Planning for profit: the commercialization of European airports

This paper examines the main factors that lie behind the expansion of commercial activities in European airports. It maintains that airport authorities have been forced to react to a variety of external pressures over which they have no control. This has led to a number of airports reassessing their strategic priorities in favour of a more commercially orientated approach. The paper highlights how this re-focusing has manifested itself in terms of the design, layout and allocation of commercial space within an airport. In addition it examines how this change has increased the role and prominence of commercial management.     

Correct accounting for duty drawbacks with outward and inward processing in global production networks

We develop a new model for the correct accounting of customs duties levied on a product. We examine inward and outward processing – that is, processed components can be either imported or produced in a foreign country – in the strategic planning of a global production network. This complex modeling problem is structured with path variables, and the duty drawbacks can be simultaneously and correctly entered for n production stages in m market regions (with corresponding duty regions) for all products with a maximum n-level bill of materials. We present a case study from the automotive industry to examine whether or not the possibility of future duty rate changes or free trade agreements, such as one between the United States and the European Union, could affect the design of a production network and hence should be considered in strategic planning. We show that correctly accounting for duty drawbacks can lead to changes in the global footprint of production. We also demonstrate that intercontinental trade barriers (in the form of duties) diminish working capital and entail longer delivery routes. Eliminating these political trade barriers could increase the returns to capital while reducing both delivery lead times and environmental costs.     

Intra-firm Adoption Decisions:: Role of Inter-firm and Intra-firm Variables

The subject of this paper is intra-firm adoption decisions, a relatively unexplored research area in the marketing literature. We develop a conceptual model in which two sets of independent variables are hypothesized to influence the intra-firm adoption decisions, i.e. (1) variables known from the inter-firm diffusion literature, (2) variables specifically relevant for intra-firm analyses of innovation acceptance. Hypotheses are developed and tested in an application in the domain of finance: the intra-firm adoption decisions regarding the common European currency by the treasury, purchasing and sales departments of European companies. Data were obtained from treasury, purchasing and sales managers (441 respondents in total) from companies located in five different European countries. The results of logistic regression show that the proposed intra-firm variables are indeed important explanatory variables that should be included in intra-firm analyses. Moreover, for the inter-firm variables we found differences in the effects between departments, which demonstrates the very need for an intra-firm analysis.     

Fast,flexible and cooperative supply Chains—key issues for the survival of European industry

The future of the European industry is in its capability to innovate and upgrade. This requirement concerns products, manufacturing and the underlying support systems ranging from organizational arrangements down to decision support systems. Europe has a desperate need for effective and flexible innovation, improving industrial infrastructure where the most value-adding nodes of the supply chains are those in the roles of subcontractors on the one hand and distributors on the other. The necessary managerial changes (such as JIT, lean manufacturing and simultaneous engineering) have so far just superficially influenced these crucial nodes. It can be estimated that by responsive customer-driven supply chains the profitability of these chains could be improved drastically. This potential for improvement is based on the reduction of inventory-carrying costs, reduction of indirect and direct labour costs and the increase of sales and sales margins via better delivery performance at the operative level and a reduction in time-to-market at the tactical and strategic levels. As a necessary prerequisite for responsive supply chains in many branches, reorganization of the supply chains in both the manufacturing and distribution ends of these chains is needed.     

基于机场繁忙程度的航班延误波及分析

航班延误是全球航空业面临的一大难题。航班运行过程中,对于执行航班环任务的飞机,机场繁忙程度直接影响飞机过站时间长短,进而影响航班离港延误程度。文中构建到港延误对离港延误的波及贝叶斯网络预测模型时,加入机场繁忙程度这一因素,以机场飞机起降架次作为刻画该因素的指标,并通过贝叶斯网络结构学习得到机场繁忙程度的影响关系图。10次10折交叉验证的结果表明,与直接用到港延误预测离港延误的模型相比,加入机场繁忙程度因素的模型能够更准确地预估航班延误波及情况。     

Solving the flight gate assignment problem using dynamic programming

This paper considers the problem of assigning flights to airport gates—a problem which is NP-hard in general. We focus on a special case in which the maximization of flight/gate preference scores is the only objective. We show that for a variable number of flights and gates, this problem is still NP-hard. For a fixed number of gates, we present a dynamic programming approach that solves the flight assignment problem in linear time with respect to the number of flights. Computational results using real life data from a major European airport prove the practical relevance of this approach.     

