TABSAOND: A technique for developing agent-based simulation apps and online tools with nondeterministic decisions

Agent-based simulators (ABSs) have successfully allowed practitioners to estimate the outcomes of certain input circumstances in several domains. Although some techniques and processes provide hints about the construction of these systems, some aspects have not been discussed yet in the literature. In this context, the current approach presents a technique for developing ABSs. Its focus is to guide practitioners in designing and implementing the decision-making processes of agents in nondeterministic scenarios. As an additional technological innovation, the ABSs are deployed as both mobile apps and online tools. This work illustrates the current approach with two case studies in the fields of (a) health and welfare and (b) tourism. These case studies have also been developed with the most similar technique from the literature for comparing both techniques. The presented technique improved the simulated outcomes in terms of their similarity with the real ones. The obtained ABSs were more efficient and reliable for large amounts of agents (e.g. 10,000 – 400,000 agents). The development time was lower. Both the framework and the implementation of a case study are freely distributed as open-source to facilitate the reproducibility of the experiments and to assist practitioners in applying the current approach

Social Media Influencers- A Review of Operations Management Literature

This literature review provides a comprehensive survey of research on Social Media Influencers (SMIs) across the fields of SMIs in marketing, seeding strategies, influence maximization and applications of SMIs in society. Specifically, we focus on examining the methods employed by researchers to reach their conclusions. Through our analysis, we identify opportunities for future research that align with emerging areas and unexplored territories related to theory, context, and methodology. This approach offers a fresh perspective on existing research, paving the way for more effective and impactful studies in the future. Additionally, gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying principles and methodologies of these concepts enables more informed decision-making when implementing these strategie

Networking as a Word of Mouth Marketing Strategy in Entrepreneurial Contexts

The purpose of this research is to create a Network Marketing Model (NMM) for entrepreneurs relying on networking activities to activate Word of Mouth processes. In order to achieve this, we support our theoretical findings in three pillars: Entrepreneurial Marketing (EM), networking activities, and Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM). These 3 frameworks are explained in Chapters 1 - 2. Additionally, this thesis addresses two relevant concerns in the area of EM and WOMM: the influence of social networks and the actors in WOM processes in an entrepreneurial context. These issues are developed through simulations using Agent-Based Modeling in Chapter 3 and an empirical experiment in Chapter 4. Finally, Chapter 5 proposes the NMM according to the main findings of previous sectionsResumen: El propósito de esta investigación es crear un Modelo de Network Marketing (MNM) para emprendedores apoyándose en las actividades de networking para activar los procesos de voz a voz. Para alcanzar esto, se apoyan los hallazgos teóricos en tres pilares: Marketing Emprendedor (ME), actividades de networking y el marketing boca a boca. Estos tres conceptos son explicados en los Capítulos 1 y 2. Adicionalmente, esta tesis aborda dos preocupaciones relevantes en el área de ME y el marketing boca a boca: la influencia de las redes sociales y los actores en los procesos del marketing boca a boca en un contexto emprendedor. Estas cuestiones fueron desarrolladas a través de simulaciones usando Modelado Basado en Agentes (MBA) en el Capítulo 3 y un experimento empírico en el Capítulo 4. Finalmente, el Capítulo 5 propone el MNM de acuerdo a los principales hallazgos encontrados en las secciones previasDoctorad

B-GOOD: Giving Beekeeping Guidance by cOmputatiOnal-assisted Decision making

A key to healthy beekeeping is the Health Status Index (HIS) inspired by EFSA’s Healthy-B toolbox which we will make fully operational, with the active collaboration of beekeepers, by facilitating the coordinated and harmonised flow of data from various sources and by testing and validating each component thoroughly. We envisage a step-by-step expansion of participating apiaries, and will eventually cover all EU biogeographic regions. The key to a sustainable beekeeping is a better understanding of its socio-economics, particularly within local value chains, its relationship with bee health and the human-ecosystem equilibrium of the beekeeping sector and to implement these insights into the data processing and decision making. We will fully integrate socio-economic analyses, identify viable business models tailored to different contexts for European beekeeping and determine the carrying capacity of the landscape. In close cooperation with the EU Bee Partnership, an EU-wide bee health and management data platform and affiliated project website will be created to enable sharing of knowledge and learning between scientists and stakeholders within and outside the consortium. We will utilise and further expand the classification of the open source IT-application for digital beekeeping, BEEP, to streamline the flow of data related to beekeeping management, the beehive and its environment (landscape, agricultural practices, weather and climate) from various sources. The dynamic bee health and management data platform will allow us to identify correlative relationships among factors impacting the HSI, assess the risk of emerging pests and predators, and enable beekeepers to develop adaptive management strategies that account for local and EU-wide issues. Reinforcing and establishing, where necessary, new multi-actor networks of collaboration will engender a lasting learning and innovation system to ensure social-ecological resilient and sustainable beekeeping

Social Media Strategies to Increase Professional Membership Association Dues Income

Social media strategies can play an important and specific role in nonprofits by increasing membership dues income. However, insufficient data exists supporting effective strategies for social media in professional membership associations, potentially affecting both business managers within those associations and the stakeholders they represent. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore social media strategies that nonprofit marketing professionals used to increase professional membership association dues income. The sample included 7 nonprofit marketing professionals in a New Jersey-based professional membership association. Social exchange theory and social influence theory formed the conceptual framework. Data collection occurred using semistructured interviews, a review of campaign data, review of social media, and directly observing a social media planning meeting. Yin\u27s 5 steps for qualitative data analysis formed a logical and sequential process for analysis. An overarching theme, actionable strategies to increase dues income in professional membership associations, emerged with 5 themes, including engagement with social media connections; a comprehensive, coordinated strategy; and establishing trust. The implications for positive social change include the potential to help professional membership associations to increase revenue and better support their social advocacy missions, which could include an improvement in community service activities, benefiting both association members and small and large communities across the United States