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The purpose of this paper is to explore different aggregate production planning (APP) strategies (inventory levelling, validation of the workforce and flexible production alternatives: overtime and/or outsourcing) by using a system dynamics model in a two-level, multi-product, multi-period manpower intensive supply chain (SC). Therefore, the appropriateness of using systems dynamics as a research method, by focusing on managerial applications, to analyse APP policies is proven. From the combination of systems dynamics and APP, recommendations and action strategies are considered for each scenario to understand how the system performs and to improve decision making on APP in the SC context.

The research design analyses a typical factory setting with representative parameter settings for five different conventional APP policies – inventory levelling, workforce variation, overtime, outsourcing and a combination of overtime and outsourcing – through deterministic systems dynamics-based simulation. In order to validate the simulation model, the results from published APP models were replicated. Then, optimisation is conducted for this deterministic setting to determine the performance of all these typical policies with optimal parameter settings. Next, a Monte Carlo stochastic simulation is used to assess the robustness of such performances in a variety of demand settings. Different aggregate plans are tested and the effect that events like demand variability and production times have on the SC performance results is analysed.

The results support the assertion that the greater the demand variability, the higher the flexibility costs (overtime, outsourcing, inventory levelling, and contracts and firings). As greater inter-month oscillations appear, which must be covered with additional alternatives, the optimum number of employees must be determined by analysing the interchanges and marginal costs between capacity oversizing costs (wages, idle time, storage) and the costs to undersize it (penalties for lowering safety stocks, delayed demand, greater use of overtime and outsourcing). Accordingly, controlling the times to avoid increased costs and penalties incurred by delayed demand becomes an essential important task, but one that also depends on the characteristics of this variability.

This paper has developed a modelling approach for APP in a manpower intensive SC by applying system dynamics. It includes a simulation model, the analysis of several scenarios, the impact on performance caused by variability events in the parameters, and some recommendations and action strategies to be subsequently applied. The modelling methodology proposed can be employed to design-specific models for each SC.

This paper proposes an APP system dynamics approach in a two-level, multi-product, multi-period manpower intensive SC for the first time. This model bridges the gap in the literature relating to simulation, specifically system dynamics and its application for APP. The paper also provides a qualitative description of the various pros and cons of each analysed policy and how they can be combined.

The purpose of this article is to study the export strategies used by the Argentina wine industry. The implementation of export strategies is related to the comparative advantages that Argentina has in wine‐making and wine‐exporting. Using the concept of competitive advantage, the authors found that Argentina has benefited from a low cost of production and several other strengths to develop a strong wine industry. To develop further they must minimise their weaknesses and capitalise on current opportunities.

Avant‐propos sous les auspices de l'Institut international de Coopération intellectuelle, paraissait en 1934 le t. I, consacré à l'Europe, du Guide international des Archives. Le questionnaire envoyé à tous les États européens comportait sous les points 4 et 6 les questions suivantes: ‘Existe‐t‐il un guide général pour les diverses catégories d'Archives ou des guides particuliers pour l'une ou l'autre d'entre elles?’ et ‘Existe‐t‐il des catalogues imprimés, des publications tant officielles que privées, susceptibles de constituer un instrument complet de référence pour tout ou partie importante des fonds d'archives?’ Les réponses des divers pays à ces questions, malgré leur caractère très inégal, ont fait du Guide international un bon instrument d'information générale sur les Archives. Malheureusement les circonstances ont empêché la publication du volume consacré aux États non européens, tandis que le temps qui s'écoulait tendait à rendre périmés les renseignements fournis sur les Archives européennes.

This work studied the influence of creativity-related traits in university professors’ scientific productivity.

A survey, applied to 120 university professors, included closed-ended questions for participants to rate 33 items derived from the specialized literature and classified into five dimensions (novelty; flexibility-fluidity; achievements-dedication; confidence; and problem-solving). After the survey was applied, data were merged with three other data sets: bibliometric data (Scopus), Altmetrics (Dimensions) and peer-reviews and editorial management (Publons) for the period from 2013 to 2018. Descriptive, correlational and inferential statistical analyzes were conducted on the data collected.

There was little relationship between professors’ creativity scores and their bibliometric and Altmetric indicators. The highest-rated creativity dimension was flexibility-fluidity and the most prominent creativity-related trait was “I perform my activities with dedication” (belonging to the achievements-dedication dimension). During the period studied, professors published 379 documents, but there were large gaps among their indicators; for instance, only 61 professors published in journals indexed in Scopus during the period. The inferential analysis implied that the professors with the best indicators did not present substantial differences in their creativity scores when compared to their colleagues with fewer or no indicators. However, descriptive and correlational insights may aid in fostering the aspects that can positively influence creativity and the indicators studied.

Although there is a wealth of literature about the study of creativity and part of it tackles creativity and scientific research at a theoretical level, this paper did not find other empirical studies that analyzed the relationship between creativity and scientific production. It might be important for librarians to be familiar with user studies such as the present, as they may consider studying these kinds of aspects in their users. Moreover, this study can be interesting because librarians have increasingly been involved in the evaluation of scientific production and in training processes for enhancing it within their institutions. Here, information professionals have found opportunities to improve users’ knowledge, performance and experiences on digital scientific ecosystems and their indicators.

