Direct broadcast satellites in Japan: A case study in government-business partnerships

The following case study examines government-business partnerships in the planning and implementation of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) communications in Japan. The country's decision to launch the world's first DBS system demonstrated a national commitment to advance the cause of a highly sophisticated technology. For Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications DBS was clearly a high-profile project that would invite both national and international attention. Less clear were the unintended consequences that would result from planning a new system of broadcast communication that involved balancing the unique requirements of a non-profit corporation in the form of NHK and Japan's five major commercial broadcasters.     

LEO卫星通信信道动态模型建立与仿真

为了建立一个能够反映实际LEO卫星通信信道动态传播特性的仿真模型,在深入研究目前国内外常用的卫星移动通信信道统计模型的基础上,提出了一种动态Loo模型。仿真结果表明:相对于Loo模型,进一步增强了对实际信道动态传播特性的仿真能力。     

Global politics and INTELSAT: The conduct of foreign relations in an electronically interconnected world

The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT), with its extensive satellite system, has had important effects on foreign policy making throughout the globe. By successful international cooperation, INTELSAT has made extensive communication possible, reducing economic, political and cultural isolation and increasing access to information. The USA, who founded INTELSAT, is now planning to license satellites in competition with INTELSAT. The author argues that such action would be globally divisive, harm developing nations, and boost the rival INTERSPUTNIK. He makes an urgent call for the USA and others to continue to operate through INTELSAT and encourage its role in furthering enlightened foreign relations.     

基于决策融合的多卫星通信系统态势分析技术

为了解决高轨宽带、高轨移动、低轨星座卫星通信系统融合使用时，运行态势不全面、不精确等问题，设计了基于决策融合的多卫星通信系统态势分析技术。首先，借鉴数字孪生理论，建立板卡级、设备级、节点级、网络级、应用级5个层级体系化数字空间模型。其次，提取数据特征，得到高质量数据样本。最后，通过决策融合分析方法，对数据样本运用多种算法进行初步分析，再将不同算法的分析结果进行融合得出最终结果。结果表明，基于决策融合分析，能够对真实多卫星通信系统的不同指标主题得出较好的分析结果。因此，决策融合得到的分析结果可以帮助卫星通信系统运维人员更好地优化多卫星通信系统的运行状态。     

Optimal Pricing and Order-Up-To S Inventory Policy with Expected Utility of the Present Value Criterion

The article determines pricing and order-up-to level S inventory decisions over an infinite planning horizon from the point of view of a risk-averse decision maker. The demand is assumed to be stochastic but influenced by the selling price which is a decision variable. Shortages are allowed and backordered partially. We calculate the present value of the cash flow over the entire planning horizon and incorporate the notion of risk aversion into the model using a concave utility function. We numerically demonstrate the model and investigate the impact of different model-parameters on the optimal decisions. It is observed that the optimal selling price for a risk-averse decision maker is not less than the optimal selling price of a risk-neutral decision maker while the optimal order level for the risk-averse decision maker is always less than that of the risk-neutral decision maker.     

Evaluating Product Plans Using Real Options

Product planning helps a company to strategically plan its current and future product platforms and offer product variants in the marketplace. Product platforming is widely touted as a successful strategy for mass customization. However, due diligence should be exercised before implementing any product platform strategy. The product planning exercise should account for future uncertainties. Traditional financial tools such as the net present value (NPV) are static since they do not compensate for any exogenous and endogenous uncertainties during the course of the project. The crux of the problem lies in the evaluation model that is used for evaluating the product planning projects. While many view uncertainties in a product planning project as problematic, it can also be viewed as a source of new opportunities. We argue that uncertainties should be an integral part of the evaluation model. If the future possibilities (or strategic options) are not considered in the evaluation model, a corporation may face a “myopic syndrome”.

In this article, we consider two important product planning decisions—platform decisions and product variant decisions. The platform decision involves strategic selection of a concept product platform from various possible alternative concept product platforms. The product variant decision involves deciding how long a company should continue to offer its current product variant in the marketplace and whether the existing product variant should be discontinued, scaled down, or scaled up with additional product features. To address the two aforementioned decisions, we developed a real options–based methodology that considers technical, project implementation, and market-related uncertainties. The proposed methodology uses a binomial and quadranomial lattice approach to build a decision tree. Product planning decisions at various decision tree nodes are evaluated using a risk-neutral option valuation methodology. We demonstrate the working of the proposed methodology using an illustrative example.     

