Showing papers by "College of Management and Economics published in 2010"

Liberalizing Climate-Friendly Goods and Technologies in the WTO: Product Coverage, Modalities, Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract: The Doha Round Agenda (paragraph 31(3)) mandates to liberalize environmental goods and services. This mandate offers a good opportunity to put climate-friendly goods and services on a fast track to liberalization. Agreement on this paragraph should represent one immediate contribution that the WTO can make to fight against climate change. This paper presents the key issues surrounding liberalized trade in climate-friendly goods and technologies in WTO environmental goods negotiations. It begins with what products to liberalize and how. Clearly, WTO environmental goods negotiations to date show that WTO member countries are divided by this key issue. Focusing on the issue, the paper explores options available to liberalize trade in climate-friendly goods and technologies, both within and outside the WTO, and along with these discussions, discusses how to serve the best interests of developing countries.

Measuring tolerance of ambiguity: Item polarity, dimensionality, and criterion validity

Abstract: Research involving tolerance of ambiguity (TA) has produced inconsistent findings for half a century. Some of this inconsistency may be due to the psychometric shortcomings of the TA measures. In this investigation, the Budner (1962) and McLain (1993) TA scales were examined using confirmatory factor analyses. Both scales were tested against a single-factor model, a two-factor model, a two-factor correlated model, and a two-method/single-trait model with method defined by item polarity (positive and negative). Results demonstrated that the two-method/single trait model was the best fit for both scales. However, whereas the McLain scale demonstrated adequate psychometric integrity, the Budner items failed to load sufficiently on the trait factor suggesting a weakness in validity. Correlations with verbal ability and inconsistent regression results with respect to the Budner scale support the choice of the McLain scale in future work.

Lean production and its application assessment using Set Pair Analysis

Abstract: Lean production is regarded as the third production paradigm, succeed craft-ship production and mass production. Companies will better adapt to the competitive market by Lean, which is characterized by multi-varieties and small-batch, through continuous improvement and waste elimination, so it is being widely studied and applied. But the absence of universal definition to lean production has hampered its smooth development in China, for non-united definitions making it hard to have a comprehensive and correct image to lean production. Meanwhile, there is rarely research on appraising lean production. Without reasonable assessment tool, companies can not know its application degree of lean production compared with industry leaders, which will impede its continuous improvements. Pointed to this situation, this paper puts forward one reasonable improved definition to lean production based on related references, and then applies Set Pair Analysis to assess leanness degree. Finally a case is given to show this model's feasibility.

Research on supply management in hospital based on VMI

Abstract: Most of the medicines and related supplies in hospitals belong to perishable goods. Considered the features of these goods in this article, Vender Managed Inventory (VMI) is introduced to the research of supply chain management in hospitals. A quantitative model of tow stage supply chain inventory or supplier-hospital is established to compare the inventory cost of hospitals and their suppliers before and after the adoption of VMI. Through a quantitative comparison, it is confirmed that the adoption of VMI can effectively reduce the overall inventory cost of the hospitals and the supply chain. Though the suppliers' inventory cost may increase, a win-win solution between suppliers and hospitals could be worked out through transferred payment method. With this method, VMI could help to reduce the overall inventory cost and get Pareto equilibrium of the supply chain.

Freshwater scarcity and pricing in South Africa: conflicts between conservation and equity in the post-apartheid state

Abstract: South Africa faces water scarcity due to the contribution of climatic, geographic, and human variables. As reported by Statistics South Africa, persistent water scarcity and distributional inequity has arisen in a changing political arena from the period of colonization to the most recent chapter of South African governance from 1994 onwards [1]. In the policy context of a state struggling with the legacy of apartheid, conflicts regarding the pricing of freshwater resources have arisen [2]. With discrepancies between the higher price for water required to promote efficiency and conservation, and the alternative pricing system that would meet the South Africa’s responsibility to improve distributional fairness, the most recent challenges took place between 1994 and 2000 [3]. Consequently, the predominant problem linked to South Africa’s freshwater resources is how to allocate water amongst the competing uses of long term environmental and human welfare, without compromising the needs of the country’s urban poor. One perspective, which can provide insight on the issue of water scarcity in South Africa, is free market environmentalism. This branch of economic thought supports a system of water markets with prices that reflect the true cost of providing the resources along with subsidies to address the needs of the poor. Based on an evaluation of the impact of market incentives in South Africa since the 2001 market reforms, it has been determined that a pragmatic, free market environmentalist approach to water can yield economically efficient outcomes for the resource while mitigating distributional equity issues.

