Propuesta metodológica de un sistema de benchmarking para un sector industrial basado en el método multicriterio ANP

Trabajo presentado al XVI Congreso Internacional de Ingeniería de Proyectos (AEIPRO), celebrado en Valencia (España) del 11 al 13 de julio de 2012.[EN]: In benchmarking process it is not enough to compare competitors among them, but it is also important to determine which indicators of competitiveness are to be measured and therefore to know to what extent each indicator contributes to the competitiveness of the sector. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide a methodology that will allow any industry to develop a benchmarking system that includes the identification of appropriate indicators to the business environment, selected by industry experts. This research presents a methodological approach aimed at industry and promotes the implementation of new indicators to measure competitiveness, capability-oriented innovation, organizational learning and entrepreneurship. Consequently, the selection of indicators for measuring system competitiveness is a complex decision process and that is where the multicriteria method ANP (Saaty, 1996) helps to solve the selection problem as a natural way to incorporate experts’ opinion. This methodology should provide a ranking of companies according their competitiveness level.[ES]: En un proceso de Benchmarking ya no es suficiente compararse con los competidores, si no que es importante determinar con qué indicadores de competitividad se van a medir y, en consecuencia, conocer en qué medida contribuye cada indicador a la competitividad del sector. Por tal motivo, el objetivo de esta investigación es proporcionar una metodología que le permita a cualquier sector industrial desarrollar un sistema de Benchmarking que incluya la identificación de los indicadores adecuados a su entorno empresarial, indicadores seleccionados por expertos del sector. La presente investigación expone una propuesta metodológica dirigida a sectores industriales y promueve la aplicación de nuevos indicadores para medir la competitividad, orientados hacia la capacidad de innovación, aprendizaje y conocimiento empresarial y la capacidad emprendedora. En consecuencia, la selección de los indicadores para el sistema de medición de la competitividad es un proceso de decisión complejo y es ahí, donde el método multicriterio ANP (Saaty, 1996) contribuye a resolver el problema de selección, ya que de una forma natural incorpora la opinión de los expertos. Dicha metodología debe dar como resultado una jerarquización de empresas a través de un sistema de medición de la competitividad acorde a los criterios de su entorno empresarial.Peer Reviewe

Enrofloxacin-based therapeutic strategy for the prevention of endometritis in susceptible mares

Enrofloxacin (EFX) is often used empirically to prevent uterine infections in mares in order to improve efficiency on Commercial Embryo Transfer Farms. This study investigated the uterine distribution of EFX and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (CFX) in mares and assessed the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of EFX against various common pathogens as a basis for establishing a rational dosing schedule. Plasma and uterine pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed in two groups (n = 5) of healthy mares following intravenous (i.v.) administration of EFX at either 2.5 and at 5 mg/kg bodyweight. Plasma and endometrial tissue samples, taken before for up to 48 h after treatment were analysed by Reverse Phase HPLC. MIC values for wild strains of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (β-haemolytic streptococci) ranged from 0.25-2 and 1.5-3.0 μg/mL respectively. In terms of tissue distribution, the sum of the endometrial concentrations of the parent drug (EFX) and its active metabolite (CFX) (in terms of AUC), exceeded those in plasma by 249% and 941% following administration of EFX at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg respectively. After i.v. treatment with EFX at 5 mg/kg, endometrial concentrations of EFX and CFX above the MIC value were detected for 36-48 and 22-43 h posttreatment for Gram-negative and -positive isolates respectively. Concentrations above MIC were maintained for much shorter periods at the lower (2.5 mg/kg) treatment dose. Based on these results, a conventional dose (5 mg/kg) of EFX given prebreeding followed by two further doses at 36-48 h postbreeding are proposed as a rational strategy for using of EFX as a preventative therapy against a variety of common bacterial strains associated with equine endometritis.Fil: González, C. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatología. Laboratorio de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, L.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatología. Laboratorio de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fumuso, E..Fil: García, J..Fil: Rivulgo, M..Fil: Confalonieri, A..Fil: Sparo, M..Fil: Sánchez Bruni, S.

Desarrollo de Tibraca obscurata y Tibraca limbativentris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) en arroz en el suroeste de Colombia

The development of Tibraca obscurata Bergroth and T. limbativentris Stal was studied in rice in southwestern Colombia. Tibraca limbativentris required more time to complete development than T. obscurata. Females of T. limbativentris required more time to complete development than males, but development of T. obscurata was similar between sexes. Tibraca limbativentris females live significantly longer than males. Tibraca limbativentris oviposited over 200 eggs in an 86-day oviposition period. The time from egg deposition to eclosión (egg incubation period) was the same (6.5 d) in the two sexes. Se estudió el desarrollo de Tibraca obscurata Bergroth y T. limbativentris Stal en arroz en el suroeste de Colombia. Tibraca limbativentris requirió mayor tiempo para completar su desarrollo que T. obscurata. Las hembras de T. limbativentris requirieron más tiempo para completar su desarrollo que los machos, pero el desarrollo de T. obscurata fue similar en los dos sexos. Las hembras de T. limbativentris son más longevas que los machos. Tibraca limbativentris depositó aproximadamente 200 huevos en un periodo de 86 días. El tiempo de incubación de los huevos fue igual para los dos sexos (6.5 d)

