Desempeño organizacional en el sector de los supermercados brasileños: un analisis apoyado en el dea

El presente artículo pretende analizar el desempeño de las 100 empresas más pequeñas entre las 300 más grandes del sector de supermercados. En este contexto, se presenta como contribución una discusión del desempeño relativo por medio de la aplicación del Análisis Envolvente de Datos (DEA). Los resultados muestran, entre otras informaciones interesantes, que todos los supermercados con una sola tienda tienen sus problemas de rendimiento relacionados con la escala, mientras que aquellos con más de una tienda presentan más problemas relacionados con la eficiencia técnica. Se advierte que, en general, especialmente en lo que se refiere a la eficiencia de escala, los 10 supermercados más grandes tienen un rendimiento superior en comparación con los 10 más pequeños.Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o desempenho das 100 menores empresas supermercadistas dentre as 300 maiores do setor. Nesse contexto, apresenta-se como contribuição uma discussão do desempenho relativo por meio da aplicação da Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA). Os resultados mostram, entre outras informações interessantes, que todos os supermercados com uma loja única têm seus problemas de desempenho relacionados à escala, enquanto os que têm mais de uma loja apresentam problemas relacionados mais à eficiência técnica. Percebe-se ainda que, de maneira geral, principalmente no que diz respeito à eficiência de escala, os 10 maiores supermercadistas têm desempenho superior comparativamente aos 10 de menor porte.This article applies Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA, to compare the relative performance of the 100 smallest supermarket companies from the list of the 300 largest in the sector. This is in consideration of relevance that has been given to DEA by academics. Results disclose that all single store companies have performance problems related to economies of scale while chain stores have problems more frequently related to poor technical efficiency. The ten largest supermarket companies have better performance, especially with regard to efficiency of scale, than the ten smallest supermarkets studied

Alignment of Quality Management in SMEs with the Market Performance

The purpose of this research is to relate competitiveness through productivity on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the level of quality that these companies are and the market segment they serve. The methodology used was a multiple case study using questionnaires and systematic observations in SMEs. Results showed that the quality of the companies surveyed is determined by the market segment in which they operate. Quality management is based on the end customer and the view of entrepreneurs look beyond the premises of their companies. The importance of this research is to relate the market segment with the quality level used in SMEs, a strategy required for the current competitiveness

Alignment of Quality Management in SMEs with the Market Performance

The purpose of this research is to relate competitiveness through productivity on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the level of quality that these companies are and the market segment they serve. The methodology used was a multiple case study using questionnaires and systematic observations in SMEs. Results showed that the quality of the companies surveyed is determined by the market segment in which they operate. Quality management is based on the end customer and the view of entrepreneurs look beyond the premises of their companies. The importance of this research is to relate the market segment with the quality level used in SMEs, a strategy required for the current competitiveness

A Simple Method for the Biodiesel Production by the Reuse of Different Types of Waste Frying Oils

A simple and complete method for the production and characterization of methylic and ethylic biodiesel from the main types of waste frying oils produced in Brazil was developed. The waste frying oils of soybean, canola, corn and sunflower were employed in the production of methylic and ethylic biodiesel by transesterification reaction via basic homogeneous catalysis. The transesterification reactions were performed at 40ºC during 40 min, using a catalyst percentage (KOH) equal to 2%. After separation of the phases biodiesel/glycerol, biodiesel was washed with 0.1M HCl aqueous solution, heated at 100 ºC to remove excess alcohol and finally filtered under vacuum with silica, a drying agent. The reaction yields were in the range 67.8-95.9%, quite satisfactory. The oxidative stability index was obtained for the oils as well as the biodiesel. Quality control of the original oil and of the methylic and ethylic biodiesels was accomplished by the TLC and GC-MS techniques. The results presented indicate the main waste frying oils produced in Brazil as potential sources of feedstocks for biodiesel production, which could aid in the development of the local cities that adopt programs to collect and reuse of waste oils. Furthermore, we emphasize that was obtained a route for biodiesel production greener, producing a biofuel substituent to mineral diesel by the reuse (or recycling) of waste.Key words: Methylic biodiesel; Ethylic biodiesel; Waste frying oil

Severity of the cardiac impairment determines whether digitalis prolongs or reduces survival of rats with heart failure due to myocardial infarction

Background: the aim of the present study was to evaluate if the influence of digitalis on survival depends on the severity of cardiac dysfunction in heart failure (HF).Methods and results: Doppler echocardiogram (DE) parameters were analyzed in 84 Wistar control (C) and 80 Wistar rats treated with 0.1 mg/100 g/day of digitoxin (D) five days after coronary occlusion. the de variables correlated with the survival of the animals were: myocardial infarction size, left chamber dimensions, fractional area change and E/A ratio. the animals were observed for up to 280 days. Mortality was worsened in rats in the D group with a myocardial infarction (MI) = 37% and worse de predictors.Conclusion: for the first time our study has shown experimentally that the action of digitalis glycosides can positively or negatively influence survival during treatment of HF. It prolongs survival of those in advanced state and compromises survival when there is less severity of the disease. in fact, the greater benefits occur when digitoxin was used in heightened ventricular dilatations and worse ventricular performance. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Cardiol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 09/54225-8CNPq: 300737/2009-2Web of Scienc