ProGriD: The transformation package for the adoption of SIRGAS2000 in Brazil

Brazil adopted SIRGAS2000 in 2005. This adoption called for the provision of the relationships between SIRGAS2000 and the previous reference frames used for positioning, mapping and GIS, namely, the Córrego Alegre (CA) and the South American Datum of 1969 (SAD 69). Two programs were designed for this purpose. The first one, TCGeo, provided the relationships based on three-translation Similarity Transformation parameters. TCGeo was replaced in December 2008, by ProGriD. ProGriD offers, besides the same similarity transformation as TCGeo, a set of transformations based on modelling the distortions of the networks used in the various realizations of CA and SAD 69. The distortion models are represented by a grid in which each node contains a transformation value in terms of difference in latitude and in longitude. The grid follows the same specifications of the NTv2 grid, which has been used in other countries, such as Canada, USA and Australia. This paper presents ProGriD and its main functionalities and capabilities. ©Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.

Globalization and the new international trade environment

Includes bibliography

Factors affecting the adoption of green supply chain management practices in Brazil: Empirical evidence

The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the factors that affect the adoption of Green Supply Chain Management practices based on empirical evidence from the Brazilian electronics sector. Data are collected in a survey of 100 electronics companies and analysed using statistical analysis of variance and regression methods. The study finds that the size of the company, previous experience with Environmental Management Systems, and the use of hazardous inputs are positively correlated with GSCM practices adoption. Surprisingly, formal pressure from the stronger tier/player in the supply chain is not correlated with the adoption of GSCM practices. Finally, we present some explanations for these findings and suggestions for future research. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Findings of the survey on international classifications in Latin America

Spanish document available at the Library

Green Manufacturing: Relationship between Adoption of Green Operational Practices and Green Performance of Brazilian ISO 9001-Certified Firms

The present work aims at analyzing how the adoption of a proactive environmental management via green operational practices (GOPs) correlates to the Green Performance (GrP) of a given set of ISO 9001-certified firms in Brazil. To this end, we elaborated a conceptual framework about environmental management, GOPs, and GrP Such theoretical foundation supported the development of empirical research through quantitative analysis. For the analysis, 75 questionnaires were collected from ISO 9001 certified companies. Data was analyzed by with statistical tools such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results demonstrate that the adoption of GOPs, in fact, exerts a positive impact on the GrP of the firms. This work contributes to a better understanding of green manufacturing in Brazil's industrial sector

Adoption of lean thinking practices at Brazilian auto part companies

The objective of this study is to analyze the adoption of lean thinking practices at Brazilian auto part companies. For such, a survey was conducted at 75 sector companies. The results reveal that among all practices, the “systematic search for continuous improvement" obtained the highest implementation average. In terms of correlation, interdependence was observed among all Lean Manufacturing variables, most especially between LM5 (Kanban) and LM6 (Just-in-Time). This correlation can be explained by the importance of Kanban systems when implementing Just-inTime.

Consolidation of international guidelines for the management of canine populations in urban areas and proposal of performance indicators

Consolidation of international guidelines for the management of canine populations in urban areas and proposal of performance indicators The objective of this study is to propose a generic program for the management of urban canine populations with suggestion of performance indicators. The following international guidelines on canine population management were revised and consolidated: World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health, World Society for the Protection of Animals, International Companion Animal Management Coalition, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Management programs should cover: situation diagnosis, including estimates of population size; social participation with involvement of various sectors in the planning and execution of strategies; educational actions to promote humane values, animal welfare, community health, and responsible ownership (through purchase or adoption); environmental and waste management to eliminate sources of food and shelter; registration and identification of animals; animal health care, reproductive control; prevention and control of zoonoses; control of animal commerce; management of animal behavior and adequate solutions for abandoned animals; and laws regulating responsible ownership, prevention of abandonment and zoonoses. To monitor these actions, four groups of indicators are suggested: animal population indicators, human/animal interaction indicators, public service indicators, and zoonosis indicators. The management of stray canine populations requires political, sanitary, ethologic, ecologic, and humanitarian strategies that are socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable. Such measures must also include the control of zoonoses such as rabies and leishmaniasis, considering the concept of "one health," which benefits both the animals and people in the community.

