Aplicação do Balanced Scorecard numa Pequena e Média Empresa. Estudo do Caso: Drogaria DSI, LDA

Devido à intensidade da concorrência entre as empresas, estas sentem-se cada vez mais forçadas a ter as suas estratégias organizacionais bem delimitadas e translúcidas de forma a garantir o sucesso e a vantagem competitiva. O BSC tem demonstrado, desde o primórdio, uma excelente ferramenta de gestão estratégica nas empresas, pois visa traduzir a estratégia da empresa em objetivos, indicadores, metas e iniciativas dentro de quatro perspetivas: financeira, clientes, processos internos e aprendizado e crescimento; ajuda as empresas a identificar os fatores críticos de sucesso e a interligar os objetivos estratégico através da relação de causa e efeito espelhado num mapa estratégico. Dado que os estudos desenvolvidos a respeito da aplicação desse instrumento estão voltados para as grandes organizações, o presente trabalho de investigação que versa o tema “Aplicação do Balanced Scorecard numa pequena e média empresa de São Vicente”, objetiva apresentar como o uso dos conceitos do BSC pode contribuir para a melhoria do seu desempenho organizacional a longo prazo. Para alcançar o objetivo definido em relação à fundamentação teórica fez-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica e em relação à sua aplicabilidade desenvolveu-se um estudo de caso, em que foi necessário aplicação de entrevistas, questionários bem como o uso do método de observação direta e a análise documental. Os resultados conquistados indicam que, apesar das suas especificidades ou limitações, o BSC é exequível às PME desde que as mesmas seguem os procedimentos básicos dessa aplicação para as PME.

GESTÃO ESTRATÉGICA E MELHORIA DO DESEMPENHO DO BALANCED SCORECARD ESTUDO DE CASO NUMA EMPRESA DE VESTUARIO

A gestão estratégica procura dar destaque sistemático às suas funções para determinar o equilíbrio entre o ambiente interno e externo da organização, bem como a integração de todos os setores envolventes, com os objetivos principais de maximizar os lucros e concretizar os objetivos definidos. O Balanced Scorecard (BSC), que tem evoluído nos últimos anos, é hoje um dos instrumentos de gestão estratégica mais difundido nas empresas, pois mede o desempenho apoiado em indicadores financeiros e não financeiros. Algumas pesquisas têm sido conduzidas para estudar a influência da utilização da abordagem BSC na performance empresarial. Os resultados obtidos, em algumas dessas pesquisas, sugerem que a adoção do BSC tem um impacto positivo na sua performance empresarial. Por outro lado, outras pesquisas revelaram efeitos negativos do BSC, pois não encontraram um impacto considerável na implementação da abordagem BSC no desempenho, o que leva a querer que os seus gestores não entenderam os princípios fundamentais e, consequentemente, a sua implementação não foi bem-sucedida. Neste sentido, aproveitando a implementação deste instrumento numa empresa do setor do vestuário, levantou-se a questão os gestores compreenderiam os princípios da abordagem do BSC e se estaria a ser adequadamente concebido, desenvolvido e utilizado. Para responder as estas questões, recorreu-se a um estudo empírico, analisando as incumbências e aspetos críticos relacionados com os deveres das fases do ciclo de vida do BSC. Os principais resultados deste estudo revelaram que, apesar das dificuldades encontradas mas que foram ultrapassadas, a empresa otimizou os processos produtivos e assegurou ter orgulho na implementação da estratégia, porque contribuiu para o crescimento, volume de negócios e outros benefícios. Recorrendo à recolha de informação junto da empresa, no seu sítio da internet e a uma entrevista, validou-se o mapa estratégico proposto, ao identificarem-se relações entre as quatro perspetivas consideradas pelo BSC: financeira, clientes, processos internos e aprendizagem e crescimento.

Balanced Scorecard como ferramenta de controlo de gestão e alinhamento estratégico nas organizações - Caso da Mindelo Hotel S.A.

Com a globalização dos mercados, que impõe competitividades mais agressivas, é imperativo o que os gestores utilizem meios capazes de ajudar no aperfeiçoamento das competências de modo a permitir maiores rendibilidades das organizações que dirigem. Ciente que, até o presente as empresas sustentam principalmente no sistema contabilístico, este que, muitas vezes, oferece informações escassos e limitados às tomadas de decisões, torna-se necessário investir em sistemas de medição capazes de apoiar a estratégia organizacional e que permitam excelência no planeamento e controlo e, ainda, conceber e medir indicadores de longo prazo. Com o propósito de auxiliar no aperfeiçoamento dos modelos da gestão, mais concretamente da gestão da empresa em análise, sugerimos, como objectivo deste trabalho, o estudo das ferramentas de gestão tradicional, face às novas ferramentas emergentes. Porquanto, apresentamos, como estudo de caso, a avaliação do sistema de controlo de gestão da Empresa Hoteleira MindelHotel (MH), à luz da literatura consultada, de acordo com o sistema de gestão estratégica utlizada pela empresa, de modo a poder propor eventuais melhorias. No decorrer da revisão bibliográfica, foram estudadas demais ferramentas da gestão estratégica, das quais escolhemos o Balanced Scorecard (BSC) como um instrumento habilitado a servir de base para o desenho de um sistema de controlo estratégico que visa essencialmente o alinhamento estratégico da organização. Em que após uma breve descrição do ponto de vista teórico dos conceitos, apresentamos à Empresa Hoteleira MindelHotel uma proposta para adopção, concepção e implementação do Balanced Scorecard. Durante o estudo constatou-se, por parte da direcção da empresa, uma maior consciência da importância da comunicação e divulgação da sua estratégia entre os diferentes níveis hierárquicos, o que evidencia que ela está, mesmo, disposta a apostar na sua inovação estratégica.

