Análise da influência das práticas do lean management em empresas de desenvolvimento de software

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Engenharia de ProduçãoO desenvolvimento de software é um setor que vem crescendo constantemente no mercado, tanto em geração de emprego quanto de renda. Entretanto, além da concorrência de mercado, o setor ainda sofre muito com os seus processos para garantir entregas de qualidade e dentro do prazo. Para isso, o Lean Management (LM) surge como uma alternativa que visa otimizar os processos, reduzir os desperdícios e melhorar o relacionamento com os clientes no desenvolvimento de software. Sobretudo, ainda é precário o conhecimento sobre como e quais práticas podem ser aplicadas para resolução dos problemas de empresas de desenvolvimento de software. Diante disso, o presente estudo visa analisar a influência do LM no desenvolvimento de software e para isso, identificar quais as práticas são mais indicadas para a resolução de cada um dos principais problemas do desenvolvimento de software. Para tal, foram identificadas quais são as principais práticas do LM no desenvolvimento de software e quais são os principais fatores críticos de sucesso (FCS), de acordo com a literatura. Com esses dados, realizou-se uma pesquisa com trinta e uma empresas que desenvolvem software na Grande Florianópolis para identificar a incidência dos FCS em seus processos e o nível de implementação das práticas do LM. Com isso, tornou-se possível realizar uma análise estatística de correlação parcial entre cada FCS com cada prática do LM, com o intuito final de identificar quais são as práticas mais indicadas para a resolução de cada problema, os quais são os complementos dos FCS, no desenvolvimento de software. Diante dos resultados, percebeu-se que a maioria das práticas mostrou uma correlação positiva com os FCS, ou seja, são indicadas para a resolução dos problemas do desenvolvimento de software. Além disso, as práticas que mais obtiveram correlações positivas para a redução dos problemas foram Codesign, Kanban e Gestão Visual. Sobretudo, a prática que mais vezes se apresentou como maior recomendação para resolução dos problemas foi Engenheiro Chefe, seguida por Padronização das Operações, Nivelamento do Trabalho e Mapeamento do Fluxo de Valor (MFV).Software development is a sector that has been constantly growing on the market, both in the creation of jobs and income. However, besides market competition, this sector still suffers a great deal from its own processes to ensure quality deliveries on time. For that, Lean Management (LM) comes as an alternative that aims to optimize processes, reduce waste and improve the relationship with clients in software development. Above all, the knowledge regarding how and what practices can be applied for the solution of issues in software development companies is still poor. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the influence from LM in software development and, for that purpose, to identify what practices are the most suitable for solving each one of the major issues as to software development. For this end, it was analyzed what are the main LM practices in software development and what are the main critical success factors (CSF), according to the literature. With those data, a survey was conducted with thirty-one companies that develop softwares in Greater Florianópolis (Metropolitan Florianópolis) to identify the incidence of CSF in its processes and the level of implementation of LM practices. Thereby, it was possible to perform a statistical analysis of partial correlations between each CSF within each practice from LM, with the final intention of identifying which are the most suitable practices for solving each problem issue, which are the complements of CSF, in software development. Given the results, it was noticed that most of the practices showed a positive correlation with the CSF, that is, they are indicated for solving software development issues. Furthermore, the practices that have had the most positive correlations for reducing issues were Codesign, Kanban and Visual Management. Most importantly, the practice that presented itself the most recommended for problem-solving was Chief Engineer, followed by Standardization of Operations, Work Leveling and Value Stream Mapping (VSM)

Evaluation of the influence of Lean management practices on productivity

The lean practices have a fundamental role in the continuous improvement and to leverage the performance of a company. From such point of view, the management style of a business is a key factor to its development against competitors. The most suitable practices to each reality, properly applied and well managed, are critical to productivity. Therefore, this research intends to analyze the influence of lean management practices in the productivity of a company. Thereby, companies that aim to implement lean management can analyze and seek assistance in order to decide which practices are more beneficial to leverage their business

Eosinophils Play a Surprising Leading Role in Recurrent Urticaria in Horses

Urticaria, independent of or associated with allergies, is commonly seen in horses and often shows a high reoccurrence rate. Managing these horses is discouraging, and efficient treatment options are lacking. Due to an incidental finding in a study on horses affected by insect bite hypersensitivity using the eosinophil-targeting eIL-5-CuMV-TT vaccine, we observed the prevention of reoccurring seasonal urticaria in four subsequent years with re-vaccination. In an exploratory case series of horses affected with non-seasonal urticaria, we aimed to investigate the role of eosinophils in urticaria. Skin punch biopsies for histology and qPCR of eosinophil associated genes were performed. Further, two severe, non-seasonal, recurrent urticaria-affected horses were vaccinated using eIL-5-CuMV-TT, and urticaria flare-up was followed up with re-vaccination for several years. Eotaxin-2, eotaxin-3, IL-5, CCR5, and CXCL10 showed high sensitivity and specificity for urticarial lesions, while eosinophils were present in 50% of histological tissue sections. The eIL-5-CuMV-TT vaccine reduced eosinophil counts in blood, cleared clinical signs of urticaria, and even prevented new episodes of urticaria in horses with non-seasonal recurrent urticaria. This indicates that eosinophils play a leading role in urticaria in horses, and targeting eosinophils offers an attractive new treatment option, replacing the use of corticosteroids

Evaluation of the influence of Lean management practices on productivity

The lean practices have a fundamental role in the continuous improvement and to leverage the performance of a company. From such point of view, the management style of a business is a key factor to its development against competitors. The most suitable practices to each reality, properly applied and well managed, are critical to productivity. Therefore, this research intends to analyze the influence of lean management practices in the productivity of a company. Thereby, companies that aim to implement lean management can analyze and seek assistance in order to decide which practices are more beneficial to leverage their business

m-nitrobenzyl alcohol supercharging reagent enhances the chromatographic separation and the charging of disulfide bond linked and His-tag peptides

