New insights into retail space and format planning from customer-tracking data

Recording and understanding the behaviour of customers is paramount and a key factor influencing the success of any retail business. This paper reports the initial stages of an EPSRC funded research project, which presents a new methodological approach to analysing in-store customer behaviour with a view to optimising space and store performance. Using existing in-store CCTV cameras from a major clothing discount retailer, consumers are tracked to detect patterns of behaviour. Analysis of these “real-time” data exhibited flaws in the arrangement of customer service facilities, and insight into the problems associated with merchandise return policies. Understanding these customer processes and movement patterns thus helped the retail collaborator maximise the performance of the store.     

Managerial evaluation of sales forecasting effectiveness: A MIMIC modeling approach

A Multiple Indicators and MultIple Causes (MIMIC) model is developed in which managerial evaluations of forecasting effectiveness are modeled as a function of different forecast performance criteria, namely, accuracy, bias, timeliness and cost. The model is estimated using data from a survey of export sales forecasting practices and several hypotheses linking the aforementioned criteria on effectiveness are tested. The findings indicate that evaluations of forecasting effectiveness are equally influenced by short-term accuracy and absence of overestimating bias, while timely delivery of the forecast to management is somewhat less important. Long-term accuracy, underestimation and timing of production of the forecast are not found to impact on effectiveness. Implications of the results for forecasting practice are considered and future research directions identified.     

Travelling to work: will people move out of their cars

This paper examines employee's perceptions of their modal choice during the journey to work, and addresses what factors influence modal choice, and whether people can be moved out of their cars to other more sustainable forms of transport. The results of surveys of the commuting habits of employees at two UK companies are presented and compared with other relevant studies. Ninety-seven and 88% of staff at the respective companies travel to work by car. While only 2 and 7% of respondents cycled to work, real potential for cycling was identified, given improvements in the cycling infrastructure. Similarly, while only 0 and 3% currently use public transport for the journey to work, improved services could see a significant modal shift. Overall, there seemed to be genuine willingness to move out of the car for the journey to work, with one of the main barriers being a perception that the alternatives are not viable. Additionally, it appears many people live too far from the workplace to cycle or use public transport.     

Sensitivity analysis of VaR and Expected Shortfall for portfolios under netting agreements

In this paper, we characterize explicitly the first derivative of the Value at Risk and the Expected Shortfall with respect to portfolio allocations when netting between positions exists. As a particular case, we examine a simple Gaussian example in order to illustrate the impact of netting agreements in credit risk management. Collateral issues are also dealt with. For practical purposes we further provide nonparametric estimators for sensitivities and derive their asymptotic distributions. An empirical application on a typical banking portfolio is finally provided.     

Factors affecting the use of e-government in the telecommunications industry of spain

e-Government has become one of the most important keywords for the public sector reform with proponents claiming that it guarantees transparency; Accountability; Interface with citizen; Business; And other local and national administrations. Few, if any, studies have investigated the factors that might contribute to the integration or implementation of e-Government in business; Particularly SMEs. This paper examines the relative importance and significance of company size; Business performance and three types of information communication technology on the use of e-Government through an empirical investigation of 321 businesses in the Spanish Telecommunication sector using a multinomial logistic regression. The main conclusions are that there is a significant lack of use of the internet for e-Government by SMEs and that any use of e-Government is significantly affected by the size of business and the extent of use of information communication technology within the business. Although the targets set by the Eu for e-government might be achieved it is unlikely that many businesses will take advantage     

再论按劳分配与按要素分配相结合的理论依据——兼论经营劳动和科学劳动

在产学研结合过程中通常会出现不同形式的争议不仅会影响产学研结合中主体各方的利益 ,而且会给产学研结合造成冲击 ,甚至会对科技进步和成果转化形成阻碍。为预防出现上述争议 ,产学研结合的主体各方特别是知识产权的创造方 ,应增强知识产权保护的意识和能力 ,尊重和维护主体     

资金合理流动:理财目标的现实考察

本文通过对企业目标的考察,认为以企业的社会使命为企业的目标才能使企业有所发展,而要做到这一点,必须以资金合理流动作为企业财务目标,才能使企业的长久目标有可能实现。资金合理流动作为理想企业目标与现实存在的结合就成为了必然。     

A Bertrand model of pricing of complementary goods under information asymmetry

Parties in a supply chain, being independent firms, have private information about various aspects of the business not normally available to other parties. We consider a market where customers need to buy two complementary goods as mixed bundle, offered by two separate firms. The demand for each firm is dependent on the pricing strategy of both firms, which, in turn, depends on the quantities offered as per their own forecasts. We present a profit maximization model to obtain optimal strategies for a firm making decisions under information asymmetry. The model follows a simultaneously played Bertrand type game. We contrast and compare three scenarios: (1) when forecast information is asymmetric between the firms; (2) when forecast information is shared between the firms; and (3) when the firms form a strategic alliance.     

“农超对接”政策的实施效果分析

2008年商务部、农业部下发《关于开展农超对接试点工作的通知》,"农超对接"试点工作全面铺开,中国农产品流通也步入了一个新阶段。随后,有关"农超对接"的各种政策、法规相继颁布。本文通过对"农超对接"的主要政策进行评估,认为"农超对接"政策取得了积极的效果。     

环境退化、市场非均衡与创业

文章提出了一种新的创业观,解释了环境问题创业。奥地利学派的创业理论认为,市场非均衡提供了创业机会。环境退化作为一种市场非均衡,为创业者提供了潜在机会。但是对这种机会的利用存在一系列障碍,文章将针对其中的不对称信息、不完全信息与公共产品,介绍创业者如何克服这两种障碍,利用环境退化所产生的机会进行创业,缓解环境退化。