Robust volume-targeted balanced steady-state free-precession coronary magnetic resonance angiography in a breathhold at 3.0 Tesla: a reproducibility study.

BACKGROUND: Transient balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) has shown substantial promise for noninvasive assessment of coronary arteries but its utilization at 3.0 T and above has been hampered by susceptibility to field inhomogeneities that degrade image quality. The purpose of this work was to refine, implement, and test a robust, practical single-breathhold bSSFP coronary MRA sequence at 3.0 T and to test the reproducibility of the technique. METHODS: A 3D, volume-targeted, high-resolution bSSFP sequence was implemented. Localized image-based shimming was performed to minimize inhomogeneities of both the static magnetic field and the radio frequency excitation field. Fifteen healthy volunteers and three patients with coronary artery disease underwent examination with the bSSFP sequence (scan time = 20.5 ± 2.0 seconds), and acquisitions were repeated in nine subjects. The images were quantitatively analyzed using a semi-automated software tool, and the repeatability and reproducibility of measurements were determined using regression analysis and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), in a blinded manner. RESULTS: The 3D bSSFP sequence provided uniform, high-quality depiction of coronary arteries (n = 20). The average visible vessel length of 100.5 ± 6.3 mm and sharpness of 55 ± 2% compared favorably with earlier reported navigator-gated bSSFP and gradient echo sequences at 3.0 T. Length measurements demonstrated a highly statistically significant degree of inter-observer (r = 0.994, ICC = 0.993), intra-observer (r = 0.894, ICC = 0.896), and inter-scan concordance (r = 0.980, ICC = 0.974). Furthermore, ICC values demonstrated excellent intra-observer, inter-observer, and inter-scan agreement for vessel diameter measurements (ICC = 0.987, 0.976, and 0.961, respectively), and vessel sharpness values (ICC = 0.989, 0.938, and 0.904, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The 3D bSSFP acquisition, using a state-of-the-art MR scanner equipped with recently available technologies such as multi-transmit, 32-channel cardiac coil, and localized B0 and B1+ shimming, allows accelerated and reproducible multi-segment assessment of the major coronary arteries at 3.0 T in a single breathhold. This rapid sequence may be especially useful for functional imaging of the coronaries where the acquisition time is limited by the stress duration and in cases where low navigator-gating efficiency prohibits acquisition of a free breathing scan in a reasonable time period.

A program for the computation of power and determination of sample size in hierarchical experimental designs.

We have devised a program that allows computation of the power of F-test, and hence determination of appropriate sample and subsample sizes, in the context of the one-way hierarchical analysis of variance with fixed effects. The power at a fixed alternative is an increasing function of the sample size and of the subsample size. The program makes it easy to obtain the power of F-test for a range of values of sample and subsample sizes, and therefore the appropriate sizes based on a desired power. The program can be used for the 'ordinary' case of the one-way analysis of variance, as well as for hierarchical analysis of variance with two stages of sampling. Examples are given of the practical use of the program.

Measurement of Pavement Surface Variations, July 1974

The measurement of pavement roughness has been the concern of highway engineers for more than 70 years. This roughness is referred to as "riding quality" by the traveling public. Pavement roughness evaluating devices have attempted to place either a graphical or numerical value on the public's riding comfort or discomfort. Early graphical roughness recorders had many different designs. In 1900 an instrument called the "Viagraph" was developed by an Irish engineer.' The "Viagraph" consisted of a twelve foot board with graphical recorder drawn over the pavement. The "Profilometer" built in Illinois in 1922 was much more impressive. ' The instrument's recorder was mounted on a frame supported by 32 bicycle wheels mounted in tandem. Many other variations of profilometers with recorders were built but most were difficult to handle and could not secure uniformly reproducible results. The Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) Road Roughness Indicator b u i l t in 1941 is the most widely used numerical roughness recorder.' The BPR Road Roughness Indicator consists of a trailer unit with carefully selected springs, means of dampening, and balanced wheel.

Renal arteries: navigator-gated balanced fast field-echo projection MR angiography with aortic spin labeling: initial experience.

A cardiac-triggered free-breathing three-dimensional balanced fast field-echo projection magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic sequence with a two-dimensional pencil-beam aortic labeling pulse was developed for the renal arteries. For data acquisition during free breathing in eight healthy adults and seven consecutive patients with renal artery disease, real-time navigator technology was implemented. This technique allows high-spatial-resolution and high-contrast renal MR angiography and visualization of renal artery stenosis without exogenous contrast agent or breath hold. Initial promising results warrant larger clinical studies.

