A crise econômico-financeira internacional e seus impactos sobre a preservação das microempresas e empresas de pequeno porte

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inovação sustentável na indústria do estado de Mato Grosso: setores de alimentos e madeireiro (1970-2012)

O crescimento econômico de Mato Grosso nas últimas quatro décadas se apresenta como reflexo das políticas públicas executadas no Estado. Contudo, o direcionamento para a produção de commodities gerou impactos significativos no ambiente e na sociedade mato-grossense. Por outro lado, acredita-se que a inovação sustentável nos segmentos industriais pode vir a se tornar fator de diversificação e otimização da matriz produtiva industrial do Estado. Assim, o objetivo da tese foi detectar a capacidade de aderência dos segmentos industriais da alimentação e madeireiro de Mato Grosso em relação aos padrões produtivos associados à inovação sustentável. O estudo exploratório descritivo foi operacionalizado através de um estudo de campo no qual 1.149 indústrias compuseram o universo, e a amostra foi de 92 respostas dos empresários: 57 madeireiros e 35 do segmento de alimentos. Os dados coletados de janeiro a julho de 2012 foram tratados estatisticamente pelo SPSS 17. As análises permitiram constatar que a inovação sustentável ainda não é realidade. Faltam condições estruturantes básicas para viabilizar o funcionamento de um sistema. Embora assim, há fortes indícios de que os empresários estão procurando inovar nos processos, buscam informação, estimulam seus funcionários a inovar e já adotam algumas práticas relacionadas com gestão sustentável. Há uma dicotomia no perfil das empresas do Estado e na forma como intentam inovar, de modo que as políticas públicas não atendem a todos de forma homogênea. Poucas empresas efetivamente desenvolvem inovação sustentável, grande parte adquire tecnologia estrangeira. Além da pesquisa quantitativa, foram realizadas visitas técnicas e entrevistas em onze instituições públicas. Confirmou-se a hipótese de que as instituições públicas foram ineficientes no processo de “desenvolvimento regional sustentável”, pois geraram apenas crescimento econômico. E são responsáveis pela estrutura produtiva atual, que desconsiderou o saber endógeno e as características territoriais, para manter as trajetórias estabelecidas. No entanto, há possibilidade de mudar a matriz produtiva atual desde que as institucionalidades sejam transformadas e a educação e o aprendizado somados às estruturas de suporte aos micros e pequenos empresários se fortaleçam através da cooperação. Sugerem-se diretrizes.

Avaliação do efeito da umidade relativa do ar no coeficiente de performance de um sistema de ar condicionado

Os fatores que influenciam no consumo de energia de um sistema de ar condicionado de pequeno porte, que merecem destaque são a eficiência do compressor através do modelo empregado, a forma que a vazão do refrigerante é condicionada, o modelo do ventilador empregado, o rendimento do evaporador, o condensador e as condições climáticas. Dentro da questão climática, uma questão bastante interessante é que a umidade relativa do ar, quando se trata do efeito que ela causa, principalmente no rendimento do condensador a ar, em geral não é considerada nos projetos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da umidade relativa do ar no coeficiente de performance do sistema (COP), procurando quantificar sua influência nas respectivas faixas em que elas acontecem. Nos resultados encontrados foi possível identificar que existe uma influência bastante significativa, principalmente quando comparam-se condições de alta umidade com de baixa umidade destacando que somente a partir da 65% de umidade relativa é que encontra-se alterações significativas no COP do sistema

Modelagem de processos, com foco em MRP, visando aplicação em pequenas empresas

Este trabalho propõe a inclusão de informação extraída a partir da modelagem de processos para auxiliar pequena empresas do setor madeireiro no controle de fluxo de materiais e estoques. Para isto são apresentados conceitos de modelagem de processos e sistema MRP I (Material Requirement Planning). Desta forma foi realizado um estudo detalhado sobre o sistema citado e posteriormente sobre as possibilidades de aplicações de uma modelagem de processos. Em seguida, chegou-se a proposta de modelagem para o tipo de empresa em questão. A modelagem é constituída por cinco etapas, onde é sugerida a inclusão de tendência de demanda para maior controle de necessidades de materiais. O resultado obtido, a modelagem, pode ter grande utilidade no controle de fluxo de materiais em pequenas empresas, acarretando menores problemas no atendimento de demanda e acumulo de estoques e assim aumentando sua competitividade.