基于并行工程的建设项目管理模式研究

所谓并行工程是指集成、并行的设计产品及其相关的各种系统方法。在建设项目管理活动中。可借鉴并行工程的思想．建立起一种基于并行工程建设项目的管理模式。并行工程管理模式将原来分别进行的工作在时间和空间上交叉，重叠。并行利用信息的相互交流来达到资源共享。在此模式下．计划和控制都是依据获取的信息进行的．构想为金字塔模型。该模式的项目进度计划从系统整体出发着重强调并行项目之问的相互协调，其编制步骤可分为项目结构分解，项目活动时间估算及计划编制。采取的主要控制方法是基于计算机项目管理信息系统，包括决策支持、物资与设备管理、质量管理、成本管理，合同管理、财务管理，客户管理，风险管理、采购管理、人力资源管理等子系统。     

The political economy of satellite business

Satellite communications systems are the outcome of the fusion of big governments, high technology and big business, whose needs they meet. As a major growth sector they are becoming extremely important in economic terms. But satellite communications raise wider issues of the relationships between rich and poor countries and within rich countries. They will crucially influence the location of economic activity and the future prospects for countries in terms of access to information, decision making and income. The article discusses these questions and suggests how Europe might improve its position. It also argues that participation in public policy on satellite communications should be opened to a wider range of parties.     

Communications and telecommunications: Integrated approaches to communications planning

The author argues for an integrated approach to the formulation of communication policies. He suggests that the term ‘communication planning’ signals changes in attitudes to planning in general, breaking through the boundaries of technical or quantitative exclusivity into a broader, more interdisciplinary approach. After describing the main characteristics of the integrated approach, he examines the Unesco Afghanistan survey as an example of recent work on the methodology of overall communication system planning. The author then discusses the issue of technology transfer in the context of communications, and concludes with an analysis of the trend towards the international coordination of planning approaches.     

A strategic approach to industrial product pricing: The pricing plan

Price planning is one of the most overlooked areas in industrial marketing. Traditionally, emphasis is placed on product development, advertising strategy, and distribution channel formation before any consideration is given to pricing. The result is that industrial pricing decisions are made quickly without the necessary market and cost factors included in the final decision. The pricing decision is at the core of every business plan and impacts directly on the critical components of a company's marketing strategy. In this article, the importance of price planning in industrial marketing is discussed including the major components needed to make an industrial pricing strategy successful.     

Capacity flexibility allocation in an outsourced supply chain with reservation

We consider a contract manufacturer that serves a limited number of outsourcers (customers) on a single capacitated production line. The outsourcers have different levels of demand uncertainty and the contract manufacturer faces the question how to allocate the contractual capacity flexibility in an optimal way. The contractual capacity flexibility is a contract parameter that sets the amount of demand the contract manufacturer is obliged to accept from the outsourcers. We develop a hierarchical model that consists of two decision levels. At the tactical level, the contract manufacturer allocates the capacity flexibility to the different outsourcers by maximizing the expected profit. Offering more flexibility to the more uncertain outsourcer generates higher expected revenue, but also increases the expected penalty costs. The allocated capacity flexibilities (determined at the tactical level) are input parameters to the lower decision level, where the operational planning decisions are made and actual demands are observed. We perform a numerical study by solving the two-level hierarchical planning problem iteratively. We first solve the higher level problem, which has been formulated as an integer program, and then perform a simulation study, where we solve a mathematical programming model in a rolling horizon setting to measure the operational performance of the system. The simulation results reveal that when the acceptance decision is made (given the allocated capacity flexibility decision), priority is given to the less uncertain outsourcer, whereas when the orders are placed, priority is given to the most uncertain outsourcer. Our insights are helpful for contract manufacturers when having contract negotiations with the outsourcers. Moreover, we show that hierarchical integration and anticipation are required, especially for cases with high penalty cost and tight capacities.     

Media diversity and communications policy: Impact of VCRs and satellite TV

Videocassettes and satellite-delivered television programmes are having a profound effect on existing communication policies in the world. Set up to protect local media industries and preserve native cultures, communication policies are being threatened by both legal and illegal uses of the VCR and communication satellite. Because the VCR has not been considered a mass medium and the piracy of broadcast signals is illegal, most nations have not accounted for the impact of foreign films and television programmes flooding their borders. A desire for more media diversity is cited as the prime reason for the popularity of the content carried by these new technologies.     

高分辨率卫星影像在输电线路勘测设计中的应用探讨

随着航天遥感技术的飞速发展,高分辨率遥感卫星相继发射成功并投入商业运营。高分辨率卫星影像能满足城市规划、土地管理、交通管理、电力建设、石油勘探等多个行业的需求。介绍了高分辨率卫星及其影像产品,探讨了高分辨率卫星影像在特高压输电工程可研设计阶段的应用以及在220kV输电工程全过程设计阶段的应用,提出了在特高压和220kV输电工程中应用高分辨率卫星影像的方法和作业流程。     

R&D Project Selection Models: An Assessment

Abstract— The R&D project selection decision is described as a process by which an intermittent stream of changes are made to lists of currently active and proposed projects. It includes generating alternatives, determining when a decision is required, collecting data, specifying constraints and criteria, and recycling. The decision is viewed as imbedded within a hierarchical, diffuse budgeting and planning process. Process characteristics such as multiple criteria whose relative importance varies over time, inherent uncertainty, and parameter interrelationships result in a highly complex decision problem. The existing normative R&D benefit measurement and project selection literature is assessed and the limitations inherent in the proposed models are determined. A number of research opportunities are identified for both methodological and empirical studies.     

