Measuring efficiency of automotive parts suppliers from entrepreneurial orientation by using data envelopment analysis

Entrepreneurship indices should be considered for measuring efficiency in parallel with rapid growth in manufacturing technology industry. However, in Iran, automotive industries lack entrepreneurship and effective methods for measuring efficiency. To address the problem, the study has three main aims: firstly, to examine the relationship between enabler factors of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial orientation of automotive parts suppliers, secondly, to rank and identify inefficient suppliers through measuring efficiency from an entrepreneurial orientation perspective, and finally, to find ways to improve inefficient suppliers. This study applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches. In the quantitative phase, 422 out of 510 sets of questionnaire focusing on enabler factors of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial orientation were collected from middle and lower managers as well as technicians of 51 Iranian automotive parts supplier firms. SPSS was used to statistically analyze data and data envelopment analysis method was applied specifically to measure efficiency. The results revealed that two (structure and policy) out of six enabler factors of entrepreneurial orientation, were not significant predictors of entrepreneurial orientation. Scores of efficiency indicated that16 of these firms were inefficient from an entrepreneurial orientation viewpoint. The data envelopment analysis not only showed the inefficient suppliers but also revealed quantitative suggestions. Besides that, qualitative data collection based on open-ended questionnaires to seek the opinions of nine industry and entrepreneurship experts were carried out. Based on the findings, it is suggested that attention be drawn to the components of entrepreneurial orientation, namely innovation, risk-taking, pro-activeness, autonomy, competitive and aggressiveness. They have roles with various degrees of importance in entrepreneurship and consequently in the improvement of efficiency score of inefficient suppliers. Recommendations based on data envelopment analysis and experts’ opinions to improve the efficiency of the inefficient firms have been made in the study by suggesting ways to eliminate inefficiency due to lack of entrepreneurial orientation among suppliers

Diseño de un modelo matemático multiobjetivo para la localización de centros de distribución (bodegas) en Barranquilla y su Área Metropolitana, con objetivos críticos del entorno geográfico

Ingeniería IndustrialThe growing increase of the industrial sector in the city of Barranquilla, has brought with it the need for companies to have a place to store their raw materials or finished products, the multi objective location models are a set of problem components of where the centers of services are located, so that the important criteria are optimized when defining the location of these. The present work is oriented to the design of a model of analysis and optimization of multi-objective localization of distribution centers (warehouses) in the city of Barranquilla and its surrounding area, which allows the optimal location, the analysis and the determination of potential centers, a starting from objectives to be minimized such as costs, distance and security, which directly influence the decision to locate the distribution centers in the city.El creciente aumento del sector industrial en la ciudad de Barranquilla ha traído consigo la necesidad de que las empresas tengan un lugar donde almacenar sus materias primas o productos terminados, los modelos de localización multiobjetivo son un conjunto de procedimientos matemáticos cuya finalidad es buscar soluciones al problema de donde situar centros de servicios, de manera que se optimicen ciertos criterios importantes a la hora de definir la ubicación de estos. El presente trabajo se encuentra orientado al diseño de un modelo de análisis de decisión y optimización de localización multiobjetivo de centros de distribución (bodegas) en la ciudad de Barranquilla y su Área Metropolitana, el cual permita la ubicación optima, considerando la evaluación y determinación de centros potenciales, a partir de objetivos a minimizar como costos, distancia y seguridad, que influyen directamente en la decisión de localización de centros de distribución en la ciudad

Planning the roll-out of hydrogen fueling infrastructure for transportation : a case study in Spain, Andalusia and Seville

Programa de Doctorado en Ingeniería Electrónica, Tratamiento de Señales y ComunicacionesThe hydrogen economy is regarded, at present, as an alternative to the existing energy paradigm: a new scheme in which, by using local resources, fuel for transportation can be produced from different sources, and can also be distributed and stored safely. Moreover, if the hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources, the step towards its use becomes a step towards the sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. One of the major obstacles for the development of this alternative energy model, is the so-called "the chicken and egg dilemma": (1) Users will not purchase a vehicle that uses hydrogen as fuel until they can refuel with a minimum of comfort, that is to say, until a basic infrastructure exists. (2) Car manufacturers will not produce these vehicles until there is a demand for them. (3) No company will deploy hydrogen fueling stations without having a minimum number of potential customers. Therefore, to kick off the transition of the market towards hydrogen vehicles, a planning of the initial development of the infrastructure leading to the solution of this problem is required. In this thesis, different methods to plan the roll-out of hydrogen fueling infrastructure for transportation under different conditions are discussed. These methods are used to propose roll-out strategies for different spatial units and they are applied to the specific cases of Spain, Andalusia, and Seville.Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Departamento de Economía, Métodos Cuantitativos e Historia Económic

Strategy Tripod Perspective on the Determinants of Airline Efficiency in A Global Context: An Application of DEA and Tobit Analysis

The airline industry is vital to contemporary civilization since it is a key player in the globalization process: linking regions, fostering global commerce, promoting tourism and aiding economic and social progress. However, there has been little study on the link between the operational environment and airline efficiency. Investigating the amalgamation of institutions, organisations and strategic decisions is critical to understanding how airlines operate efficiently. This research aims to employ the strategy tripod perspective to investigate the efficiency of a global airline sample using a non-parametric linear programming method (data envelopment analysis [DEA]). Using a Tobit regression, the bootstrapped DEA efficiency change scores are further regressed to determine the drivers of efficiency. The strategy tripod is employed to assess the impact of institutions, industry and resources on airline efficiency. Institutions are measured by global indices of destination attractiveness; industry, including competition, jet fuel and business model; and finally, resources, such as the number of full-time employees, alliances, ownership and connectivity. The first part of the study uses panel data from 35 major airlines, collected from their annual reports for the period 2011 to 2018, and country attractiveness indices from global indicators. The second part of the research involves a qualitative data collection approach and semi-structured interviews with experts in the field to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the first part’s significant findings. The main findings reveal that airlines operate at a highly competitive level regardless of their competition intensity or origin. Furthermore, the unpredictability of the environment complicates airline operations. The efficiency drivers of an airline are partially determined by its type of business model, its degree of cooperation and how fuel cost is managed. Trade openness has a negative influence on airline efficiency. COVID-19 has toppled the airline industry, forcing airlines to reconsider their business model and continuously increase cooperation. Human resources, sustainability and alternative fuel sources are critical to airline survival. Finally, this study provides some evidence for the practicality of the strategy tripod and hints at the need for a broader approach in the study of international strategies

Sustainability in China: Bridging Global Knowledge with Local Action

China’s road to sustainability has attracted global attention. Since the “Reform & Opening Up” policy, China’s rapid pace of both urbanization and industrialization has made its being the second largest economy but meantime a heavy environmental price has been paid over the past few decades for addressing the economic developmental target. Today, as the biggest developing country, China needs to take more responsibilities for constructing its local ecological-civilization society as well as for addressing the global challenges such as climate change, resources scary and human beings well-fare; therefore, we need to have deeper understandings into China’s way to sustainability at very different levels, both spatially and structurally, concerns ranging from generating sustainable household livelihoods to global climate change, from developing technological applications to generate institutional changes. In this spirit, this publication, “Sustainability in China: Bridging Global Knowledge with Local Action” aims to investigate the intended and spontaneous issues concerning China’s road to sustainability in a combined top-down and bottom-up manner, linking international knowledge to local-based studies