O impacto da implantação do sistema ERP na usinagem de moveis de uma empresa de medio porte

This paper analyzes the impact of implementing an information system, Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP, in a small business of the furniture industry. The goal this is show the impacts felt during and after implementation, showing behavioral and technological changes made by the study. The paper concludes by citing about the importance of cultural and behavioral changes for the good use of the system, besides showing the need to adapt to new technologies and ways of working to adapt to today's world of constant change and eternal conflict of the market

Utilização de 5S, Kanban e Layout para a melhoria do controle de estoque em um varejo de materiais para construção

Many small businesses suffer from a lack of control of goods stored. This lack of control affects other areas of the company as purchase, that can’t buy material in an advanced and accurated way. It also affects services provided by the company, especially when it is a store because for sell something it is necessary to have the material in the right time. Futhermore, the business isn’t able to identify obsolete items in stock, theft and vandalism, loss or damage to materials. All of these disorders can be converted into financial losses that make much difference to a small business that needs to remain competitive in the market facing the giants while generating a profit that allows it to invest in their growth. Therefore, any unnecessary expense is exceedingly harmful and any savings already differentiates it from other companies of similar size. This study deals with the application of production engineering tools as 5S, kanban and layout in a building materials retail to tackle problems that prevent this company to have a stock organized and accurated. Finally, we recorded gains that the company reached with the implementation of part of the solution proposed

A comunicação interna como fator de inovação nas Micro e Pequenas Empresas

The work presents a literature review on the topic of internal communication as an innovation factor in Micro and Small Business. The objective is to discuss how internal communication can be an essential factor in the pursuit of innovation and the consequent competitive advantage in the Micro and Small Enterprises scenario. We present the concepts of integrated communication, organizational communication, internal communication, whether crafted by a philosophy of Public Relations, can lead these companies to gain competitive advantage and overcome the limitations and challenges imposed on them

Planejamento estratégico e operacional na pequena empresa: impactos da formalização no desempenho e diferenças setoriais

This article analyzes the results of three different field research, carried out simultaneously in small technology-based sectors, metal-mechanical industry and hotel in the city of São Carlos - SP, with goals, concepts and methods of similar research. The studies were classified as quantitative and descriptive and conducted through a survey of opinion with the main leader of the company. It were considered valid for analyses, the responses of 57 leaders, it were 33 technology-based sector, 13 of the metal-mechanic industry and 11 in the hospitality sector. The main results: the formalization of planning has not led to better performance, considering the indicator growth in sales in the three sectors studied and that the degree of formalization of the planning of the companies in the technologybased sector was higher, while the hospitality sector had a percentage smaller. The dynamic aspect of technology-based sector and stability in the hotel sector in the region studied, leads to assume that the turbulence of the environment is a predominant factor, contradicting the proposal of some authors, in which the formal planning is inappropriate for small companies that operate in environments that change quickly.

Charles Lonergan Cobb Papers - Accession 11

The Charles Lonergan Cobb Papers consists mainly of correspondence but also includes photographs, biographical material, magazine and newspaper clippings, all relating to Cobb's career as a banker at People's National Bank( 1905-1949); and the People's National Bank and Trust Company(1949-1953) in Rock Hill, SC as well as his association with Winthrop College as a Board of Trustees' member(1938-1953). Subjects include, railroad cotton shipping service to South Carolina mill towns, crop loans in the early 1920s, location of the Celanese Chemical Plant in Rock Hill, the Winthrop College Board of Trustees, and a1946 article about Cobb that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post.

RP93-395 Liability Insurance and the Family Child Care Provider

Life other small business owners, family child care providers need adequate life, health, and disability insurance to protect their families from the loss of their income. However, child care providers also face unique risks. Perhaps the most important of these risks is the financial loss that would result if the provider were found liable or responsible for the injury or death of a child or a child's parent. If a claim were filed against you as a provider, three different types of financial losses are possible: medical expenses, damages awarded to the victim or his/her family after a lawsuit, and court costs related to your defense. This booklet will help you to: (1) evaluate options for insuring a family child care operation, and (2) evaluate available liability insurance policies.

University students' assessment of entrepreneurial environments

Entrepreneurial intention is a primary step to create new venture in the entrepreneurial process. Environmental conditions are one of the main factors that are strengthening or weakening intention of prospective entrepreneur. Therefore, it is important to develop conducive environments for entrepreneurship to promote entrepreneurial intention. Moreover, the promoted entrepreneurial intention will raise the rate of new venture creation. This paper investigates the relationships between five key environments for entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. The five entrepreneurial environments are: government policies and procedures, socioeconomic conditions, entrepreneurial and business skills, financial assistance, and non-financial assistance, respectively. Conjoint analysis was used to determine the significance of five environmental factors conducive to entrepreneurial intention. In this conjoint experiment, 1370 decisions were made by 137 university students. Significant relationships were found between all of these environmental factors and intention. Comparative importance of environmental factors was also calculated, along with sub-conjoint analyses based on characteristics of the sample.

Processo de criação de estratégia em pequenas empresas de base tecnológica: um modelo de fases evolutivas para o setor médico-odontológico