Estabilidad laboral y productividad en el Grupo Eroski

Based on an econometric case study of the Eroski Group, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between job security and organizational productivity. Eroski organizes its operations in three different legal structures (Cooperative, GESPA, Conventional firm). Type of contract, is our proxy for job security. We draw on a sample of 433 supermarkets and 73 hypermarkets, whose legal/organizational characteristics and other data offer a unique opportunity to analyze different legal structures and levels of job security within the same business group and the same human resources practices. Results show that job security is positively related to productivity. It is not clear if Eroski co-op workermembers are more productive than partial employee-owners or non-owner employees with long-term contracts in Eroski’s conventional subsidiaries, though the data do indicate that Eroski cooperatives are more productive than its other legal structures.Basándonos en un estudio de caso econométrico del Grupo Eroski, el objetivo de este trabajo es ver cómo afecta la seguridad en el trabajo en la productividad de la empresa, siendo el tipo de relación con la empresa (societaria, temporal o fijo por contratación ajena) la variable que refleja la seguridad laboral. Para ello se ha trabajado con una muestra de 433 supermercados y 73 hipermercados. Las características de la empresa y de los datos nos han ofrecido la oportunidad única de analizar un caso que cuenta con distintas estructuras jurídicas (sociedades anónimas, cooperativas y Gespa) dentro de un mismo grupo empresarial y con las mismas prácticas de recursos humanos. Los resultados muestran que la seguridad laboral influye positivamente en la productividad. No queda claro si los socios cooperativistas son más productivos que los socios Gespa o los trabajadores indefinidos de las sociedades anónimas, aunque los datos sugieren que los establecimientos bajo la forma jurídica de cooperativa son los más productivos

Percepção das organizações de pessoas deficientes sobre o tratamento que a mídia dá às pessoas deficientes nos espaços noticiosos

El tratamiento que los medios de comunicación dan a las personas con discapacidad es un asunto importante para su movimiento asociativo, que busca la inclusión y participación activa de las personas con discapacidad en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad. Aunque se ha avanzado en el modo en el que los medios informan sobre la discapacidad, persiste la preocupación en el colectivo por el tipo de noticias y los marcos desde los que se abordan. La metodología cualitativa del estudio es la entrevista semiestructurada a federaciones y confederaciones asociadas al Comité Español de Representantes de Personas con Discapacidad (Cermi). Los resultados apuntan a que persisten las perspectivas paternalistas o capacitistas que alejan la imagen mostrada de la realidad del colectivo. Se observan discrepancias entre los casos de las personas ciegas o con síndrome de Down, con una representación más ajustada, y las personas con discapacidad psicosocial, cuyo caso sigue estando estigmatizado. Las organizaciones ponen el foco en la mejora de la formación y la especialización de los profesionales de la información, así como en la colaboración con el colectivo para mejorar el tratamiento mediático. Se puede concluir que el espacio informativo dedicado sigue siendo insuficiente, estereotipado y desigual entre los distintos tipos de discapacidad.The media's treatment of people with disabilities is an important issue for their associative movement, which seeks the inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society. Although progress has been made in the way in which the media report on disability, there is still concern in the group about the type of news and the frameworks from which they are approached. The qualitative methodology of the study is the semi-structured interview with federations and confederations associated with the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (Cermi). The results point to the persistence of paternalistic or ableist perspectives that distance the image portrayed from the reality of the collective. Discrepancies are observed between the cases of blind people or people with Down syndrome, with a more accurate representation, and people with psychosocial disabilities, who are still stigmatized. The organizations put the focus on improving the training and specialization of professionals, as well as on collaborating with the associative movement to improve the media treatment of disability. It is concluded that the media space dedicated to them is still insufficient, stereotyped and unequal between the different types of disability.O tratamento da pessoa com deficiencia na mídia é uma questão importante para seu movimento associativo, que busca a inclusão e a participação ativa das pessoas com deficiência em todas as esferas da sociedade. Embora tenham sido feitos progressos na forma como a mídia reporta sobre deficiência, ainda há preocupação entre o grupo sobre o tipo de notícias e os quadros a partir dos quais elas são abordadas. A metodologia qualitativa do estudo é uma entrevista semi-estruturada com federações e confederações associadas ao Comitê Espanhol de Representantes de Pessoas com Deficiência (Cermi). Os resultados apontam para a persistência de perspectivas paternalistas ou fortalecedoras que distanciam a imagem mostrada da realidade do grupo. Observam-se discrepâncias entre os casos de cegos ou pessoas com síndrome de Down, com uma representação mais precisa, e pessoas com deficiências psicossociais, cujo caso ainda é estigmatizado. As organizações se concentram em melhorar o treinamento e a especialização dos profissionais da informação, bem como em colaborar com o grupo para melhorar a cobertura da mídia. Pode-se concluir que o espaço de informação dedicado a esta questão ainda é insuficiente, estereotipada e desigual entre os diferentes tipos de deficiência

