Emergency energy resource management in SmartGrids

Energy resources management can play a very relevant role in future power systems in a SmartGrid context, with intensive penetration of distributed generation and storage systems. This paper deals with the importance of resource management in incident situations. The paper presents DemSi, an energy resources management simulator that has been developed by the authors to simulate electrical distribution networks with high distributed generation penetration, storage in network points and customers with demand response contracts. DemSi is used to undertake simulations for an incident scenario, evidencing the advantages of adequately using flexible contracts, storage, and reserve in order to limit incident consequences.

Distribution system operation supported by contextual energy resource management based on intelligent SCADA

Future distribution systems will have to deal with an intensive penetration of distributed energy resources ensuring reliable and secure operation according to the smart grid paradigm. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is an essential infrastructure for this evolution. This paper proposes a new conceptual design of an intelligent SCADA with a decentralized, flexible, and intelligent approach, adaptive to the context (context awareness). This SCADA model is used to support the energy resource management undertaken by a distribution network operator (DNO). Resource management considers all the involved costs, power flows, and electricity prices, allowing the use of network reconfiguration and load curtailment. Locational Marginal Prices (LMP) are evaluated and used in specific situations to apply Demand Response (DR) programs on a global or a local basis. The paper includes a case study using a 114 bus distribution network and load demand based on real data.

Energy Resource Management under the Influence of the Weekend Transition Considering an Intensive use of Electric Vehicles

Energy resource scheduling is becoming increasingly important, as the use of distributed resources is intensified and of massive electric vehicle is envisaged. The present paper proposes a methodology for day-ahead energy resource scheduling for smart grids considering the intensive use of distributed generation and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). This method considers that the energy resources are managed by a Virtual Power Player (VPP) which established contracts with their owners. It takes into account these contracts, the users' requirements subjected to the VPP, and several discharge price steps. The full AC power flow calculation included in the model takes into account network constraints. The influence of the successive day requirements on the day-ahead optimal solution is discussed and considered in the proposed model. A case study with a 33-bus distribution network and V2G is used to illustrate the good performance of the proposed method.

Management of Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions

This research thesis analyses the motivation behind the cross-border mergers and acquisitions deals. How mergers and acquisitions of new knowledge and assets, enhance business with expansion into new streams and international markets. Also, how mega deals help them to gain a power in the international markets. The research focuses on understanding the interrelation between motivations which are contributing to M&A activities and how issues like cultural differences and different management styles are overcome by these firms in cross-border settings. Chapter 1, gives a background knowledge on cross-border M&A as popular internationalization strategy choice, continuing with describing the process in Finnish and Japanese cultural context, and how these deals are proceeding in particular cases. Chapter 2, reviews the important findings and touches the common gaps or aspects those are not studied extensively, does play a key role in the success and failure of M&A deals. A methodology is presented in chapter 3, presenting the hurdles faced by many in this research field. Chapter 4, present the case study is presented to show how M&A can play an important role in structuring the entire economy of Japan. At last chapter 5, presents the evidence, if cultural, HRM and geographical aspects really contribute to the success of M&A, based on which managerial implications are suggested and propositions are built for future research references.

Human Resource Training and National Sport Organization Managers: Examining the Impact of Training on Individual and Organizational Performance

Within sport, a tremendous amount of effort is committed to the on-the-field performance of athletes and coaches, neglecting the off-the-field performance and development of sport managers. This study examines the impact of human resource training on the performance of five Canadian national sport organizations (NSO) and their managers (N=22). Data were collected on three outcome variables (learning, individual performance, organizational performance) and three mediating variables (motivation to transfer, training design, organizational climate) at three time measures (pre-training, post-training1, post-training2). Results indicate that training improves the learning and individual performance of sport managers, as well as the organizational performance of NSOs. Varying relationships were found at each of the three time measures, demonstrating that a progression to training-related performance change exists, while providing support for three levels of analysis (individual, organizational, systemic). Implications and future research directions are discussed and highlight the need for on-going training opportunities for Canadian sport managers.

Solution Methods for Service Network Design with Resource Management Consideration

