The computation of costs for price decisions

Business should compute costs in a particular way of pricing purposes. The correct cost computation varies with its purpose, though most executives still believe that an item has a true cost regardless of why it is computed.Even cost estimates made for price decisions will differ according to the type of price decision that is at issue. One finds important differences depending on whether one is estimating costs for a one-shot bid, for a promotional price offer that is to last for a short period, or for a decision concerning long-term price. Although the same basic principles would apply in all three cases, their application is different. The appropriate concept is that of “decision cost”, a very simple but powerful idea that leads to different cost conclusions than are reached by prevailing costing methods.     

Duration Measures for Corporate Project Valuation

Sensitivity analysis is a very common exercise performed with the forecasting of project cash flows. In this article, a duration-type measure is generated that provides a single number for the assessment of project cash flows relative to changes in the discount rate (or adjusted for changes in a particular cash flow model parameter). The calculation is no more difficult than the duration measures that already exist for bonds. Yet, the calculation provides valuable insight that many times is lost when performing sensitivity analysis. Further, at a minimum, the measure provides a gauge for the consequences of misspecifiying the discount rate for a project.     

出口收汇风险的模糊综合评价研究

归纳总结了在传统的国际结算方式下,出口企业可能面临的各类收汇风险.先对出口收汇风险进行定性分析,建立风险评价指标体系,再对出口企业收汇风险进行定量分析,划分风险指标的风险等级,最后利用模糊综合评价模型,评估在各种风险共同作用下的出口企业可能面临的收汇风险等级.旨在从出口企业的角度出发,将其收汇风险进行量化,为出口企业衡...     

压力容器凸形封头坯料尺寸对其成形质量的影响

分析了压力容器凸形封头坯料尺寸对其成形质量的影响 ,阐述了要保证其良好成形 ,合适的坯料尺寸是一个重要的因素。介绍了凸形封头坯料尺寸的确定方法 ,并对常用的几种整体凸形封头坯料尺寸的计算式进行了分析推导。     

Neural network application for fuzzy multi-criteria decision making problems

In this paper, a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making model is presented based on a feed forward artificial neural network. This model is used to capture and represent the decision makers' preferences. The topology of the neural network model is developed to train the model. The proposed model can use historical data and update the database information for alternatives over time for future decisions. Basically, multi-criteria decision making problems are formulated, and neural network is used to learn the relation among criteria and alternatives and rank the alternatives. We do not use any utility function for the modeling; however, a unique method is proposed for eliciting the information from decision makers. The proposed model is applicable for a wide variety of multi-attribute decision making problems and can be used for future ranking or selection without managers' judgment effort. Simulation of the managers' decisions is demonstrated in detail and the design and implementation of the model are illustrated by a case study.     

抽油机V带执行标准现状及有关问题探讨

阐述了国内外V带现行标准状况，指出通用V带标准应用于抽油机V带存在的问题。针对抽油机用V带寿命不足5000h的问题，提出制定符合中国油田实际的《抽油机用V带》新标准，并从五个方面提出了编写新标准的建议。     

大学生创业基金瓶颈分析

当前,大学生创业成为一个热点话题,创业资金的缺乏是大学生创业的一个巨大障碍。从中央到各地方政府,都纷纷成立大学生创业基金。本文分析了大学生创业基金成立的原因,并对不同类型的大学生创业基金的特点进行了分析,得出大学生创业基金的单一性,并不是以一个完善的体系出现,针对此瓶颈,提出应构建一个针对大学生创业企业不同阶段的创业基金体系,满足大学生创业企业不同阶段的资金需求,并相应设立创业导师团,对获得基金支持的大学生创业企业进行跟踪和指导。     

Fashion retail forecasting by evolutionary neural networks

Recent literature on nonlinear models has shown that neural networks are versatile tools for forecasting. However, the search for an ideal network structure is a complex task. Evolutionary computation is a promising global search approach for feature and model selection. In this paper, an evolutionary computation approach is proposed in searching for the ideal network structure for a forecasting system. Two years’ apparel sales data are used in the analysis. The optimized neural networks structure for the forecasting of apparel sales is developed. The performances of the models are compared with the basic fully connected neural networks and the traditional forecasting models. We find that the proposed algorithms are useful for fashion retail forecasting, and the performance of it is better than the traditional SARIMA model for products with features of low demand uncertainty and weak seasonal trends. It is applicable for fashion retailers to produce short-term retail forecasting for apparels, which share these features.     

