Isadora do Carmo Stangherlin, Jose Luis Duarte Ribeiro and Marcia Barcellos
Food waste has received attention during the last decade, especially due to its environmental and social impacts. An important contributor to food waste is consumers’ low…
Abstract
Purpose
Food waste has received attention during the last decade, especially due to its environmental and social impacts. An important contributor to food waste is consumers’ low preference for purchase fruits and vegetables with unusual appearance, products with damaged package and products close to the expiration date, technically called suboptimal food products. Researches show that consumers tend to reject these products when buying food, increasing avoidable food waste. However, consumer considerations when deciding to buy or not to buy suboptimal food are still unknown. The purpose of this paper is to use two different approaches to investigate consumers’ perceptions towards suboptimal food and how they impact their acceptance.
Design/methodology/approach
The first part of the study involved a qualitative analysis of participants’ open-ended responses (282 answers), where participants were asked to write down the impressions they had about three suboptimal food images. The second phase explored consumers acceptance of suboptimal food through a focus group discussion.
Findings
Results reveal that considerations about suboptimal food are divergent, with some participants rejecting them because they are impelled to search for perfection when buying food products. However, some individuals are disposed to accept suboptimal products, mainly because they have concern with the environment and cook abilities.
Originality/value
As a whole, this study contributes for food waste reduction strategies and has implications for marketing actions.
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Pedro Neves, Luis Ribeiro, João Dias-Ferreira, Mauro Onori and José Barata Oliveira
This paper aims to provide a method and decision support tool to enhance swift reconfiguration of Plug&Produce (P&P) systems in the presence of continuously changing production…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a method and decision support tool to enhance swift reconfiguration of Plug&Produce (P&P) systems in the presence of continuously changing production orders.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews different production scenarios and system design and configuration methods and more particularly specifies the need of decision support tools for P&P systems that integrate configuration and planning activities. This problem is then addressed by proposing a method that helps reduce the solution space of the reconfiguration problem and allows the timely selection of the most promising reconfiguration alternative.
Findings
The proposed method was found to be helpful in reducing the reconfiguration alternatives that need to be considered and in selecting the most promising one for different orders. The advantages and limitations of this method are identified, and an illustrative test case of the approach is presented, corroborating the method applicability in the absence of large queues in the system.
Originality/value
This paper addresses a less explored domain within the P&P systems research field, which is the system reconfiguration. It proposed a method to support system validation and reconfiguration jointly with an illustrative test case. This represents an original contribution to the P&P research field, and it can have impact in improving agility and decreasing the complexity of reconfiguration activities to cope with constantly changing production orders.
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Vítor Vasata Macchi Silva and Jose Luis Duarte Ribeiro
This paper proposes a model composed by macro-competences developed to contribute for the resilience of public organizations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes a model composed by macro-competences developed to contribute for the resilience of public organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
To propose the model, a literature review in the area of organizations resilience was carried out, and the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used. The setting used to validate the proposed model was the Brazilian Federal Institutions of Higher Education.
Findings
The results present five dimensions of action seen as macro-competences that contribute for organizations’ resilience: human resource management, development of individual competencies, risk management, preparedness for response, and responsiveness. The results also point at competences that can be developed in each of those dimensions with a view toward resilience.
Practical implications
Competences of strategically planning the workforces, of testing the risk hypotheses continuously, and applying the action plans proposed by risk management in response to crises can improve individual and organizational resiliencies.
Originality/value
Guided by the proposed model, public organizations will be better prepared to withstand adversities, such as resources cutbacks and staff shortages.
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Vítor Vasata Macchi Silva and José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
This article presents an investigation of the suitability of using quantitative or qualitative data for individual competencies assessment. Specifically, the primary purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
This article presents an investigation of the suitability of using quantitative or qualitative data for individual competencies assessment. Specifically, the primary purpose of this article is to identify if the results provided by quantitative and qualitative instruments focused on individual competencies are convergent.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to do the investigation proposed, a survey on individual competencies comprising a group of employees of the administrative area of a steel company was carried out. A total of 268 evaluations were collected and analyzed.
Findings
The analysis of the employee's performance appraisals provided by ratings and narrative comments indicates a low correlation between these assessments. The reasons for such low correlation include the qualitative assessments variability, the restricted list of competencies used in the quantitative assessments and the analytical format of quantitative assessments.
Originality/value
The study indicates that quantitative and qualitative assessments should be carried out jointly so that they can generate more comprehensive results. When the combined use is not possible, the quantitative approach is better suited for assessing performance, while the qualitative approach provides more valuable insights for boosting people development processes.
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André Seidel, Tarcísio Abreu Saurin, Giuliano Almeida Marodin and José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
The purpose of this paper is to define the individual leadership competencies that are necessary to implement and sustain lean systems, based on a multi-method approach.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to define the individual leadership competencies that are necessary to implement and sustain lean systems, based on a multi-method approach.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collection involved a literature review of lean competencies, interviews with four experts from the university and the industry, and an empirical survey answered by 91 respondents, who represented companies from several sectors. These techniques provided a mix of qualitative and quantitative data, which set a basis for identifying a list of competencies and discussing its validity.
Findings
In total, 16 lean leadership competencies were identified and validated, in terms of content validity, face validity, and predictive validity. Regarding this latter validity type, the survey results indicated that the competencies are positively associated with key operational performance indicators, organizational maturity level of lean, and leaders’ experience with lean systems.
Practical implications
The identified list of competencies may be a basis for the development of formal lean leadership development programs. The list may also support the design of tools for assessing the competencies of leaders in lean companies.
Originality/value
A list of 16 lean leadership competencies was developed based on a verifiable research method that used a mix of data collection techniques. This methodological approach is a distinctive characteristic in comparison with earlier studies, which did not include an empirical validation of the competencies.
