University of Minnesota, Duluth
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Simulating the Impact of Implementing Preliminary Food Security Screening Procedures in the Status of Forces Survey of Active Duty Members
No full textPrevious USDA, Economic Research Service research showed that active duty service members were nearly 2.5 times more likely to live in a food-insecure household than their socioeconomically similar civilian adult counterparts in 2018 and 2020. However, due to data limitations, this research was not able to account for the methodological differences between food security survey measurement techniques for the active duty military and civilian populations. One important methodological difference is that the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPSFSS), which is used to measure food security among civilians, uses screening procedures to reduce respondent burden, while the Status of Forces Survey of Active Duty Members (SOFS-A), used to measure food security among active duty service members, does not. The difference in screening procedures used in these two surveys may at least partially account for differences in previous estimates of food security across these groups. This report uses a novel application of a statistical approach that simulates the preliminary screening procedure that is absent from the military survey to adjust 2022 food insecurity prevalence estimates for service members, based on the SOFS-A. The statistical approach first uses civilian survey data from the 2022 CPS-FSS to construct a civilian sample that is representative of the service member sample and then applies logistic regression modeling to simulate the results of the CPS-FSS preliminary screening procedure and its impact on the food insecurity prevalence estimates of service members. The authors find that the simulated preliminary screening procedure reduces the prevalence of military food insecurity from 41.0 percent to 14.1 percent in 2022. Results from the simulation analysis may be considered a lower bound for the measured prevalence of food insecurity for the population of active duty service members since food security screening procedures generally lead to lower rates of food insecurity
Product management and the construction of the required software: the case of the Commercial Agreements module
No full textThis article describes an applied research conducted in a technology company. The project addresses the adoption of product management within the context of software engineering, analyzing changes in environment and work dynamics resulting from this adoption. The goal was to understand how the management of software products in the Agreements Module is transforming the software engineering of a technology company, working on the uncertainties pertinent to the product at the implementation phase, avoiding the mismatch of information that ends up causing the nondelivery of the products, failing customer requirements, and creating unrealistic schedules and budgets. The purpose of this work was to contribute to the area of technology by producing content for a branch not yet explored in academia, as it is experiencing great growth in the labor market. The cohort of this research was ten professionals from Agreements squad: five developers, one design analyst, one quality analyst, one product manager, one agile coach and one coordinator. Through surveys applied to the end user and to the team involved in the development, it was possible to assess the level of satisfaction within the process and the product delivered. Throughout the article, it is possible to observe the importance of product management in the production of software; as when implemented in a planned and integrated way, it can bring profits and avoid rework
Postgraduate courses in project management and graduates: expectations, gaps and opportunities.
No full textThe professional career of someone with higher education encompasses a wide range of options. This study aimed to diagnose how much of the expectations of graduates or advanced students are being met by lato sensu postgraduate programs in project management, as well as to diagnose how much of the job market's expectations are also being met by the skills declared by graduates of these programs in a recruitment exercise. The study was developed as a data collection method, through the application of structured questionnaires, distributed and applied electronically to participants in professional social networks, followed by a summarized hierarchical organization ("rating") and a qualitative-quantitative analysis of the results, using cognitive linguistics. The job market demands that project management professionals be proficient in management techniques, cognitive, psychological, and social skills. Therefore, the definition of curricula for the advanced training of professionals in the field should be comprehensive, open, and versatile, adopting a philosophy compatible with the hegemonic group in the region, industry, or business sector favored by the institution hosting the training program
Development of visual identity of a design agency based on archetypes
No full textA company's brand is not just a name and logo, it is also the company's commitment to customers. Brand is a strategic asset, and therefore, when building a brand, the values, purpose, positioning, and personality of the company are also created. The psychology of archetypes understands the inner meaning of brands and products and helps marketers establish lasting concepts and identities. Archetypes are images, symbols, characters and myths that exist all over the world and transmit information in our collective unconscious. By using archetypes, brands have the ability to connect consumers' most basic emotions and motivations. The objective of this work is to evaluate three logos for a design agency. Three archetypes were defined to develop three logos based on their concepts. The archetypes analyzed here are Mage, Jester, and Creator. A survey was carried out with the brand's target audience to find out if the logo was conveying the archetype's message and defined a positioning for the agency. The results obtained were that it is possible to develop a visual identity based on the concepts of archetypes and pass positive emotions and sensations through them
Evaluation of performance indicators for car rental companies listed on the B3 (Brazilian Stock Exchange).