The linkages of disulfide bond (DSB) play important roles in protein stability and activity. Mass spectrometry-based (MS-based) techniques become accepted tools for DSB analysis in the recent decade. In the bottom-up approach, after enzyme digestion, the neighbouring amino acids of cysteines have great impacts on the physicochemical properties of resulting disulfide bond peptides, determining their retention behaviour on liquid chromatography (LC) and their MS ionization efficiency. In this study, the addition of supercharging reagent in LC mobile phase was used to examine the impact of supercharging reagent on the charge states of disulfide-bond peptides. The results showed that 0.1 % m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-NBA) in LC mobile phase increased the sensitivity and charge states of DSB peptides from our model protein, equine Interleukin-5 (eIL5), as well as the resolution of reversed-phase chromatography. Notably, also the sensitivity of C-terminal peptide with His-tag significantly improved. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of employing m-NBA as a supercharging reagent when investigating disulfide-linked peptides and the C-terminal peptide with a His-tag through nano-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.ISSN:0021-967

Patients' and physicians’ perspectives on the burden and management of asthma: Results from the APPaRENT 2 study

International audienceBackground: The 2021 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) report recommends 2 treatment tracks depending on choice of reliever therapy: either inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/formoterol, or short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) with ICS to be used whenever a SABA is taken.Objective: The Asthma Patients' and Physicians’ Perspectives on the Burden and Management of Asthma (APPaRENT) 2 study aimed to understand current real-world treatment approaches and their alignment with GINA recommendations.Methods: Patients and physicians were recruited for the online survey from online panels from August–November 2021. Inclusion criteria: adults, physician diagnosis of asthma, ≥6 months prescribed inhaler use (patients); primary care, ≥4 patients with asthma per month, ≥3 years clinical practice (physicians).Results: 1650 patients and 1080 physicians were included. For patients with moderate to severe asthma, physicians prescribed proactive regular dosing (PRD) with ICS/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) combination with (47%) or without (15%) SABA as initial therapy. Most pulmonologists (75%) and general practitioners (57%) selected a PRD approach. The majority of patients, 85% (79–91%), considered to be using maintenance and reliever therapy (MART), were also prescribed non-ICS rescue inhaler.Conclusions: Physicians preferred a preventive regular dosing approach to achieve symptom control for patients with moderate to severe asthma, which is more aligned with GINA 2021 Track 2 recommendations than Track 1. Many patients on MART request additional rescue inhalers, suggesting that MART is being misapplied in most instances and that patients may perceive their asthma as inadequately controlled with MART therapy

Selecting optimal second-generation antihistamines for allergic rhinitis and urticaria in Asia

Abstract Background Allergic diseases are on the rise in many parts of the world, including the Asia–Pacific (APAC) region. Second-generation antihistamines are the first-line treatment option in the management of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. International guidelines describe the management of these conditions; however, clinicians perceive the additional need to tailor treatment according to patient profiles. This study serves as a consensus of experts from several countries in APAC (Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), which aims to describe the unmet needs, practical considerations, challenges, and key decision factors when determining optimal second-generation antihistamines for patients with allergic rhinitis and/or urticaria. Methods Specialists from allergology, dermatology, and otorhinolaryngology were surveyed on practical considerations and key decision points when treating patients with allergic rhinitis and/or urticaria. Results Clinicians felt the need for additional tools for diagnosis of these diseases and a single drug with all preferred features of an antihistamine. Challenges in treatment include lack of clinician and patient awareness and compliance, financial constraints, and treatment for special patient populations such as those with concomitant disease. Selection of optimal second-generation antihistamines depends on many factors, particularly drug safety and efficacy, impact on psychomotor abilities, and sedation. Country-specific considerations include drug availability and cost-effectiveness. Survey results reveal bilastine as a preferred choice due to its high efficacy and safety, suitability for special patient populations, and the lack of sedative effects. Conclusions Compliance to the international guidelines is present among allergists, dermatologists and otorhinolaryngologists; however, this is lower amongst general practitioners (GPs). To increase awareness, allergy education programs targeted at GPs and patients may be beneficial. Updates to the existing international guidelines are suggested in APAC to reflect appropriate management for different patient profiles and varying symptoms of allergic rhinitis and urticaria

Is asthma control more than just an absence of symptoms? : An expert consensus statement

PURPOSE: Definitions and measures of asthma control used in clinical trials and in clinical practice vary considerably. There is also misalignment between patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in terms of understanding and managing asthma control. This study aimed to progress towards a consensus definition of asthma control, and evaluate disparities between HCP and patient perspectives. BASIC PROCEDURES: A two-stage Delphi questionnaire involving asthma specialists sought to identify areas of consensus on aspects of asthma control in clinical practice. Results were compared with those of a structured literature review to assess if existing guidance and measures of asthma control used in studies correlated with practice. Eighty-two panelists took part in the Delphi questionnaire. The structured literature review included 185 manuscripts and 31 abstracts. MAIN FINDINGS: Panelists agreed that there was no standard definition of asthma control, confirmed by a total of 19 different composite consensus/guideline definitions and/or validated measures of control being identified across the Delphi study and literature review. Panelists agreed on the positive associations of well-controlled asthma with patient outcomes, but not on the components or thresholds of a working definition of control. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: A universally accepted definition and measure of asthma control that is utilized and understood by patients, HCPs, and researchers is required