Our ten years of work on transparet box business simulation

Traditional business games are of the so-called black-box type (BBBS=Black box business simulator); that is to say, the internal structure which generates the results of the simulation after decision-making is not known. As a result, the player normally operates by trial and error and bases his decisions on the symptoms of the problem (the observed behaviors of the system's variables) and not on the real causes of the problem (the system's structure). Since 1988 José A.D. Machuca has insisted that the business games based on System Dynamics models should be Transparent-box business simulators (TBBSs). That means that, during the game, the user has access to the structure of the underlying model and is able to relate it to the observed behaviors. The hypothesis is that such transparency would facilitate causal reflection and favor systemic learning of business problems. In 1990, the G.I.D.E.A.O. Research Group took action on this idea and centered one of its lines of research on this matter, with three main objectives: a) Creation of TBBSs, b) Introduction of TBBSs in undergraduate and graduate Management courses as well as in executive training, c) Experimentation in controlled environments in order to test the hypothesis mentioned in the above paragraph. Now, ten years after the birth of the idea, we would like to share in this paper the results obtained during that period

Canariensis Seminarii Conciliaris theologico-dogmaticae theses : [objetionibus pro viribus satisfaciet praedictus Dominicus Huesterlin del Castillo opem ei ferente ... Fr. Dominico Gordillo ... in ejusdem Seminarii Templo die 13 jan. anno Domini 1785 ...]

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Export Performance in Spanish Wineries: the Role of Human Capital and Quality Management System

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1504/EJIM.2018.091372[Abstract] The aim of this paper is to research the effect of human capital and Quality Management System (QMS) on the export performance of wine firms. The empirical analysis is carried out using data from a sample of Spanish wineries and performing Tobit regression models. In relation to human capital, the results show that only the specific human capital is associated with superior export performance of wineries whereas the general human capital although it has a positive coefficient, it is not statistically significant on the export performance of wine firms. The results related to Quality Management System show that those wine firms certified with the ISO 9000 standard of QMS have better export performanc

Analysis of Perceived Value of a New Packaging in Sugar Market and Its Influence on Willingness to Pay

[Resumen] En el año 2007 la empresa Azucarera lanzó con éxito un nuevo envase de azúcar con el objeto de mejorar la diferenciación del producto. Doce años después de sacar el nuevo producto se pretende analizar cuál es la valoración de los atributos del envase que le añaden valor, la intención de compra y la disposición a pagar un sobreprecio por el nuevo envase frente al envase original. A partir del conocimiento obtenido tras el lanzamiento del producto, este estudio analiza, además del punto de vista del consumidor, el del fabricante del envase, el del distribuidor y el de la empresa productora del azúcar. Los resultados revelan que el consumidor está dispuesto a pagar un sobreprecio frente al envase tradicional, además de valorar significativamente las principales dimensiones del envase como son la funcionalidad, la hermeticidad y la higiene.[Abstract] In 2007, the Azucarera company successfully launched a new sugar container in order to improve product differentiation. Twelve years after launching the new product, the aim is to analyze the evaluation of the attributes of the packaging that add value to it, the intention to buy and the willingness to pay a premium for the new packaging compared to the orixinal one. Based on the expertise obtained after the launch of the product, this study analyzes, in addition to the consumer's point of view, the manufacturer of the container, the distributor and the company that produces sugar. The results reveal that the consumer is not only predisposed to buy the new package but is willing to pay price premium over the traditional package in addition to significantly assessing the main dimensions of the package such as ease of use, tightness and hygiene.[Resumo] No ano 2007 a empresa Azucarera lanzou con éxito un novo envase de azucre co obxecto de mellorar a diferenciación do produto. Doce anos despois de sacar o novo produto preténdese analizar cal é a valoración dos atributos do envase que lle engaden valor, a intención de compra e a disposición a pagar un sobreprezo polo novo envase fronte ao envase orixinal. A partir do coñecemento obtido tras o lanzamento do produto, este estudo analiza, ademais do punto de vista do consumidor, o do fabricante do envase, o do distribuidor e mais o da empresa produtora do azucre. Os resultados revelan que o consumidor está disposto a pagar un sobreprezo fronte ao envase tradicional, ademais de valorar significativamente as principais calidades do envase como son a funcionalidade, a hermeticidade e a hixiene

Estratexias de mercadotecnia de marcas globais e locais en economías en desenvolvemento: un estudo comparativo no mercado de chocolate de Ecuador

