Discount Coupons: Beyond the Price Discount Effect

Paper included in Proceedings from the Promotion in the Marketing Mix: What Works, Where and Why, NEC-63 Conference, Toronto, Canada, 1994. Ellen Goddard and Daphne Taylor, editors, pp.42-52.Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,

Empowering Distributed Solutions in Renewable Energy Systems and Grid Optimization

This study delves into the shift from centralized to decentralized approaches in the electricity industry, with a particular focus on how machine learning (ML) advancements play a crucial role in empowering renewable energy sources and improving grid management. ML models have become increasingly important in predicting renewable energy generation and consumption, utilizing various techniques like artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and decision trees. Furthermore, data preprocessing methods, such as data splitting, normalization, decomposition, and discretization, are employed to enhance prediction accuracy. The incorporation of big data and ML into smart grids offers several advantages, including heightened energy efficiency, more effective responses to demand, and better integration of renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, challenges like handling large data volumes, ensuring cybersecurity, and obtaining specialized expertise must be addressed. The research investigates various ML applications within the realms of solar energy, wind energy, and electric distribution and storage, illustrating their potential to optimize energy systems. To sum up, this research demonstrates the evolving landscape of the electricity sector as it shifts from centralized to decentralized solutions through the application of ML innovations and distributed decision-making, ultimately shaping a more efficient and sustainable energy future

Limiano, the cheese that is part of the family

This case study is based on a Portuguese company, which has been leader in the Flamengo cheese market for more than 50 years. Besides having high rates of notoriety, Limiano and its family values are cherished by all Portuguese. The students will undoubtedly identify quickly with the problems of the company and hence take more pleasure solving this case. This teaching case is intended to undergraduate and graduate level attending marketing related courses at a beginners’ level. It tries to recreate the day-to-day life of a junior marketer full of unexpected decisions and dilemmas. By putting themselves in his shoes, students can understand the main responsibilities of the marketing and sales departments, the different subjects these are in charge and the existent interactions in the industry, with other companies or departments. This case can definitely help students decide on their future studies or even career path. Finally, this case retraces a real and very up-to-date challenge faced by most of companies in the consumer goods sector: the increase of private labels in the distribution channels and the strategies to fight them. In 2010, Limiano implemented a couple of successful strategies that allowed them to recover their lost market share against the distributor brands’. The approach used by Limiano, a customer-obsessed company, can be transposed to other corporations facing the same defiance in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector

AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF INTELLIGENT RAILWAY TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN ZIMBABWE

The study seeks to investigate the awareness and adoption of modern technologies which are collectively called (IRTS) Intelligent Railway Transport Systems by the NRZ (National railways of Zimbabwe) of Zimbabwe. Adoption of these technologies are on an increasing trend in developed and developing countries, installation and implementation of a railway system called RailTracker in Tanzania has improved railway services in that country, in Uganda and Kenya the Rift Valley Railway (RVR) has introduced GPS technology to track trains. In India a system is used to detect defects in rolling stock while they are on the run. Where these systems have been implemented, they have significantly improved the efficiency, safety and quality of service of railway operations. In Zimbabwe the rail network is an important transport infrastructure enabling movement of goods and passengers. Primary research was carried out using questionnaires and semi structured interviews, data was collected from 67 participants comprising Engineers, Technicians, Train Drivers and Station Managers. 98% of the technical participants indicated that they were aware of IRTS however the adoption of the systems by the NRZ is at 0%. 100% of the Managers indicated that they were aware of IRTS and the company is willing to adopt them but currently no system has been installed Secondary research was conducted to identify and study similar projects elsewhere, their success as well as the difficulties encountered during their implementation. Secondary data was collected from books and the Internet. Article visualizations

Business model analysis of public services operating in the smart city ecosystem: The case of SmartSantander

As the deployment of Internet of Things and other enabling technologies is still in an initial phase worldwide, few research studies have addressed the associated business models. This paper aims to fill this gap. The main objective of this research is to gain a deeper knowledge about practical business models matching into a real-life smart city ecosystem. Hence, a benchmarking of eight urban services provided in the city of Santander has been carried out: waste management; water supply; traffic management; street lighting; augmented reality and tourism; incidences management, parks and gardens and citizen participation. Among the main results of our study, we highlight that those public services properly managed embedding IoT technology convey cost reductions in the long term. There is also a reduction in energy consumption and environmental impact with the consequent social impact. It should also be highlighted that most data are managed with the same platform. Last but not least, an emerging ecosystem of incentivized citizens has been proved to be arising

Determinants and Policies to Foster the Competitiveness of SME Clusters: Evidence from Latin America

This paper attempts to identify key determinants of competitiveness in SME clusters, with especial reference to Latin America. It takes the debate forward as its extended framework adds country- and firm-level determinants to the existing cluster-level factors of the 'collective efficiency' approach. Based on an enlarged analytical framework, policies recommendations to foster clusters' competitiveness are provided at different levels. Empirical evidence strongly suggests that joint action may not be enough for clusters to face new competitive pressures. This confirms the narrow scope of the 'collective efficiency' approach, and suggests that policy intervention in Latin America should go beyond the mere promotion of inter-firm linkages to foster the competitiveness of SME clusters.

Critical analysis of advertising and strategic media planning in FMCG Sector in India

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Use of the AHP Method to Evaluate Key Inventory Control Indicators: Case Study of a Taiwanese Manufacturer in China

Control of inventory is a crucial management task that can affect a company\u27s success and survival, and good inventory control offers many benefits. In this paper, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used to investigate key inventory indicators at a manufacturer and obtained an initial set of factors influencing inventory control, including five major assessment dimensions and 15 assessment criteria. "Rolling customer demand forecast accuracy" was a key assessment dimension that can be used to evaluate the case company\u27s inventory. The five most important key inventory control indicators consisted of "forecasting accuracy," "purchases in China," "production, sale, and inventory (PSI) meeting," "skilled worker turnover rate," and "major changes in market demand." In addition, these key indicators are discussed and some practical recommendations are made