This thesis addresses two issues which arise in the context of airline revenue management. In the first part of the thesis, we develop an incentive mechanism to prevent revenue leakage caused by customers buying down. In the second part of the thesis, we discuss the revenue sharing problem between alliance partners and develop a mechanism by which the combined revenue can be distributed fairly among them. Situations which give rise to impossibility and possibility results are established. The practice of revenue management, employs the principle of differential pricing of a product based on various product restrictions. These product restrictions segment the market in such a manner so as to maximize the revenue. Airline industry which pioneered the practice of revenue management generally prices low for those who book early and high for those who book late for essentially the same seat. The low-fare products are targeted towards the market segment comprising of those customers who have a low valuation (reservation price) for the product (who are typically leisure customers, also called as low-fare customers).The high-fare product, on the other hand is targeted at the market segment comprising of customers who have a high valuation (reservation price) for the product (business class customers, also called as high-fare customers). However, it may happen that customers with high valuation for the product may also buy the low-fare product if it is available. This behavior of high-fare customers buying a low-fare product due to its availability is called the customer buy-down behavior. Such a customer behavior causes revenue leakage to the airline industry. Revenue management literature that primarily focuses on pricing and seat inventory control does not account for the customer buy-down behavior. In Part I of the thesis we address this issue of customer buy-down behavior. We develop an incentive mechanism in the form of a new product bundle which would attract only the high-fare customer. High fare customers such as business class customers typically have repeated travel plans, while low fare customers such as leisure travelers typically do not travel repeatedly. The proposed incentive mechanism takes advantage of this characteristic of high fare customers that distinguishes them from the low fare customers. In general, high fare product permits cancellation and does not impose any travel restrictions, and a low fare product, on the other hand does not permit cancellation and has other travel restrictions associated with them. A high fare customer with potential future travel plan might associate uncertainties with respect to travel dates and his ability to procure a low fare ticket for future travel. This uncertainty is exploited in the proposed product bundle. The new product bundle permits the customer to cancel the ticket for the future journey and relaxes the restrictions associated with the requested day and the future travel day. Such incentives would attract only the high fare customer and the low-fare customer will not be enticed by this product bundle. This is because the low fare customer is a one-off traveler. Thus, the acceptance of the product bundle by the customer reveals that he is a high-fare customer and its denial reveals that he is truly a low-fare customer. We determine the optimal price to be charged for each of the days (requested day and the future travel day) and the refund value for the future travel day. We find that multiple optimal solutions exist, and its existence indicate a win-win situation for both the customer and the seller. The customer benefits through the incentives offered and the seller benefits in the form of additional revenue that is achieved in the process of preventing revenue leakage. In Part II of the thesis, we discuss the revenue sharing problem between alliance partners of a network. Airlines form alliances and coordinate through activities such as code sharing, scheduling of flight arrival and departure times, arrival and departure gates, frequent flyer programs, airport lounges and ground facilities among several others. Code sharing is a key feature among the coordinated activities of alliance partners. Parallel code sharing refers to code sharing between carriers operating on the same route to increase frequency of services and to strengthen market position. Complementary code sharing refers to carriers using each other’s flights to provide connecting services, where they do not offer a full service on their own. The main objective of the complementary code share flights is to increase scope of the partner’s network, allowing them to supply service on markets where they did not operate before. When complementary code shared flights aim at maximizing their combined revenue, it might lead to inequitable distribution of revenue and may cause an alliance partner to lose revenue. In Part II of the thesis, we address this issue of achieving a fair division of the combined revenue generated by the alliance network. The common assumption in revenue sharing methods that are generally practiced is that airline’s valuation of seats in the alliance network is common knowledge. However, in reality it is not true. We therefore consider the valuations of the carriers of their respective products as private information and the price of the product over the entire network to be common knowledge. Under such an information environment, we formulate the problem in the bargaining framework. We discuss the implementation of two solution concepts; namely the Shapley value and the Core of a cooperative game. For the two person cooperative game, the Shapley value equally distributes the surplus among the two parties, while the core allocations of two person cooperative game consists of all possible proportions of the distribution of the surplus. In a bargaining set up, the parties communicate their valuations through sealed bids and agree upon a transfer rule. We analyze two situations. In the first situation we assume that the two parties do not associate any cost towards failure to arrive at an agreement. We determine the optimal bids for the two parties and prove that these optimal bids do not implement any desired point on the core i.e., desired proportion of the distribution of the surplus (which includes the Shapley value).This impossibility result motived the analysis of the second situation, in which we assume that the two parties associate costs towards failure to arrive at an agreement. We once again determine the optimal bids and prove that for a certain structure of the bargaining costs, any desired point on the core, including the Shapley value can be implemented by enticing the players to reveal their true valuations.

