scholarly journals Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Ecuador: Evolution and Challenges

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-165
Author(s):  
Wilson Araque Jaramillo ◽  
Roberto Hidalgo Flor ◽  
Jairo Rivera Vásquez

The main objective of this article is to analyze the evolution of Ecuadorian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME), their contribution to the national economy, institutional framework, and internal operating characteristics. To this end, the focus is on companies related to the manufacturing sector in Ecuador. The main periods of the analysis are: i) the 1990s, ii) 2000-2008 and iii) 2009-2019; however, the decades of the 1970s and 1980s have been included in the first part of the article for their relevance. Literature review is the main data collection methodology, and the databases used are from official sources. Data from the Banco Central del Ecuador (BCE, Central Bank of Ecuador), the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC, National Institute of Statistics and Census), regulations and research around the SME sector have been used. The main findings are that SMEs are crucial within the Ecuadorian industrial fabric, because of its specialization in products that contribute to satisfying basic needs, but also because they provide parts and supplies to other companies. The quantitative contribution of SMEs, however, has been declining over time, both in number of establishments, staffing, and production, which reveals the increasing relevance of large industries. In this process, the institutional framework has had an influence in the evolution of SMEs, with certain strengths and weaknesses in terms of supporting the development of SMEs. In turn, in regards to internal operation, it becomes apparent that despite some improvement, there has not been significant progress during the period under analysis. In short, this work contributes to the larger discussion about the relevance of SMEs in Ecuador, their history, and whether there might be grounds for public policies to support their development.

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 787-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narda R. Quigley ◽  
Catherine G. Collins ◽  
Cristina B. Gibson ◽  
Sharon K. Parker

We examine the concept of team performance and propose a framework to understand patterns of change over time. Following a literature review on team performance (focusing on empirical articles published between 2007 and 2017) and drawing on Greek and Roman mythology, we identify five team performance trajectories: “Jupiter” (consistently high performing), “Neptune” (relatively steady, average performance), “Pluto” (low performing), “Icarus” (initially high performing, with a downward spiral), and “Odysseus” (initially low to midrange performing, with an upward spiral), which we refer to as “team performance archetypes.” We discuss how they might be used in conjunction with growth modeling methodology to help facilitate theory building and data collection/analysis with respect to team performance. In addition, we discuss the future research implications associated with using the archetypes to help conceptualize patterns of team performance over time.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Rodriguez de Rivera ◽  
Rachel McCrea

AbstractRemoval models were proposed over 80 years ago as a tool to estimate unknown population size. Although the models have evolved over time, in essence, the protocol for data collection has remained similar: at each sampling occasion attempts are made to capture and remove individuals from the study area. Within this paper we review the literature of removal modelling and highlight the methodological developments for the analysis of removal data, in order to provide a unified resource for ecologists wishing to implement these approaches. Models for removal data have developed to better accommodate important feature of the data and we discuss the shift in the required assumption for the implementation of the models. The relative simplicity of this type of data and associated models mean that the method remains attractive and we discuss the potential future role of this technique.Author summarySince the introduction of the removal in 1939, the method has being extensively used by ecologists to estimate population size. Although the models have evolved over time, in essence, the protocol for data collection has remained similar: at each sampling occasion attempts are made to capture and remove individuals from the study area. Here, we introduce the method and how it has been applied and how it has evolved over time. Our study provides a literature review of the methods and applications followed by a review of available software. We conclude with a discussion about the opportunities of this model in the future.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinciya Pandian ◽  
Thai Tran Nguyen ◽  
Marek Mirski ◽  
Nasir Islam Bhatti

Abstract The techniques of performing a tracheostomy has transformed over time. Percutaneous tracheostomy is gaining popularity over open tracheostomy given its advantages and as a result the number of bedside tracheostomies has increased necessitating the need for a Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program. The Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital is a comprehensive service that provides care to patients before, during, and after a tracheostomy with a multidisciplinary approach aimed at decreasing complications. Education is provided to patients, families, and health-care professionals who are involved in the management of a tracheostomy. Ongoing prospective data collection serves as a tool for Quality Assurance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Havizur Rahman ◽  
Teresia Anggi Octavia