经济系统的资源位凹集模型及其政策含义

本文首先论述了“系统经济,整合为王”的基本思想;在此基础上提出了经济系统的资源位凹集模型把经济系统的实际资源位结构构造成凹集是整合在所有权意义上不属于自己的资源的必要条件,这为如何发展系统经济指明了方向;根据这个模型,推广了国际贸易理论的Heckscher-Ohlin定理,提出了如何应对经济全球化和如何在国际分工中获得最大的国家利益的对策性建议和必须进行的观念转变;最后,在对科斯企业理论进行认真分析的基础上,提出了企业凹集模型,进一步指出在系统经济条件下,整合资源的能力是企业家的核心能力的新理念。     

Problems in Demand Estimation For a New Technology

It is difficult to estimate demand for a new product or service when a prelaunch test market is not practical. This is often the case for products that incorporate advanced technology. In this article, Robert Thomas reviews 29 different research methodologies used to measure demand for a new telecommunications service. He found several problems in how the research was designed and executed and offers a number of suggestions for improving the accuracy of demand estimates.     

Managing and modeling the price reduction effect in mobile telecommunications traffic

As needs for telecommunications services diversify, an increasingly wide range of services is becoming available in the market. Service price reduction is one strategy used by service providers to retain existing subscribers. A price reduction for one service, however, can affect the individual-level usage for other services. Price reductions can also be imposed on a service provider by regulation. For these reasons, understanding how price reductions affect service usage is of growing importance to the telecommunications industry for purposes of pricing and tariff development. In this paper, an individual-level usage model for telecommunications services is developed and the effects on usage of a price reduction are analyzed. The model is applied to age-stratified aggregate traffic data for a Korean mobile telecommunication service provider. Finally, a 0-1 integer programming model is proposed for choosing which market segment should be targeted with a price reduction to minimize revenue loss. These models can be applied to market segmentation and price reduction strategy.     

What Do Unions Do to Productivity? A Meta‐Analysis

The impact of unions on productivity is explored using meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis. It is shown that most of the variation in published results is due to specification differences between studies. After controlling for differences between studies, a negative association between unions and productivity is established for the United Kingdom, whereas a positive association is established for the United States in general and for U.S. manufacturing.     

ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR FINDING CUMULATIVE PAID CAPITAL AND REMAINING BALANCE FOR A UNIFORM SERIES OF CASH FLOWS

The purpose of this paper is to propose models for finding the cumulative amount of paid capital up to a certain point in time for a discrete uniform series of cash flows, and also the unpaid capital amount of a similar séries of cash flows. An exponential model for finding the present worth for a séries of cash flows that is increasing exponentially is used to find the sum of paid capital. The second model that is used for finding the unpaid capital is developed based on the first model. The major advantages of the first model over the existing models is that it provides a direct tool for finding the cumulative amount of paid capital or unrecovered investment. The proposed models are easy to use since they are independent of finding the amount of the cash flow A. The cumulative paid interest up to a certain point in time can be found by subtracting the total repaid capital from the amount of total paid money up to that point.     

Double-fortified salt reduces anemia,benefit:cost ratio is modestly favorable

Iron deficiency is very widespread, with adverse consequences for health and cognition. Iron supplementation is not popular for long-term use, and cereal fortification is not feasible where milling occurs locally. Double-fortified salt (DFS: using both iron and iodine) is an alternative. The study undertakes a literature survey to find the effect of DFS on hemoglobin, and then uses a previous algorithm to make calculations for India. The benefit:cost ratio was estimated as 2.4:1 if only the benefits to children and women were included, and between 4:1 and 5:1 if anemia levels for men also decreased. This is just a little lower than the median ratio estimated for iron fortification of cereal staples (6.7:1), for home fortification for children less than two (37:1), and for biofortification – breeding for high iron – of cereals (high, but no exact figure available). Double-fortified salt is therefore a good alternative for improving iron status in populations where fortification of other staple foods does not achieve desired coverage.     