Decidir entre as melhores alternativas de produtos para compor o portfólio de uma empresa é um problema complexo e que envolve múltiplos critérios. Este trabalho tem como foco, a adaptação de um modelo de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, que possua um caráter quantitativo, flexível, de fácil aplicação e que contemple requisitos importantes para avaliação da carteira de projetos e produtos das indústrias farmacêuticas. O propósito é que este modelo auxilie os gestores das empresas deste setor na tomada de decisão estratégica em relação ao portfólio atual e futuro dos seus produtos, de maneira mais assertiva e reduzindo as subjetividades das escolhas. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi a pesquisa-ação, cuja pesquisa de campo foi realizada em uma organização do setor farmacêutico nacional de pequeno porte, que buscava otimizar o seu processo de seleção e priorização de produtos / projetos. Desta forma, a partir de uma revisão sistemática simplificada do tema; do acesso a documentos que descrevem o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos e seleção de projetos da referida indústria; bem como de entrevistas em profundidade com os diretores da empresa, foi possível levantar os principais critérios para a tomada de decisão gerencial estratégica da carteira de produtos. Estes critérios foram alocados em uma estrutura de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, desenvolvida por Danilevicz e Ribeiro (2013), intitulada Decisões Estratégicas de INovação (DEIN), a qual deu origem ao modelo de Decisões Estratégicas de INovação para o setor Farmacêutico (DEIN-FARMA). Este modelo ajustado foi aplicado utilizando-se os produtos e projetos reais desta empresa gerando, ao final, um portfólio de produtos definido para o próximo período e com um ganho de inovação de 50%. Logo, o DEIN-FARMA permitiu o alinhamento dos produtos às estratégias da empresa, a otimização dos recursos, a redução dos riscos inerentes aos lançamentos, o balanceamento do portfólio e a maximização do seu valor. / Decision making in product portfolio of a company is a complex problem that involves multiple criteria. The aim of this study is the adaptation of a Product Portfolio Management Model. This model must to be quantitative, flexible, easy to be applied, and including important requirements for evaluating the pharmaceutical projects and products. The purpose of this model is to serve as a tool to help managers of the sector to make a strategic decision about the current and future portfolio of their products, being more assertive and decreasing the subjectivity of choices. The methodological approach used was the action research, whose fieldwork was carried out in a Brazilian pharmaceutical industry, seeking to optimize their process of selection and prioritization of their products / projects. Thus, from a simplified systematic review of the subject; access to the documents that describe the process of product development and selection of projects, as well as, in-depth interviews with the directors of the company , it was possible to raise the main criteria for making strategic management decision of the product portfolio. These criteria were allocated on a structure of Product Portfolio Management, previously developed, called Strategic Decisions of Innovation (DEIN), which gave rise to the Strategic Decisions of Innovation model for the Pharmaceutical Industry (DEIN-FARMA). This adjusted model was applied using the real products and projects of this company generating, in the end, a product portfolio set for the next period with a gain of 50% in innovation. Soon the DEIN-FARMA allowed the alignment of the products to the strategies of company, optimize resources, reduce inherent risks, balancing the portfolio and hence maximization of its value.

