Cecilio Mar Molinero

The distress of Marks & Spencer PLC in 2001: A multidimensional scaling analysis

La compania Marks & Spencer, tras un sorprendente periodo de dificultades, cerro sus tiendas no situadas en el Reino Unido. ?Que fue lo que le llevo a tomar tan drasticas medidas? En este trabajo se situa la crisis de la compania en el contexto de los demas grandes almacenes en el Reino Unido y se demuestra que una politica de no disminuir la distribucion de dividendos, condujo a un pago excesivo de impuestos, y una bajada en la rentabilidad. Todo ello se reflejo en una caida del precio de las acciones. La decision de cerrar sus tiendas en el extranjero fue un intento de retomar su imagen de empresa de calle mayor. Se usan tecnicas de estadistica multivariante, especialmente las que visualizan resultados estadisticos en forma de mapas que permiten anadir informacion cualitativa.

Mercados laborales internos en la compañía ferroviaria MZA, 1882–1889

The possible existence of Internal Labour Markets (ILMs) in the Spanish railway company MZA at the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution is explored by means of non-linear Optimal Scaling techniques. The results show the presence of two characteristics of ILMs predicted by the theory: the existence of «ports of entry» for the employees of the company at low levels of qualification, and the presence of long-term labour relations. Thus, in common with recent studies on UK railway companies, we conclude that the company MZA operated some kind of ILM before the start of the 20th Century.

Finding Treasure Buried in Data

The main characteristics of multivariate data can be made explicit by means of a statistical map. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) provides a series of techniques to project the main features of the data in the form of maps. We survey the application of MDS in Management and give an example of its use. MDS maps can be augmented with the results of other multivariate statistical techniques.

Teaching LP: - a case study approach offers a richer learning experience

Academic Operational Researchers are inevitably expected to teach Mathematical Modelling, Linear Programming (LP) and related subjects such as Optimisation. Linear Programming is their bread and butter. We should not be surprised to discover that many students associate OR and LP. But, as we all know, OR is more than LP, more than a collection of mathematical techniques. I will argue that a way of dispelling prejudice is to engage in OR teaching in such a way that we develop technical ability, stimulate creative problem solving attitudes and build teamwork into the syllabus.

The science of muddling through

The role of the operational researcher is to solve problems as requested by management. The problems on which the operational researcher works may only be symptoms of other, more urgent and important, problems. This paper describes the personal experiences of the author when trying to apply Operational Research techniques in a company on the road to bankruptcy