Progress in large-shared projects : method for forecasting and optimizing project duration in a distributed project

In large-shared projects, it is still difficult to measure progress due to the complexities involved, because the realization is shared among departments of a company or among companies in the world. Project management and operations research literature is reviewed for discovering various techniques applicable. Widely used tools for progress measurement and forecasting, such as Earned Value Analysis, Progress Plot, Milestone and Resource slip charts, concurrent engineering, can be employed. This paper is based on a problem of pharmaceutical industry where the effectiveness of a certain medical treatment is examined on patients in a number of countries. The number of variables involved increase the complexity of this problem. The main objective is to analyze the effectiveness of a solution in different situations during the project such that a better project duration and a lower cost can be achieved. Our findings suggest that reallocation of patients among countries produces better results in terms of progress

On the Impact of Heterogeneity on Indeterminacy

Some recent research indicates that the occurrence of indeterminacy in mod- els with externalities may be overstated because these models ignore agents’ heterogene- ity. We consider a neoclassical two-sector growth model with technological externalities. Agents are heterogenous in respect to their shares of the initial stock of capital and in labor endowments. We find that the sign of the effect of inequality on indeterminacy is not pinned down by the standard properties of preferences. However, when the in- verse of absolute risk aversion is a convex (respectively concave) function homogeneity (heterogeneity) tends to neutralize the external effects and eliminate indeterminacy.endogenous growth, heterogeneity, indeterminacy, inequalities, income distribution.

The impact of heterogeneity on indeterminacy

The aim of the paper is to explore the link between agent's heterogeneity and indeterminacy in a general equilibrium economy. The framework is provided by the two-sector growth model with technological externalities of Boldrin and Rustichini (1994) in which heterogeneous agents are introduced. We first show that the occurrence of indeterminacy depends on the distribution in labor endowments and in shares on initial capital among the agents as well as on preferences and technology. We find that the sign of the effect of heterogeneity on indeterminacy is not pinned down by the standard properties of preferences, a fact that might be surprising in view of some recent results (as in Herrendorf et al. (2000)). However, when risk aversion is a concave or a slightly convex function, the heterogeneity is a factor that opposes the external effects in generating indeterminacy.Endogenous growth; Heterogeneity; Indeterminacy; Inequalities

Evolution of trade flows for sheep milk cheese: an empirical model for Greece

This research examines Feta cheese trade flows, having as raw material sheep milk. The findings of the implementation of the gravity model demonstrate the significance of trade flows for Greek Feta worldwide. It will be a very useful instrument for examining the trading potential of Feta cheese, on the condition that there will be a positive outcome on the judicial and political level for the product in the WTO negotiations. The findings of the gravity model will be very helpful for an analysis which follows, in order to show off the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, as well as the opportunities and threats the market creates. Finally, there is a list of proposals suggestions which focus on increasing the competitiveness of the sector and on armouring it with all the essential quality and safety reassurances. This is done in order to avoid, in the future, attempts from competitors to jeopardize once more all this effort that has been done up till now. These proposals form an action plan which provides viable solutions to the quality and safety issue, as well as an aggressive marketing plan for gaining market shares in both EU and non-EU countries, utilizing the competitive advantage the product gains, as PDO.Trade flows, quality, competitiveness, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,

Greek Olive Oil: How Can Its International Market Potential Be Realized?

Trade issues affecting virgin olive oil originating in Greece are examined. A gravity model is estimated to determine the factors affecting trade in olive oil. The results provided by the gravity model yield information that is central to determining the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, as well as the opportunities and threats that exist. Finally, some proposals and suggestions are developed for increasing the international competitiveness of the Greek olive oil industry and endowing it with essential quality and safety assurances.competitiveness, gravity model, olive oil, quality, trade flows, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Development, International Relations/Trade,

Biomass as a helpful support to sun and wind for insulated small electrical networks

International audienceThe aims of CIEM is to respond to challenges in the rapidly developing fields of Power Engineering and Environmental Engineering, and to inspire both research studies and practical applications by promoting interaction among scientists from universities, research institutions, and industry

A greedy heuristic approach for the project scheduling with labour allocation problem

