Increase In Global Competition Research Articles

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF INNOVATIONS AS AN EFFECT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Urgency of the research. Public - private partnership (PPP) is now recognized as an important tool for promoting innovations. This is due to many reasons, among which: lack of budget resources, low level of commercialization of inventions of public research institutions, low level of cooperation between public and private research institutions, etc. Target setting. In the conditions of a shortage of financial resources, one of the options for providing resources for innovations in both the economy and other spheres of economic life the use of private business opportunities in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) could be considered useful that is seen as a manifestation of social responsibility. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The issues of PPP development as a form of effect of social responsibility in the field of innovations were studied by both native scholars (V. M. Heyets, O. M. Golovinov, A. F. Melnik, I. V. Mosiichuk) and foreign researchers (M. Geddes, M. Łakomy-Zinowik, N. Lee, P. de Witte) et al. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. PPP in the sphere of innovations is a relatively new topic and the issue of seeking the ways for innovative development of the economy, based on social responsibility and cooperation between the public, business and society is not analyzed enough in the national scientific field. The research objective. Analysis of peculiarities of introduction of innovations using the PPP mechanism on the basis of social responsibility. The statement of basic materials. The article is focused on analysis of the usage of public and private business cooperation in the form of public-private partnership in sphere of innovations development. The PPP in the present research is defined as an innovative form of development of public infrastructure and the allocation of related services. The tasks that the public pursues via the usage of public-private partnership in the innovation sector are identified. The attention is paid to the role of PPP in the innovation field of particular countries. Conclusions. The main purpose of the PPP in the field of innovations can be both the introduction of inventions into the market and their commercialization, the exchange of results of scientific researches between the public and private business, as well as increase of global competitiveness of the national economy.

A PROPOSED MODEL FOR MEASURING COSTS IN STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES FOR RATIONALIZING COSTS IN TERMS OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

In fact, economic, political, and industrial progress in addition to the emergence of advanced production technology has led to increase of global competition in field of total quality. Moreover, competition has become the first ruler in business environment. Consequently, institutions in general and industrial organizations in particular, are working hard to meet such development and keep up-to-date through using a strategic perspective that is crystallized in the well-management of their organizations from both internal and external competitive environment, by also analyzing weakness and strength points and managing costs. Management of costs considers one of the main factors of competition in modern environments attempting to achieve production in least costs, highest quality, and best price in order to gratify clients. This research purpose is to present a proposed framework for developing approaches of preparing cost-lists in strategic industries in order to pricing them. The study uses the inductive and the deductive methods. The inductive method aims at preparing the theoretical framework and forming the study problem and hypotheses; while the deductive method drives at designing an investigation form using Likert Quintet Scale. Study population is represented in employees working in strategic industries companies, namely, (Pharmacology companies). The sample consists of (100) items, and their matching and reliability are tested by counting Alfa value; since they are all bigger than (0.07), denoting consistency of variables. The researcher uses Pearson Coefficient Correlation to count validity of internal consistency between each axis and the total investigation. The coefficient correlation values have been statistically significant at (0.05) level. The most important results of study show a significant correlation between decision of pricing products in industries and the development of cost measuring approaches and increasing of the competitive ability of those industries. There is a significant difference between production costs using traditional approaches and using the suggested approach. There is a significant difference between the net profits of products using traditional methods and using the proposed approach. This research recommends the necessity for reducing production costs by following cost management approaches and considering the proposed approach for measuring costs production at decision-making of pricing strategic industries' products.

STRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION OF GRIPPER MANIPULATOR USING OPTISTRUCT

This paper deals with optimization of Gripperengine block manipulator. The Gripper provides the holding to the engine block is mounted on the Subjectmanipulator. There are two brackets to hold engineblock. Analysis is done on one gripper and the resultsare considered for other one gripper. Analysis is donefor only Gripper. On production line first clamp engine block, lift engine block then rotate 180o and keep onsame position on assembly line its two degree freedom. The gripper manipulator is a two degrees-offreedom manipulator, with one linear hoist and rotates with help pneumatic motor. FEM Optimization is useful in designing the new shape and size with reduced design time. It also helps to reduction of unnecessary material and thereby weight of the omponent decreases. To optimized design with the help of hyper mesh, hyper works and optistuct solver for optimization the design. A gripper is used to hold work piece accurately & stable during the engine block handling. Because of increase in global competition we must decrease the cost and at the same time increase the performance and achieve all these with time constraint. Topology optimization tool is used not only designing gripper bracket analysis to get better design with less time but also helps in the reduce of unwanted material. Gripper engine block Structure is optimized to minimize the mass and the stress requirements.

