Marketing competition on a new product introduction - a structural analysis using systems thinking

Launching a new product on the market is a strategic activity that needs specific investments and a specific organisation. There are multiple factors that determine the success of a new product on the market but their direct effects are not often very well observable (marketing for example). With this study, we analysed the systemic structure underlying the dynamics related to the introduction of a new product on the market. In particular, we built a qualitative model based on the systems thinking methodology of causal-loop diagrams (CLDs), starting from the main structure and assumptions of the well-known Bass model. The model provides a systemic perspective on the interdependencies among various aspects that interact in important organisational areas. The presented causal-loop diagram tries to describe the systems structure which is intrinsic to the introduction and diffusion of a new product on the market, and how ultimately the related dynamics could be manage

Predicting the value of product service-systems for potential future implementers: results from multiple industrial case studies

The great impact played by Product/Service-Systems (PSS) on industry and academia can be motivated by the need for modernizing business models, carrying out internal companies' reconfiguration, enhancing environmental sustainability. Despite the large number of objectives pursued by PSS, sparks of criticism have recently emerged, as well as the results ensuing from PSS adoption have not been rigorously assessed. In particular, the authors highlight a lack of quantitative analysis concerning the service aspects of PSS and hurdles in service modeling and evaluation. The paper's objective is to contribute in this field by individuating factors, advantages and disadvantages that are not directly measurable in monetary terms by companies. This kind of assessment might result crucial, as the implementation of PSS-oriented strategies require a not negligible amount of commitment, besides propensity to risk. A first activity was carried out thanks to a pilot group of firms that have not implemented any PSS initiative so far, which have been exposed to business reconfiguration scenarios underpinning PSS. A model for generalizing pros and cons of future PSS implementation has been subsequently experimented by a larger group of industrial organizations. Such a model has represented the backbone for the creation of a tentative quantitative estimation tool, which assesses and forecasts the added value of services featured by the introduction of PSS and hence represents a candidate criterion for undertaking decisions concerning the implementation of PSS strategies. The paper clarifies which assumptions are introduced in order to achieve this result

On the application of the Reduced Basis Method to Fluid-Structure Interaction problems

With this thesis the author aims at giving an extensive overview on the application of the Reduced Basis Method to Fluid\u2013Structure Interaction (FSI) problems. The work exposed is divided into three main research directions: the First two methods presented are based on a standard Finite Element discretization of the problem of interest, whereas the third method presented differs from the other two because it is based on an embedded Finite Element discretization. In this way the author wants to show the advantages of pursuing a model order reduction with either a standard Finite Element method or with a Cut Finite Element method, depending on the particular problem of interest: throughout the Chapters it will be shown that a reduction method based on a classical Finite Element discretization is well suited for multiphysics problems where the geometry of the domain does not change significantly; on the contrary, a Cut Finite Element approach shows its full potentiality in situations where, for example, the structure undergoes a large deformation. The algorithms presented in this thesis are: a partitioned (or segregated) Reduced Basis Method that is based on a Chorin\u2013Temam projection scheme with semi\u2013implicit coupling of the solid and the fluid problem, a Reduced Basis Method enriched with a preprocessing of the snapshots during the offline phase, and lastly a Reduced Order Method in a Cut Finite Element framework. According to the approach adopted to adress the particular problem of interest, the thesis proposes a modification and an improvement of the Reduced Basis Method in order to obtain a complete model order reduction procedure. Several test cases are considered throughout the work: a toy problem that describes the deformation of two leaflets under the influence of the jet of a fluid; a Fluid\u2013 Structure Interaction problem whose solution exhibits a transport dominated behaviour, and, in addition, some Computational Fluid Dynamics toy problems, also in the case of parameter dependence. For each one of the test cases considered, first there is an introduction to the problem formulation, and then the proposed model order reduction procedure follows

Effects of flow maldistribution on the thermal performance of cross-flow micro heat exchangers

The combined effect of viscosity- and geometry-induced flow maldistribution on the thermal performance of cross-flow micro heat exchangers is investigated with reference to two microchannel cross-sectional geometries, three solid materials, three mass flow rates and three flow nonuniformity models. A FEM procedure, specifically developed for the analysis of the heat transfer between incompressible fluids in cross-flow micro heat exchangers, is used for the numerical simulations. The computed results indicate that flow maldistribution has limited effects on microchannel bulk temperatures, at least for the considered range of operating conditions

Temperature uniformity in cross-flow double-layered microchannel heat sinks

An in-house finite element method (FEM) procedure is used to carry out a numerical study on the thermal behavior of cross-flow double-layered microchannel heat sinks with an unequal number of microchannels in the two layers. The thermal performance is compared with those yielded by other more conventional flow configurations. It is shown that if properly designed, i.e., with several microchannels in the top layer smaller than that in the bottom layer, cross-flow double-layered microchannel heat sinks can provide an acceptable thermal resistance and a reasonably good temperature uniformity of the heated base with a header design that is much simpler than that required by the counter-flow arrangement

Age, metallicity and star formation history of spheroidal galaxies in cluster at z~1.2

We present the analysis, based on spectra collected at the Large Binocular Telescope, of the stellar populations in seven spheroidal galaxies in the cluster XLSSJ0223 at $z$$\sim$1.22. The aim is to constrain the epoch of their formation and their star formation history. Using absorption line strenghts and full spectral fitting, we derive for the stellar populations of the seven spheroids a median age =2.4$\pm$0.6 Gyr, corresponding to a median formation redshift $\sim2.6_{-0.5}^{+0.7}$ (lookback time = 11$_{-1.0}^{+0.6}$ Gyr). We find a significant scatter in age, showing that massive spheroids, at least in our targeted cluster, are not coeval. The median metallicity is [Z/H]=0.09$\pm$0.16, as for early-types in clusters at 0$<z$<0.9. This lack of evolution of [Z/H] over the range 0$<$$z$$<$1.3, corresponding to the last 9 billions years, suggests that no significant additional star formation and chemical enrichment are required for cluster spheroids to reach the present-day population. We do not detect significant correlation between age and velocity dispersion$\sigma_e$, or dynamical mass M$_{dyn}$, or effective stellar mass density$\Sigma_e$. On the contrary, the metallicity [Z/H] of the seven spheroids is correlated to their dynamical mass M$_{dyn}$, according to a relation similar to the one for local spheroids. [Z/H] is also anticorrelated to stellar mass density$\Sigma_e$because of the anticorrelation between M$_{dyn}$and$\Sigma_e$. Therefore, the basic trends observed in the local universe were already established at$z\sim1.3$, i.e. more massive spheroids are more metal rich, have lower stellar mass density and tend to be older than lower-mass galaxies.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, 6 tables, published on MNRA