The purpose of this paper is to present Zeuss, a software-based tool designed to improve grammar learning process in elementary school children. Despite efforts by the Colombian Government, the results of the final high school test indicate that students have major deficiencies with language, grammar and reading comprehension. Several difficulties have been evidenced in activities like writing essays or understanding academic papers. Among the reasons that may lead to these results include outdated courses, overcrowded classrooms and lack of interest.

A diagnostic test is performed on third-grade elementary school students to assess the current grammar knowledge and identify areas for improvement. The test results are used to design a software-based tool called Zeuss. The authors include playful activities inspired by several pedagogic exercises found in the literature and personalization so that interaction is tailored to specific user preferences and tastes.

Zeuss has been tested with third-grade students of the Gimnasio Campestre San Francisco de Sales elementary school in Bogotá, Colombia. The results show that using the tool leads to an overall improvement in the grammar construction learning process.

Zeuss aims at improving the learning process in elementary schools helping teachers to overcome several limitations like overcrowded classrooms and outdated pedagogic strategies. Zeuss focuses specifically on the grammar learning process.

Zeuss features updated pedagogical strategies, playful activities and a personalization model to tailor the learning process and help in context. It also allows teachers to track individual and classroom progress.

The purpose of the study is to investigate micro determinants for dynamic wine pricing in Argentina. We test whether attributes and time affect the price rate of change. The rate of change is selected given the inflationary context of the country. The analysis provides valuable information for wine marketing decisions.

The modeling approach relies on panel data analysis for exploiting the data cross-section and time dimension. The contribution explores a massive price dataset at a weekly frequency. The dependent variable is the weekly price variation rate for product/wine and covariates are attributes, time and nominal variables. Given that endogeneity issues arose, the estimations rely on a two-stage least squares and instrumental variables with cluster-robust errors.

Estimations show that attributes, time and cost variables are statistically significant, with clear seasonal patterns and quality segmentation affecting pricing: wines made out of specific grapes such as Chenin, Merlot and Seedling or composing a broad category such as red wine, exhibit price undershooting (price rate of change below average). On the other hand, wines out of grapes such as Bonarda, Margaux, Mistela, Moscatel, Oporto, Tannat and Sauvignon Blanc show price overshooting (rate of change above average). In summary, wine made from determined grapes and specific wineries show divergent pricing.

Covariates such as alcohol content, label descriptor information, winery history, substitute competition and vintage, among others, have not been considered given that the research analyzes more than 750 wine products. Another limitation is that the work does not explore many time-series covariates, such as promotions and idiosyncratic shocks.

The contribution presents new information on wine pricing patterns affected by weeks, months and years, including the effect of the prolonged 2020 Argentine lockdown. It also analyzes estimations on pricing at the level of grape/blend and wineries previously unknown in this market. The information can influence inventory decisions on the side of the sellers and purchase decisions on the side of consumers.

The analysis includes fine but also low-cost wines that form part of the diet of low-income families in the country. The work detects a divergent pattern in pricing divided by the quality/price of the wine. It also presents information on price timing that may help consumers in the best moment to buy.

The contribution analyzes unprecedented information on weekly wine prices and presents evidence of pricing tactics from a point-of-sale perspective: It identifies different adjustment speeds related to product features and time effects.

This chapter aims to identify differences in the perception of transformational leadership (TL) of three generations – Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y or Millennials – for an in-depth understanding of the immediate role and challenges facing leaders in organizations. Current days is an excellent time to question what is known and what should be known about leadership and leaders. Latin American leadership characteristics can have a direct effect on the success of business ventures in the region. Leadership can be understood in diverse ways: as an attribute of a position in the organization; as a trait, according to the characteristic of the person; as a behavior, according to the way in which the person acts (Mallma-Vivanco & Córdova-Marcelo, 2015). Several studies carried out in Mexico, Colombia, and Chile show that the Latin American leaders believe that having good working relationships with low conflict is essential to their satisfaction and high performance, and they are usually authoritarian and prefer aggressiveness and assertiveness (Romero, 2004). This study reviews the literature across different generations and related best organizational practices to identify key definitions and empirical results. We compared and contrasted the data from different generations. The findings show that Baby Boomers have a better perception of TL of their leaders than Millennials and even those from Generation X. Thus, the empirical results allow business leaders to understand the differences in perceptions and the unique characteristics of the three generations of workforce in organizations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials.

Of all oil products consumed by the Argentine Air Force (AAF), jet fuel is the resource with highest demand and at the end of the day the most expensive support item procured by the AAF. Accurate predictions of Argentine jet fuel prices are necessary to improve AAF financial and logistics planning. Multiple regression analysis is one such tool that can aid in accurately forecasting the amount required when procuring this valuable commodity. Using this methodology, we develop and illustrate a highly predictive model that has an adjusted R2 of 0.98 and an average percentage absolute error of 4%.