Decidir entre as melhores alternativas de produtos para compor o portfólio de uma empresa é um problema complexo e que envolve múltiplos critérios. Este trabalho tem como foco, a adaptação de um modelo de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, que possua um caráter quantitativo, flexível, de fácil aplicação e que contemple requisitos importantes para avaliação da carteira de projetos e produtos das indústrias farmacêuticas. O propósito é que este modelo auxilie os gestores das empresas deste setor na tomada de decisão estratégica em relação ao portfólio atual e futuro dos seus produtos, de maneira mais assertiva e reduzindo as subjetividades das escolhas. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi a pesquisa-ação, cuja pesquisa de campo foi realizada em uma organização do setor farmacêutico nacional de pequeno porte, que buscava otimizar o seu processo de seleção e priorização de produtos / projetos. Desta forma, a partir de uma revisão sistemática simplificada do tema; do acesso a documentos que descrevem o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos e seleção de projetos da referida indústria; bem como de entrevistas em profundidade com os diretores da empresa, foi possível levantar os principais critérios para a tomada de decisão gerencial estratégica da carteira de produtos. Estes critérios foram alocados em uma estrutura de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, desenvolvida por Danilevicz e Ribeiro (2013), intitulada Decisões Estratégicas de INovação (DEIN), a qual deu origem ao modelo de Decisões Estratégicas de INovação para o setor Farmacêutico (DEIN-FARMA). Este modelo ajustado foi aplicado utilizando-se os produtos e projetos reais desta empresa gerando, ao final, um portfólio de produtos definido para o próximo período e com um ganho de inovação de 50%. Logo, o DEIN-FARMA permitiu o alinhamento dos produtos às estratégias da empresa, a otimização dos recursos, a redução dos riscos inerentes aos lançamentos, o balanceamento do portfólio e a maximização do seu valor. / Decision making in product portfolio of a company is a complex problem that involves multiple criteria. The aim of this study is the adaptation of a Product Portfolio Management Model. This model must to be quantitative, flexible, easy to be applied, and including important requirements for evaluating the pharmaceutical projects and products. The purpose of this model is to serve as a tool to help managers of the sector to make a strategic decision about the current and future portfolio of their products, being more assertive and decreasing the subjectivity of choices. The methodological approach used was the action research, whose fieldwork was carried out in a Brazilian pharmaceutical industry, seeking to optimize their process of selection and prioritization of their products / projects. Thus, from a simplified systematic review of the subject; access to the documents that describe the process of product development and selection of projects, as well as, in-depth interviews with the directors of the company , it was possible to raise the main criteria for making strategic management decision of the product portfolio. These criteria were allocated on a structure of Product Portfolio Management, previously developed, called Strategic Decisions of Innovation (DEIN), which gave rise to the Strategic Decisions of Innovation model for the Pharmaceutical Industry (DEIN-FARMA). This adjusted model was applied using the real products and projects of this company generating, in the end, a product portfolio set for the next period with a gain of 50% in innovation. Soon the DEIN-FARMA allowed the alignment of the products to the strategies of company, optimize resources, reduce inherent risks, balancing the portfolio and hence maximization of its value.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / O presente trabalho visou avaliar a gestÃo empreendida em escolas da rede pÃblica municipal de Fortaleza, CearÃ, com base no Modelo de GestÃo PÃblica e DesburocratizaÃÃo. Os constructos teÃricos que embasam a avaliaÃÃo institucional foram fonte para a extraÃÃo de subsÃdios que fomentassem um estudo acerca da prÃtica da gestÃo escolar, bem como de estratÃgias de aprimoramento adotadas pelas escolas nessa construÃÃo. A pesquisa, de natureza aplicada assentada nas abordagens qualitativa e quantitativa, de cunho exploratÃrio quanto ao objetivo geral, desenvolvida segundo a proposta de Bruyne, Herman e Schoutheete (1977), constituiu-se de um espaÃo metodolÃgico quadripolar: epistemolÃgico, teÃrico, morfolÃgico e tÃcnico. No polo epistemolÃgico, observou-se a discussÃo necessÃria embasada nos pressupostos filosÃficos que permeiam o objeto em anÃlise. Para articular a discussÃo atinente Ãs bases sedimentares da gestÃo escolar, utilizou-se a Ãptica da sociologia compreensiva evidenciada por Max Weber. No polo teÃrico, evidenciou-se a construÃÃo dos conceitos inerentes Ãs funÃÃes da gestÃo educacional e à prÃpria organizaÃÃo do espaÃo escolar como agente