The health insurance market: lessons on the conflict between equivalence and solidarity

Includes bibliography

Multi-choice mixed integer goal programming optimization for real problems in a sugar and ethanol milling company

Goal Programming (GP) is an important analytical approach devised to solve many realworld problems. The first GP model is known as Weighted Goal Programming (WGP). However, Multi-Choice Aspirations Level (MCAL) problems cannot be solved by current GP techniques. In this paper, we propose a Multi-Choice Mixed Integer Goal Programming model (MCMI-GP) for the aggregate production planning of a Brazilian sugar and ethanol milling company. The MC-MIGP model was based on traditional selection and process methods for the design of lots, representing the production system of sugar, alcohol, molasses and derivatives. The research covers decisions on the agricultural and cutting stages, sugarcane loading and transportation by suppliers and, especially, energy cogeneration decisions; that is, the choice of production process, including storage stages and distribution. The MCMIGP allows decision-makers to set multiple aspiration levels for their problems in which the more/higher, the better and the less/lower, the better in the aspiration levels are addressed. An application of the proposed model for real problems in a Brazilian sugar and ethanol mill was conducted; producing interesting results that are herein reported and commented upon. Also, it was made a comparison between MCMI GP and WGP models using these real cases. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Resolución 12: Precios agrícolas y otras medidas = Resolution 12: Agricultural prices and crop insurance = Résolution 12: Prix agricoles et assurance des récoltes

El símbolo E/840/Rev.1 corresponde a la edición bilingüe inglés/francés publicada en 1953

Selecting green suppliers based on GSCM practices: Using fuzzy TOPSIS applied to a Brazilian electronics company

Due to an increased awareness and significant environmental pressures from various stakeholders, companies have begun to realize the significance of incorporating green practices into their daily activities. This paper proposes a framework using Fuzzy TOPSIS to select green suppliers for a Brazilian electronics company; our framework is built on the criteria of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. An empirical analysis is made, and the data are collected from a set of 12 available suppliers. We use a fuzzy TOPSIS approach to rank the suppliers, and the results of the proposed framework are compared with the ranks obtained by both the geometric mean and the graded mean methods of fuzzy TOPSIS methodology. Then a Spearman rank correlation coefficient is used to find the statistical difference between the ranks obtained by the three methods. Finally, a sensitivity analysis has been performed to examine the influence of the preferences given by the decision makers for the chosen GSCM practices on the selection of green suppliers. Results indicate that the four dominant criteria are Commitment of senior management to GSCM; Product designs that reduce, reuse, recycle, or reclaim materials, components, or energy; Compliance with legal environmental requirements and auditing programs; and Product designs that avoid or reduce toxic or hazardous material use. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and legal aspects of general insurance in the Caribbean with special reference to the OECS countries

Examina y analiza los principales asuntos legales relacionados al desarrollo y operación de las compañías de seguros generales en el Caribe, con especial referencia a los países de la Organización de Estados del Caribe Oriental.

Captive insurance companies in the Caribbean: an analysis

Includes bibliography

A Sorocabana Railway Company: a relação de uma empresa ferroviária privada com as diretrizes governamentais (1907-1919)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Plano de recuperação de desastres: uma pesquisa-ação em empresa do setor energetico

This work has the purpose of demonstrating how to build a Disaster Recovery Plan. In order to achieve such objective, an adaptation of the PDCA method was applied. This plan aims resuming the IT operations as fast as possible after some kind of incident which result the stop of the services or activities. Besides serving as insurance for the continued functioning of the company’s activities, indeed your non-existence brings up risks of financial loss and threatens the company’s image. As to illustrate the functionality and validity, the method was applied in an IT department of an energy company. It was concluded that the plan was well elaborated living up to the purposes described in the objective section of this work and validating the project developed so far, having a percentage of 85% of the overall success of the systems tested

Standard oil company: um reflexo da industrialização americana

A Standard Oil Company foi resultado da forte industrialização que ocorreu nos Estados Unidos após a Guerra de Secessão. Anterior ao conflito, os americanos estavam divididos entre ser tornarem um país exportador de matérias primas ou serem industrializados. Mesmo que ambas as estruturas econômicas foram aplicadas concomitantemente, trazendo recursos financeiros para a Nação, os estados do Norte acabaram vencendo a guerra e incentivaram a expansão industrial. O reflexo desse processo foi notado pelo empresário J.D. Rockefeller que inicia sua empresa baseada na exploração de petróleo, a Standard Oil Company. Utilizando-se de métodos eficientes, inovadores e eficazes, proporcionou um aumento na produção petrolífera de forma exorbitante, podendo manter altos níveis de lucro, mesmo que a preços razoáveis ao consumidor. O impacto da organização industrial e as estratégias encontradas pelo monopólio marcaram profundamente a economia americana. Mesmo sendo um tema de história econômica, no decorrer deste trabalho utilizaremos aspectos sociológicos, biográficos e estatísticos para compreendermos de que forma a Standard Oil Company representa a essência do espírito capitalista da instituição americana

Relationships between company size, types of production system and supply chain management: evidence from electro-electronics sector in Brazil

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how company size and the type of production system affect the adoption of supply chain management (SCM) practices in companies in the electro‐electronics sector in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – An e‐mail survey of 107 companies associated with the Brazilian Electrical and Electronics Industry Association (ABINEE) was conducted. Statistical techniques were employed to verify the adoption of SCM practices according to the size of the company and its production system. Findings – The major results indicate that the larger the size of the company, the higher the level of adoption of SCM practices, and that the choice of SCM practices depends upon the type of production system implemented. Practical implications – The implications of this study are useful to top management leaders of small and medium‐sized enterprises since the findings enable them to identify the most common practices adopted by either large‐, medium‐ or small‐sized companies in order to benchmark the level of adoption of SCM practices. Production managers can also benefit from this study by identifying the SCM practices that may support certain production systems.

Greening a Brazilian cotton seed processing company: from challenges to strategic opportunities

This paper aims to shed light on a current and important theme that has been gaining increasing importance for governments, society and companies: the greening of agricultural companies in developing countries. The research objective is to classify a Brazilian cotton seed processing company in the evolutionary stages of environmental management: reactive, preventive or proactive. Design/methodology/approach– A case study was conducted in a Brazilian cotton seed processing company.Findings– The main results are: the studied company is positioned in the preventive stage of environmental management; this company is investing in operational green practices; environmental management in this company is motivated by various factors aiming at an increased competitive advantage. Finally, it can be concluded that this company is looking for green opportunities towards the proactive environmental management stage.