No full textSeveral factors influence the supply and demand for rental cars, and given the level of exposure to economic fluctuations, this market is characterized as part of the cyclical consumer sector. In this scenario, conducting performance analyses is fundamental for managerial decision-making, because, in the macroeconomic context, the financing of car rental companies – essential for fleet growth, since the sector is usually marked by low liquidity – can be compromised. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate which of the three car rental companies listed on the B3 (Brazilian Stock Exchange) obtained the best overall performance, considering the financial years from 2015 to 2017, a period marked by a severe economic crisis in the country. To this end, liquidity, debt, capital structure, and profitability performance indicators were used, as well as a vertical analysis of financial statements. The results showed that Localiza Rent a Car SA had the best performance, although its operation faces high capital costs due to maintenance and repairs of its fleet, which, in turn, is relatively larger than that of its competitors, giving the rental company an advantage
Innovation management: enablers and barriers in companies
No full textInnovation is a topic intensely discussed in the current context, as it provides a competitive advantage to organizations. This article aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers encountered by companies in the innovation process. Its contribution is the improvement of innovation management and the identification of possible factors to be emphasized or addressed. This is a qualitative and quantitative study, developed through a questionnaire applied to 96 individuals from companies of different segments and sizes. Through the results obtained, key methodologies and elements in the process were identified, as well as some procedures to be improved, such as the implementation of strategic planning in 77.08% of the companies analyzed, while 78.38% of respondents understand it. The facilitators and barriers found can be analyzed separately, however, they present a relationship of interdependence and cause and effect. Innovation management becomes unstable and ineffective when there is a lack of application of methodologies in knowledge management or a lack of emphasis on people management
The Almond Industry in Italy and Spain
No full textExcerpts from the Introduction: The growing of almonds in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin dates back to pre-historic times. They are grown in all of the Mediterranean countries as far north as latitude 45 degrees, but chiefly along the east coast of Italy in and about Foggia and Bari, along the east and south coast of Spain and from Barcelona to Malaga, and particularly in the Islands of Sicily, Majorca and Iviza. It will be noted that the statistics in this report for both Italy and Spain are given as shelled and unshelled almonds
Long-Run Demand Forecasting for Nonfuel Mineral Commodities
No full textPurpose and Scope: In the past, experts have produced these long-run demand forecasts for nonfuel mineral commodities on the basis of their subjective judgment. The underlying causal relationships governing the growth in demand were not identified, and no statistical techniques were used. The U.S. Forest Service, believing a more rigorous approach was needed, asked the Colorado School of Mines and specifically the authors of this report to develop an alternative forecasting methodology based on the intensity of metal use technique and to apply the proposed methodology to two mineral commodities. The two commodities examined are copper, a widely used metal, and sand and gravel, a non-metallic mineral product used largely in the construction sector. For each, conditional forecasts are developed for U.S. demand for the years 2020 and 2050. These forecasts are conditional in the sense that they take as given forecasts for U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for these two years, which the U.S. Forest Service plans to obtain from independent macroeconomic forecasting services
Ethanol Co-Products Used for Livestock Feed
No full textExcerpt from the Report: In the production process of converting corn to ethanol, important co-products are produced as well. These co-products, also called distillers grains or corn gluten feed, are created within the dry or wet mill process and can be fed to livestock. With the expansion of the ethanol industry, there is a greater supply of co-products. The goals of this study were to identify how many livestock operations were feeding co-products, which co-products were being fed, and the characteristics of those co-products. Information was also collected about how the operations have used and would like to use co-products and related services. In addition the study identified concerns and barriers which prevented operations from feeding co-products
Economic impact of horn flies on beef cattle
No full textThe horn fly ( Haematobia irritans) is one of the main ectoparasites of cattle in current livestock farming in Brazil. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the economic impact of this parasite in relation to weight gain and age at slaughter in beef cattle. The study was based on research by Bianchin et al. (2004), who conducted a study in the Cerrado region of Mato Grosso do Sul during the rainy season from October to May, the period of greatest parasite infestation. Data from 20 two-year-old castrated male Nellore cattle of the same initial weight were used, divided into two groups of ten animals: treated with insecticides versus untreated animals. Weight gain and slaughter age were evaluated to determine the efficiency and economic impact of each group. Animal performance showed a 16% increase in daily weight gain and a 32% reduction in slaughter age for animals treated with antiparasitic. Under these conditions, the positive economic impact was R$154.64 per animal. The results showed that the antiparasitic treatment is justified, as its effectiveness in reducing horn flies provided a positive economic impact for the beef cattle production system