Through a harmonization of IT-tools among intraorganizational units synergies can be attained through economies of scale and homogenous interfaces towards supply chain partners. In this thesis the possibilities for such synergies at Siemens Medical Solutions in Germany are investigated. By evaluating performance of IT-tools and the cost impact of different scenarios recommendations for harmonization at Siemens Medical Solutions are given.

Taiwan steel industry has stepped from grown-up into mature period. Especially, the midstream and downstream of steel industries will face the problems of sterner challenges and overcapacity, because of the oversupply of global steel. Not only the prices of oil, coal, water and power have climbed, but also the shipping cost has increased continuously. The improvement of Supply-Chain-Management (SCM) has become a significant issue under the circumstances. The SCM of Taiwan flat cold-rolled steel industry is different from the other ones that it doesn¡¦t use BOM. The main feature of Technical System ¡V ¡§Standard of Operation¡¨(SOP) is the kernel module that links the sales order entry, production management, purchasing, ¡Ketc. The production type is to input a sole coil and output many sub-coils. It is not like the electronic industry to assemble many parts on a product. It only coats the surface of steel with microelements, such as oil, zinc, aluminum and paint. The feature makes it impossible to apply SCM or ERP package directly on this industry. The procedures of this study are mainly through the interview of steel companies, and review on the relevant reference documents related to the subject of those have been published domestically and internationally, meanwhile to get a better understanding on the most recent development of Supply Chain Management and e-business of steel industry. Besides, through the comparison of the similar companies, it is likely to understand the associated topics and models on the SCM and e-Business for flat cold-rolled steel industry. The key point is to analyze the characters of supply chain system of Taiwan cold-rolled steel industry and consider the features of flat cold-rolled steel ¡V SOP and coil- based Standard Cost system, to establish an appropriate e-SCM model, exploring the suitable information technologies and applications to improve the drawbacks of present SCM. Finally, to make a recommendation for the industry as their reference when they plan for the implementation of e-SCM.

The current study describes the impact of trauma on the perceptual thinking processes of participants who have sustained repeated criminal victimisation in South Africa. Fifteen adult males, (mean age 40.73 years) participated voluntarily in this descriptive study. The Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM) is the psychometric instrument used to describe the participants and Exner’s Comprehensive System (CS) is the method of interpretation employed. The Perceptual Thinking Index (PTI) is the cluster of variables selected to describe each participant’s level of reality testing and perceptual functioning. Together with this, the D and Adjusted D Score variables are discussed to describe the participants’ overall and current coping capacities. From the research findings yielded in this study, it appears that the majority of these participants (73%) can be described as experiencing problems in terms of their perceptual thinking processes. They are also unable to appropriately engage in accurate reality testing. The results of the research study may serve as an incentive for further studies of this nature as according to the RIM, participants with this level of impaired reality testing generally present with psychotic features. However, these research results were found in participants who present with an absence of a psychotic or any schizophrenic type disorder diagnoses. Other researchers who used the RIM to assess trauma victims have found results similar to this. Furthermore, participants who present with this level of impaired reality testing, generally experience severe problems in coping with basic psychological aspects of daily functioning. This however, does not appear to be the case with this sample group, which was one of the motivating factors for conducting this research. A concluding suggestion is made for possible research into investigating how, and at what expense, other psychological features of functioning are employed, in order to manage in a seemingly well-adaptive manner. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

[ES] Las exportaciones de Ecuador han estado caracterizadas por productos primarios (Petróleo crudo, banano y plátano, café, camarón, cacao, abacá, madera, atún, pescado, flores naturales) y por productos industrializados (derivados de petróleo, café elaborado, elaborados de cacao, harina de pescado, otros elaborados del producto del mar, químicos y fármacos, manufacturas de metales, sombreros, manufacturas de textiles). Las exportaciones de Ecuador en el período 2017-2021 han estado sobre los 20 mil millones de dólares, de los cuales el 80% corresponde a productos primarios y el 20% a productos industrializados. Dentro de los productos primarios la participación del petróleo crudo ha ido disminuyendo al pasar del 42% en el 2017 a 34% en el 2021, en cambio el resto de productos primarios ha pasado del 58% en el 2017 al 66% en el 2021. Estas cifras significan que la especialización