José Roberto Ribas

An Assessment of Conflicting Intentions in the Use of Multipurpose Water Reservoirs

This study describes the combination of qualitative methods and a MCDA technique, to rank a set of alternatives for the water use of Corumba IV reservoir, a multipurpose water resource located in the center-east of Brazil. The model specification presented in this paper was set up with six relevant benefits to the ecosystem and five water uses, identified through an in-depth interview with stakeholders. The relative importance of the benefits and the performance of water uses were measured by the Saaty nine-point scale. The imprecision of subjective judgment was partially compensated by using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). These groups include the Corumba IV power plant staff, in charge of an environmental mitigation program, federal government officials in charge of formulating and enforcing policies, community leaders and municipal authorities. The hierarchies of the set of benefits for these groups show evidence of convergence; however, statistical tests suggest the existence of conflicts among them regarding their preference for water use. This study clarifies the extent of such perceptions, making it possible to adopt better public policies practices for water management.

Bearing Diagnostics of Hydro Power Plants Using Wavelet Packet Transform and a Hidden Markov Model with Orbit Curves

The contribution of a medium-sized hydro power plant to the power grid can be either at base load or at peak load. When the latter is the most common operation mode, it increases the start and stop frequency, intensifying the hydro turbine components’ degradation, such as the guide bearings. This happens due to more frequent operation in transient states, which means being outside the service point of the machines’ nominal condition, consisting of speed, flow, and gross head. Such transient state operation increases the runner bearings’ mechanical vibration. The readings are acquired during the runner start-ups and filtered by a DC component mean value and a wavelet packet transform. The filtered series are used to estimate the relationship between the maximum orbit curve displacement and the accumulated operating hours. The estimated equation associated with the ISO 7919-5 vibration standards establishes the sojourn times of the degradation states, sufficient to obtain the transition probability distribution. Thereafter, a triangular probability function is used to determine the observation probability distribution in each state. Both matrices are inputs required by a hidden Markov model aiming to simulate the equipment deterioration process, given a sequence of maximum orbit curve displacements.

INTEGRAÇÃO DE AÇÕES NA GESTÃO SUSTENTÁVEL

A sociedade, afetada pelas desigualdades, pela pobreza e pela fome, dentre outras mazelas, forma um quadro que nao pode mais ser desconsiderado pelas organizacoes. As acoes por protecao ambiental e justica social podem se articular na medida em que esses contextos se completam e tem em comum um objetivo final. As empresas evitam investir em tratamento e em incineracao de residuos, uma vez que podem descarta-los em areas desvalorizadas, abandonadas pelos investimentos publicos em infraestrutura urbana, e habitadas por populacoes pobres e menos organizadas. O artigo propoe uma estrutura de referencia cujos elementos buscam identificar o compromisso empresarial com a questao socioambiental, aqui denominada Gestao Sustentavel Integrada (GSI). Esta se compoe de tres planos interdependentes: responsabilidade social corporativa, gestao ambiental e marketing ambiental, todas apoiadas na educacao socioambiental. A identificacao das acoes representativas em cada face ocorreu com abordagem exploratoria com consulta a dados secundarios, extraidos principalmente das publicacoes do Instituto Ethos, e das normas brasileiras (NBR) ISO 14.001 e ISO 14.004. Consulta envolvendo 15 especialistas em meio ambiente originou a classificacao ordinal das acoes relevantes para cada face da GSI, tendo-se concluido que: 1) as acoes de responsabilidade social estao vinculadas primordialmente a transparencia na gestao; 2) na gestao ambiental, significa racionalizar produtos, processos e servicos da empresa; 3) o marketing ambiental deve se concentrar na selecao de fornecedores, concepcao de projetos e de inovacoes que mitiguem o impacto ambiental.

Os formadores de opinião na alimentação infantil

This paper deals with product positioning strategy and is based on the influence made by opinion makers on consumer behavior. The case study describes how Biogood has developed its marketing integrated communication regarding child nourishment, by matching its image with science through RD divulging its research through pediatrics and nutrition channels; venturing and sponsoring and promoting events directed at professionals in these specialties. The case investigates the strategic adjustment made by Biogood, aiming to neutralize the regulatory acts as established by the National Health Council since 1988. The problem, as shown by this case, is the effort made by this company in its attempt to influence physicians, who are considered as relevant opinion makers for childrens products. In this way, the company positioned its brands as associated with safety, care and quality. The case is structured in accordance with the recommendations of Roesch (2007), who suggested that learning objectives may attempt to develop skills and relevant attitudes related to managerial practice and make it feasible to understand the organization and its environment, supporting the teacher with input for his lectures.