Decentralized AC power flow for real-time multi-TSO power system operation

This paper adjusts decentralized OPF optimization to the AC power flow problem in power systems with interconnected areas operated by diferent transmission system operators (TSO). The proposed methodology allows finding the operation point of a particular area without explicit knowledge of network data of the other interconnected areas, being only necessary to exchange border information related to the tie-lines between areas. The methodology is based on the decomposition of the first-order optimality conditions of the AC power flow, which is formulated as a nonlinear programming problem. To allow better visualization of the concept of independent operation of each TSO, an artificial neural network have been used for computing border information of the interconnected TSOs. A multi-area Power Flow tool can be seen as a basic building block able to address a large number of problems under a multi-TSO competitive market philosophy. The IEEE RTS-96 power system is used in order to show the operation and effectiveness of the decentralized AC Power Flow. ©2010 IEEE.

Is price dispersion always an indication of price discrimination?

It has been established for a long time that there is significant dispersion in prices charged for seemingly homogeneous goods. This may happen in competitive markets because the world is not frictionless, and certainly in other markets where price discrimination is carried out by firms with oligopolistic power. This paper is the first survey of the economic literature on price dispersion that addresses the following three key issues: i) its characteristics as a result of optimizing search behavior; ii) its relevance as a reflection of price discrimination and its consequences for social welfare and policy intervention; and iii) the empirical evidence of price dispersion. By contributing to a better understanding of price dispersion, this survey may help in the design and implementation of competition and anti-trust policies

O setor elétrico brasileiro: passado e futuro

Este artigo analisa as possibilidades de uma estratégia nacional da política energética com visão de longo prazo, que sinalize, tanto para as agên­cias do governo quanto para a iniciativa privada, o rumo que se deseja seguir e que garanta as responsabilidades e o atendimento à sociedade. Por isso, re­toma as características da formação e do desenvolvimento inicial do setor elé­trico brasileiro, destacando a montagem de um eficiente modelo institucional estatal que garantiu, durante décadas, o crescimento econômico e o atendi­mento à população. Em seguida analisa, resumidamente, as crises que carac­terizavam o setor e as empresas, a partir dos anos 70, e seus desdobramentos que desembocaram na organização de uma reforma institucional privilegian­do a participação da iniciativa privada no setor. A parte final do artigo analisa diversos problemas, tendências e questões ainda em aberto decorrentes da marcha da transição rumo ao novo modelo institucional e da crise de energia elétrica mais recente. Destaca a importância das decisões da administração pública na transição e da revisão de conceitos relativos à reforma do Estado, no caso os limites do estado mínimo e dos mercados competitivos, na elabo­ração de uma estratégia de longo prazo para o setor.

Melhoria do nível de serviço no atendimento ao cliente por meio da estrutura direta de distribuição Transit Point

Increasingly competitive markets have driven the search for companies in many different ways to win and keep customers. The service level is basically the performance of companies in fulfilling the orders made, or how companies demonstrate to their clients efforts in their behalf. This work aims to solve the difficulties faced by a multinational company present in Brazil, in the distribution of its products in the category Ice Cream in order to improve the service level of their customers. Review the logistics network and concepts related to the distribution system of products is one of several ways to achieve this goal, as well as the use of IT and tools to assist in planning and programming of the physical distribution of products. In this study we used the concept of direct distribution system called Transit Point (TP). The TP provides at the same time, a strategy of rapid response, flexibility, low transportation costs and no inventory. A router - software capable of simulating the actual conditions experienced in the daily distribution - was used to assist in calculations. Results showed reductions of up to 47.5% in transportation costs and better conditions were provided in the distribution of products, positively impacting on service levels and in the maintenance of products quality, with a reduction of 1.6% of the total costs involve

Algoritmo tabu search especializado para o problema de planejamento da expansao de sistemas de transmissão

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Políticas industriais: definições, fundamentações teóricas e avaliações

The purpose of this paper is to essentially provide a theoretical framework to industrial policies, especially showing the reasons for preference of a theoretical framework that is not based on equilibrium, and not based on maximization. We sought to define these policies, highlighting their positive results – at least potentially – in terms of some parameters (production, efficiency, productivity, income, welfare etc.). In this sense, we defined industrial policy, also analyzing the reasons for the usual lack of concern with a more rigorous theoretical framework for industrial policies. Following that, we briefly discussed whether or not a certain theory can lay the foundation for these policies, also examining if such theories are important (or not) in empirical terms. In the fourth section, we investigated the possible use of industrial policies, emphasizing market failures, public goods, non-competitive markets, externalities and technological development. Finally, we discussed about evaluation approaches of industrial and technological policies, focusing with more detail on the challenges related to the evaluation of economic effects of industrial and technological policies, and the methodologies of evaluation of these policies.