La gestion des ressources, équipements, équipes de travail, et autres, devrait être prise en compte lors de la conception de tout plan réalisable pour le problème de conception de réseaux de services. Cependant, les travaux de recherche portant sur la gestion des ressources et la conception de réseaux de services restent limités. La présente thèse a pour objectif de combler cette lacune en faisant l’examen de problèmes de conception de réseaux de services prenant en compte la gestion des ressources. Pour ce faire, cette thèse se décline en trois études portant sur la conception de réseaux. La première étude considère le problème de capacitated multi-commodity fixed cost network design with design-balance constraints(DBCMND). La structure multi-produits avec capacité sur les arcs du DBCMND, de même que ses contraintes design-balance, font qu’il apparaît comme sous-problème dans de nombreux problèmes reliés à la conception de réseaux de services, d’où l’intérêt d’étudier le DBCMND dans le contexte de cette thèse. Nous proposons une nouvelle approche pour résoudre ce problème combinant la recherche tabou, la recomposition de chemin, et une procédure d’intensification de la recherche dans une région particulière de l’espace de solutions. Dans un premier temps la recherche tabou identifie de bonnes solutions réalisables. Ensuite la recomposition de chemin est utilisée pour augmenter le nombre de solutions réalisables. Les solutions trouvées par ces deux méta-heuristiques permettent d’identifier un sous-ensemble d’arcs qui ont de bonnes chances d’avoir un statut ouvert ou fermé dans une solution optimale. Le statut de ces arcs est alors fixé selon la valeur qui prédomine dans les solutions trouvées préalablement. Enfin, nous utilisons la puissance d’un solveur de programmation mixte en nombres entiers pour intensifier la recherche sur le problème restreint par le statut fixé ouvert/fermé de certains arcs. Les tests montrent que cette approche est capable de trouver de bonnes solutions aux problèmes de grandes tailles dans des temps raisonnables. Cette recherche est publiée dans la revue scientifique Journal of heuristics. La deuxième étude introduit la gestion des ressources au niveau de la conception de réseaux de services en prenant en compte explicitement le nombre fini de véhicules utilisés à chaque terminal pour le transport de produits. Une approche de solution faisant appel au slope-scaling, la génération de colonnes et des heuristiques basées sur une formulation en cycles est ainsi proposée. La génération de colonnes résout une relaxation linéaire du problème de conception de réseaux, générant des colonnes qui sont ensuite utilisées par le slope-scaling. Le slope-scaling résout une approximation linéaire du problème de conception de réseaux, d’où l’utilisation d’une heuristique pour convertir les solutions obtenues par le slope-scaling en solutions réalisables pour le problème original. L’algorithme se termine avec une procédure de perturbation qui améliore les solutions réalisables. Les tests montrent que l’algorithme proposé est capable de trouver de bonnes solutions au problème de conception de réseaux de services avec un nombre fixe des ressources à chaque terminal. Les résultats de cette recherche seront publiés dans la revue scientifique Transportation Science. La troisième étude élargie nos considérations sur la gestion des ressources en prenant en compte l’achat ou la location de nouvelles ressources de même que le repositionnement de ressources existantes. Nous faisons les hypothèses suivantes: une unité de ressource est nécessaire pour faire fonctionner un service, chaque ressource doit retourner à son terminal d’origine, il existe un nombre fixe de ressources à chaque terminal, et la longueur du circuit des ressources est limitée. Nous considérons les alternatives suivantes dans la gestion des ressources: 1) repositionnement de ressources entre les terminaux pour tenir compte des changements de la demande, 2) achat et/ou location de nouvelles ressources et leur distribution à différents terminaux, 3) externalisation de certains services. Nous présentons une formulation intégrée combinant les décisions reliées à la gestion des ressources avec les décisions reliées à la conception des réseaux de services. Nous présentons également une méthode de résolution matheuristique combinant le slope-scaling et la génération de colonnes. Nous discutons des performances de cette méthode de résolution, et nous faisons une analyse de l’impact de différentes décisions de gestion des ressources dans le contexte de la conception de réseaux de services. Cette étude sera présentée au XII International Symposium On Locational Decision, en conjonction avec XXI Meeting of EURO Working Group on Locational Analysis, Naples/Capri (Italy), 2014. En résumé, trois études différentes sont considérées dans la présente thèse. La première porte sur une nouvelle méthode de solution pour le "capacitated multi-commodity fixed cost network design with design-balance constraints". Nous y proposons une matheuristique comprenant la recherche tabou, la recomposition de chemin, et l’optimisation exacte. Dans la deuxième étude, nous présentons un nouveau modèle de conception de réseaux de services prenant en compte un nombre fini de ressources à chaque terminal. Nous y proposons une matheuristique avancée basée sur la formulation en cycles comprenant le slope-scaling, la génération de colonnes, des heuristiques et l’optimisation exacte. Enfin, nous étudions l’allocation des ressources dans la conception de réseaux de services en introduisant des formulations qui modèlent le repositionnement, l’acquisition et la location de ressources, et l’externalisation de certains services. À cet égard, un cadre de solution slope-scaling développé à partir d’une formulation en cycles est proposé. Ce dernier comporte la génération de colonnes et une heuristique. Les méthodes proposées dans ces trois études ont montré leur capacité à trouver de bonnes solutions.

Economics of Human Resource Planning With Special Reference to Higher Education in Kerala

Ongoing changes in global economic structure along information revolution have produced an environment where knowledge and skills or education and training are considered increasingly valued commodities. This is based on the simple notion that nation’s economic progress is linked to education and training. This idea is embodied in the theory of human capital, according to which the knowledge and skill found in labour represents valuable resources for the market. Thus the important assumptions of the Human capital theory are 910 Human capital is an investment for future (2) More training and education leads to better work skills (3) Educational institutions play a central role in the development of human capital(4) the technological revolution is often cited as the most pressing reason why education and knowledge are becoming valuable economic commodities . The objectives of the present study are, the investment and institutional or structural framework of higher education in Kerala, the higher education market and the strengths and weakness of supply demand conditions , cost and the benefits of higher education in Kerala , impact of recent policy changes in higher education,need for expanding higher education market to solve the grave problem of Un employment on the basis of as systematic manpower planning and the higher education and its association with income and employment.

