Neural networks in production planning and control

The purpose of this paper is to present a selection of the most significant ANN (artificial neural network) applications used to solve PPC (production planning and control) problems. Therefore, the paper itself is a reasoned classification rather than a simple survey. The PPC domain is divided into various areas, and for each area one or more examples of ANNs are discussed, together with the benefits and drawbacks of their application to that particular area. Finally, two case studies developed by the authors are reported and discussed to analyse the main implementation problems to be considered when using ANNs.     

Identifying Dispersion Effects in Robust Design Experiments—Issues and Improvements

The two experimental methods most commonly used for reducing the effect of noise factors on a response of interest Y aim either to estimate a model of the variability (V(Y), or an associated function), that is transmitted by the noise factors, or to estimate a model of the ratio between the response (Y) and all the control and noise factors involved therein. Both methods aim to determine which control factor conditions minimise the noise factors' effect on the response of interest, and a series of analytical guidelines are established to reach this end. Product array designs allow robustness problems to be solved in both ways, but require a large number of experiments. Thus, practitioners tend to choose more economical designs that only allow them to model the surface response for Y. The general assumption is that both methods would lead to similar conclusions. In this article we present a case that utilises a design based on a product design and for which the conclusions yielded by the two analytical methods are quite different. This example casts doubt on the guidelines that experimental practice follows when using either of the two methods. Based on this example, we show the causes behind these discrepancies and we propose a number of guidelines to help researchers in the design and interpretation of robustness problems when using either of the two methods.     

The minimal overlap rule revisited

This paper provides an analysis of the Minimal Overlap Rule, a solution for bankruptcy problems introduced by O’Neill (1982). We point out that this rule can be understood as a composition of Ibn Ezra’s proposal and the recommendation given by the Constrained Equal Loss Rule. Following an interpretation of bankruptcy problems in terms of TU games, we show that the Minimal Overlap Value is the unique solution for bankruptcy games which satisfies Anonymity and Core Transition Responsiveness.     

Weber on anomie

InGesammelte Aufsätze zur Religionssoziologie, Max Weber discussed the anomic potential of some non-Western religious doctrines. This paper provides an analysis of Weber's writings on anomie and attempts to show the relevance of Weber's work to contemporary anomie research. First, I locate Weber's treatment of anomie within his discussion of great world religions, highlighting its significance in a cross-cultural context. Second, I compare Weber's notion of anomie with current evaluations of anomie and discuss a typology of usages of the term. Finally, I explore the suggested usefulness of Weber's work on anomie for contemporary purposes.     

Knowledge Transfer between For‐Profit Corporations and Their Corporate Foundations

This article investigates the impact of knowledge transfer (Goh 2002) from founder firms to the corporate foundations (CFs) on the CFs’ effectiveness. Starting from a typology of CFs’ effectiveness (Ostrower 2006a), we conducted a survey addressed to a sample of Italian CFs to address the impact of different knowledge transfer methods (KTMs) on three dimensions of CFs’ orientation to effectiveness: proactive orientation, social advocacy, and capacity building. The research identified four different KTMs and, using a linear regression, pointed out that the methods adopted by founder firms have a significant influence on proactivity, competences, and on social advocacy of CFs.     

Developing an Index to Measure Sub-municipal Level Urban Sprawl

The present study aims to develop an index composed of different spatial variables to measure the urban sprawl levels of a municipality located in Southern Spain. According to the findings, urban sprawl can be measured not only on the metropolitan level but also on a more detailed and precise level, such as sub-municipal. A group of experts chosen for their suitability in measuring urban sprawl select six spatial variables (population density, net residential density, coverage ratio, land use types, percentage of residential land use, and average year of construction). These variables are aggregated using Choquet integral, a technique that combines interactions between those variables providing greater coherence to the complexity that is inherent in the creation of composite sprawl indexes. This methodology has been demonstrated to be valid and appropriate in evaluating urban expansion at sub-municipal level, but can also be applied to other scales once it is clearly a phenomenon in which interaction between criteria exists. The resulting composite index allows the assignment of different levels of sprawl to the urban areas consistent with their morphology and landscape.     

Applying the Consensual Method of Estimating Poverty in a Low Income African Setting

Social Indicators Research - We present the first study of multidimensional poverty in Benin using the consensual or socially perceived necessities approach. There is a remarkable level consensus...