The methodology involved an initial review of growth accounting procedures, the use of secondary data on registration of patents, energy generation statistics, income per capita and GDP. Next, using internet search engines, technology transfer, adoption and innovation are unpacked in the context of contemporary models of innovation, diffusion and adoption. The resulting elements are reconfigured into linear information flows that mimic knowledge transfer between the phases of the system with specified outcomes. The findings indicate mixed outputs on the basis of which an alternative conceptual model is developed.
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