1,721,076 research outputs found
The evaluation of University system in Italy
No full textIn recent years, Italian universities have experienced the development of a system of evaluation that, although not immune from critics and weaknesses, has increasingly been used as a key reference for the adoption of appropriate corrective measures and / or incentives aimed to the improvement of the performance of the whole of Italian universities, regarding to the quality both of teaching and research. Purpose of this paper is to analyze weaknesses and strengths of the system of evaluation of the universities in Italy, trying to provide a framework to be used for future international investigations and comparisons
Profound knowledge as the core concept for Japanese Gemba Kaizen and Kanban philosophy
No full textThe theory of profound knowledge leads to the recognition of the central role of the customer. The Kanban system(just in time) reflects the re-thinking of the whole production process in the Japanese companies within the time. The Gemba means the spatial parameter, the place where value is createdin business. Kaizen means continuous improvement, involving everyone without distinction: top management to middle management, down to the last emploee of an organization
Determining the authenticity of PDO buffalo mozzarella: an approach based on Fourier transform infrared (MIR-FTIR) spectroscopy and on chemometric tools
Full text linkThe potential of Mid-infrared spectroscopy coupled with chemometric tools was evaluated for the authentication and discrimination of PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) buffalo mozzarella produced by traditional and industrial cheese-making processes.
Samples of mozzarella provided by local producers and supermarkets were analysed through both official destructive methods and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR). In particular, destructive methods allowed to determine the content of fatty substances, proteins, moisture and total nitrogen.
The results show that only the conjunction of MID-infrared spectroscopy with chemometric analysis can provide a satisfying solution to discriminate between the different types of mozzarella
Performance management and competitive strategies of international companies
No full textThe research concerns the performance management in an international company and the influence of the choice of strategy on the directions of development of the company competitive advantages. The monograph will be helpful for administrators of international companies, TNC and MNC business consultants and experts skilled in the field of strategic analysis and performance management, representatives of local authorities in the external relations and foreign affairs
Impact of organic and “protected designation of origin” labels in the perception of olive oil sensory quality
No full textPURPOSE
Investigate the behaviour and the habits of the consumers from central-southern Italy in relation to extra olive oil consumption, focussing on the impact of protected designation of origin (PDO) and EU–organic certification on purchase intention and quality perception.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
A specific questionnaire was submitted to 160 consumers; a subsample of ten experts, ten semi-experts and ten habitual consumers of olive oil tested, through a blind test first and a normal one then, three Italian samples: an extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) without certification, an organic EVOO and a PDO EVOO, which were characterised also from a chemical-physical point of view. The answers provided during the tastings were statistically analysed and compared.
FINDINGS
People interviewed prefer local olive oils; they are positively influenced by PDO/organic certification, while price is not a decisive factor on the purchasing choices. According to tasting panel results: experts gave consistent answers preferring organic olive oil, semi-experts are positively influenced by the PDO brand contrary to what they claimed; non-experts would buy EVOO, although they are positively influenced by the PDO brand and negatively by the organic certification.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
Only knowledge and experience can aid consumers make consistent and aware choices. Information campaigns could help them to distinguish products, correctly identify food attributes and overcome their scepticism towards quality of organic products.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE
Few works investigated the impact of quality and sustainability labelling on perception of olive oils, valuing the consistency between answers provided before and after sensory assessments
Building new business model from multiple case study research in the Internet of Me
Full text linkThe digital revolution has greatly changed the approach to culture, work, leisure time, the way we interact and communicate with people: the digitization of information has taken root and has become essential in all areas of social life as a phenomenon that guides and monitors the transformation of society in all its various forms, bringing great changes in almost all areas and especially in the world of work and industry.
Industry 4.0 refers to a fourth industrial revolution (following water/steam power, mass production and automation through IT and robotics) and introduces the concept of "cyber-physical systems" to differentiate this new evolutionary phase from the electronic automation that has gone before. The term Industry 4.0 refers to the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector, driven by four disruptions: 1) the astonishing rise in data volumes, computational power, and connectivity, especially new low-power wide-area networks; 2) the emergence of analytics and business-intelligence capabilities; 3) new forms of human-machine interaction such as touch interfaces and augmented-reality systems; 4) improvements in transferring digital instructions to the physical world, such as advanced robotics and 3-D printing. One of the core elements of the fourth industrial revolution is the systematic application of IoT technologies (Internet of Things) and IoM (Internet of Me) to production processes on a global scale. The aim of the paper is primarily an analysis of what are the possible future benefits of IoT and IoM, trying to understand the effort and their opportunities for a consumer oriented business. Then to analyze the competitive advantage that companies are pursuing when they implement a business which is IoT / IoM oriented. The project research question relates to the possible extrapolation of a standardized behavioural pattern, in order to draw guidelines for companies who want to start a similar strategic management, through the direct experiences of an Italian start-up first mover group in the sectors involved in IoT and IoM revolution, defining risks, opportunities and threats. Theresearch presents two phases methodologically joinedbetween them: from a theoretical point of view it is defined the change from the Business Model towards the “ecosystem” of Business Model in the strategy IoT/IoM oriented,and from a empirical point of view the business development of some start-up companies using IoT and IoM technologies is studied, through the direct interview qualitative tool
Caf Education And Self-Assessment: An Exploratory Study On The Cause-Effect Internal Relations”
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