"Evaluating the model of classification and valuation of disabilities used in Brazil and defining the elaboration and adoption of a unique model for all the country": Brazilian Interministerial Workgroup Task

The President of Brazil established an Interministerial Work Group in order to “evaluate the model of classification and valuation of disabilities used in Brazil and to define the elaboration and adoption of a unique model for all the country”. Eight Ministries and/or Secretaries participated in the discussion over a period of 10 months, concluding that a proposed model should be based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and the ‘support theory’, and organizing a list of recommendations and necessary actions for a Classification, Evaluation and Certification Network with national coverage.

A Qualitative Study on the Adoption of Copyright Assignment Agreements (CAA) and Copyright License Agreements (CLA) within Selected FOSS Projects

Open source software projects are multi-collaborative works incorporating the contributions of numerous developers who, in spite of publishing their code under a public license such as GPL, Apache or BSD, retain the copyright in their contributions. Having multiple copyright-owners can make the steering of a project difficult, if not impossible, as there is no ultimate authority able to take decisions relating to the maintenance and use of the project. This predicament can be remedied by centring the dispersed copyrights in a single authority via contributor agreements. Whether to introduce contributor agreements, and if so in which form, is a pressing question for many emerging, but also for established projects. The current paper provides an insight into the ethos of different projects and their reason for adopting or rejecting particular contributor agreements. It further examines the exact set-up of the contributor agreements used and concludes that smart drafting can blur the difference between CAAs and CLAs to a considerable extent, manoeuvring them into a legal grey area. To avoid costly litigation to test the legal enforceability of individual clauses, this paper proposes the establishment of an international committee comprised of developers, product managers and lawyers interested in finding a common terminology that may serve as a foundation for every contributor agreement

Micro-blogging adoption in the enterprise: an empirical analysis

Given the increasing interest in using social software for company-internal communication and collaboration, this paper examines drivers and inhibitors of micro-blogging adoption at the workplace. While nearly one in two companies is currently planning to introduce social software, there is no empirically validated research on employees’ adoption. In this paper, we build on previous focus group results and test our research model in an empirical study using Structural Equation Modeling. Based on our findings, we derive recommendations on how to foster adoption. We suggest that micro-blogging should be presented to employees as an efficient means of communication, personal brand building, and knowledge management. In order to particularly promote content contribution, privacy concerns should be eased by setting clear rules on who has access to postings and for how long they will be archived.

Enterprise software adoption and perceived business performance — an empirical investigation in Germany and the U.S.

This work contributes to the ongoing debate on the productivity paradox by considering CIOs’ perceptions of IT business value. Applying regression analysis to data from an international survey, we study how the adoption of certain types of enterprise software affects the CIOs’ perception of the impact of IT on the firm’s business activities and vice versa. Other potentially important factors such as country, sector and size of the firms are also taken into account. Our results indicate a more significant support for the impact of perceived IT benefits on adoption of enterprise software than vice versa. CIOs based in the US perceive IT benefits more strongly than their German counterparts. Furthermore, certain types of enterprise software seem to be more prevalent in the US.