Internacionalização organizacional e cultura: as relações públicas no processo interno de mudança

The ever more interconnected and competitive markets have contributed to the increase in the number of companies seeking mergers and acquisitions, as they undergo significant cultural dimensions that can influence the success of an organization. This study analyses how the process of change can happen, considering the importance of culture, the complexities of the internal public and the interaction between professionals, with the aid of Public Relations. The analysis is grounded on theoretical principles concerning intercultural communication and the role of the professional as a manager of communicational barriers. It also recommends the application of storytelling as an organizational strategy in order to mediate potentially conflicting changes that could be facilitated with the work of Public Relations

Corporate aging and investment decisions

Paper I: Corporate aging and internal resource allocation Abstract Various observers argue that established firms are at a disadvantage in pursuing new growth opportunities. In this paper, we provide systematic evidence that established firms allocate fewer resources to high-growth lines of business. However, we find no evidence of inefficient resource allocation in established firms. Redirecting resources from high-growth to low-growth lines of business does not result in lower profitability. Also, resource allocation towards new growth opportunities does not increase when managers of established firms are exposed to takeover and product market threats. Rather, it seems that conservative resource allocation strategies are driven by pressures to meet investors’ expectations. Our empirical evidence, thus, favors the hypothesis that established firms wisely choose to allocate fewer resources to new growth opportunities as external pressures force them to focus on efficiency rather than novelty (Holmström 1989). Paper II: Corporate aging and asset sales Abstract This paper asks whether divestitures are motivated by strategic considerations about the scope of the firm’s activities. Limited managerial capacity implies that exploiting core competences becomes comparatively more attractive than exploring new growth opportunities as firms mature. Divestitures help stablished firms free management time and increase the focus on core competences. The testable implication of this attention hypothesis is that established firms are the main sellers of assets, that their divestiture activity increases when managerial capacity is scarcer, that they sell non-core activities, and that they return the divestiture proceeds to the providers of capital instead of reinvesting them in the firm. We find strong empirical support for these predictions. Paper III: Corporate aging and lobbying expenditures Abstract Creative destruction forces constantly challenge established firms, especially in competitive markets. This paper asks whether corporate lobbying is a competitive weapon of established firms to counteract the decline in rents over time. We find a statistically and economically significant positive relation between firm age and lobbying expenditures. Moreover, the documented age-effect is weaker when firms have unique products or operate in concentrated product markets. To address endogeneity, we use industry distress as an exogenous nonlegislative shock to future rents and show that established firms are relatively more likely to lobby when in distress. Finally, we provide empirical evidence that corporate lobbying efforts by established firms forestall the creative destruction process. In sum, our findings suggest that corporate lobbying is a competitive weapon of established firms to retain profitability in competitive environments.

Nas–Walras equilibria of a large economy

Individuals exchange contracts for the delivery of commodities in competitive markets and, simultaneously, act strategically; actions affect utilities across individuals directly or through the payoffs of contracts. This encompasses economies with asymmetric information. Nash–Walras equilibria exist for large economies, even if utility functions are not quasi-concave and choice sets are not convex, which is the case in standard settings; the separation of the purchase from the sale of contracts and the pooling of the deliveries on contracts guarantee that the markets for commodities clear.

Major issues in business process management: An Australian perspective

Business Process Management (BPM) is widely seen as the top priority in organizations wanting to survive competitive markets. However, the current academic research agenda does not seem to map with industry demands. In this paper, we address the need to identify the actual issues that organizations face in their efforts to manage business processes. To that end, we report a number of critical issues identified by industry in what we consider to be the first steps towards an industry-driven research agenda for the BPM area. The reported issues are derived from a series of focus groups conducted with Australian organizations. The findings point to, among others, a need for more consolidated efforts in the areas of business process governance, systematic change management, developing BPM methodologies, and introducing appropriate performance measures.