na promoÃÃo das aprendizagens dos envolvidos nesse processo. No polo morfolÃgico, adotou-se uma sÃntese dos modelos de avaliaÃÃo educacional com o intuito de compreender os constructos que embasam a gestÃo educacional. No referido polo, estruturaram-se a discussÃo sobre o Modelo de GestÃo PÃblica e DesburocratizaÃÃo e as possibilidades de sedimentaÃÃo para uma gestÃo sistematizada com base na excelÃncia. Objetivando auxiliar essa construÃÃo, tais proposiÃÃes de estudo foram complementadas pelas contribuiÃÃes do modelo de avaliaÃÃo estrutural-sistÃmica proposto por Lima (2008), a fim de realizar o mapeamento das estruturas presentes no processo de investigaÃÃo da gestÃo adotada nas escolas da rede municipal de Fortaleza com base nos critÃrios do Modelo de GestÃo PÃblica e DesburocratizaÃÃo. No polo tÃcnico, por fim, contemplaram-se as disposiÃÃes vinculadas ao rigor e Ãs tÃcnicas adotadas para a investigaÃÃo do objeto em anÃlise. O lÃcus da pesquisa constituiu-se de um universo formado por seis escolas da rede pÃblica municipal de Fortaleza, sendo a triagem realizada com base no Ãndice de Desempenho Escolar Alfa (0-10) correspondente ao perÃodo de 2012 a 2014. A anÃlise foi de natureza comparativa, a partir da sociologia compreensiva de Weber, correspondente Ãs especificidades do trabalho desenvolvido pelo gestor e Ãs prÃticas desenvolvidas na escola. A coleta dos dados foi realizada por meio da pesquisa de campo, composta por duas etapas. A primeira etapa abrangeu a aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrio fechado com 24 indicadores atrelados Ãs funÃÃes da gestÃo educacional e sua correlaÃÃo com os critÃrios do Modelo de GestÃo PÃblica e DesburocratizaÃÃo estabelecidos para a anÃlise: estratÃgia e planos, processos e pessoas destinadas ao nÃcleo gestor. A segunda etapa compreendeu a observaÃÃo e contextualizaÃÃo das variÃveis analisadas por meio da aplicaÃÃo de roteiro com oito assertivas abertas destinadas aos 12 docentes e aos 12 discentes das instituiÃÃes pesquisadas. A anÃlise de dados, quanto ao seu aspecto quantitativo, foi realizada com o apoio do software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, em sua versÃo 21.0 para Windows. A anÃlise qualitativa, por seu turno, foi amparada no software Atlas.ti 7 (Computer Assisted Qualitive Data Analysis Software) para compreensÃo dos discursos provenientes da fala de professores e alunos, buscando agregar aspectos indispensÃveis relativos à compreensÃo acerca do trabalho desenvolvido nas escolas. Pretendeu-se a articulaÃÃo entre os conhecimentos adquiridos por intermÃdio da base teÃrica referente à avaliaÃÃo, aliados à sua utilizaÃÃo para a melhoria na gestÃo das escolas provenientes da rede pÃblica municipal de Fortaleza. / This study aims to evaluate the management engaged in the municipal public schools of Fortaleza based on Public Management Model and Bureaucratization. The theoretical constructs that support institutional assessment will be source for the extraction of subsidies that promote a study on the practice of school management as well as improvement strategies adopted by schools in this type of system. The research is constituted of applied nature seated in qualitative and quantitative approaches, exploratory nature as the general objective and developed according to the proposal of Bruyne, Herman and Schoutheete (1977) one quadripolar methodological space. In center epistemological observed the necessary discussion grounded in philosophical assumptions that underlie the subject under review. We used to articulate the discussion of sedimentary basis of school management, the perspective of comprehensive sociology evidenced by Max Weber. However, the theoretical pole shows the construction of the concepts inherent to the functions of educational management and the organization of school space as an agent in promoting the learning of those involved in this process. It was adopted in morphological center an overview of educational evaluation models in order to understand the constructs that support the educational management. Was structured in that center the discussion about the Model of Public Management and Bureaucratization and sedimentation possibilities for a systematic management based on excellence. In order to aid this construction it was added to such study of propositions through the contributions of the structural-systemic model proposed by Lima (2008) to perform the mapping of structures present in management research process adopted in the municipal schools of Fortaleza, CearÃ, based on Public Management Model and Bureaucratization criteria. On the technical center include the provisions related to the accuracy and the techniques used to investigate the object in question. The research locus constitutes a universe composed of six municipal public schools of Fortaleza-CE and the screening was based on the School Development Index Alpha (0-10) corresponding to the period 2012 to 2014. The comparative analysis from the corresponding Weberâs comprehensive sociology