Understanding the underlying mechanisms of recent Jatropha curcas L. adoption by smallholders in Kenya: A rural livelihood assessment in Bondo, Kibwezi, and Kwale districts

Between 2004 and 2007, NGOs, community based organisations and private investors promoted jatropha in Kenya with the aim of generating additional income and producing biofuel for rural development. By 2008 it became gradually evident that jatropha plantations (both mono- and intercropping) are uneconomical and risky due to competition for land and labour with food crops. Cultivation of jatropha hedges was found to have better chances of economic success and to present only little risks for the adopting farmers. Still, after 2008 a number of farmers went on adopting jatropha in plots rather than as hedges. It is hypothesised that lack of awareness about the low economic prospects of jatropha plantations was the main reason for continued adoption, and that smallholder farmers with higher resource endowments mainly ventured into its cultivation. In this study we provide an empirical basis for understanding the role of households' capital assets in taking up new livelihood strategies by smallholder farmers in three rural districts in Kenya. For that purpose, we assess the motivation and enabling factors that led to the adoption of jatropha as a new livelihood strategy, as well as the context in which promotion and adoption took place. A household survey was conducted in 2010, using a structured questionnaire, to collect information on household characteristics and capital asset endowment. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistical tests. We established that access to additional income and own energy supply were the main motivation for adoption of jatropha, and that financial capital assets do not necessarily have a positive influence on adoption as hypothesised. Further, we found that the main challenges that adopting farmers faced were lack of access to information on good management practices and lack of a reliable market. We conclude that continued adoption of on-farm jatropha after 2008 is a result of lacking awareness about the low economic value of this production type. We recommend abandoning on-farm production of jatropha until improved seed material and locally adapted agronomic knowledge about jatropha cultivation becomes available and its production becomes economically competitive.

Über Gewalt und Liebe: Transnationale Adoption in Österreich

Über Gewalt und Liebe: Transnationale Adoption in Österreich Julia Rehsmann Eine Adoption bedeutet meist den Bruch mit der leiblichen Familie – zu verstehen als ein „Akt der Gewalt“ – und die Inkorporation in ein neues Familiennetzwerk – ein „Akt der Liebe“. Kinder zu bekommen wird in unserer Gesellschaft als wichtiger Teil des Lebens gesehen und trotz Fortschritten in der Reproduktionsmedizin bleibt die Zahl international adoptierter Kinder global gesehen auf einem gleich hohen Niveau. Im Rahmen einer Adoption werden vorherrschende Konzepte von Verwandtschaft und Zugehörigkeit in Frage gestellt, da die Beziehung zwischen Eltern und Kind nicht auf biogenetischer, sondern auf sozialer, emotionaler und rechtlicher Verbundenheit basiert. Wenn Adoptionen zwischen verschiedenen Ländern zustande kommen und das Kind meist anders aussieht als die Adoptiveltern, tauchen unweigerlich Fragen zu Identität, Zu- gehörigkeit, race und Kultur auf. Antworten zu Fragen wie „Wer bin ich?“ und „Woher komme ich?“ sind im Falle von Adoption und insbesondere von transnationaler Adoption komplizierter und schwieriger zu finden als im Falle der klaren biogenetischen Eltern-Kind-Beziehung. Welche Bedeutung hat diese Migration junger Kinder vor allem aus armen Nationen in die wohlhabenderen Länder der Vereinigten Staaten und Europas? Welche Bedeutung haben die in den letzten Jahren vermehrt auftretenden Reisen von Adoptierten und ihren Familien in ihre jeweiligen Geburtsländer? Die Adoptionsfamilie widerspricht in gewisser Hinsicht dem Bild der Familie als Teil des privaten Lebens, da sie während des Adoptionsprozesses von Bereichen des öffentlichen Lebens (Institutionen, Agenturen, Gesetzen) beeinflusst und bestimmt wird. Transnationale Adoptionen stellen nicht nur Individuen, sondern auch staatliche Institutionen vor große Herausforderungen und verlangen nach neuen Strategien im Umgang mit neuen Familienstrukturen. Im Rahmen des Vortrags soll ein Überblick über das Phänomen in Österreich gegeben werden und in Bezug zu anderen sozialanthro-pologischen Arbeiten zum Thema gesetzt werden, wobei in der empirischen Forschung der Fokus auf Familien mit Kindern aus Äthiopien lag.