Uyarlamalı Sinirsel Bulanık Çıkarım Sisteminin (ANFIS) Talep Tahmini İçin Kullanımı ve Bir Uygulama

Due to the rapid increase in global competition among organizations and companies, rational approaches in decision making have become indispensable for organizations in today’s world. Establishing a safe and robust path through uncertainties and risks depends on the decision units’ ability of using scientific methods as well as technology. Demand forecasting is known to be one of the most critical problems in organizations. A company which supports its demand forecasting mechanism with scientific methodologies could increase its productivity and efficiency in all other functions. New methods, such as fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks are frequently being used as a decision-making mechanism in organizations and companies recently. In this study, it is aimed to solve a critical demand forecasting problem with ANFIS. In the first phase of the study, the factors which impact demand forecasting are determined, and then a database of the model is established using these factors. It has been shown that ANFIS could be used for demand forecasting.

Evaluating Internal Technological Capabilities in Energy Companies

As global competition increases, technological capability must be evaluated objectively as one of the most important factors for predominance in technological competition and to ensure sustainable business excellence. Most existing capability evaluation models utilize either quantitative methods, such as patent analysis, or qualitative methods, such as expert panels. Accordingly, they may be in danger of reflecting only fragmentary aspects of technological capabilities, and produce inconsistent results when different models are used. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework for evaluating technological capabilities in energy companies by considering the complex properties of technological knowledge. For this purpose, we first explored various factors affecting technological capabilities and divided the factors into three categories: individual, organizational, and technology competitiveness. Second, we identified appropriate evaluation items for each category to measure the technological capability. Finally, by using a hybrid approach of qualitative and quantitative methods, we developed an evaluation method for each item and suggested a method to combine the results. The proposed framework was then verified with an energy generation and supply company to investigate its practicality. As one of the earliest attempts to evaluate multi-faceted technological capabilities, the suggested model can support technology and strategic planning.

GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES: EVOLUTION AND PERSPECTIVES

Our paper is analyzing the theoretical and empirical research in the field of competitiveness and it presents the methodology of determining the global competitiveness index. Also, our paper is analyzing the evolution of the global competitiveness index in the Member States of the European Union, in the last years. The results obtained show that more than half of European Union Member States recorded an increase in the global competitiveness index on the account of the basic influence factors. With the exception of six countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Italy, Malta), the European Union countries show a favorable influence of the efficiency on the index of global competitiveness. The highest contribution of the efficiency on the increase of global competitiveness is recorded in Portugal, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria; on the opposite side is Malta, Cyprus and Germany. Regarding the influence of innovation, only three countries have recorded a negative impact of the innovation on the global competitiveness index: Finland, Spain and Austria. On the other hand Romania, Cyprus and Portugal show the highest favorable effect of innovation on the competitiveness.

Succeeding with organizational change

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – Rapid developments in technology and the increase in global competition combine to ensure that the business environment is subject to frequent change. Organizations must evolve to succeed and grow. Those which fail to do so are effectively reserving their place among the also-rans. These tough challenges facing companies aren’t going away in a hurry. Being equipped with the ability to adapt is therefore crucial. Indeed, effective performance in both the short and longer term depends on it. The failure rate of change initiatives remains staggeringly high. To say that change management needs to be taken seriously is therefore stating the obvious. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Changes in the Socio-economic Characteristics of Persons Employed in the Polish Agriculture under the Conditions of Growing Competition

