Management Tool for Software Factory Contracts for a Brazilian Public Agency

Contracting Information Technology (IT) services has become common practice in the Public Federal Administration (APF). It allows the APF to focus its resources on the primary activities, allowing a better execution of the planning, coordination, supervision and control tasks. One of the challenges is the interdisciplinarity involved in managing contracts, from the characteristics of the object – financial and legal aspects – to human relationship aspects. The objective of this work is to use the case study and research-action techniques and specify a tool for software development and maintenance contracts management, according to agile principles, to support the management of software factory contracts between a Brazilian Public Federal Agency and its suppliers, in line with the specifications of the contracting notices. The tool specification is in the development stage. Bibliographical and documental research activities, as well as object diagnostics, have been accomplished. From the experience, it is possible to glimpse the specification of a contract management tool aligned with the legislation, the agency contracts, and the software development and maintenance processes defined in the agile methodology

Analysis, Design and Implementation of Biodiesel Projects in Brazil

During the oil crisis of the seventies, Brazil has developed a successful program for gasoline substitution by ethanol (Proálcool). Nowadays the biomass accounts for 27% of total national energy consumed in Brazil and the ethanol participates with 40% of the total national fuel consumption of Otto cycle vehicles. In 2004, the National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel (Biodiesel Program) was launched. One priority of the Biodiesel Program is the inclusion of family agriculture and smallholders into the production chain. The Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) has developed a software for the analysis of biodiesel projects with the participation of family agriculture. Results of production chain analysis and economic indicators calculated by the Biosoft system have allowed identifying the regular supply of oil at competitive prices as the key point to the efficiency of biodiesel production chains. The use of oil cake as feedstock is the leverage point of chain performance. The meal sale can lead to a vegetal oil price reduction, without compromising farmers´ income, since they can be able to set up their own oil extraction plants. Coordination is then the critical element and has the potential to improve the performance of both the biodiesel industry and the animal production chain.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Industrial Organization,

The case of Foxconn in Turkey: benefiting from free labour and anti-union policy

Starting from the 2000s Foxconn invested in Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia and Turkey, implementing a territorial diversification strategy aimed at getting nearer to its end markets. This chapter investigates the development of Foxconn in Turkey where the multinational owns a plant with about 400 workers. A few kilometres from the city of \uc7orlu and close to highways, ports and international airports, the plant enables Foxconn to implement an efficient global supply chain. We illustrate this process by examining the company\u2019s localisation within a special economic zone, underlining the economic advantages derived from such a tax regime, bringing labour costs down to the Chinese level and obtaining proximity to European, North African and Middle East customers, thus lowering logistic costs. We also analyse the roles of labour flexibility and trade unions. In order to impose far-reaching flexibility on its workers Foxconn put in place a range of strategies, including an hours bank system, multitask operators and the recruitment of apprentices thanks a special programme funded by the state. We show how these have been crucial for Foxconn\u2019s just-in-time production contrasting its labour turnover problem. Finally, we highlight how the company has been able to implement a flexible working pattern, weaken the trade unions and undercut workers\u2019 opposition, thanks to favourable labour laws approved by successive governments in the past thirty years

Introduction

This book investigates restructuring in the electronics industry and in particular the impact of a \u2018Chinese\u2019 labour regime on work and employ - ment practices in electronics assembly in Europe.1 Electronics is an extremely dynamic sector, characterized by an ever-changing organi - zational structure, as well as cut-throat competition, particularly in manufacturing. Located primarily in East Asia, electronics assembly has become notorious for poor working conditions, low unionisation and authoritarian labour relations. However, hostile labour relations and topdown HR policies are not unique to East Asia. They have become associated with the way the sector is governed more broadly, with a number of Western companies also coming to rely on such practices

Flexible workforces and low profit margins: electronics assembly between Europe and China

This book investigates restructuring in the electronics industry and in particular the impact of a \u2018Chinese\u2019 labour regime on work and employ - ment practices in electronics assembly in Europe.1 Electronics is an extremely dynamic sector, characterized by an ever-changing organi - zational structure, as well as cut-throat competition, particularly in manufacturing. Located primarily in East Asia, electronics assembly has become notorious for poor working conditions, low unionisation and authoritarian labour relations. However, hostile labour relations and topdown HR policies are not unique to East Asia. They have become associated with the way the sector is governed more broadly, with a number of Western companies also coming to rely on such practices

Science, Technology, and Innovation for Defense in Brazil: An Analysis of Transfer of Technology and Challenges on Brazilian Defense Programs

This paper analyzes patterns in obtaining, absorbing and developing technology from major strategic defense projects. These actions aim at increasing Brazilian industrial and technological capabilities to conceive and develop defense products autonomously. The approach utilized involves analyses of different Effectiveness Criteria for Transfer of Technology policies and programs outputs, their intended outcomes, as well as intermediary results achieved so far on two defense programs, the FX-2 Gripen NG BR and the PROSUB. The research processes data from documents, news, interviews and reports to evaluate the results and what are the upcoming prospects and challenges in the defense projects. Major challenges involve the question of transfer of technology to Brazilian” national” enterprises and the effectiveness in transferring know-why in both programs. These has implications for independent production in the defense sector impairing full development and diffusion to productive chains and marketing defense products autonomously. Brazilian international insertion through strategic partnerships still needs better institutions to overcome technological blockage and a more firmly established systems of Science-Technology-Innovation in the defense sector

The role of public procurement policy in driving industrial development

Given the large sums that are spent in public purchasing, the government of every state is itself an actor in the market, and often a relatively large actor. Government activities in the marketplace, the purchasing of goods and services or sometimes the marketing of the same, thereby impact and in some cases shape the market itself. Governments have therefore explored the possibility of using government purchases to promote not only redistribution among different sections of the population, but also industrial strategy, innovation technologies, or environmental protection through products or services that offer a reduced environmental impact – in an economy. Procurement policy is typically viewed as a legitimate tool to stimulate domestic production and consumption. By targeting contracts towards particular sectors or groups in society, the government could push forward policies to redistribute wealth, promote industrial strategies or ensure sustainable development. The following report sets out an overview of different industrial policy objectives commonly pursued through procurement contracts in India, Jamaica, South Africa, Brazil, Republic of Korea and the UK