Target-oriented use of strategic sourcing tools: A critical analysis creating process awareness for electronic reverse auctions

The success of an electronic reverse auction (eRA) does not manifest just in price reductions but also in the reduction of transaction costs and costs of the purchasing organization. A dynamic process view allows a better understanding of these dimensions. We illustrate that using the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concept. The goal of our study is to determine the impacts of eRAs on Total Cost of the Purchasing Function (TCPF). Therefore we analyze the impacts on three different levels: the process step, the transaction, and the tool integration level, enabling process awareness of firms using eRAs.     

Corporate integration in the EU: Recent developments

Corporate integration was expected to play a central role in the process of industrial reorganisation which would follow the creation of the Single European Market. This article investigates the development of corporate integration in the EU and the likely impact of the Single European Market on the pattern of corporate integration.     

Nature's feast today

The main features of the historical record in population trends are reviewed pointing out that a decrease in death rates took place well in advance of corresponding decline in birth rates and led to the first vital population revolution in the world, lasting from 1650 to the World War II. The present perspective is also discussed in terms of the distribution of the world's population in different continents, will regard to political boundaries, and national identity, poverty, etc. It is proposed that to end or slow down population growth may be far from effective in promoting growth in income per head in a given country. Finally the concepts of optimum population for a given country, and zero population growth are discussed in terms of both developing and developed countries. It is concluded that it is important (a) to find out through research and analysis how fertility can be controlled in a given society, and (b) to present the case of the control in terms of the values of the society which it is addressed.     

Development of a taxonomy of services to gain strategic marketing insights

A theme emerging in the services marketing literature indicates that services marketers should look beyond their own industry boundaries to gain marketing insight. A number of conceptual typologies for grouping services have been developed. However, none of these conceptualizations have been studied empirically. This article presents an empirically based taxonomy, developed through cluster analysis of consumer's perceptions of services. The results of the study offer several insights into strategic marketing for service marketers.     

嵌入式大学三级众创孵化生态系统建设研究

大学生是创新创业的生力军,我国面临大学生双创参与率和成功率低的难题。在分析大学生双创动因和障碍的基础上,研究了创意创新创业的逻辑关系、链条孵化理论和嵌入式创新理论,探索了大学双创孵化生态系统模型和建设路径,最后结合案例进行实证分析,以期为双创大学建设提供借鉴。     

铁路装车地直达列车组织研究

铁路装车地直达列车作为一种高效的车流组织形式,可以提升铁路货物运输效率和服务质量,对于增强铁路运输市场竞争力具有积极作用。分析铁路车流的3种典型运输模式,以所有货车的总运输时间最短为优化目标,建立装车地直达列车编组计划优化的线性0-1规划模型,利用MATLAB软件求解。通过算例分析,验证了在装车量较小的装车站或装车量较大而无法满足整列出车条件的装车站组织开行装车地直达列车的合理性。