ABSTRACT. The Polish agriculture is still characterised by considerable structural fragmentation. Activation of the desired transformation is more and more often connected to the quality of human capital. The characteristics of persons working on a farm not only condition the achievement of a competitive advantage, but also the possibility to increase the level of their non-agricultural activity. These circumstances precondition the proeffective reconstruction of the production structures of the Polish agriculture. Ipso facto the aim of this paper is to show that the changes in the group of people employed in family farming permanently at a full-time level imply the chances of agricultural structures improvement. At the same time, the characteristics of persons who are unused labour resource potential make their inter-sectoral mobility more probable. The paper uses mainly the results of IAFE-NRI's research carried out on a sample of ca. 0.2% of the actual number of individual farms. On the basis thereof it was stated that the rise in competition has contributed to the processes of work professionalization in the Polish agriculture. Despite some signs of aging of the family labour force it may still be considered relatively young. The level of schooling improved both for persons permanently employed on a full-time basis, as well as persons considered as redundant on a farm. This will most likely act in favour of modernisation processes in agriculture, diversification of economic activity and outflow of people from agriculture.JEL Classification: J19, J24, J43Keywords: persons working on family farm: permanently at a full-time level and seasonal, demographic structure, level of general and professional education, farm redundant labour force.IntroductionAt present, intangible factors of economic development are becoming increasingly important. These trends are visible also in agriculture where technological development changes the proportions of the use of production factors, such as land, capital, labour and management. At the same time, the importance of information, knowledge and creativity of persons involved in production activity increases (Klepacki, 2005). This means that people are more and more often crucial for efficient use of production resources and success of the pursued economic activity (Coleman & Grant & Josling, 2004). Their knowledge, ingenuity, ability to gather and process information and seek new, more efficient solutions determine the dynamics of development (Kowalski, 1998) and decide on the improvement of competitive capacities (Woloszyn, 2004). Therefore, today the most valued personal traits are resourcefulness, competence, skills and those that require continuous improvement to achieve success in the pursued economic activity (Radziukiewicz, 2013). Moreover one of the determinants of the process of multifaceted rural development is the improvement of the quality of human capital. It preconditions the launching of positive transformation processes in the agricultural sector and on rural areas, including also changes in the structure of populations working in agriculture and outside of it (Becker, 1993).The progressing elimination of barriers restricting economic confrontation of entities causes an increase in global competition, which is more and more pronounced also as regards farms. This forces continuous restructuring and modernisation of the entities from the Polish agricultural sector in order to efficiently adjust them to the changing economic circumstances (Kowalski & Rembisz, 2005). Since in the setting of ongoing globalisation the macroeconomic conditions are increasingly important for agricultural producers and only those who can face the competition, depending on marginal efficiency relationships, will survive on the market (Czyzewski, 2007).Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) does not allow to cover with global processes the agriculture of European Union (EU) countries. …

The Impact Mechanism of Work Team Leaders’ Psychological Capital on Followers’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Multilevel Model

The increase of global competition, consolidation, and innovation brought up pressures and urged the emergence of work teams as basic building blocks of organizations. As consequence, more and more organizations shifted from work organized around individual-base job to team-based work structures. Recent organizational researches confirmed that work team members’ organizational citizenship behavior had unique meaning to facilitate the effective functioning of work team. The purpose of this article was to explore how work team leaders’ psychological capital influenced on their direct followers’ organizational citizenship behavior. Sixty-six work teams (66 work team leaders and their 303 followers) were sampled from a large State-owned enterprise in eastern China. Data were collected from leaders and their direct followers respectively. Both work team leaders and their followers self-rated their own level of psychological capital. Besides, work team members also finished an organizational citizenship behavior self-report questionnaire. Structural equation model (SEM) and hierarchical linear mode (HLM) were applied to analyze the survey data. After controlling demographic and human capital variables, such as, gender, age, marriage, educational level and organizational tenure, hierarchical linear modeling results revealed that work team leaders’ psychological capital was positively related to their direct followers’ organizational citizenship behavior, work team members’ psychological capital was a cross-level mediator between work team leaders’ psychological capital and their followers’ organizational citizenship behavior. However, this research didn’t support the hypothesis that the relationship between work team members’ psychological capital and organizational citizenship behavior was moderated by work team leaders’ psychological capital such that the relationship was stronger when work team leaders’ psychological capital was perceived to be high versus low. This finding was different from that of western organizational background. Our findings revealed that both work team leaders and members’ psychological capital were positively associated with work team members’ organizational citizenship behavior. The result suggested that psychological capital, especially work team leaders’ psychological capital, was a key element for constructing efficient work teams. Entrepreneurs could do everything possible to improve work team leaders and members’ psychological capital to enhance work team efficiency and organizational performance.