Food Risks on the Web: Analysis of the 2017 Fipronil Alert in the Italian Online Information Sources

In the summer of 2017, several European Union Member States were involved in a food alert caused by the presence of fipronil pesticide residues in chicken eggs. The food alert became a major news and received wide coverage both in the mass media and on the Internet. This article describes a study that analyzed how the Italian online information sources represented the fipronil alert, using web monitoring techniques and both manual and automatic content analysis methods. The results indicate that the alert was amplified because general news media could represent the alert within the frame of a political scandal, and because different social actors exploited the case. However, online information sources correctly communicated that the risks for consumers were low, reporting mainly what was officially communicated by the Italian health authorities. The study provides empirical evidence on how the online information sources represent food risks and food alerts and offers useful indications for health authorities in charge of the public communication of food risks.     

Internationalisation and outsourcing of operations and product development in the fashion industry

This paper investigates the choices in terms of internationalisation and outsourcing of operations and product development activities, as well as collaboration practices used within and across organisations, in different segments of the European fashion industry. Based on multiple, in-depth case studies from Italy, Germany and the UK, the paper shows that fashion companies adopt different configurations of operations and product development, i.e. integrated, collaborative and virtual, ranging from local-integrated models to global-full outsourcing of operations and product development activities. For each configuration, different collaboration practices are in use. Product line positioning and quality, firm size, sales volumes and technical complexity of the products are the key drivers determining the configuration choices and the adoption of certain collaboration practices.     

中国汽车产业环境技术创新影响因素实证研究

基于动态计量模型,以我国汽车产业为对象,从产品创新和过程创新2个方面实证研究了环境政策、技术进步、市场结构、产业特征对汽车产业环境技术创新的影响。结果表明,环境政策中的环境影响评估制度和污染限期治理制度、技术进步中的R&D投入和人力资本存量、市场结构中的产品销售利润率与环境技术创新存在长期均衡关系,且长期均衡对产品创新短期波动的影响不大,仅有污染限期治理和R&D投入的长期均衡对过程创新短期波动的影响显著。此外,环境影响评估制度、R&D投入、人力资本存量、产品销售利润率均为产品创新和过程创新的格兰杰原因,而污染限期治理是产品创新的格兰杰原因,过程创新是污染限期治理的格兰杰原因。     

新能源汽车补贴政策与保有量影响研究:单位补贴、销售奖励与产品差异化

以提升新能源汽车市场保有量和整体质量的补贴政策为背景,建立包括政府、制造商、零售商和消费者在内的动态博弈模型,将产业数量目标、高质量发展目标及补贴预算约束等政策特征纳入模型,对单位补贴、销售奖励以及差异化单位补贴政策的影响进行理论研究发现：在确保政府补贴绩效为正的条件下,政府对制造商和消费者的单位补贴可增加新能源汽车的 市场需求量,并提高制造商和零售商的利润水平;叠加的销售奖励不仅可改善单位补贴的市场结果,还可提高政府补贴绩效.考虑汽车质量的差异化单位补贴在不降低市场需求总量的同时,可减少低质量车的需求量并增加高质量车的需求量.单位补贴的最优值主要由政府设定的数量目标和制造商单位成本决定,数量目标和单位成本越高,则单位补贴越高,但政府补贴绩效越低.     