the specifics of the work of the manager and the practices developed in school. Data collection was performed by field research consisting of two steps. The first step corresponds to the questionnaire closed with 24 indicators linked to the functions of educational management and its correlation with the criteria of Public Management Model and Bureaucratization for the analysis: strategy and plans, processes and people destined to the core manager. The second stage includes the observation and contextualization of the variables analyzed through semi-structured application form with eight open assertions designed to 12 teachers and 12 students of the institutions surveyed. Analysis of data into quantitative aspect was carried out with the support of Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21.0 for Windows. However, the qualitative analysis was supported in Atlas.ti 7 software for understanding speech from the teachersâ and studentsâ speech seeking to add essential aspects of the understanding of the work in schools. It is intended to articulate the knowledge acquired through theoretical base on the evaluation, together with its use to improve the management from the municipal public schools of Fortaleza.

Decidir entre as melhores alternativas de produtos para compor o portfólio de uma empresa é um problema complexo e que envolve múltiplos critérios. Este trabalho tem como foco, a adaptação de um modelo de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, que possua um caráter quantitativo, flexível, de fácil aplicação e que contemple requisitos importantes para avaliação da carteira de projetos e produtos das indústrias farmacêuticas. O propósito é que este modelo auxilie os gestores das empresas deste setor na tomada de decisão estratégica em relação ao portfólio atual e futuro dos seus produtos, de maneira mais assertiva e reduzindo as subjetividades das escolhas. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi a pesquisa-ação, cuja pesquisa de campo foi realizada em uma organização do setor farmacêutico nacional de pequeno porte, que buscava otimizar o seu processo de seleção e priorização de produtos / projetos. Desta forma, a partir de uma revisão sistemática simplificada do tema; do acesso a documentos que descrevem o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos e seleção de projetos da referida indústria; bem como de entrevistas em profundidade com os diretores da empresa, foi possível levantar os principais critérios para a tomada de decisão gerencial estratégica da carteira de produtos. Estes critérios foram alocados em uma estrutura de Gestão de Portfólio de Produtos, desenvolvida por Danilevicz e Ribeiro (2013), intitulada Decisões Estratégicas de INovação (DEIN), a qual deu origem ao modelo de Decisões Estratégicas de INovação para o setor Farmacêutico (DEIN-FARMA). Este modelo ajustado foi aplicado utilizando-se os produtos e projetos reais desta empresa gerando, ao final, um portfólio de produtos definido para o próximo período e com um ganho de inovação de 50%. Logo, o DEIN-FARMA permitiu o alinhamento dos produtos às estratégias da empresa, a otimização dos recursos, a redução dos riscos inerentes aos lançamentos, o balanceamento do portfólio e a maximização do seu valor. / Decision making in product portfolio of a company is a complex problem that involves multiple criteria. The aim of this study is the adaptation of a Product Portfolio Management Model. This model must to be quantitative, flexible, easy to be applied, and including important requirements for evaluating the pharmaceutical projects and products. The purpose of this model is to serve as a tool to help managers of the sector to make a strategic decision about the current and future portfolio of their products, being more assertive and decreasing the subjectivity of choices. The methodological approach used was the action research, whose fieldwork was carried out in a Brazilian pharmaceutical industry, seeking to optimize their process of selection and prioritization of their products / projects. Thus, from a simplified systematic review of the subject; access to the documents that describe the process of product development and selection of projects, as well as, in-depth interviews with the directors of the company , it was possible to raise the main criteria for making strategic management decision of the product portfolio. These criteria were allocated on a structure of Product Portfolio Management, previously developed, called Strategic Decisions of Innovation (DEIN), which gave rise to the Strategic Decisions of Innovation model for the Pharmaceutical Industry (DEIN-FARMA). This adjusted model was applied using the real products and projects of this company generating, in the end, a product portfolio set for the next period with a gain of 50% in innovation. Soon the DEIN-FARMA allowed the alignment of the products to the strategies of company, optimize resources, reduce inherent risks, balancing the portfolio and hence maximization of its value.

