Unraveling quantity discounts

We consider the situation in which a buying organization deals with a discrete quantity discount schedule offered by a selling organization. Furthermore, the buying organization can negotiate with the selling organization about the lot size and purchase price, but does not know the underlying function that was used by the selling organization to determine the quantity discount schedule. In this paper, we provide an analytical and empirical basis for one general quantity discount function (QDF) that can be used to describe the underlying function of almost all different quantity discount types. We first develop such a QDF analytically. Among other things, this QDF enables buying organizations to calculate detailed prices for a large number of quantities. We subsequently show that the QDF fits very well with 66 discount schedules found in practice. We discuss that the QDF and related indicators can be a useful tool in supplier selection and negotiation processes. It can also be used for competitive analyses, multiple sourcing decisions, and allocating savings for purchasing groups. Additionally, the QDF can be included in research models incorporating quantity discounts. We conclude the paper with an outlook on further QDF research regarding the characterization of commodity markets from a demand elasticity point of view.     

Incorporating quality into data envelopment analysis of nursing home performance: A case study

When using data envelopment analysis (DEA) as a benchmarking technique for nursing homes, it is essential to include measures of the quality of care. We survey applications where quality has been incorporated into DEA models and consider the concerns that arise when the results show that quality measures have been effectively ignored. Three modeling techniques are identified that address these concerns. Each of these techniques requires some input from management as to the proper emphasis to be placed on the quality aspect of performance. We report the results of a case study in which we apply these techniques to a DEA model of nursing home performance. We examine in depth not only the resulting efficiency scores, but also the benchmark sets and the weights given to the input and output measures. We find that two of the techniques are effective in insuring that DEA results discriminate between high and low quality performance.     

论中国古代建筑资源持续利用观

我国古代在建筑资源开发利用方面,提出了较系统的自然资源持续利用的思想体系.传说大禹曾发布禁令,提出了“取之以时”的自然资源利用原则;西周时期,形成了“育养以时,而用之有节”的自然资源开发和利用制度;唐代进一步形成了较系统的“取之有度,用之有节”的自然资源持续利用思想.这些思想观念,曾是保障我国建筑资源、特别是木材资源持续利用的重要人文理念,它对现代发展绿色建筑具有重要的借鉴意义.     

多媒体教学方法的探讨

本文通过对传统的板书教学与多媒体教学方法的比较 ,分析了它们的优缺点 ,进而介绍了多媒体教学课件的制作方法 ,探讨了如何运用多媒体教学手段组织教学。     

论缔约过失责任制度——兼评合同自由与合同正义

缔约过失责任制度的产生与发展是 19世纪下半叶尤其是 2 0世纪以来合同法走向现代化的重要标志之一。缔约过失责任制度的价值论基础 ,就在于诚实信用原则所体现的正义价值与合同自由原则所体现的自由价值构成相倚的两极 ,产生相互亲和的张力。加强对我国缔约过失责任制度的深入研究 ,评析其得失 ,有助于进一步完善我国缔约过失责任制度     

《齐诗》情性论新探

汉代儒家学者接续先秦学者对情性的关注,运用情性论《诗》,在汉代经学视野下对于文学内部规律进行了有益探讨.汉代四家诗中,《齐诗》学者的情性论颇有特色.同出一脉的匡衡与翼奉对此分别提出了自己的观点,其中翼奉以阴阳五行、天人感应说情性,体现出汉代阴阳五行思想对于诗学的渗透.作为同受儒家正统文艺思想牢笼的汉代各家诗学,不管“匡氏”学与“翼氏”学,还是《齐诗》学与《毛诗》学,其最终目的都是干预现实,经世致用.     

两性视野中女性成长的困境与突围——以20世纪90年代女性成长小说为例

父权制意识形态笼罩下的两性之爱必然建立在一种性别等级制度之上,因此,两性风景中的成长女性注定在陷落与突围的窘境中进行着艰难的跋涉。20世纪90年代的女性成长小说拒绝回避女性成长过程中两性文化情境的诡异与复杂,鲜明地揭示了成长女性在道德价值与性别价值悖论、女性欲望悖论中深陷的困境,并在直面困境的过程中,细致地描写了她们艰难突围的心路历程,努力探求理想的两性之爱对于女性主体性成熟的积极意义,从而呈现出独特、丰富而又深刻的内蕴。     

中国当代的“文学经典”问题

确立“文学经典”是建构文学体系和选择文学话语方式的必然途径.二十世纪后半叶,当代中国针对“文学经典”问题有过多次论争,并屡次尝试以全新的标准确立新的“文学经典”体系.主要表现为一方面通过“古为今用”重评古代“文学经典”,一方面通过“洋为中用”评价外国文学经典,在此基础上,进一步推动当代文学“新经典”的建构.这种政治实用主义视野下的“文学经典”体系建构,对当代中国文学和文论的发展产生了极大的影响.     

基于多属性局内决策的应急预案启动模型

通过对突发事件造成损失的连续性扩展和结束时间部分信息的扩展,基于多属性决策方法和集结损失函数,研究管理者面对突发事件应该何时启动应急预案的问题。在没有突发事件损失函数信息的条件下,利用局内决策理论与方法构建了决策者何时启动应急预案的启动模型,并利用竞争比说明了该方案的有效性。在此基础上,通过数值分析验证了启动方案的有效性。     

反思与再造：宋代士人对礼治与制礼的讨论

宋代官修和私修礼仪文本的繁盛,其背景是宋代士人对礼治的深入讨论,大概包括史鉴和内涵阐发两种取径,前者侧重于从历史事实中发掘礼治之于国家统治的意义,后者则侧重于阐发礼的内涵与外延,虽然有上述不同偏重,但都指向礼的功能和实施手段,即如何把束之高阁的经典运用于现实社会等问题。依时而制礼是经典从文本通向实践的前提条件,如何订立切合时代需要、贵本而亲用的礼文是积极推行士庶礼仪的士人不得不面对的问题。宋代士人在检讨此前礼仪制作得失的基础上,对礼仪文本的改造之法也展开了讨论,尤以朱熹的观点为重,提出整体改造、上下有序、吉凶相称,考订节文度数、推明其义等诸多准则或方法。