An Optimal Strategy for Capacity Expansion

A mathematical model is developed for determining the optimal sequence of expansions for a processing industry. The demand for the output is increasing over time at a geometric rate. The economic objective is minimization of the present worth of the total system cost to meet this growing demand. The cost includes the expenditure for development and operation of local plants and the cost of importing products when the supply from these plants is not adequate to meet the demand.

For illustrative purposes the model is applied to find the expansion strategy for the primary aluminum industry in Argentina.     

Towards value-based pricing—An integrative framework for decision making

Despite a recent surge of interest, the subject of pricing in general and value-based pricing in particular has received little academic investigation. Yet, pricing has a huge impact on financial results, both in absolute terms and relative to other instruments of the marketing mix. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive framework for pricing decisions which considers all relevant dimensions and elements for profitable and sustainable pricing decisions. The theoretical framework is useful for guiding new product pricing decisions as well as for implementing price-repositioning strategies for existing products. The practical application of this framework is illustrated by a case study involving the pricing decision for a major product launch at a global chemical company.     

关于中小企业融资问题的思考

长期以来,融资难一直是制约中小企业发展的重要瓶颈,尤其是在应对金融危机过程中,融资问题更加突出。这里面有五个原因:一是政治风险,占全国企业99.6%的中小企业大多数是民营企业,如果银行贷款给大型国有企业,即使出现了风险也是国家的,而贷给民营企业性质就不同了。二是信用风险,中小企业规模小,可抵押资产少,其信用满足不了银行的审查要求。三是道德风险,有的中小企业管理不规范,财务不透明,与银行信息不对称。四是市场风险,中小企业抗风险能力弱,市场需求敏感。五是交易成本高。对银行来讲,签一个大合同与签一个小合同手续成本是一样的。针对这些问题,如何缓解中小企业融资难?笔者认为要在进一步加强政府对中小企业扶持、放宽放活政策、加强企业现代管理、做大做强信用担保体系等方面,有所创新,有所突破。     

The modelling of business profitability: A new approach

Various methods are in use for the ‘top down’ assessment and comparison of the future profitabilities of businesses. The most advanced is the PAR equation of the PIMS programme, which combines quantitative evaluations of the average effect of various business characteristics on profitability. However it is not a true model in the OR sense being essentially a linear regression equation. The proposed new approach is a first attempt to combine the characteristics in a way which models the bargaining of customers with suppliers who are in competition for the supply of a bulk product. All the constants in the resulting non-linear equation (called 5C) are meaningful in marketing or production terms. The model is in a preliminary non-optimized state, but seems to offer opportunities for ongoing development. It is in this spirit that it is offered for discussion.     

Setting licence fees for renewing telecommunication spectrum based on an auction

This paper presents a methodology for setting fees for the renewal or extension of spectrum licences, by using the outcome of an auction for comparable licences but with a different licence period. The methodology is a combination of market and cash flow valuation and consists of two main steps. First, prices for spectrum corresponding to that of the licences to be extended are derived from the auction outcome. Second, the relative value addition of the extension period for the new licensee, compared to the value of the licences auctioned, is derived by using a model for the development of EBITDA for an operator over time. A combination of these two is used to calculate fees that match the opportunity costs of extension. Thus, optimum alignment is achieved with the policy objective of using licence fees only to promote efficient use of spectrum, while avoiding state aid at the same time.     

A simple technique for the optimization of lay-out and location for chemical plant safety

A computer program to optimize the use of land and ensure safe operation of plant. A logical process flow is maintained, while the position of plant items is optimized using a hill-climbing technique. A number of quantitative techniques exist for the measurement of hazard values for comparison of process routes in chemical plant design and operation. Such numerical values can also be used as a basis in lay-out considerations. There is a need for a simple technique, which allows for the optimization of separation distances between plant by determining the minimum requirement for safe operation. This requirement determines the cost of land and that of piping and control lines. It is then possible to carry out economic comparisons between using separation distances and the installation of mobile and fixed prevention and protection systems. An optimization technique based on a modified hill-climbing method is described.