Disentangling the European airlines efficiency puzzle: A network data envelopment analysis approach

In recent years the European airline industry has undergone critical restructuring. It has evolved from a highly regulated market predominantly operated by national airlines to a dynamic, liberalized industry where airline firms compete freely on prices, routes, and frequencies. Although several studies have analyzed performance issues for European airlines using a variety of efficiency measurement methods, virtually none of them has considered two-stage alternatives – not only in this particular European context but in the airline industry in general. We extend the aims of previous contributions by considering a network Data Envelopment Analysis (network DEA) approach which comprises two sub-technologies that can share part of the inputs. Results show that, in general, most of the inefficiencies are generated in the first stage of the analysis. However, when considering different types of carriers several differences emerge – most of the low-cost carriers’ inefficiencies are confined to the first stage. Results also show a dynamic component, since performance differed across types of airlines during the decade 2000–2010.     

绩效期望落差对制造企业进入房地产行业的影响研究

以2008~2017年中国制造业上市公司为样本,实证考察了绩效期望落差对企业进入房地产行业的影响。研究发现:绩效期望落差越大,企业面临的效率威胁越严重,越可能为改善业绩而进入房地产行业;绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响强度,与房地产行业利润率和企业持有土地没有显著差异;民营和现金流权比例高的控股股东,对绩效期望落差带来的效率威胁更敏感,更可能通过进入房地产行业,以缓解绩效期望落差带来的效率威胁,导致绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响更强;企业冗余资源越多,进入房地产行业越可行,绩效期望落差对进入房地产行业的影响越强。进一步的分析发现,绩效期望落差对企业进入房地产行业的程度也有正向影响。     

薛伟成:低迷突围!

打出"品牌矩阵、渠道挖潜、电商探索"组合拳2012年,众多家纺企业和其他零售行业一样,正直面消费者信心不足的困境。根据全国商业信息中心截至2月份的统计,全国50家重点大型零售企业零售额同比下降2.78%,自2011年1月以来首次出现同比负增长。"这轮危机带来的压力,超过2008年。"罗莱家纺股份有限公司董事长薛伟成并没有掩饰自己的忧虑。不过,他认为这也是行业竞跑或者洗牌的最好时机。根据2011年财报,罗莱家纺以23.8亿元的营业收入和24.18%的净资产收益率,继续保持其2005年以来的行业老大地位。为此,薛伟成提出,要带领罗莱在2016年进入百亿俱乐部。     

从市场势力到有效市场势力--以中国化学药品制剂制造业为例

企业层面市场势力及其福利损失的准确估计是产业组织领域的基础性研究问题,厘清市场份额、市场势力及福利损失的相互关系有助于为反垄断政策的制定提供参考并帮助企业决策。本文定义"有效市场势力"为企业销售额所占市场份额和Lerner指数的乘积,并证实在给定的垄断竞争行业中有效市场势力与福利损失存在近似线性关系,因此从福利分析的角度,有效市场势力比市场势力更需要被重视。通过理论分析,本文给出了企业层面市场势力和福利损失的估计方法,修正了以产出价值量代替实物量进行生产函数估计时存在的偏误。通过实证分析,本文将相关方法应用于中国化学药品制剂制造业研究,发现1999~2015年中国上市化药企业平均市场势力为0.149,未表现出太强的垄断性;样本期间每家上市化药企业每年平均福利损失为0.76亿元,约占营业收入的7%;政府规制对化药企业市场势力和有效市场势力具有一定的影响,但近年来该影响趋于稳定,因此放弃直接的药品价格规制转而依靠药品价格谈判机制和反垄断规制不会对化学药品制剂市场产生剧烈影响。     

