Directed search with real options

While search is normally modelled by economists purely in terms of decisions over making observations, this paper models it as a process in which information is gained through feedback from innovatory product launches. The information gained can then be used to decide whether to exercise real options. In the model the initial decisions involve a product design and the scale of production capacity. There are then real options to change these factors based on what is learned. The case of launching product variants in parallel is also considered. Under ‘true’ uncertainty, the model can be seen in terms of heuristic decision-making based on subjective beliefs with limited foresight. Search costs, the values of the real options, beliefs, and the cost of capital are all shown to be significant in determining the search path.

Proceedings from the 2nd seminar on Development of Modular Products : December 13-14, 2004, Campus Framtidsdalen, Dalarna University, Sweden

Companies are focusing on efforts increasing the overall efficiency at the same time as the ability to meet customer needs becomes even more important. There is a need to improve the organisation and the product design at the same time through the visualisation of how a product family design should be performed in order to adapt to customers, company internal issues, and long-term strategy. Therefore, there is a need for qualified personnel in today’s companies with the knowledge of product development and modularity. The graduate course Development of Modular Products at Högskolan Dalarna has the objective to provide such knowledge. As a part of the course, each student will individually perform extensive research within a chosen area with respect to Product Development and Modularity. This proceeding is the result of the students own work and was presented during a two day seminar at Dalarna University. The contents of the papers cover many areas, from the identification of customer needs to cost effective manufacturing, and benefits of modularisation. The reader of this proceeding will not only benefit from many areas within Product Development and Modularity but also from the colour of many cultures. In this proceeding, students from nine countries are represented (Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Holland, India, Luxembourg Nigeria, and Sweden). Enjoy the reading.

Materials Collection Creation and Administration: A New Role for Libraries (White Paper)

The Problem/Opportunity: To define, identify, and guide design-based materials collections in academic settings and foster community among those with existing collections and/or those considering creating and supporting one. Contents and topics: What is a materials collection? Why have a materials collection? Acquisition strategies Organizational approaches Programming possibilities Symposium summary Resources

Uma cidade para pessoas: funcionalidade, racionalidade e emotividade nas relações mobiliário urbano, espaço público e cidadãos

This research investigates how functionality, rationality, and emotionality applied to urban furniture design contribute to the organization, legibility, and qualification of public spaces, according to different layouts, physical and visual qualities of the urban furniture as well as the quality of urban infrastructure that may influence the uses and appropriation of urban spaces by pedestrians, turning those spaces into socially centripetal or centrifugal places. The work consists of two parts. First refers to a bibliographical review concerning two main issues of the investigation: product design and legibility of public space, defining the conceptual and theoretical bases, linked to methodological strategies aimed at systemic planning and integrated management of urban furniture design and legibility of public spaces (sidewalks), that are necessary to define the existing relationships among the user s interface (pedestrians); product (urban artifacts); built environment (sidewalks). The second part refers to the achievement of empirical approach throughout visual analysis of public spaces and the functional and qualitative evaluation of the existing urban furniture in the central neighborhood of Cidade Alta, Natal, RN, according to the theoretical researched concepts and methodological procedures. The results expose the weaknesses and levels of intensity arising from the relations among public space, urban furniture, and users, revealing the need for theoretical and practical approaches which would help the decision-making in planning, designing and integrating innovative, sustainable, and ethical solutions in order to design attractive public spaces that could provide sociability and citizenship throughout integrated public management, city systemic thinking and urban identity. The suggested guidelines at the end of this research will provide the necessary strategies to design suitable urban furniture systems according to aesthetic and practical urban infrastructure and city context, aiming to ease visual and physical conflicts that may negatively interfere with the appropriation of public spaces by the citizens

Análise crítica dos produtos de mobilidade sentada - cadeiras de rodas - utilizados por crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral em Natal/RN e outros municípios do Rio Grande do Norte

The objective of this work is to critically analyze the seated mobility adaptive equipment, wheelchair, used by non-ambulatory children/adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy of the quadriplegy type with ages in between 0-18 years old in the municipal city of Natal/RN and of other ones in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This study is characterized as descriptive as it took into consideration the individualized conditions of each child/adolescent and of their home environment, and also evaluates the condition of the used seated mobility devices such as wheelchairs or strollers. Thirty three (33) subjects which had a wheelchair prescribed by a healthcare professional specialist in adaptive equipment within the past 3 years were selected. A questionnaire was applied through a phone with the patient s primary care giver or parents. The results obtained showed that all the equipment being used had an anatomical seat and back and the tilt system mechanism and even though most of the patients required small individual adjustments upon receiving the wheelchair in order to accommodate to the patients characteristics. From the point of view of the caregiver/parents interviewed, 97% described satisfied with the equipment and report assistance with mobility (97%), comfort (82%) and good posture (82%) as the main positive aspects from the equipment. The results also describe the aspects related to the maintenance, time used and activities developed that were reported by the patients. The conclusion therefore is that in order to select the equipment to meet the needs of the consumer it is necessary that: an appropriate wheelchair prescription takes place, the up-to-date knowledge of equipment available in the market, the appropriate use of the resources from the concession programs of the government that purchase equipment and the establishment of link in between the manufacturers, patients and the caregivers