de Ecuador es netamente agrícola. En este contexto la presente investigación titulada "Diseño de un modelo para mejorar la competitividad del sector florícola ecuatoriano" apunta a contribuir el sector agrícola ecuatoriano. Para el efecto el estudio contempló las siguientes investigaciones: a) Competitividad del sector florícola ecuatoriano, para lo cual se aplicó la metodología de Balassa, que determinó que Ecuador y Colombia tienen una fuerte ventaja comparativa en comparación con los países exportadores estudiados como son: Países Bajos, Kenia y Etiopía. Se concluye que Ecuador debe aplicar estrategias de marketing, como es el desarrollo del mercado, para lograr el posicionamiento de su exportación en la Unión Europea que en la actualidad es el principal mercado de flores cortadas del mundo. Otra estrategia que debe aplicar Ecuador es la diversificación relacionada que especifica que se debe aplicar la producción de flores cortadas hacia otras variedades como son crisantemos, claveles, flores y capullos, lirios y orquídeas, que actualmente forman parte del mercado mundial. b) Análisis comparativo de los modelos de la cadena de suministro: ABC, BSC y SCOR, se aplicó una revisión de la literatura, se encontró que el modelo SCOR es una herramienta muy poderosa para estructura, evaluar y comparar las prácticas y el desempeño de la cadena de suministro. El modelo SCOR propone un enfoque integrado que se basa en la concepción de una estructura interconectada que une procesos, incluye métricas de desempeño, mejores prácticas y tecnología con el objeto de la mejora continua de la cadena de suministro. c) Análisis de desempeño de la cadena de suministro del sector florícola ecuatoriano, por métricas, aplicando SCOR y AHP. Para este estudio se aplicó la metodología SCOR y AHP y dio como resultado que los procesos Devolución y Gestión registran las puntuaciones más bajas, y por lo tanto los agentes del sector florícola deberían trabajar más sobre estos procesos para su mejora. Del estudio realizado a la cadena de suministro del sector florícola ecuatoriano se concluye que el modelo SCOR junto con AHP constituyen una adecuada metodología para el análisis de la cadena de suministro del sector florícola, y particularmente del sector florícola ecuatoriano. Los resultados de este estudio muestran las posibilidades tan interesantes que se abren con la aplicación conjunta, para identificar los aspectos más críticos en la SC de un sector con el objeto de introducir mejoras. d) Análisis del desempeño de la cadena de suministro del sector florícola ecuatoriano, por procesos, subprocesos, actividades y tareas, aplicando SCOR y AHP. Se aplicó la metodología SCOR y AHP. Se determinó que de las 29 empresas estudiadas el desempeño tuvo como resultado el 85% de rendimiento calificándose como "bueno". La investigación contribuye a la literatura científica con una propuesta metodológica que utiliza el modelo SCOR con AHP para medir el rendimiento de la cadena de suministro. El modelo propuesto permite analizar el desempeño de la cadena de suministro a nivel sectorial. / [CA] Les exportacions de l'Equador han estat caracteritzades per productes primaris (Petroli cru, bananer i plàtan, café, gambeta, cacau, *abacá, fusta, tonyina, peix, flors naturals) i per productes industrialitzats (derivats de petroli, café elaborat, elaborats de cacau, farina de peix, altres elaborats del producte de la mar, químics i fàrmacs, manufactures de metalls, barrets, manufactures de tèxtils). Les exportacions de l'Equador en el període 2017-2021 han estat sobre els 20 mil milions de dòlars, dels quals el 80% correspon a productes primaris i el 20% a productes industrialitzats. Dins dels productes primaris la participació del petroli cru ha anat disminuint en passar del 42% en el 2017 a 34% en el 2021, en canvi la resta de productes primaris ha passat del 58% en el 2017 al 66% en el 2021. Aquestes xifres signifiquen que l'especialització de l'Equador és netament agrícola. En aquest context la present investigació titulada "Disseny d'un model per a millorar la competitivitat del sector *florícola equatorià" apunta a contribuir el sector agrícola equatorià. Per a l'efecte l'estudi va contemplar les següents investigacions: a) Competitivitat del sector *florícola equatorià, per a això es va aplicar la metodologia de *Balassa, que va determinar que l'Equador i Colòmbia tenen un fort avantatge comparatiu en comparació amb els països exportadors estudiats com són: Països Baixos, Kenya i Etiòpia. Es conclou que l'Equador ha d'aplicar estratègies de màrqueting, com és el desenvolupament del mercat, per a aconseguir el posicionament de la seua exportació a la Unió Europea que en l'actualitat és el principal mercat de flors tallades del món. Una altra estratègia que ha d'aplicar l'Equador és la diversificació relacionada que especifica que s'ha d'aplicar la producció de flors tallades cap a altres varietats com són crisantems, clavells, flors i capolls, lliris i orquídies, que actualment formen part del mercat mundial. b) Anàlisi comparativa dels models de la cadena de subministrament: ABC, *BSC i *SCOR, es va aplicar una revisió de la literatura, es va trobar que el model *SCOR és una eina molt poderosa per a estructura, avaluar i comparar les pràctiques i l'acompliment de la cadena de subministrament. El model *SCOR proposa un enfocament integrat que es basa en la concepció d'una estructura interconnectada que uneix processos, inclou mètriques