Responding to the growing need of generating a robust project scheduling, in this article we present a greedy algorithm to generate the project baseline schedule. The robustness achieved by integrating two dimensions of the human resources flexibilities. The first is the operators’ polyvalence, i.e. each operator has one or more secondary skill(s) beside his principal one, his mastering level being characterized by a factor we call “efficiency”. The second refers to the working time modulation, i.e. the workers have a flexible time-table that may vary on a daily or weekly basis respecting annualized working strategy. Moreover, the activity processing time is a non-increasing function of the number of workforce allocated to create it, also of their heterogynous working efficiencies. This modelling approach has led to a nonlinear optimization model with mixed variables. We present: the problem under study, the greedy algorithm used to solve it, and then results in comparison with those of the genetic algorithms

Flexible resources allocation techniques: characteristics and modelling

At the interface between engineering, economics, social sciences and humanities, industrial engineering aims to provide answers to various sectors of business problems. One of these problems is the adjustment between the workload needed by the work to be realised and the availability of the company resources. The objective of this work is to help to find a methodology for the allocation of flexible human resources in industrial activities planning and scheduling. This model takes into account two levers of flexibility, one related to the working time modulation, and the other to the varieties of tasks that can be performed by a given resource (multi–skilled actor). On the one hand, multi–skilled actors will help to guide the various choices of the allocation to appreciate the impact of these choices on the tasks durations. On the other hand, the working time modulation that allows actors to have a work planning varying according to the workload which the company has to face

Decision-based genetic algorithms for solving multi-period project scheduling with dynamically experienced workforce

The importance of the flexibility of resources increased rapidly with the turbulent changes in the industrial context, to meet the customers’ requirements. Among all resources, the most important and considered as the hardest to manage are human resources, in reasons of availability and/or conventions. In this article, we present an approach to solve project scheduling with multi-period human resources allocation taking into account two flexibility levers. The first is the annual hours and working time regulation, and the second is the actors’ multi-skills. The productivity of each operator was considered as dynamic, developing or degrading depending on the prior allocation decisions. The solving approach mainly uses decision-based genetic algorithms, in which, chromosomes don’t represent directly the problem solution; they simply present three decisions: tasks’ priorities for execution, actors’ priorities for carrying out these tasks, and finally the priority of working time strategy that can be considered during the specified working period. Also the principle of critical skill was taken into account. Based on these decisions and during a serial scheduling generating scheme, one can in a sequential manner introduce the project scheduling and the corresponding workforce allocations

“TERRITORIAL UNITSâ COMPETITIVENESS: A SELF-RELIANT CONCEPT OR A DERIVATIVE CONCEPT OF FIRMSâ COMPETITION?”

Key words: competitiveness, territorial unit, firms, bankruptcy, Greece, Dubai In the modern globalized economy there are some concepts which are very important for the current socio-economic system. One of them is competition. Though in classical political economy, the economic realm, with competition as its centerpiece, seems to be carrying it over all other fields, today competition appears as the sole immanent category imbuing all aspects of everyday life. So, in current globalised economic background, competition has been extended in fields of education, health, wealth fare and among them, the spatial sciences and economic geography - competition among territorial units (cities, regions or states) in order to attract financial and human capital. The concept of territorial competitiveness was introduced in scientific and policy affairs almost 30 years ago and mainly during the last 15 years it has been the basis of territorial development policy. The scientific discussion regarding this concept is very rich since many authors, councils and organisations have put forward an opinion having articulated three particular approaches: the defending one which supports it, the critical one which disputes it and the neutral approach. The deep review of the three approaches and the role of territorial competitiveness in current territorial development policy contribute to a global view of the concept. This paper makes efforts to examine thoroughly the concept of competition in its relationship with space, if it direct or not, evaluating the existing theoretical propositions, participating in the discussion which takes place about territorial competitiveness with many interesting opinions expressed by economists, planners and geographers, exercising influence in decision making. It first focuses on the question whether territorial units¢ competition is a self-reliant concept or a concept which is derivative of firms¢ competition. Secondly, one of the basic aspects regarding territorial competitiveness is the comparison between the way that the firms and the territories behave mainly in case of bad economic performance and even bankruptcy. Within this context the cases of Greece and Dubai present remarkable interest regarding their behaviour after their bad economic performance.