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Vítor Vasata Macchi Silva and José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
The purpose of this paper is to describe the activities needed to meet specified requirements to assist laboratory staff running tests and calibrations and to obtain ISO/IEC 17025…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the activities needed to meet specified requirements to assist laboratory staff running tests and calibrations and to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Design/methodology/approach
The relevant literature that contributes to establishing activities that help laboratory staff to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation was studied. Laboratory researchers specializing in electro-medical equipment quality control were questioned about the criteria to be observed when selecting, developing and validating analytical steps.
Findings
Results revealed the analytical method criteria to be observed, which demonstrated their essentially quantitative nature.
Originality/value
This study presents a model that improves selecting, developing and validating analytical steps and contributes to producing reliable test and calibration results. These improvements can help laboratory testing and calibration to meet clients’ needs, satisfy specified requirements and provide reliable results.
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Cassiana Maris Lima Cruz, Igor Grotto Bosa, Camila Kolling, Janine Fleith de Medeiros and José Luís Duarte Ribeiro
This study aims to understand the perception of young people regarding different communication strategies to promote proenvironmental disposal behavior. Based on the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the perception of young people regarding different communication strategies to promote proenvironmental disposal behavior. Based on the attention-interest-desire-action (AIDA) model, the study analyses how university students react to different communication approaches used by a university aiming at the correct disposal of waste.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a qualitative exploratory research in two steps: (i) a narrative bibliographic review and (ii) a case study. The (i) bibliographic review was conducted about proenvironmental behavior and disposal of solid waste and response hierarchy models, with emphasis on the AIDA model. The (ii) case study was executed through an in-depth interview with a manager of the environmental sanitation area and a qualitative survey with undergraduate students from a university in southern Brazil.
Findings
The findings reveal that young people tend to prefer communication strategies related to triggers for long-term memory, especially when evaluating the cognitive stage of the response hierarchy. For example, the provision of bins identified with stickers and colors is a communication strategy that leads to a memory model of associative networks. By viewing a certain color or image of an object, the individual can quickly retrieve information already known about the act of properly disposing of waste. Additionally, convenience is a key factor for the behavioral intention of properly disposing of waste to become a reality.
Originality/value
Few studies have identified the most effective communication strategies to promote proper disposal behavior among young people in universities. This study addresses this gap, based on the AIDA model.
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Lara Bulcão, Luís Ribeiro, Pedro Arsénio and Maria Manuela Abreu
The evolution of the concept of landscape to incorporate components like cultural and socio‐economic factors, in addition to the natural and aesthetic features, influenced the…
Abstract
The evolution of the concept of landscape to incorporate components like cultural and socio‐economic factors, in addition to the natural and aesthetic features, influenced the perception of landscape as a resource. On the other hand, the relationships between territorial features as well as the understanding of their temporal dynamics determine the significance of these features for the quality of a landscape and, consequently, for its conservation. This implies that all components – natural and physical, but also cultural and visual – upon which landscape quality is assessed, ought to be considered and studied globally. Natural resources and cultural heritage, however, are usually considered independently when developing protected areas management plans. Here, we present a methodology developed for the Monte da Guia management plan, which allows the interrelated analysis of landscape factors such as geology, geomorphology, pedology, flora and vegetation cover as well as the cultural and visual characters. Using the concepts of biophysical sensitivity and visual quality, we evaluated the relevance of these various factors for the determination of the state of equilibrium/degradation of a landscape, and hence for its conservation value. This methodology may contribute to the development of improved zoning maps and management guidelines determining land use and management strategies for the conservation of individual resources that, together, determine landscape quality.
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Alejandro Germán Frank and José Luis Duarte Ribeiro
– This paper aims to present a model that maps the relationship between factors and process stages of the knowledge transfer (KT) between new product development (NPD) teams.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a model that maps the relationship between factors and process stages of the knowledge transfer (KT) between new product development (NPD) teams.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was constructed through a quantitative evaluation with scholars and practitioners of the NPD field. To evaluate the model and its usefulness, a practical application was carried out in two large Brazilian companies.
Findings
A relationship model between 16 main influence factors and 11 stages of the KT process was obtained. It could be seen through the practical applications that the model helps companies to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities in the KT between NPD teams.
Research limitations/implications
Prior studies had been concerned with the analysis of KT factors, but considering KT as an isolated act. So, this work has advanced in the deployment of the KT stages and the relationship of those with different influence factors.
Practical implications
This paper brings an important practical contribution, once several academic works have been concerned with to demonstrate relationships among factors, but few have shown how these results could help to solve practical issues observed in companies.
Originality/value
Results presented in this paper enable the extension of comprehension about the KT phenomena in the NPD process. Furthermore, this paper shows how the proposed model can be used as a decision tool to guide a diagnosis and detect improvement opportunities in KT between NPD teams.
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José Luis Duarte Ribeiro, Carla Schwengber ten Caten and Celso Fritsch
Presents a new procedure for quality control and quality assurance in scenarios where several variables and attributes have to be monitored. The proposed procedure, named…
Abstract
Presents a new procedure for quality control and quality assurance in scenarios where several variables and attributes have to be monitored. The proposed procedure, named integrated process control, begins with the definition of control stations on the production line, where a single chart that aggregates several variables and attributes is used. This procedure is complemented by using Pareto charts, which determine the quality characteristics contributing the most to the number of defectives. The integrated process control also uses traditional control charts; however, these are used selectively following the indication of the Pareto charts. The joint use of these tools facilitates the identification and solution of quality problems, allowing the improvement actions to be taken at the right time and place. The key advantages of the proposed procedure are: the ability to handle variables and attributes on a single integrated chart, the statistical approach, providing a solid basis for decision making, and the strong managerial appeal provided by the integrated charts.