d'acompliment, millors pràctiques i tecnologia amb l'objecte de la millora contínua de la cadena de subministrament. c) Anàlisi d'acompliment de la cadena de subministrament del sector *florícola equatorià, per mètriques, aplicant *SCOR i *AHP. Per a aquest estudi es va aplicar la metodologia *SCOR i *AHP i va donar com a resultat que els processos Devolució i Gestió registren les puntuacions més baixes, i per tant els agents del sector *florícola haurien de treballar més sobre aquests processos per a la seua millora. De l'estudi realitzat a la cadena de subministrament del sector *florícola equatorià es conclou que el model *SCOR juntament amb *AHP constitueixen una adequada metodologia per a l'anàlisi de la cadena de subministrament del sector *florícola, i particularment del sector *florícola equatorià. Els resultats d'aquest estudi mostren les possibilitats tan interessants que s'obrin amb l'aplicació conjunta, per a identificar els aspectes més crítics en la *SC d'un sector a fi d'introduir millores. d) Anàlisi de l'acompliment de la cadena de subministrament del sector *florícola equatorià, per processos, *subprocesos, activitats i tasques, aplicant *SCOR i *AHP. Es va aplicar la metodologia *SCOR i *AHP. Es va determinar que de les 29 empreses estudiades l'acompliment va tindre com a resultat el 85% de rendiment qualificant-se com a "bo". La investigació contribueix a la literatura científica amb una proposta metodològica que utilitza el model *SCOR amb *AHP per a mesurar el rendiment de la cadena de subministrament. El model proposat permet analitzar l'acompliment de la c / [EN] Ecuador's exports have been characterized by primary products (crude oil, bananas and plantains, coffee, shrimp, cocoa, cocoa, abaca, wood, tuna, fish, natural flowers) and industrialized products (petroleum derivatives, processed coffee, processed cocoa, fishmeal, other processed seafood, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, manufactured metals, hats, manufactured textiles). Ecuador's exports in the period 2017-2021 have been over US$20 billion, of which 80% corresponds to primary products and 20% to industrialized products. Within primary products the participation of crude oil has been decreasing going from 42% in 2017 to 34% in 2021, on the other hand the rest of primary products has gone from 58% in 2017 to 66% in 2021. These figures mean that Ecuador's specialization is purely agricultural. In this context, the present research entitled "Design of a model to improve the competitiveness of the Ecuadorian flower sector" aims to contribute to the Ecuadorian agricultural sector. For this purpose, the study contemplated the following research: a) Competitiveness of the Ecuadorian flower sector, for which the Balassa methodology was applied, which determined that Ecuador and Colombia have a strong comparative advantage compared to the exporting countries studied such as: Netherlands, Kenya and Ethiopia. It is concluded that Ecuador should apply marketing strategies, such as market development, to achieve export positioning in the European Union, which is currently the main market for cut flowers in the world. Another strategy that Ecuador should apply is related diversification, which specifies that it should apply the production of cut flowers to other varieties such as chrysanthemums, carnations, flowers and buds, lilies and orchids, which are currently part of the world market. b) Comparative analysis of supply chain models: ABC, BSC and SCOR, a literature review was applied, and it was found that the SCOR model is a very powerful tool for structuring, evaluating and comparing supply chain practices and performance. The SCOR model proposes an integrated approach based on the concept of an interconnected structure that links processes, includes performance metrics, best practices and technology for the purpose of continuous improvement of the supply chain. c) Performance analysis of the supply chain of the Ecuadorian flower sector, by metrics, applying SCOR and AHP. For this study, the SCOR and AHP methodology was applied and resulted in the Return and Management processes registering the lowest scores, and therefore the floriculture sector agents should work more on these processes for their improvement. From the study of the supply chain of the Ecuadorian flower sector, it is concluded that the SCOR model together with AHP is an adequate methodology for the analysis of the supply chain of the flower sector, and particularly of the Ecuadorian flower sector. The results of this study show the interesting possibilities opened up by their joint application to identify the most critical aspects of a sector's SC in order to introduce improvements. d) Analysis of the performance of the Ecuadorian flower supply chain, by processes, sub-processes, activities and tasks, applying SCOR and AHP. The SCOR and AHP methodology was applied. It was determined that of the 29 companies studied, the performance resulted in 85% of performance, qualifying as "good". The research contributes to the scientific literature with a methodological proposal that uses the SCOR model with AHP to measure supply chain performance. The proposed model allows the analysis of supply chain performance at the sector level. / Rodríguez Mañay, LO. (2023). Diseño de un modelo para mejorar la competitividad de la cadena de suministro del sector florícola ecuatoriano [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/194338