More than irrigation - The Balinese Subak system as a unique form of cooperative water resource management in Indonesia

For over 1,000 years, the Balinese have developed a unique system of democratic and sustainable water irrigation. It has shaped the cultural landscapes of Bali and enables local communities to manage the ecology of terraced rice fields at the scale of whole watersheds. The Subak system has made the Balinese the most productive rice growers in Indonesia and ensures a high level of food sovereignty for a dense population on the volcanic island. The Subak system provides a vibrant example of a diverse, ecologically sustainable, economically productive and democratic water management system that is also characterized by its nonreliance on fossil fuel derivatives or heavy machinery. In 2012, UNESCO has recognized five rice terraces and their water temples as World Heritage site and supports its conservation and protection. However, the fragile Subak system is threatened for its complexity and interconnectedness by new agricultural practices and increasing tourism on the island.

The adult learner : the definitive classic in adult education and human resource development.

Es una lectura esencial para los profesionales del aprendizaje de adultos, estudiantes y profesionales de los recursos humanos, pues proporciona un marco teórico para la comprensión de los problemas del aprendizaje de adultos, tanto en los entornos docentes como en los lugares de trabajo. Se divide en tres partes: la primera parte estudia 'Las raíces de la andragogía', se traza el desarrollo de esta teoría y las características de los estudiantes adultos; en la segunda parte 'Los avances en el aprendizaje de adultos', se explican sus perspectivas de futuro en la investigación y la práctica y, en la última parte, 'Practica en el aprendizaje de adultos', se presentan lecturas seleccionadas que desarrollan los aspectos específicos de la andragogía en la práctica y que incluye estrategias para implementar los supuestos básicos, para adaptar el aprendizaje a las diferencias individuales, y para implementar la educación de adultos en las organizaciones. De especial interés son dos instrumentos de autoevaluación, 'the Core Competency Diagnostic and Planning Guide' y 'the Personal Adult Learning Style Inventory' que permiten al lector ponerse en camino del desarrollo personal en el aprendizaje de adultos.

Farming systems methodology for efficient resource management at the farm level: a review from an Indian perspective

Farming systems research is a multi-disciplinary holistic approach to solve the problems of small farms. Small and marginal farmers are the core of the Indian rural economy Constituting 0.80 of the total farming community but possessing only 0.36 of the total operational land. The declining trend of per capita land availability poses a serious challenge to the sustainability and profitability of farming. Under such conditions, it is appropriate to integrate land-based enterprises such as dairy, fishery, poultry, duckery, apiary, field and horticultural cropping within the farm, with the objective of generating adequate income and employment for these small and marginal farmers Under a set of farm constraints and varying levels of resource availability and Opportunity. The integration of different farm enterprises can be achieved with the help of a linear programming model. For the current review, integrated farming systems models were developed, by Way Of illustration, for the marginal, small, medium and large farms of eastern India using linear programming. Risk analyses were carried out for different levels of income and enterprise combinations. The fishery enterprise was shown to be less risk-prone whereas the crop enterprise involved greater risk. In general, the degree of risk increased with the increasing level of income. With increase in farm income and risk level, the resource use efficiency increased. Medium and large farms proved to be more profitable than small and marginal farms with higher level of resource use efficiency and return per Indian rupee (Rs) invested. Among the different enterprises of integrated farming systems, a chain of interaction and resource flow was observed. In order to make fanning profitable and improve resource use efficiency at the farm level, the synergy among interacting components of farming systems should be exploited. In the process of technology generation, transfer and other developmental efforts at the farm level (contrary to the discipline and commodity-based approaches which have a tendency to be piecemeal and in isolation), it is desirable to place a whole-farm scenario before the farmers to enhance their farm income, thereby motivating them towards more efficient and sustainable fanning.

A framework for revitalisation of rural education and training systems in sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening the human resource base for food security and sustainable livelihoods

Recent studies of the current state of rural education and training (RET) systems in sub-Saharan Africa have assessed their ability to provide for the learning needs essential for more knowledgeable and productive small-scale rural households. These are most necessary if the endemic causes of rural poverty (poor nutrition, lack of sustainable livelihoods, etc.) are to be overcome. A brief historical background and analysis of the major current constraints to improvement in the sector are discussed. Paramount among those factors leading to its present 'malaise' is the lack of a whole-systems perspective and the absence of any coherent policy framework in most countries. There is evidence of some recent innovations, both in the public sector and through the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and other private bodies. These provide hope of a new sense of direction that could lead towards meaningful 'revitalisation' of the sector. A suggested framework offers 10 key steps which, it is argued, could largely be achieved with modest internal resources and very little external support, provided that the necessary leadership and managerial capacities are in place. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.