Models for telecommunications strategy in the LDCs

Telecommunications administrators in the less developed countries are faced with a number of complex strategic policy issues. The author argues that current planning procedures do not provide an adequate aid to decision making. A more sophisticated approach is suggested based on corporate planning models and a prototype model is described in detail. Some sample applications of this model are presented to illustrate the value of the approach to specific problems, including the areas of tariff policy and the growth rate of rural telecommunications.     

INMARSAT: looking beyond the maritime community

As a relatively new satellite organization, INMARSAT is engaged in making its system known to the maritime community with a view to increasing its usage. Current priorities include removal of restrictions on communications equipment in harbours and territorial waters, the setting up of disaster relief communications systems on land, the development of the Future Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (FGMDSS), cooperation with the aeronautical communities in a common satellite system, and planning for its second-generation system.     

A hierarchical planning system for energy intensive production environments

This paper describes a hierarchical production planning approach with decision support features for energy intensive industries with particular reference to a tile manufacturing factory. In the tiling industry, the facilities which contribute most to the consumption of energy (and, hence, to the production costs) are usually the kilns where the curing operation is carried out. Frequently, the kilns are also the bottleneck in terms of capacity utilization. Thus, in order to save on energy costs, a planning approach which aims at minimizing the number of active kilns throughout the year is needed besides optimizing the process design in the curing department. To achieve the latter goal, it is necessary to take into account demand fluctuations as well as detailed capacity restrictions while deciding on the lot sizes of the products and the kilns on which the products are loaded. Rather than adopting a monolithic mathematical model for developing a desirable production plan, a hierarchical approach which decomposes the problem into two sub-problems is preferred. In the first level, products and capacity are aggregated over the planning horizon to achieve an overall consideration of demand fluctuations over time. Then, the solution provided by the aggregate solution for the current planning period is disaggregated into a detailed lot sizing and loading solution. The disaggregated problem is difficult to solve and hence, a heuristic is proposed here. This planning approach is sustained by a Decision Support System which enables the elimination of possible inconsistencies in the production plan by providing an effective interaction with the decision maker.     

Financial strategy: Planning and managing the corporate leverage position

Among the important elements of a company's strategic plan is its decision about the degree of financial leverage it elects to imbed in its capital structure. A simple operational framework that can assist in framing that decision, which concentrates on the likelihood of being unable to meet fixed financial charges, is presented. The model is tested empirically, and support for its potential usefulness in the financial planning process is found.     

Optimal lot sizing in a non-cooperative material manager-controller game

It is important for manufacturing companies to optimise purchase order quantities. Inaccurate lot size planning raises costs and lowers profits, which top management of course attempts to avoid through controlling processes. The lot size decision becomes even more relevant in the case of just-in-time delivery within a supply chain.The interaction between lot sizing and auditing can be described in terms of a modified inspection game. This paper considers how probabilities, which are the basis for the mixed strategies at equilibrium in the inspection game, will change if the level of penalties accruing to the two players (material manager and controller) depends on the cost deviation caused by the material manager's poor lot-size planning. It is evident that the Nash equilibrium shifts to the strategy combination (methodically determined decision and low auditing level), if the penalties imposed on the controller and material manager increase.Penalties that depend on such deviations, and an accurate audit of the controller's report by top management, prove to be the best instruments for avoiding mismanagement by the material manager and poor controller work, both of which lead to high costs.     

Optimal Farm-to-Market Transportation and Storage of Certain Agriculture Commodities: Bogota,Colombia ∗

Decision rules for the make-buy decision most often assume the form of single-item, incremental cost rules which, for application, require decisions to be made for each item in isolation from all others. While it has been recognized that such decision rules may be non-optimal in situations where equipment capacity limits exist, the literature has not considered other cases where non-optimality arises. The purpose of this paper is to use linear programming as a framework for evaluating the optimality of single-item, incremental cost rules. The major conclusion of this paper is that the presence of any type of binding constraint in the planning problem, regardless of its origin, renders a single-item decision rule potentially non-optimal. A set of optimal screening decision rules is developed to be used in conjunction with a linear programming model for make-buy decisions in cases where such binding constraints exist.