Esta pesquisa apresenta um sistema de suporte a decisão (SSD) para o planejamento e gerenciamento integrado de bacias hidrográficas, denominado Riverhelp!, e também sugere nova metodologia para o uso desse tipo de ferramenta de análise. O objetivo geral é desenvolver um SSD que possa auxiliar a gestão de recursos hídricos. Para isso o SSD utiliza e integra tecnologias avançadas em um só sistema computacional flexível e que pode ser utilizado e entendido por especialistas e outros participantes do processo decisório. O programa é composto por quatro módulos principais e tem código aberto baseado na tecnologia OpenMI o que permite aos usuários alterar e incluir funções. Outra propriedade que merece destaque é sua completa integração com um sistema de informações geográficas permitindo a análise temporal e espacial da bacia hidrográfica. Essa ferramenta pode, por exemplo, ser usada para análises de disponibilidade de água em quantidade e qualidade, para o estudo de ecossistemas, para a otimização e operação de reservatórios e para auxiliar no processo de outorga de direito de uso da água. Uma aplicação do Riverhelp! para as bacias hidrográficas dos rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí ilustra as diversas possibilidades de uso do sistema. Os resultados dessa investigação reforçam a importância e a necessidade de uma nova geração de SSD que considerem e analisem de maneira integrada os complexos assuntos relacionados à gestão da bacia hidrográfica. O desenvolvimento do Riverhelp! contribui significativamente para o avanço das pesquisas relacionadas ao tema de planejamento e gerenciamento integrado de recursos hídricos fornecendo um SSD com características únicas, que associa ferramentas para avaliação ambiental, modelos de simulação e otimização de qualidade e quantidade de água superficial e subterrânea, sistema de informações geográficas, diferentes bancos de dados, funções para análises estatísticas e técnicas multiobjetivo para análise de cenários. / This research presents a decision support system (DSS) for integrated water resources planning and management (IWRM) named Riverhelp! and suggests new methodology for the use of this kind of analysis tool as well. The general goal is to develop an appropriate DSS that can help IWRM process. In order to do so, the DSS uses and combines advanced technologies and techniques currently available. It integrates different methodologies in just one computational system, which is flexible and can be used and understood not only by specialists but also by general users who are not familiar with modelling. The DSS Riverhelp! has four main building blocks and an open computational core based on the OpenMI technology which allows users to access it programmatically and to add new tools or to change computations in almost any way they want. Another important characteristic is that the DSS Riverhelp! is fully integrated with a geographic information system (GIS). Most of all, it puts time and spatial information together and is therefore a great package for data management of river basins. This system can be used for hydrological analyses, assessment of water availability, water resources planning, water quality and quantity studies, reservoir systems nonlinear optimization and so on. In this research a Riverhelp! application for the Piraciaba, Capivari and Jundiaí river basins shows several possibilities for its use. The results of this study emphasize the importance and necessity of a new generation of decision support systems that are able to analyze and take into account the complex issues associated to river basin management in an integrated approach. The Riverhelp! development makes significant contributions for research advance in the integrated water resources planning and management field providing a DDS with unique characteristics that combines environmental assessment tools, water quality and quantity simulation and optimization models for surface water and groundwater, geographic information system, sophisticated databases, statistical tools and multicriteria techniques for scenario analyses.