DESENVOLVIMENTO DE FERRAMENTA PARA MAPEAR COMPETÊNCIAS GERENCIAIS: Estudo de Caso numa Empresa do Ramo Editorial

Muitas organizações enfrentam o desafio de assegurar a sobrevivência em mercados acirradamente competitivos e o desenvolvimento de competências individuais gerenciais passa a ser valorizado. O gerente está em evidência diante desse cenário, desempenhando papéis relevantes nos processos estratégicos e de desenvolvimento organizacional. O mapeamento de competências gerenciais constitui uma linha de pesquisa importante no campo da gestão de pessoas pelo fato dos diagnósticos não poderem ser transferidos automaticamente de um ambiente organizacional para outro. Este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver uma ferramenta para mapear as competências gerenciais e realizar o mapeamento em uma empresa do ramo editorial. Tomaram parte do estudo cinco gerentes do mesmo nível hierárquico. A realização do mapeamento conteve análises descritivas de auto e heteropercepção, bem como as diferenças entre as duas modalidades de avaliação. Destaca-se que o objetivo do estudo pôde ser concretizado, pois a aplicação da referida ferramenta permitiu identificar aspectos que necessitam investimentos em ações de capacitação gerencial. Cabe salientar que este trabalho pode contribuir com uma base inicial de conhecimento para a reflexão sobre o alinhamento estratégico da organização de acordo com comportamentos esperados correlacionados com cada uma das 12 competências gerenciais identificadas durante o estudo, bem como suportar novas análises e mapeamentos, oportunizando também a implantação adequada de ações de capacitação, com o objetivo de minimizar os riscos da falta de alinhamento estratégico de acordo com as responsabilidades a serem perseguidas pelos gerentes com a pretensão de melhorar os resultados da empresa pesquisada.

The value of innovation:the interaction of competition, R&D and IP

This paper analyses market valuations of UK companies using a new data set of their R&D and IP activities (1989–2002). In contrast to previous studies, the analysis is conducted at the sectoral-level, where the sectors are based on the technological classification originating from Pavitt [Pavitt, K., 1984. Sectoral patterns of technical change. Research Policy 13, 343–373]. The first main result is that the valuation of R&D varies substantially across these sectors. Another important result is that, on average, firms that receive only UK patents tend to have no significant market premium. In direct contrast, patenting through the European Patent Office does raise market value, as does the registration of trade marks in the UK for most sectors. To explore these variations the paper links competitive conditions with the market valuation of innovation. Using profit persistence as a measure of competitive pressure, we find that the sectors that are the most competitive have the lowest market valuation of R&D. Furthermore, within the most competitive sector (‘science based’ manufacturing), firms with larger market shares (an inverse indicator of competitive pressure) also have higher R&D valuations, as well as some positive return to UK patents. We conclude that this evidence supports Schumpeter by finding higher returns to innovation in less than fully competitive markets and contradicts Arrow [Arrow, K., 1962. Economic welfare and the allocation of resources for invention. In: Nelson, R. (Ed.), The Rate and Direction of Inventive Activity. Princeton University Press, Princeton], who argued that, with the existence of IP rights, competitive market structure provides higher incentives to innovate.

Supply chain integration:challenges and solutions

Since its introduction by management consultants in the early 1980s, supply chain management (SCM) has been primarily concerned with the integration of processes and activities both within and between organisations. The concept of supply chain integration (SCI) is based on documented evidence that suggests that much of the waste throughout businesses is a consequence of fragmented supply chain configurations. However, there is also evidence to suggest that the achievement of higher levels of intra- and inter-firm integration presents an array of managerial challenges. The need for innovation in all aspects of SCM is widely recognised. Given the pivotal role of the integration paradigm within SCM, any meaningful innovation in this area must focus heavily on this issue. This chapter outlines some of the challenges by exploring the evolving SCM business context. It goes on to relate SCM theory to the widely cited Porter value chain concept. The core of the chapter provides a detailed description of SCI based on a wide variety of literature. It does so with particular reference to the challenges inherent in implementing an integrated business paradigm with a view to identifying a range of possible innovative solutions. The adoption of more integrated supply chain structures raises questions regarding the nature of both internal and external customer/supplier relationships. The effective management of such relationships is, therefore, given particular focus.

Distinctive Features of Mobile Messages Processing

World’s mobile market pushes past 2 billion lines in 2005. Success in these competitive markets requires operational excellence with product and service innovation to improve the mobile performance. Mobile users very often prefer to send a mobile instant message or text messages rather than talking on a mobile. Well developed “written speech analysis” does not work not only with “verbal speech” but also with “mobile text messages”. The main purpose of our paper is, firstly, to highlight the problems of mobile text messages processing and, secondly, to show the possible ways of solving these problems.