Particle swarm optimizer based on small-world topology and comprehensive learning

Abstract: PSO may easily get trapped in a local optimum, when solving complex multimodal problems In this paper, an improved PSO based on small world network and comprehensive is proposed The learning exemplar of each particle includes three parts: the global best particle, its own best particle (pbest) and the pbest of its neighborhood And a random position around itself is needed to increase a probability to jump to that promising region These strategies enable the diversity of the swarm to be preserved to discourage premature convergence In benchmark function test, the SCPSO algorithm achieves better solutions than other PSOs

Research on application of simulation technology in container ship stowage problem of port logistics

Abstract: As the international logistics industry develops fast, container loading has become a core part of maritime transport, with its efficiency and safety focused by logistics industry. The enlargement of ships makes the container loading problem much more complex than ever. Traditional ways to study these problems now have been difficult to offer effective solutions, while simulation technology not only can fully reflect the essence of modern system theory, but also puts emphasis on both integrity of one whole problem and the connection of each sub problem. By simulating the operation of container terminal, we can have a deep look into the designed links in container logistics system, to check the operational effectiveness, analyze the bottlenecks in system, forecast the results, show the image of system, and implement the optimization of system. Overall, simulation technology provides guarantee for the optimization, security and automation level of high-degree container loading and thus improve the competitiveness of the port, placing a profound impact on future development and the scale expansion of port logistics in China. This paper studies on how to design the simulation of container ship stowage problem.

Research on the method of talents selection based on fuzzy preference relations

Abstract: Talents selection is a key step in decision making for Talents selection systems. According to selection method and flow of the talents is proposed based on fuzzy preference relation and C-IOWA operator, which can overcome the subjectivity of expert in the process of talents selection in great degree, and improve the efficiency and quality of group decision making.

Dynamic Capital Structure of the Real Estate Companies in China

Abstract: Based on the study about the model of dynamic capital structure of the general companies and the operational features of the real estate companies in China,analysis has been done to the characteristics of asset and debt of the real estate companies.The debt is divided into financial debt and operating debt.A dynamic capital structure model is established and stimulation is done with the model.It is found that when the profitability of the real estate company is high and stable,increase of the operating debt or financial debt will obviously improve the return of equity,and the influence of operating debt to the return of equity is obvious.When the profitability of the real estate company is poor and highly fluctuant,increase of operating debt will enhance the return of equity,but the extent is very small.

Growth and capital structure—Evidence from panel data of listed firms on SMEs board

Abstract: Using the panel data of listed firms on SMEs board in the period of 2005–2009, this paper investigates the relation between growth and capital structure of SMEs in China. With the capital structure measured simultaneously by the total debt-to-asset ratio(TD/A) and long term debt-to-asset ratio(LD/A), and growth measured by the market-to-book asset ratio(M/BA), our results show that there are both negative relations between capital structure and growth of SMEs using TD/A and LD/A to measure capital structure respectively.

Staff assessment and promotion models based on social assessment matrix inspired by social network

Abstract: How can we explain the oriental promotion system, especially in China? It seems that the best individuals fail to obtain the positions in many cases. However, some ordinary people with outstanding performances are chosen and become more and more important in business groups. Can it be explained and can the principle be built? In this study, a set of concepts and models inspired by social network are proposed as tools which aim to be decision-making principles in human resource management. Moreover, the studies are demonstrated by simulation. However, it is only a start in this period. Some novel questions and plans are proposed for future study.

Research on the IE integrated innovation in China's light industry enterprises

Abstract: There are 19 major categories of 45 trades in China's light industry which occupies a pivotal position in the national economy, covering food, clothing, traffic and entertainment in consumption of Industry Cluster. In the complicated and volatile buyers' market, disadvantages of inefficient management, high cost, lack of flexibility and so on, are seriously affecting the companies' survival and development. Because of multi-variety and low-volume production and a number of factors of production in light industry enterprises, in this paper, the philosophy of integrated innovation has been injected into IE which integrates organizations, knowledge and resources of the light industry enterprises to creatively improve the IE application effect of light industry enterprises and enhance the competitiveness of enterprises.

A decision-making method for customized performance-enhancement plan based on Grey Relating-Fuzzy Appraisal Module—An empirical study on technical center of Tianjin Pipe Group Corporation

Abstract: Companies highly value the processes and the results of performance appraisal. Based on the appraisal scores or ranks, how to make a wise and costomized decision to guide staff effectively enhancing their performances is critical to the organizational development as well as to individule capacity. This paper first elaborates the principles and algorithm of “Grey relating-Fuzzy Appraisal Module”, a combination of multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model and grey-relating degree analysis method. Furthermore, this paper discusses the advantage of using Grey relating-Fuzzy Appraisal Module to identify the specific performance-enhancement direction in staff management. Last, the suggested method is testified by the case study of Tianjin Pipe Group Corporation and the conclusion achieved is of high referential value to other Chinese corporate management.

A framework for logistics service innovation based on service science

Abstract: Service science has received increasing attention from scholars and practitioners in recent years. This paper introduces a framework of service science as innovative approach in logistics service. The framework is designed to analyze the logistics service process at three layers: strategic layer, systematic layer and support layer. Logistics integration platform is adopted and developed as an innovative service delivery system in this framework aligned with the analysis of the process innovation.