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In this paper, we propose further development of the generalized methodology for analogue circuit optimization. This methodology is based on optimal control theory. This approach generates many different circuit optimization strategies. We lead the problem of minimizing the CPU time needed for circuit optimization to the classical problem of minimizing a functional in optimal control theory.

The process of analogue circuit optimization is defined mathematically as a controllable dynamical system. In this context, we can formulate the problem of minimizing the CPU time as the minimization problem of a transitional process of a dynamical system. To analyse the properties of such a system, we propose to use the concept of the Lyapunov function of a dynamical system. This function allows us to analyse the stability of the optimization trajectories and to predict the CPU time for circuit optimization by analysing the characteristics of the initial part of the process.

We present numerical results that show that we can compare the CPU time for different circuit optimization strategies by analysing the behaviour of a special function. We establish that, for any optimization strategy, there is a correlation between the behaviour of this function and the CPU time that corresponds to that strategy.

The analysis shows that Lyapunov function of optimization process and its time derivative can be informative sources for searching a strategy, which has minimal processor time expense. This permits to predict the best optimization strategy by analyzing only initial part of the optimization process.

This paper aims to examine the relationship between cash holdings (CH) and expected equity return in a sample of firms of Pacific alliance countries.

This paper constructed a panel of Pacific alliance firms for the period ranging from 2010 to 2016. This paper estimated different specification models using multivariate regression, and the statistical technique used to validate the hypothesis was panel data.

Results showed that there is a positive relationship between CH and expected equity return (r). The relationship between CH and systematic risk (ß) was estimated and this paper found a positive and statistically significant association. Findings suggest that corporate liquidity contains underlying information that contributes to explain the expected equity return, which, if ignored, can produce quite misleading results.

The results of this study have both academic and practical implications. First, the findings of the research contribute to a better understanding of the asset pricing models in emerging countries. On the other hand, the results obtained in this study can serve shareholders to make better estimations of the expected equity return, so investors can improve the risk-return trade-off due to the model allow a better estimation of the risk-return relation.

We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in the construction of hegemonies in SEA research in Brazil. In particular, we examine the role of hegemony in relation to the co-option of SEA literature and sustainability in the Brazilian context by the logic of development for economic growth in emerging economies. The methodological approach adopts a post-structural perspective that reflects Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study employs a hermeneutical, rhetorical approach to understand and classify 352 Brazilian research articles on SEA. We employ Brown and Fraser’s (2006) categorizations of SEA literature to help in our analysis: the business case, the stakeholder–accountability approach, and the critical case. We argue that the business case is prominent in Brazilian studies. Second-stage analysis suggests that the major themes under discussion include measurement, consulting, and descriptive approach. We argue that these themes illustrate the degree of influence of the hegemonic politics relevant to emerging economics, as these themes predominantly concern economic growth and a capitalist context. This paper discusses trends and practices in the Brazilian literature on SEA and argues that the focus means that SEA avoids critical debates of the role of capitalist logics in an emerging economy concerning sustainability. We urge the Brazilian academy to understand the implications of its reifying agenda and engage, counter-hegemonically, in a social and political agenda beyond the hegemonic support of a particular set of capitalist interests.

To investigate the relationship between performance frontier and operations strategy. A two-level conceptual framework is proposed based on performance elements that act as output/input variables and delimit the scope of the frontier analysis.

The framework proposition is based on the fourth round of high-performance manufacturing survey data. A representative set of variables for assessing performance based on operations strategy constructs is defined through multivariate data analysis techniques. The main method used is the principal component analysis.

The proposed first-level conceptual framework formalizes the relationships between performance frontier analysis techniques and operations strategy, delimiting the scope and the structural definitions. The second-level conceptual framework defines the constructs of the input and output dimensions for frontier analysis studies.

The paper contribution is developed in the gap of market-led orientation to study operations strategy performance frontier since most related literature focuses on capabilities development with a main focus on the resource-based view (RBV) approach. A conceptual framework based on the competitive priorities is therefore proposed to represent the operations strategy in the view of the frontier techniques. The value lies in defining performance measures which are not a straightforward task as the growth of organization competitiveness and complexity require multiple performance measures. A deeper understanding of frontier estimation on the operations strategy context is also provided, contributing to positively influence firms to succeed in the current dynamic competitive environments.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the Brazilian literature about national and organizational culture.

A postmodern epistemological perspective is taken to discuss culture, focusing first on its contribution to the analysis of culture within organizations. Then the central ideas in the articles published in Brazilian periodicals and congresses, between 1991 and 2000, which talked about Brazilian organizational culture, are presented and an attempt is made to outline their fundamental characteristics.

The majority of studies which deal with Brazilian culture, and which have been developed within the context of management, analyze the theme in a homogeneous manner and do not take into account the plurality and heterogeneity within the country and organizations.

Postmodern approaches to discussion of culture seem to be important in dealing with cultural contexts (national and organizational) where nuances and variations cannot be ignored without serious political and social implications.