O objetivo do trabalho foi o de estudar o processo estratégico, testar algumas hipóteses acerca desse processo e propor modelos explicativos para a criação de estratégia em pequenas empresas de base tecnológica. A estratégia empresarial é uma área de significativa importância para os estudos administrativos, tendo em vista o impacto das decisões e ações estratégicas para o sucesso das empresas. Além disso, a teoria sobre estratégia está fortemente fundamentada em estudos realizados em empresas de grande porte, maduras, podendo, portanto, apresentar viés quando considerada a sua aplicação em empresas de pequeno porte e empresas em fase de desenvolvimento. Este estudo analisou os processos de criação de estratégias e propôs um conjunto de modelos representativos desses processos para pequenas empresas de base tecnológica criadas sem a formalização de planos de negócios, o que foi muito comum no início dos polos tecnológicos brasileiros na década de 80. Foi realizado um trabalho de campo cuja natureza foi a de pesquisa aplicada. O procedimento técnico utilizado foi o estudo multicasos, sendo investigadas cinco empresas de pequeno e uma de médio porte, conforme classificação pelo número de empregados, todas de base tecnológica e localizadas no Polo Tecnológico de São Carlos, em São Carlos, SP. O resultado da pesquisa evidenciou que as estratégias são criadas por etapas distintas, o que permitiu a construção de um conjunto de modelos representativos do processo de criação de estratégias, além de confirmar algumas hipóteses formuladas, podendo destacar que a ausência de formalização de planos de negócios não impediu o sucesso das empresas estudadas.

Feminist Tigers and Patriarchal Lions: Rhetorical Strategies and Instrument Effects in the Struggle for Definition and Control over Development in Nepal

This article offers an analysis of a struggle for control of a women’s development project in Nepal. The story of this struggle is worth telling, for it is rife with the gender politics and neo-colonial context that underscore much of what goes on in contemporary Nepal. In particular, my analysis helps to unravel some of the powerful discourses, threads of interest, and yet unintended effects inevitable under a regime of development aid. The analysis demonstrates that the employment of already available discursive figures of the imperialist feminist and the patriarchal third world man are central to the rhetorical strategies taken in the conflict. I argue that the trans-discursive or “borderland” nature of development in general and women’s development in particular result in different constructions of “development” goals, means and actors based not only on divergent cultural categories but on historically specific cultural politics. I argue further that the apolitical discourse of development serves to cloak its inherently political project of social and economic transformation, making conflicts such as the one that occurred in this case not only likely to occur but also likely to be misunderstood.

Micro combined heat and power laboratory development

Micro Combined Heat and Power (Micro-CHP) system produces both electricity and heat required for residential or small business applications. Use of Micro-CHP in a residential application not only creates energy and economic savings but also reduces the carbon foot print of the house or small business. Additionally, micro-CHP can subsidize its cost of operation by selling excess electricity produced back to the grid. Even though Micro-CHP remains attractive on paper, high initial cost and optimization issues in residential scale heat and electrical requirement has kept this technology from becoming a success. To understand and overcome all disadvantages posed my Micro-CHP system, a laboratory is developed to test different scenarios of Micro-CHP applications so that we can learn and improve the current technology. This report focuses on the development of this Micro-CHP laboratory including installation of Ecopower micro-CHP unit, developing fuel line and exhaust line for Ecopower unit, design of electrical and thermal loop, installing all the instrumentation required for data collection on the Ecopower unit and developing controls for heat load simulation using thermal loop. Also a simulation of Micro-CHP running on Syngas is done in Matlab. This work was supported through the donation of ‘Ecopower’ a Micro-CHP unit by Marathon Engine and through the support of Michigan Tech REF-IF grand.

Electronic medical record systems, data quality and loss to follow-up: survey of antiretroviral therapy programmes in resource-limited settings

OBJECTIVE: To describe the electronic medical databases used in antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in lower-income countries and assess the measures such programmes employ to maintain and improve data quality and reduce the loss of patients to follow-up. METHODS: In 15 countries of Africa, South America and Asia, a survey was conducted from December 2006 to February 2007 on the use of electronic medical record systems in ART programmes. Patients enrolled in the sites at the time of the survey but not seen during the previous 12 months were considered lost to follow-up. The quality of the data was assessed by computing the percentage of missing key variables (age, sex, clinical stage of HIV infection, CD4+ lymphocyte count and year of ART initiation). Associations between site characteristics (such as number of staff members dedicated to data management), measures to reduce loss to follow-up (such as the presence of staff dedicated to tracing patients) and data quality and loss to follow-up were analysed using multivariate logit models. FINDINGS: Twenty-one sites that together provided ART to 50 060 patients were included (median number of patients per site: 1000; interquartile range, IQR: 72-19 320). Eighteen sites (86%) used an electronic database for medical record-keeping; 15 (83%) such sites relied on software intended for personal or small business use. The median percentage of missing data for key variables per site was 10.9% (IQR: 2.0-18.9%) and declined with training in data management (odds ratio, OR: 0.58; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.37-0.90) and weekly hours spent by a clerk on the database per 100 patients on ART (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90-0.99). About 10 weekly hours per 100 patients on ART were required to reduce missing data for key variables to below 10%. The median percentage of patients lost to follow-up 1 year after starting ART was 8.5% (IQR: 4.2-19.7%). Strategies to reduce loss to follow-up included outreach teams, community-based organizations and checking death registry data. Implementation of all three strategies substantially reduced losses to follow-up (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.15-0.20). CONCLUSION: The quality of the data collected and the retention of patients in ART treatment programmes are unsatisfactory for many sites involved in the scale-up of ART in resource-limited settings, mainly because of insufficient staff trained to manage data and trace patients lost to follow-up.