The transformation between exploration and exploitation applied to inventors of packaging innovations

While the inventor is often the driver of an invention in the early stages, he/she needs to move between different social networks for knowledge in order to create and capture value. The main objective of this research is to propose a literature-based framework based on innovation network theory and complemented with C-K theory, in order to analyze the invention/innovation process of inventors and the product concepts in a packaging industry context. Empirical input from three case studies of packaging inventions and their inventors is used to elaborate the suggested framework.The article identifies important gaps in the literature of innovation networks. This is addressed through a theoretical framework based on network theories, complemented with C-K theory for the product design level. The strength-of-ties dimension of the theoretical framework suggests, in agreement with the mainstream literature and the cases presented, that weak ties are required to access the knowledge related to exploration networks and strong ties are required to utilize the knowledge in the exploitation network. The transformation network is an intermediate step acting as a bridge where entrepreneurs can find required knowledge. The transformation network is also an intermediate step where entrepreneurs find financing and companies interested in commercializing inventions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

What can we say about trade and growth when trade becomes a complex system?

Includes bibliography

Structural changes and productivity in Latin American industry, 1970-1996

Includes bibliography

Green supply chain management: Mapping the territory

The objective of this paper is to identify the main definitions, related practices and to point out future directions in green supply chain management (GSCM). After a literature review and systematisation of the published articles in this field, it was possible to identify: a) the main research objectives of analysed papers; b) the research methods adopted; c) the predominantly analysed industrial sectors; d) the GSCM practices considered by the researchers. Results are presented in each of these analytical perspectives. The main findings are: 1) there are various classifications, nomenclatures and types of GSCM practices, but the most commonly used by studies in GSCM are cleaner production, product design, reverse logistic and green purchasing; 2) from the highlighted definitions, the tonic is to adapt operating activities and incorporate the supply chain management philosophy (integration/ collaboration) to environmental concerns (impact reduction) in relations between links in the chain. These results can be useful for those interested in environmental management as well as supply chain management, considering the growing interest in GSCM. We also propose a research agenda on this subject. This is one of the most recent literature review and systematisation on green supply chain management. © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Variação genética em progênies de jacaranda cuspidifolia mart. Utilizando o delineamento sistemático tipo leque

Knowledge of genetic variation in native tree species has helped direct strategies of genetic ex situ conservation, based on provenances and progenies tests. These tests use fixed spacing, not allowing evaluating the behavior of different progenies under this management variable. One way to evaluate simultaneously the genetic variation and different spacing in a small planting area is to use a systematic design. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic variation and to evaluate its performance in Jacaranda cuspidifolia under different spacing. We used a progeny test in a systematic fan design, arranged in a system of 30 concentric rays, with one progeny per ray, randomly, at angles of 12°. The plants were arranged in rays in geometric progression of ratio 1.21, corresponding to nine for plant spacing: 1,95 m2; 2,86 m2; 4,18 m2; 6,12 m2; 8,96 m2; 13,12 m2; 19,21 m2; 28,13 m2; e 41,19 m 2 installed in Selvíria/MS. The traits height, height diameter of 30 cm to soil (DA3) and survival were evaluated at 12 and 24 months of age. Estimates of genetic parameters and spacing were evaluated using the procedure REML/BLUP (restricted maximum likelihood / best linear unbiased prediction). The progenies showed genetic variation, showing that the sample strategy to ex situ conservation was efficient. The species showed good adaptability inthe field and the best performance in treating five, equivalent to a 3 × 3 m spacing, with 8,96 m2;/plant for all traits. The fan systematic design permitted to evaluate in a small area the silvicultural behavior of J. Cuspidifolia plants in spacing varying from 2 to 42 m2/plant (5.000 to 238 trees/ha); which could hardly be evaluat by the traditional designs.

Evaluating interaction with websites: Case study of a government website of the Brazilian Ministry of labor and employment

This paper presents a usability evaluation of the MTE (Ministry of Labor e Employment) website in order to measure the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction regarding the website. The participants were 12 users (07 users were female and 05 male). The results indicate that although the education level of all participants and computing experience, many of them have had difficulty in finding information and do not recommend the site. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Recomendações ergonômicas para o projeto de cadeira de rodas: considerando os aspectos fisiológicos e cognitivos dos idosos

Pós-graduação em Design - FAAC

Metodologia projetual para produtos de moda e a sua interface com as tabelas de medidas do vestuário

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)