Additive versus multiplicative parameters - applications in economics and finance

In this paper, we pay our attention to geometric parameters and their applications in economics and finance. We discuss the multiplicative models in which a geometric mean and a geometric standard deviation are more natural than arithmetic ones. We give two examples from Warsaw Stock Exchange in 1995--2009 and from a bid of 52-week treasury bills in 1992--2009 in Poland as an illustrative example. For distributions having applications in finance and insurance we give their multiplicative parameters as well as their estimations. We consider, among others, heavy-tailed distributions such as lognormal and Pareto distribution, applied to modelling of large losses

Sport activity of polish runners and the resulting marketing potential

The purpose of this article is to analyze the sport activity of runners and to estimate on this basis their marketing potential in cross-industry. The prepared publication is therefore empirical-cognitive, resulting in the identification of the behavior and the determinants of purchase decisions made by the sports-active persons. The empirical part of the paper was prepared on the basis of one survey conducted twice by one of the authors, on the sample of several thousand runners. The outcomes were confronted with the available results of other studies conducted in recent years on the Polish sports market. The results of the research concerning issues such as attitude towards running, the importance of this activity in life, the role and importance of information sources, the frequency and place of purchases show the high heterogeneity of behavior of Polish runners. Based on the empirical evidence it may be observed that  marketing potential of this market segment from the vendor point of view is very promising

Determinants of the Engagement of Virtual Runs’ Participants in the Co-creation of Customer Value during the Pandemic

The study focuses on the research question of the determinants and motivating factors which stimulate  consumers to engage in the co-creation of customer value, even though the product they are offered is merely a substitute for the one they are used to. The research focuses on the virtual runs and its subject are the runners participating in the Białystok Virtual Half-Marathon. There are two equivalent objectives of the study: (a) the identification and the assessment of the determinants of the runners’ engagement, and (b) the segmentation of the virtual run participants on the basis of the diagnosed determinants of their involvement. The article is based on the results of the survey conducted in 2020 on a sample of 419 runners, by means of the CAWI method. The respondents were asked to assess 17 factors related to the customer engagement in the co-creation of value, with reference to the virtual run in which they participated. The Białystok Virtual Half-Marathon, the second biggest virtual run organised in 2020 in Poland, was used as a point of reference for this survey. This run was an alternative proposal prepared by the organiser in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ban on the organisation of real runs in the whole country. The research findings allowed for expanding the theoretical knowledge of the concept of the  customer value co-creation and the consumers’ engagement in this process. The research resulted in distinguishing four meta-factors determining the runners’ engagement and  establishing the strength of their influence on the customer value co-creation. The research also revealed the runners’ motivation for participating in the virtual run. The runners’ involvement was determined by the hedonistic and social factors, though the structure and the strength of their impact varied in relation to the respondents’ demographics. All in all, four segments of runners were distinguished

Role of product characteristics for the adoption of fruit and fruit product innovations

The aim of this study was the identification of those product characteristics that are important for the adoption of fruit and fruit product innovations by consumers. Sixteen focus group discussions were held in four European countries (Greece, The Netherlands, Poland, and Spain). Different aspects of six innovative fruit products were discussed, revealing those characteristics that were important for the adoption of each of them. It was observed that the participants did not perceive fruit innovations as a homogenous group, but assigned them to different groups, which led to a number of categories of fruit innovation. Three categories concerned the level of preparation of fruit. These were fresh, prepared, and processed fruit product innovations. Another two categories, radical and evolutionary innovations, related to the level of novelty of the fruit innovation. Characteristics important for the adoption of each of these categories are given.The results will be used for further, more quantitative, research

Dynamic planning of mobile service teams’ mission subject to orders uncertainty constraints

This paper considers the dynamic vehicle routing problem where a fleet of vehicles deals with periodic deliveries of goods or services to spatially dispersed customers over a given time horizon. Individual customers may only be served by predefined (dedicated) suppliers. Each vehicle follows a pre-planned separate route linking points defined by the customer location and service periods when ordered deliveries are carried out. Customer order specifications and their services time windows as well as vehicle travel times are dynamically recognized over time. The objective is to maximize a number of newly introduced or modified requests, being submitted dynamically throughout the assumed time horizon, but not compromising already considered orders. Therefore, the main question is whether a newly reported delivery request or currently modified/corrected one can be accepted or not. The considered problem arises, for example, in systems in which garbage collection or DHL parcel deliveries as well as preventive maintenance requests are scheduled and implemented according to a cyclically repeating sequence. It is formulated as a constraint satisfaction problem implementing the ordered fuzzy number formalism enabling to handle the fuzzy nature of variables through an algebraic approach. Computational results show that the proposed solution outperforms commonly used computer simulation methods