[Resumen] El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las estrategias de marca internacional en el mercado del chocolate para un país en vías de desarrollo como es el caso de Ecuador. Se destacan dos resultados de interés. En primer lugar, a pesar de tratarse de un país de gran tradición cacaotera, lo cual predispone a una preferencia por productos o marcas locales, Nestlé lidera el mercado del chocolate. Los principales elementos que explican este liderazgo se fundamentan en la implantación de una estrategia híbrida que ha sabido combinar un posicionamiento global para todos los mercados en los que opera con la adaptación de sus programas de marketing al mercado local (Ecuador). En segundo lugar, Nestlé, además de conseguir el reconocimiento de una marca global, conocida y, por tanto, de gran notoriedad, ha sabido adaptarse a una economía en desarrollo a través de la fijación de precios competitivos, una importante actividad promocional, una estrategia de distribución intensiva y una amplia gama que también ofrece nuevos productos para diferentes segmentos como el chocolate blanco con arroz crocante o el chocolate elaborado a partir de cacao fino de Ecuador.[Abstract] The aim of this paper is to analyze international brand strategies in the chocolate market for a developing country as Ecuador. Two interesting results stand out. Firstly, despite being a country with a great cocoa tradition, which predisposes to a preference for local products or brands, Nestlé leads the chocolate market. The main elements that explain this leadership are based on the implementation of a hybrid strategy that has managed to combine a global positioning for all the markets in which it operates with the adaptation of its marketing programmes to the local market (Ecuador). Secondly, Nestlé, in addition to having achieved the recognition of a global, well known and, therefore, a great notoriety brand, was able to adapt to a developing economy through competitive pricing, significant promotional activity, an intensive distribution strategy and a wide range of products that also offers new products for different segments such as white chocolate with crispy rice or chocolate made from fine cocoa from Ecuador.[Resumo] O obxectivo deste traballo é analizar as estratexias de marca internacional no mercado do chocolate para un país en vías de desenvolvemento como é o caso de Ecuador. Destácanse dous resultados de interese. En primeiro lugar, a pesar de tratarse dun país de gran tradición cacaoteira, o cal predispón a unha preferencia por produtos ou marcas locais, Nestlé lidera o mercado do chocolate. Os principais elementos que explican este liderado fundaméntanse na implantación dunha estratexia híbrida que soubo combinar un posicionamento global para todos os mercados nos que opera coa adaptación dos seus programas de mercadotecnia ao mercado local (Ecuador). En segundo lugar, Nestlé, ademais de conseguir o recoñecemento dunha marca global, coñecida e, por tanto, de gran notoriedade, soubo adaptarse a unha economía en desenvolvemento a través da fixación de prezos competitivos, unha importante actividade promocional, unha estratexia de distribución intensiva e unha ampla gama que tamén ofrece novos produtos para diferentes segmentos como o chocolate branco con arroz crocante ou o chocolate elaborado a partir de cacao fino de Ecuador

Interactive learning in higher education through websites. An empirical study

Cada vez son más las asignaturas de educación superior que emplean la web como medio para crear lo que se ha venido a denominar aulas virtuales de formación. En nuestro caso, desde hace ya muchos años las empleamos en cuatro asignaturas que se imparten en la Universidad de Sevilla. En este artículo presentamos un estudio empírico relativo al uso de las aulas virtuales y su incidencia en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje.More and more Higher Education courses are using websites ir order to create virtual classrooms. We have been working with these websites in four courses of the University of Seville for some years. In this paper, we show an empirical study related to the use of virtual classrooms and its influence in teaching and learning processes

Early statin use is an independent predictor of long-term graft survival

Background. Statin use in renal transplantation has been associated with a lower risk of patient death but not with an improvement of graft functional survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of statin use in graft survival, death-censored graft survival and patient survival using the data recorded on the Spanish Late Allograft Dysfunction Study Group

Do cross-food allergies to propofol exist?

Alergia a la comida; Sensibilización alimentaria; PropofolFood allergy; Food sensitization; PropofolAl·lèrgia alimentària; Sensibilització alimentària; PropofolBackground: Propofol is a short and rapidly acting intravenous anesthetic extensively used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. It is a lipid emulsion that contains soybean oil, purified egg phosphatide, and egg lecithin. Therefore, the package leaflet indicates that its administration is contraindicated in patients allergic to soy, eggs, or peanuts. Our study aimed to determine whether patients with proven food allergies are allergic to propofol. Methods: Patients of all ages allergic to soy, eggs, or peanuts who agreed to undergo skin testing for propofol allergies were included. The subjects first underwent a skin test to confirm food allergies. If candidates were negative, they were excluded. If the result was positive, a propofol skin test was performed. Results: Sixty-four patients with confirmed food allergies underwent a propofol skin test. Only one was positive in the propofol skin test (1.6%). The patient was allergic to peanuts and soybeans. These results reinforce the idea that there is no justification for avoiding propofol use in these subjects. Conclusions: Propofol can be safely administered to patients allergic to soy, eggs, or peanuts. We recommend caution in patients with a history of anaphylaxis after ingestion of the above-mentioned foods

A Brief mHealth-Based Psychological Intervention in Emotion Regulation to Promote Positive Subjective Well-Being in Cardiovascular Disease Patients: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

The emotional impact that a cardiovascular disease may have on a person’s life can affect the prognosis and comorbidity of the disease. Therefore, emotion regulation is most important for the management of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of a brief mHealth psychological intervention in emotion regulation to promote positive subjective well-being in cardiovascular disease patients. The study sample (N = 69, 63.7 ± 11.5 years) was allocated to either the experimental group (n = 34) or control group (n = 35). The intervention consisted of a psychoeducational session in emotion regulation and an mHealth-based intervention for 2 weeks. Positive subjective well-being as a primary outcome and self-efficacy to manage the disease as a secondary outcome were assessed at five time points evaluated over a period of 6 weeks. The experimental group showed higher improvement in positive subjective well-being and self-efficacy for managing the disease compared to the control group over time. The experimental group also improved after the intervention on all outcome measures. Brief mHealth interventions in emotion regulation might be effective for improving positive subjective well-being and self-efficacy to manage the disease in cardiovascular patients

Immunoglobulin G as a Milk Allergen

Immunoglobulin G; Anaphylaxis; CaseinInmunoglobulina G; Anafilaxis; CaseínaImmunoglobulina G; Anafilaxi; Caseïn