Overseas trade vis-a-vis overseas shipping: Growth and performance in India (1999–2009)

Maritime trade has been and even continues to account for about a lion's share of India's total cargo volumes. Despite the growth of multimodal transport (by land, water and air), shipping still continues to be the major mode of transport in the bulk carriage of country's overseas trade. In view of this vital role of shipping, in the first four decades of independence, under the initiative of planned development and active government support, India's shipping and port sector saw dramatic growth in their performance to build adequate national fleet, in keeping up with the transport of overseas cargo. However, the onset of economic liberalization in 1991 has given rise to many new dimensions in the development of the shipping and port sector of the country with a significant redefinition of shipping and port services, in response to the new global trend patterns. For instance, it has also established the new era of containerization in the mode of cargo delivery from the dominance of the era of bulk and break-bulk trade during the decade of sixties and seventies. Moreover, as global competition increases, in response to this emerging trade patterns within this country, India's volume of traffic growth also increases manifold. So, India's shipping and port sectors need, significantly, to build up and furnish their capacity by increasing the frequency of this mode of transport i.e. the growth of the national overseas fleet to meet this surging demand. This paper, therefore, have focused on this role of shipping in such rising overseas trade, with a view to examine the shipping performance (the growth of overseas fleet) in response to the growing overseas trade at all ports of India during the period (1999–2000 to 2008–2009), in terms of both a mathematical model and a graphical representation. Finally, it concludes that the absolute overseas trade, being highly import dependent, have led to a more or less stagnant performance in overseas shipping, owing to the lack of the adequate growth of absolute overseas exports during this period.

The complementary effect of internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity on performance: the mediating role of innovation capacity

Organisations are finding it increasingly more difficult to keep abreast with the pace of change. The continuous rise in the number of business opportunities and the increase in global competition require firms to combine internal and external learning processes to renew and reconfigure existing capabilities and knowledge to enable them to meet environmental demands and to innovate. This study aims to unravel the complex linkage between internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity and at exploring the joint effect of both knowledge generation processes on innovation capacity. This study also proposes innovation capacity as an antecedent of business performance. Using data from 952 industrial Spanish firms and the technique of structural equation modelling, we provide evidence on the joint effect of internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity on innovation capacity. We also show that innovation capacity acts as a catalyst for the effect of learning capacities on business performance.

REVIEW: The Challenges For Marketing Distance Education In Online Environment An Integrated Approach

Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that focuses the pedagogy and andragogy, technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically on site. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “is a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.” In other words, distance learning is the process of creating an educational experience of equal qualitative value for the learner to best suit their needs outside the classroom. Rather than attending courses in person, teachers and students may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time and through other online ways. The purpose of marketing is to understand trends in the field and customer needs in a global marketplace. In this case the customers are students and they could be called as a “kings” of the market. This is a challenge with online learning because the field is in a constant state of development. Marketing online education programs is becoming more of a necessity as global competition increases. To be time and in a right place­­­-this is the target of distance learning marketing. 37 authors wrote 22 chapters from different 17 universities in 6 countries.

Supply Chain Management models for Industrial Districts: an Agent-Based Simulation study

This paper addresses Supply Chain Management (SCM) within Industrial Districts (IDs). This topic is becoming more and more important due to the increase of global competition that forces ID firms to adopt more efficient and effective models and techniques for the management of the material and information flows from the source of supply to the final customer. Even though SCM is a critical process in IDs, the related literature has not devoted much attention to this issue. Therefore, there is an increasing need to develop managerial policies appropriate to the Supply Chains (SCs) within IDs. To this aim, we develop an Agent-Based Model of ID's SCs and we carry out a simulation analysis, by using the software NetLogo, aimed at assessing the efficiency/efficacy of alternative SCM models for ID's SCs (i.e. the choice of supply strategy, supply policy and supplier selection criteria).

Asia’s Race to Capture Post-MFA Markets: A Snapshot of Labor Standards, Compliance, and Impacts on Competitiveness

Labor regulations designed to protect workers, promote workplace equality, and improve working conditions achieve social objectives and affect international competitiveness. Considering these dual outcomes has taken on added urgency as Asian economies adjust to an increase in global competition in textiles and clothing following the end of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, with large projected gains for the People’s Republic of China and potential losses for other Asian producers. Countries that stand to lose from the MFA phase-out face low cost and high quality production from the People’s Republic of China, whose competitive threat lies in its extremely poor compliance record with its own and international labor standards. Yet empirical evidence generally supports the argument that the costs of raising and enforcing labor standards are offset by dynamic efficiency gains and macroeconomic effects. This evidence supports the case for Asian economies to pursue the “high road” in their race to capture post-MFA markets in textiles and clothing.

Overcoming informal trade barriers among Japanese intermediaries: An attitudinal assessment

AbstractAccess to foreign markets is increasingly critical to the U.S. as global competition increases. Past efforts by the U.S. to penetrate the Japanese market have often focused on overcoming formal trade barriers including tariffs, quotas, and product standards. Although this form of intervention has enjoyed success, limited effort has been devoted to analyzing informal trade barriers. This study examines informal trade barriers in terms of the attitudes of Japanese distributors toward U.S. products. The study focuses on a product‐market for which Japan is the leading single‐country importer for the U.S.: fruit. Recent inroads into the Japanese market by other countries have eroded the position of the U.S. This erosion will continue unless U.S. exporters can develop appropriate strategies based on sound market intelligence. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 21: 53–63, 2005.