Esta pesquisa apresenta um sistema de suporte a decisão (SSD) para o planejamento e gerenciamento integrado de bacias hidrográficas, denominado Riverhelp!, e também sugere nova metodologia para o uso desse tipo de ferramenta de análise. O objetivo geral é desenvolver um SSD que possa auxiliar a gestão de recursos hídricos. Para isso o SSD utiliza e integra tecnologias avançadas em um só sistema computacional flexível e que pode ser utilizado e entendido por especialistas e outros participantes do processo decisório. O programa é composto por quatro módulos principais e tem código aberto baseado na tecnologia OpenMI o que permite aos usuários alterar e incluir funções. Outra propriedade que merece destaque é sua completa integração com um sistema de informações geográficas permitindo a análise temporal e espacial da bacia hidrográfica. Essa ferramenta pode, por exemplo, ser usada para análises de disponibilidade de água em quantidade e qualidade, para o estudo de ecossistemas, para a otimização e operação de reservatórios e para auxiliar no processo de outorga de direito de uso da água. Uma aplicação do Riverhelp! para as bacias hidrográficas dos rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí ilustra as diversas possibilidades de uso do sistema. Os resultados dessa investigação reforçam a importância e a necessidade de uma nova geração de SSD que considerem e analisem de maneira integrada os complexos assuntos relacionados à gestão da bacia hidrográfica. O desenvolvimento do Riverhelp! contribui significativamente para o avanço das pesquisas relacionadas ao tema de planejamento e gerenciamento integrado de recursos hídricos fornecendo um SSD com características únicas, que associa ferramentas para avaliação ambiental, modelos de simulação e otimização de qualidade e quantidade de água superficial e subterrânea, sistema de informações geográficas, diferentes bancos de dados, funções para análises estatísticas e técnicas multiobjetivo para análise de cenários. / This research presents a decision support system (DSS) for integrated water resources planning and management (IWRM) named Riverhelp! and suggests new methodology for the use of this kind of analysis tool as well. The general goal is to develop an appropriate DSS that can help IWRM process. In order to do so, the DSS uses and combines advanced technologies and techniques currently available. It integrates different methodologies in just one computational system, which is flexible and can be used and understood not only by specialists but also by general users who are not familiar with modelling. The DSS Riverhelp! has four main building blocks and an open computational core based on the OpenMI technology which allows users to access it programmatically and to add new tools or to change computations in almost any way they want. Another important characteristic is that the DSS Riverhelp! is fully integrated with a geographic information system (GIS). Most of all, it puts time and spatial information together and is therefore a great package for data management of river basins. This system can be used for hydrological analyses, assessment of water availability, water resources planning, water quality and quantity studies, reservoir systems nonlinear optimization and so on. In this research a Riverhelp! application for the Piraciaba, Capivari and Jundiaí river basins shows several possibilities for its use. The results of this study emphasize the importance and necessity of a new generation of decision support systems that are able to analyze and take into account the complex issues associated to river basin management in an integrated approach. The Riverhelp! development makes significant contributions for research advance in the integrated water resources planning and management field providing a DDS with unique characteristics that combines environmental assessment tools, water quality and quantity simulation and optimization models for surface water and groundwater, geographic information system, sophisticated databases, statistical tools and multicriteria techniques for scenario analyses.