Inventory management maximization based on sales forecast: case study

The major purpose of this paper is to present a concept for reliable planning of the sales of small firms, where the large number of product variants complicates the implementation of this kind of system considerably. First, a methodology is presented to set up sales forecasting so that it can be integrated into the inventory management process. This inventory management software interprets forecasting information and provides users with a decision support system to minimize stocks in stores while at the same time avoiding missed sales. It is best applied in company types requiring high precision inventories, notably those in the textile industry; a large range of patterns are produced with many small variations (colors, size, customizations, etc.) and these products have a limited lifetime. Inventory management is difficult due to the multitude of products to account for and the necessity to sell them quickly. The methodology is intended for inventory management at the end of the supply chain. In store, the number of references, their similarities and the necessity to minimize unsold stock greatly complicates the reordering and restocking process. These types of companies do not easily lend themselves to classic techniques of sales forecasting and require specialized methods to estimate their needs precisely.     

基于制造商网络渠道选择的双渠道供应链定价 与服务决策研究

本文考虑由线下零售商实体销售与制造商网络销售构成的网络直销,以及由线下零售商实体销售与线上零售商网络销售构成的网络分销两种制造商双渠道模式,研究“搭便车”行为下制造商模式选择和供应链最优定价与服务决策。研究发现:制造商的渠道选择策略与“搭便车”行为程度、消费者偏好网络渠道程度、价格敏感系数等有关。尤其当消费者受到的服务且对价格的敏感性相同时,制造商会选择网络直销双渠道模式。进一步分析消费者“搭便车”行为和网络渠道偏好对制造商渠道选择和定价决策影响发现,制造商在消费者偏好网络渠道程度比较低时应选择网络分销双渠道模式,而当消费者网络渠道偏好和“搭便车”行为程度都比较高时,制造商应选择网络直销双渠道模式。消费者网络渠道偏好或“搭便车”行为程度越大,两种模式下批发价格应设置的更低。网络直销渠道模式下“搭便车”行为程度越大,网络渠道销售价格应设置的更低,而消费者网络渠道偏好程度越大,网络渠道销售价格应设置得更高。     

The future of the British breakfast cereals industry

This article discusses the results of a ‘Delphi’ survey undertaken by the author, relating to the U.K. Breakfast Cereals Industry. The effects on this industry of new technologies in production, packaging and distribution functions are here considered together with the likely effects on future sales of: legislation, pricing and advertising policies, quality of product distribution, and rival competition.     

MNCs and micro-entrepreneurship in emerging economies: The case of Avon in the Amazon

This article examines the activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the direct sales industry through an ethnographic case study of micro-entrepreneurship in the Brazilian Amazon. In large emerging economies, intra-country heterogeneity poses challenges for MNCs. Because national trends often obscure regional variations, the case study highlights the realities of the rural Amazon, and the specific challenges and potential for MNCs. Findings from the case study support three propositions. The development of direct sales networks in remote areas facilitates: (1) additional entrepreneurship, and encourages a progression from necessity to opportunity entrepreneurship; (2) social change in gender norms, including higher level of female empowerment and decision-making within families and communities; and (3) a reconciliation of local and global values on beauty and fashion for customers, leading to stronger brand relationships. By leveraging micro-entrepreneurship, MNCs can compete with local firms, even in rural areas lacking basic infrastructure, to the benefit of communities and individuals.     

Elite Recruitment and Political Stability: The Impact of the Abolition of China's Civil Service Exam

This paper studies how the abolition of an elite recruitment system—China's civil exam system that lasted over 1,300 years—affects political stability. Employing a panel data set across 262 prefectures and exploring the variations in the quotas on the entry‐level exam candidates, we find that higher quotas per capita were associated with a higher probability of revolution participation after the abolition and a higher incidence of uprisings in 1911 that marked the end of the 2,000 years of imperial rule. This finding is robust to various checks including using the number of small rivers and short‐run exam performance before the quota system as instruments. The patterns in the data appear most consistent with the interpretation that in regions with higher quotas per capita under the exam system, more would‐be elites were negatively affected by the abolition. In addition, we document that modern human capital in the form of those studying in Japan also contributed to the revolution and that social capital strengthened the effect of quotas on revolution participation.