RFID-enabled warehouse optimization: lessons from early adopters in the 3PL industry

This paper presents the impact of RFID technology on the picking and shipping processes of one RFID-enabled warehouse in the 3PL industry. The findings from our study confirm initial results from many studies where RFID implementation has been shown to enable business process redesign, improve data quality, real-time data collection and synchronization and enhance system integration. In this study we show that the full potential of RFID technology is dependent upon the involvement of all supply chain members involved in implementation. Moreover, firms considering implementing RFID technology need to take into account their investment in complementary assets such as employee training and knowledge development. The implication of this is that business process modeling and simulation is critical to ensure that stakeholders involved in a RFID project fully understand the impacts of integrating RFID technology on business processes

Economic Analysis of Tradeoffs Between Security and Disaster Recovery

The threat of computer crime is increasingly becoming a big concern for organizations. Organizations have to continuously manage their investment in information security technologies in an attempt to minimize the damage caused by information resource breaches. This article proposes an economic model in an attempt to evaluate the trade-offs between security and disaster-recovery technologies. The article intends to provide a directional strategy for managers in terms of increasing budgetary allocations for each of these technologies. The proposed model presents insights for managers

RFID: Prospects for Europe: Item-level Tagging and Public Transportation

This report, which is part of the COMPLETE series of studies, investigates the current and future competitiveness of the European industry in RFID applications in general and in two specific cases: item-level tagging and public transportation. It analyses its constituent technologies, drivers and barriers to growth, actual and potential markets and economic impacts, the industrial position and innovative capabilities, and it concludes with policy implicationsJRC.DDG.J.4-Information Societ

Redistribution by Insurance Market Regulation: Analyzing a Ban on Gender-Based Retirement Annuities

This paper shows how models of insurance markets with asymmetric information can be calibrated and solved to yield quantitative estimates of the consequences of government regulation. We estimate the impact of restricting gender-based pricing in the United Kingdom retirement annuity market, a market in which individuals are required to annuitize tax-preferred retirement savings but are allowed considerable choice over the annuity contract they purchase. After calibrating a lifecycle utility model and estimating a model of annuitant mortality that allows for unobserved heterogeneity, we solve for the range of equilibrium contract structures with and without gender-based pricing. Eliminating gender-based pricing is generally thought to redistribute resources from men to women, since women have longer life expectancies. We find that allowing insurers to offer a menu of contracts may reduce the amount of redistribution from men to women associated with gender-blind pricing requirements to half the level that would occur if insurers were required to sell a single pre-specified policy. The latter "one policy" scenario corresponds loosely to settings in which governments provide compulsory annuities as part of their Social Security program. Our findings suggest that recognizing the endogenous structure of insurance contracts is important for analyzing the economic effects of insurance market regulations. More generally, our results suggest that theoretical models of insurance market equilibrium can be used for quantitative policy analysis, not simply to derive qualitative findings.

Advances in Negotiation Theory: Bargaining, Coalitions and Fairness

Bargaining is ubiquitous in real-life. It is a major dimension of political and business activities. It appears at the international level, when governments negotiate on matters ranging from economic issues (such as the removal of trade barriers), to global security (such as fighting against terrorism) to environmental and related issues (e.g. climate change control). What factors determine the outcome of negotiations such as those mentioned above? What strategies can help reach an agreement? How should the parties involved divide the gains from cooperation? With whom will one make alliances? This paper addresses these questions by focusing on a non-cooperative approach to negotiations, which is particularly relevant for the study of international negotiations. By reviewing non-cooperative bargaining theory, non-cooperative coalition theory, and the theory of fair division, this paper will try to identify the connection among these different facets of the same problem in an attempt to facilitate the progress towards a unified framework.Negotiation theory, Bargaining, Coalitions, Fairness, Agreements

Portfolio company value creation : when private equity deploys AI

This study concerns the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in private equity (PE portfolio companies) for developing and implementing efficiencies. Triangulating findings from current scholarship, expert interviews, and a consumer survey, our investigation revealed that AI is perceived as a significant disruptor, with the potential to transform PE operations and create value for portfolio companies. The research highlighted several advantages of AI initiatives for PE portfolio companies, including strategic guidance and providing critical resources and management alignment. Furthermore, the survey demonstrated that consumers are receptive to AI applications in PE. However, the paper also identified limitations which could potentially hinder successful adoption of AI in portfolio companies. The efficacy of PE AI initiatives was found to be contingent upon the specific circumstances of each portfolio company, with benefits likely to be minimal or not present for AI-native firms. Thus, while certain challenges persist, our findings underscore the importance of PE funds focusing on developing core AI competencies to harness AI efficiencies across their portfolio companies.Este estudo diz respeito ao papel da inteligência artificial (IA) no capital privado (empresas de carteira de PE) para o desenvolvimento e implementação de eficiências. Triangulando os resultados das actuais bolsas de estudo, entrevistas com peritos, e um inquérito aos consumidores, a nossa investigação revelou que a IA é vista como um perturbador significativo, com potencial para transformar as operações de PE e criar valor para as empresas da carteira. A investigação destacou várias vantagens das iniciativas de IA para as empresas de portefólio de EP, incluindo orientação estratégica e fornecimento de recursos críticos e alinhamento da gestão. Além disso, o inquérito demonstrou que os consumidores estão receptivos a aplicações de IA em PE. Contudo, o estudo também identificou limitações que podem potencialmente impedir a adopção bem-sucedida de IA nas empresas de portfólio. Constatou-se que a eficácia das iniciativas de IA depende das circunstâncias específicas de cada empresa do portfólio, com benefícios que provavelmente serão mínimos ou não presentes para as empresas nativas de IA. Assim, embora persistam certos desafios, as nossas conclusões sublinham a importância de os fundos de PE se concentrarem no desenvolvimento de competências centrais em matéria de IA para aproveitar a eficiência da IA nas empresas do seu portefólio