Two-period dynamic versus fixed-ratio pricing in a capacity constrained duopoly

This paper analyzes the impact of dynamic and fixed-ratio pricing policies on firm profits and equilibrium prices under competition. Firms that have equal inventories of perfectly substitutable and perishable products compete for customer segments that demand the product at different times. In each period, customers first purchase from the low price firm and then from the high price firm up to their inventories, provided the prices are lower than the maximum they are willing to pay. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: although dynamic pricing is a more sophisticated policy than fixed-ratio pricing, it may lead to decreased equilibrium profits; under both pricing policies, one firm assumes the role of a low-cost high-output firm while the other assumes the role of a high-cost low-output firm; and, the supply demand ratio has more impact on the outcome of the competition than the heterogeneity in consumer reservation prices.Dynamic pricing Revenue management Edgeworth-Bertrand competition

Erlernen der chirurgischen Knoten- und Nahttechnik - Effekte verschiedener Trainingsformen in einer kontrolliert-randomisierten Studie mit Studierenden der Zahnmedizin

Objective: The acquisition of surgical skills requires motor learning. A special form of this is intermanual transfer by transferring motor skills from the nondominant hand (NDH) to the dominant hand (DH). The purpose of this study was to determine the learning gains that can be achieved for the DH by training with the DH, the NDH, and by non-surgical alternative training (AT).Methods: 124 preclinical (n=62) and clinical (n=62) dental students completed surgical knot tying and suturing technique training with the DH, with the NDH, and an AT in a controlled randomized trial. Results: A statistically significant learning gain in knot tying and suture technique with the DH was evident only after training with the DH when compared to training with the NDH (p=4 OSATS points, 46.4% (n=32) benefited in their knot tying technique with the DH from training with the DH, 29.0% (n=20) from training with the NDH, and 24.6% (n=17) from an AT while 45.7% (n=32) benefited in their suturing technique with the DH from training with the DH, 31.4% (n=22) from training with the NDH, and 22, 9% (n=16) from an AT.Conclusions: Training with the DH enabled significantly better learning gains in the surgical knot tying and suturing techniques with the DH.Zielsetzung: Der Erwerb chirurgischer Fertigkeiten erfordert motorisches Lernen. Eine Sonderform davon ist der intermanuelle Transfer durch Übertragung motorischer Fertigkeiten von der nicht-dominanten Hand (NDH) auf die dominante Hand (DH). Mit Hilfe dieser Studie sollte ermittelt werden, welcher Lernzuwachs durch ein Training mit der DH, der NDH und durch ein nicht-chirurgisches, alternatives Training (AT) für die DH erzielt werden kann.Methodik: 124 Studierende des vorklinischen (n=62) und des klinischen Studienabschnitts (n=62) der Zahnmedizin absolvierten ein Training der Naht- und Knotentechnik mit der DH, mit der NDH und ein AT in einer kontrolliert randomisierten Studie. Ergebnisse: Ein statistisch signifikanter Lernzuwachs in der Knoten- und Nahttechnik mit der DH zeigte sich nur nach dem Training mit der DH im Vergleich zum Training mit der NDH (p=4 Punkte) profitierten 46,4% (n=32) von einem Training mit der DH, 29,0% (n=20) von einem Training mit der NDH und 24,6% (n=17) von einem AT. Bei der Nahttechnik mit der DH profitierten 45,7% (n=32) von einem Training mit der DH, 31,4% (n=22) von einem Training mit der NDH und 22, 9% (n=16) von einem AT.Schlussfolgerungen: Ein Training mit der DH zeigte einen statistisch signifikanten Lernzuwachs bei der chirurgischen Knoten- und Nahttechnik mit der DH

The importance of context in store forecasting: the site visit in retail location decision-making

The aim of this paper is to investigate how practical store location decision-making balances formal modelling with the less well-studied informal qualitative inputs. By using case studies from one major UK food retailer, we find that informal knowledge has to be considered seriously alongside quantitative models despite the inclusion of such knowledge often proving challenging. In particular, the site visit has a key role in contextualising factors that are difficult to represent in formal 'modelled' data, and in calibrating the inputs to models that are becoming increasingly advanced. We conclude that conceptualising the role of knowledge management in retail store decision-making has been under-theorised but can offer a key to advancing our understanding of this process still further

A GIS-Based Optimization Framework for Competitive Multi-Facility Location-Routing Problem

Competitive facility location, Location-routing, Meta-heuristics, Genetic algorithm, GIS,