Ergonomic and work safety evaluation criteria of process excellence in the foundry industry

The article presents a concept of criteria assessment called the “process excellence” for ergonomics and work safety in enterprises of the foundry industry as well as points to the possibility of its application

From lean to sustainable manufacturing : an overview

PURPOSE: The purpose of the research is to present the comparison and connection between three manufacturing paradigms, Lean, Green, and Sustainable Manufacturing.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The methodology of the research is based on the literature review of three paradigms, including, definitions, methods and tools, as well as main challenges.FINDINGS: Transition towards Sustainable Manufacturing has been taking place in an evolutionary way and may be traced in the context of changes in production paradigms. The production paradigms presented in paper do not cover all examples of paradigms classification contained in the literature, since, they only indicate the way to learn the theories and challenges that the scientific community and economic practitioners must face.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Lean and green methods and tools support the realization of sustainable manufacturing processes challenges.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper presents synergy between every production paradigms. Every new paradigm generally considers the objectives and approaches of the previous one, so integrating the lean and green approach is a natural consequence. The combination of these two concepts enables achieving a synergetic effect even if a trade-off and balance of divergent goals. The shift from conventional manufacturing practices to more sustainable practices has led to better compliance with regulations and standards in order to enhance the corporate and brand image while pursuing economic benefits and environmental and societal responsibility.peer-reviewe

Economization methods used by low-cost airlines : an overview

PURPOSE: The crisis caused by the pandemic has forced airlines (both full-service carriers (FCC) and low cost carriers (LCC)) to review their business models and look for opportunities to make up for losses. The goal of this paper is to review the cost optimization methods used by LCC airlines and to identify the activities of LCC that were taken to reduce costs.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The analysis of the areas of economization of activities undertaken by the LCC carried out in the article is the result of a literature review of business models used by LCC carriers.FINDINGS: The conducted literature analysis allowed for the identification of seven main areas in which measures are taken to reduce the costs of the LCC line.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Economization methods implemented by LCC lines at the strategic level reduce the carrier's costs and can be adapted to the market in which it operates.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Although the business models used by LCC lines are not a new topic, the review of economization methods from a strategic perspective presented in the article has not been discussed in the literature.peer-reviewe

Rola limfocytów B w mechanizmach patogenezy wybranych chorób

Układ immunologiczny zdrowego człowieka ma za zadanie obronę oraz utrzymywanie homeostazy organizmu poprzez kontrolowanie antygenów zarówno wnikających do ustroju, jak i tych, które są w nim produkowane. Do najważniejszych komórek pełniących taką funkcję należą ściśle ze sobą współistniejące różne populacje limfocytów. To od nich zależą rozpoznanie antygenu i reakcja mająca na celu jego neutralizację. Jedną z form tej aktywności neutralizującej potencjalny patogen jest produkcja przeciwciał, których źródłem są limfocyty B. Zaburzenia funkcji tych tak zwanych efektorów odpowiedzi humoralnej (prowadzące w konsekwencji do zaburzeń liczby i swoistości przeciwciał) są podstawą (elementem patogenezy) wielu chorób i jako takie stały się celem licznych prac badawczych. Liczebność i proporcje klas limfocytów B, wielkość ich odpowiedzi na stymulację oraz poziom, klasy i swoistość wytwarzanych przeciwciał są bardzo ważnymi czynnikami diagnostycznymi i prognostycznymi w tak na pozór różnych chorobach, jak między innymi: przewlekła obturacyjna choroba płuc, astma oskrzelowa, śródmiąższowe zapalenie płuc, rak płuc czy, co oczywiste, liczne choroby autoimmunologiczne. Fakt ten podkreśla uniwersalność zastosowania obserwacji limfocytów B w kontroli przebiegu wielu schorzeń i ponownie wykazuje, że stan układu immunologicznego odzwierciedla stan zdrowia danej osoby. Forum Medycyny Rodzinnej 2011, tom 5, nr 1, 37-4