Improved myocardial tagging contrast in cine balanced SSFP images.

PURPOSE: To improve the tag persistence throughout the whole cardiac cycle by providing a constant tag-contrast throughout all the cardiac phases when using balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flip angles of the imaging radiofrequency pulses were optimized to compensate for the tagging contrast-to-noise ratio (Tag-CNR) fading at later cardiac phases in bSSFP imaging. Complementary spatial modulation of magnetization (CSPAMM) tagging was implemented to improve the Tag-CNR. Numerical simulations were performed to examine the behavior of the Tag-CNR with the proposed method, and to compare the resulting Tag-CNR with that obtained from the more commonly used spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) imaging. A gel phantom, as well as five healthy human volunteers, were scanned on a 1.5T scanner using bSSFP imaging with and without the proposed technique. The phantom was also scanned with SPGR imaging. RESULTS: With the proposed technique, the Tag-CNR remained almost constant during the whole cardiac cycle. Using bSSFP imaging, the Tag-CNR was about double that of SPGR. CONCLUSION: The tag persistence was significantly improved when the proposed method was applied, with better Tag-CNR during the diastolic cardiac phase. The improved Tag-CNR will support automated tagging analysis and quantification methods.

Random assignment of intervention points in two phase single-case designs: data-division-specific distributions

The present study explores the statistical properties of a randomization test based on the random assignment of the intervention point in a two-phase (AB) single-case design. The focus is on randomization distributions constructed with the values of the test statistic for all possible random assignments and used to obtain p-values. The shape of those distributions is investigated for each specific data division defined by the moment in which the intervention is introduced. Another aim of the study consisted in testing the detection of inexistent effects (i.e., production of false alarms) in autocorrelated data series, in which the assumption of exchangeability between observations may be untenable. In this way, it was possible to compare nominal and empirical Type I error rates in order to obtain evidence on the statistical validity of the randomization test for each individual data division. The results suggest that when either of the two phases has considerably less measurement times, Type I errors may be too probable and, hence, the decision making process to be carried out by applied researchers may be jeopardized.

R functions for quantifying nonindependence in standard dyadic and SRM designs

Interdependence is the main feature of dyadic relationships and, in recent years, various statistical procedures have been proposed for quantifying and testing this social attribute in different dyadic designs. The purpose of this paper is to develop several functions for this kind of statistical tests in an R package, known as nonindependence, for use by applied social researchers. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is also developed to facilitate the use of the functions included in this package. Examples drawn from psychological research and simulated data are used to illustrate how the software works.

Comparing 'visual' effect size indices for single-case designs

Effect size indices are indispensable for carrying out meta-analyses and can also be seen as an alternative for making decisions about the effectiveness of a treatment in an individual applied study. The desirable features of the procedures for quantifying the magnitude of intervention effect include educational/clinical meaningfulness, calculus easiness, insensitivity to autocorrelation, low false alarm and low miss rates. Three effect size indices related to visual analysis are compared according to the aforementioned criteria. The comparison is made by means of data sets with known parameters: degree of serial dependence, presence or absence of general trend, changes in level and/or in slope. The percent of nonoverlapping data showed the highest discrimination between data sets with and without intervention effect. In cases when autocorrelation or trend is present, the percentage of data points exceeding the median may be a better option to quantify the effectiveness of a psychological treatment.

Factors affecting visual analysis in single-case designs

Visual inspection remains the most frequently applied method for detecting treatment effects in single-case designs. The advantages and limitations of visual inference are here discussed in relation to other procedures for assessing intervention effectiveness. The first part of the paper reviews previous research on visual analysis, paying special attention to the validation of visual analysts" decisions, inter-judge agreement, and false alarm and omission rates. The most relevant factors affecting visual inspection (i.e., effect size, autocorrelation, data variability, and analysts" expertise) are highlighted and incorporated into an empirical simulation study with the aim of providing further evidence about the reliability of visual analysis. Our results concur with previous studies that have reported the relationship between serial dependence and increased Type I rates. Participants with greater experience appeared to be more conservative and used more consistent criteria when assessing graphed data. Nonetheless, the decisions made by both professionals and students did not match sufficiently the simulated data features, and we also found low intra-judge agreement, thus suggesting that visual inspection should be complemented by other methods when assessing treatment effectiveness.

Estimating slope and level change in N=1 designs

The current study proposes a new procedure for separately estimating slope change and level change between two adjacent phases in single-case designs. The procedure eliminates baseline trend from the whole data series prior to assessing treatment effectiveness. The steps necessary to obtain the estimates are presented in detail, explained, and illustrated. A simulation study is carried out to explore the bias and precision of the estimators and compare them to an analytical procedure matching the data simulation model. The experimental conditions include two data generation models, several degrees of serial dependence, trend, level and/or slope change. The results suggest that the level and slope change estimates provided by the procedure are unbiased for all levels of serial dependence tested and trend is effectively controlled for. The efficiency of the slope change estimator is acceptable, whereas the variance of the level change estimator may be problematic for highly negatively autocorrelated data series.