The neglect of herself in the process of Infatuation–Love

La presente investigación, de corte cualitativo, tiene como objetivo describir la forma como se vive el proceso de Enamoramiento-Amor en una población de mujeres universitarias del Estado de México. Se desarrolló en dos momentos, primero mediante la técnica de Redes Semánticas se indagó sobre lo que conciben como amor, enamoramiento y manifestaciones de éstos. A partir de estos resultados, se eligió a las informantes clave; a quienes en un segundo momento se aplicó una entrevista semiestructurada, que profundiza en los conocimientos, comportamiento y el tipo de emociones que se viven en el proceso de Enamoramiento-Amor. Los hallazgos muestran que las mujeres universitarias en el proceso de Enamoramiento parten de la idealización del otro, no perciben sus defectos o bien se toleran; el comportamiento que se asume se encuentra ligado al deber ser del amor, donde todo es justificado y perdonado en nombre de este sentimiento. En la etapa de amor, se presentan conductas de protección y cuidado hacia el otro, dejando en último las propias necesidades. Las informantes señalan que en el amor se generan sentimientos ambivalentes de extrema felicidad y sufrimiento al tener que tolerar violencia física y psicológica por parte de la pareja, esto coincide con la concepción de Fromm acerca del amor como fundamental en el ser humano, donde se debe aprender y ejercitar poniendo en juego toda la personalidad, implica asumir una actitud positiva, una orientación de carácter, un acto de voluntad y compromiso hacía el otro; aunque en este caso no sea recíproco

Study of erosion behaviour of conventional and nanostructured WC-12Co coatings sprayed by atmospheric plasma

Thermal sprayed WC-Co coatings are used extensively to enhance the wear resistance of a wide range of engineering components. In this paper, erosive resistance of plasma atmospheric sprayed WC-12Co coatings has been evaluated. Solid particle erosion tests were conducted on these coatings at different angles of impact with silica and alumina abrasives of size 250 µm. Coatings have been deposited by using micrometric and nanometric agglomerated powders, employing H2 and He as plasmogen gas. In order to determine the erosion regime (ductile or brittle), the influence of impact angle on the erosion rate has been studied. Optical microscope and FESEM have been used to analyze the eroded surface. The influence of the plasmogen gas and the powder employed on the erosive behaviour of the coating has been evaluated. An attempt to connect the erosive behaviour with mechanical properties and microstructure has been made. Hardness has been determined by means of several measurements of Vickers microhardness; fracture toughness has been estimated through indentation method. Identification of phases has been made by means of X Ray diffractio

Workplace Concentration of Immigrants

To what extent do immigrants and the native-born work in separate workplaces? Do worker and firm characteristics explain the degree of workplace concentration? We explore these questions using a matched employer-employee database that extensively covers employers in selected MSAs. We find that immigrants are much more likely to have immigrant coworkers than are natives, and are particularly likely to work with their compatriots. We find much higher levels of concentration for small businesses than for large ones, that concentration varies substantially across industries, and that concentration is particularly high among immigrants with limited English skills. We also find evidence that neighborhood job networks are strongly positively associated with concentration. The effects of networks and language remain strong when type is defined by country of origin rather than simply immigrant status. The importance of these factors varies by immigrant country of origin—for example, not speaking English well has a particularly strong association with concentration for immigrants from Asian countries. Controlling for differences across MSAs, we find that observable employer and employee characteristics account for almost half of the difference between immigrants and natives in the likelihood of having immigrant coworkers, with differences in industry, residential segregation and English speaking skills being the most important factors.

Competitiveness measurement system in the advertising sector

In this paper a new approach to find indicators that can be used to measure companies’ competitiveness and performance in an efficient and reliable way is presented. The aim is to assist managers of companies within a specific industrial sector by providing information about their relative position in the market so as to define better action plans that may improve the company’s performance. The approach combines the use of the Analytic Network Process, a multicriteria decision method, with the Balanced Scorecard. It allows the definition of a number of competitiveness indicators based on the performance and setting of the advertising sector. In this way it is possible to obtain a Competitiveness Index that allows a company to know its relative position with respect to other companies in the sector, and establish a ranking of the companies ordered by their competitiveness level. A case study in the advertising industry of Venezuela is provided. 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