La gestión de riesgos empresariales es el componente estratégico y esencial que permite implementar acciones para evitar incumplimientos en los objetivos de las organizaciones, Gutierrez (2018). No es común encontrar un sistema de gestión de riesgos en empresas de distribución de productos de consumo masivo. Es por ello que el presente trabajo de investigación desarrolla un modelo de gestión de riesgos empresariales para una empresa de distribución de productos de consumo masivo. En la investigación se analizan diversos modelos de gestión de riesgos y se plantea un modelo simplificado alineado a las necesidades de los Gerentes Generales de empresas de este rubro, el cual ha sido elaborado considerando la opinión de líderes estratégicos de empresa de distribución de productos de consumo masivo. En el trabajo de investigación se concluye que el modelo de gestión de riesgos empresariales debe incluir la conformación de un comité de gestión de riesgos, la identificación de los procesos críticos a tomar en cuenta de acuerdo al impacto de los mismos en los resultados de la empresa, el análisis e identificación de riesgos, y en base a todo ello se plantean controles y mecanismos de monitoreo. El modelo incluye matrices para valoración de riesgos en base a impacto y probabilidad, un inventario de riesgos, así como propuestas para su control o mitigación. Al desplegar este modelo se pudo identificar riesgos intolerables y altos y luego de proponer controles se identificó que al aplicarse mitigaran el impacto o la probabilidad de ocurrencia del riesgo pasando a tener riesgos calificados como moderados o bajos. Se incluye una estimación de los costos de implementación del modelo, considerando recursos propios y externos, tomando en consideración la información de la empresa caso de estudio. Se obtiene como resultado que el costo de la implementación representaría aproximadamente el 0.06% de la facturación anual. / Business risk management is the strategic and essential factor that enables action to be implemented to avoid breaches of organizations' objectives. It is not common to find a risk management system in mass-consumer product distribution companies. That is why this research paper develops a business risk management model for a mass-consumption product distribution company. The research analyses various risk management models and proposes a simplified model aligned to the needs of the CEOs of the companies in this field, which has been developed, taking into account the opinion of strategic leaders of the company distributing mass consumer products. The research paper concludes that the business risk management model should include the formation of a risk management committee, the identification of critical processes to be considered according to their impact on company results, risk analysis, and identification. Based on this, monitoring controls and mechanisms are proposed. The model includes matrices for risk assessment based on impact and probability, a risk inventory, as well as proposals for control or mitigation. By deploying this model, it was possible to identify intolerable and high risks, and after proposing controls, it was identified that when applied, they mitigated the impact or likelihood of risk occurrence by becoming risks rated moderate or low. An estimate of the costs of implementing the model is included, considering own and external resources, considering the company's case study information. The results in the cost of implementation represent approximately 0.06% of annual billing. / Trabajo de investigación

The target of this dissertation thesis is to verify a relationship between strategic planning and prosperity of the company. Opinions of many experts about expediency of strategic planning vary. Some believe that strategic planning is a base for successful growth, while others demonstrate through results of many different researches that a direct relationship between strategic planning and success of the company cannot be proven. Therefore an empirical research was made to test hypotheses about the impact of strategic planning on prosperity of the company. The theoretical part of the thesis describes the development of strategic management followed by a description of internal and external business environments and the impacts which influence them. The theoretical part also describes the characteristics of strategic management and planning, tools and models as well as methods for measurement of efficiency of strategic planning. As the sub-target of this thesis is also to propose a simplified model of strategic planning which could be applied in small and medium size companies, the theoretical part is concluded by description of specifics of small and medium size companies. The analytical part of the thesis consists of detailed analyses of data collected through questionnaires. Based on results of those analyses, profiles of different categories of companies are synthesized. Conclusions of performed analyses and syntheses are used as a base for testing of validity of defined hypotheses. A new concept of the “4-segments model” of strategic planning is presented in the proposal part of the thesis. Benefits for theory and for practical use are evaluated at the end of the thesis.

This thesis suggests that consensus is a critical blind spot in crisis management models. The authors have grounded their argument in one conceptual framework by integrating two model theories in crisis management models and consensus theory and its related behaviors; Abilene Paradox and Groupthink. The authors evaluated these theories against Lehman Brothers between 2007 and September 2008. The results demonstrate that consensus is problematized in the decision-making process throughout the crisis management model. This suggests that consensus is a dormant risk factor that should be viewed as problematic in crisis management models. The authors conclude that the role of a principled constructive dissenter should be formalized in leadership and management of organisations to short circuit problematic consensus in crisis models.