Supply chain approach to sustainable beef production from a Brazilian perspective

In spite of becoming an important player on the international beef market recently, Brazil will have to be prepared for an increase in global competition, in overseas market subsidies and expansion of technical barriers in order to consolidate its position. Thus, the various sectors, which form the beef, supply chain need to be more efficient and exhibit greater competitiveness. Under these circumstances, the use of technology becomes one of the most important factors in overcoming such barriers. However, even though technology might be the solution, success is highly dependent on its effective utilization. Thus, it is necessary to adapt the development and use of such technologies to the consumer needs and acceptance level. In this context, the effective introduction of Brazilian beef into the world economy and increased beef consumption by the internal market in the next decade will depend on the ability of production systems and other sectors of the beef supply chain to provide healthy products, to utilize non-renewable sources in a sustainable manner, to assure people's welfare, to increase its share of the internal market, and to contribute to better social equity. The quality of the final product will also be an important asset and, in this respect, it should be pointed out that the use of meat products with potentially harmful residues would suffer intensive restriction. Additionally, it will become increasingly necessary for production systems to be structured for lower environmental risk. These trends should grow and rapidly encompass the whole beef and hide productive chains. Under this new scenario, a holistic approach should dominate the beef agribusiness, especially, the production systems which will be structured in a sustainable basis. It is important to mention that eventually the proposed production system could be transformed in an organic one. However, in order to apply this approach in organic farming, one should address the conversion carefully, moving forward step by step. During the adaptation process, it is crucial to dedicate a sufficient effort training personnel and establish a new way of producing beef. Preference should be given to areas in which climate conditions provide an environment requiring few adaptations.

Drinker Technology as an Example of Improving Production Efficiency

This study was conducted to measure the effect of the change to nipple drinkers on the efficiency of poultry production. Data from contract growers in the Delmarva region were collected and analyzed to determine the impact of the implementation of this new technology. The increased efficiency of the new technology indicates the advantages the industry can achieve if it constantly seeks out the greatest efficiencies in technology and other areas of production. The increase of global competition in poultry production makes this type of advance important for the U.S. poultry industry.

Cell formation performance measures—determining when to change an existing layout

Production managers have found that Group Technology (GT) and Cellular Manufacturing (CM) aid in facilitating and controlling desired changes required by an increase in global competition. We describe the basic tenants of GT and review some cell formation techniques. Several design objectives are discussed and appropriate performance measures reviewed. Building upon this information, a model for determining when to change an existing cellular layout, given the introduction of a new part to the part family, is proposed.

Reliance on manufacturing performance measures, total quality management and organizational performance

Over recent years there has been an increase in global competition, particularly within manufacturing. Many firms faced with increased competition from foreign firms have sought to enhance their competitiveness by employing total quality management (TQM). An important concern in the implementation of TQM is the extent to which TQM should be developed together with managerial performance evaluation systems employing measures of the manufacturing processes. It is argued in this paper that the potential for TQM to enhance the profitability of companies is enhanced when managers are evaluated by using direct measures of manufacturing.The results of a survey of 39 organizational units provided support for the proposition that enhanced performance will be associated with the interaction between well developed TQM programmes and a reliance on manufacturing performance measures. Specifically, higher performance was associated with the combination of TQM and a reliance on manufacturing performance measures compared to TQM without such measures.

The changing face of manufacturing: New compensation practices in the German and American metal working industries

Abstract This paper examines changing practices in the German and American metal working industries — what are the factors giving rise to change, what are the types of changes being considered, and what are the changes taking place. It will be argued that the way firms do business in both countries is coming under considerable pressure to change from an increase in global competition and a shift in focus towards quality competitiveness. The dominant pay system, based on piece-rates, is ill-suited to emerging practices. Instead, firms need to develop new pay systems that encourage reward group, not individual, solutions, and that leads towards greater involvement of workers into decision-making. In the U.S., there is much experimentation with new forms of pay systems particularly Gainsharing. In Germany, while there is much talk about the need to change, as yet, there is little movement away from the classic piece-rate system. When movement occurs, it tends to be towards pay-for-knowledge.