Diabetes melitus merupakan penyakit degeneratif kronis yang apabila tidak ditangani dengan tepat, lama kelamaan bisa timbul berbagai komplikasi, ini cenderung menyebabkan pasien mendapatkan banyak obat dalam satu resep yang dapat menimbulkan interaksi antar obat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui persentase terjadinya interaksi obat metformin secara teori serta mengkaji efek yang mungkin timbul dan solusinya. Teknik pengambilan data dengan purpossive sampling, yaitu resep pasien rujuk balik yang menderita diabetes mellitus yang menggunakan metformin. Data yang diperoleh ditemukan bahwa obat yang berinteraksi dengan metformin dengan tingkat keparahan minor ialah sebesar 60%. Kemudian untuk tingkat keparahan moderat ialah sebesar 20%. Sedangkan untuk tingkat keparahan mayor tidak ditemukan. Dari tabel diatas juga dapat diketahui bahwa terdapat 4 obat yang saling berinteraksi dengan metformin, sedangkan untuk obat yang tidak saling berinteraksi dengan metformin terdapat 9 obat. Jumlah obat yang berinteraksi secara teori sebesar 6,85% dan yang tidak berinteraksi 93,15%. Terdapat interaksi obat metformin dengan beberapa obat yaitu furosemid, lisinopril, acarbose dan ramipril.   Kata kunci: interaksi obat, metformin, diabetes mellitus   STUDY OF METFORMIN INTERACTION IN MELLITUS DIABETES PATIENTS   ABSTRACT Mellitus is a chronic degenerative disease which if not handled properly, over time can arise various complications, this tends to cause patients to get many drugs in one recipe that can cause interactions between drugs. The purpose of this study is to determine percentage of metformin drug interactions in theory and examine the effects that may arise and solutions. Data collection techniques using purposive sampling, which is a recipe for reconciliation patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus using metformin. The data obtained it was found that drugs that interact with metformin with minor severity were 60%. Then for moderate severity is 20%. Whereas the major severity was not found. From the table above it can also be seen that there are 4 drugs that interact with metformin, while for drugs that do not interact with metformin there are 9 drugs. The number of drugs that interacted theoretically was 6.85% and 93.15% did not interact. An interaction of the drug metformin with several drugs namely furosemide, lisinopril, acarbose and ramipril.   Keywords: drug interaction, metformin, diabetes mellitus


Author(s):  
Muhammad Yousaf ◽  
Petr Bris

A systematic literature review (SLR) from 1991 to 2019 is carried out about EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) excellence model in this paper. The aim of the paper is to present state of the art in quantitative research on the EFQM excellence model that will guide future research lines in this field. The articles were searched with the help of six strings and these six strings were executed in three popular databases i.e. Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Around 584 peer-reviewed articles examined, which are directly linked with the subject of quantitative research on the EFQM excellence model. About 108 papers were chosen finally, then the purpose, data collection, conclusion, contributions, and type of quantitative of the selected papers are discussed and analyzed briefly in this study. Thus, this study identifies the focus areas of the researchers and knowledge gaps in empirical quantitative literature on the EFQM excellence model. This article also presents the lines of future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nunu Nugraha Purnawan

The lecturer's performance assessment by students in the form of an online Lecturer Performance Assessment Instrument Questionnaire (KIPKD) is in line with the work concepts of Green Computing by utilizing computer hardware and software better, more efficiently and more useful. KIPKD online POLSUB uses Google Forms, because it has an attractive and responsive look, provides a fairly complete choice of stuffing model, free, the results are neatly arranged and can be analyzed easily. This research method uses literature review in the form of books, journals that discuss about topics related to the use of Google Forms as a medium in the manufacture of questionnaires for surveys and data collection, as well as related to the concept of Green Computing. While data collection methods used in field research by way of observation of the system running in the academic POLSUB. The use of KIPKD online illustrates that POLSUB participates in preserving the environment, with no 12 paper/year rims, equivalent to 12 tree trunks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunangsu Chatterjee ◽  
Sebastian Stevens ◽  
Sheena Asthana ◽  
Ray B Jones

BACKGROUND Digital health (DH) innovation ecosystems (IE) are key to the development of new e-health products and services. Within an IE, third parties can help promote innovation by acting as knowledge brokers and the conduits for developing inter-organisational and interpersonal relations, particularly for smaller organisations. Kolehmainen’s quadruple helix model suggests who the critical IE actors are, and their roles. Within an affluent and largely urban setting, such ecosystems evolve and thrive organically with minimal intervention due to favourable economic and geographical conditions. Facilitating and sustaining a thriving DH IE within a resource-poor setting can be far more challenging even though far more important for such peripheral economics and the health and well-being of those communities. OBJECTIVE Taking a rural and remote region in the UK, as an instance of an IE in a peripheral economy, we adapt the quadruple helix model of innovation, apply a monitored social networking approach using McKinsey’s Three Horizons of growth to explore: • What patterns of connectivity between stakeholders develop within an emerging digital health IE? • How do networks develop over time in the DH IE? • In what ways could such networks be nurtured in order to build the capacity, capability and sustainability of the DH IE? METHODS Using an exploratory single case study design for a developing digital health IE, this study adopts a longitudinal social network analysis approach, enabling the authors to observe the development of the innovation ecosystem over time and evaluate the impact of targeted networking interventions on connectivity between stakeholders. Data collection was by an online survey and by a novel method, connection cards. RESULTS Self-reported connections between IE organisations increased between the two waves of data collection, with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and academic institutions the most connected stakeholder groups. Patients involvement improved over time but still remains rather peripheral to the DH IE network. Connection cards as a monitoring tool worked really well during large events but required significant administrative overheads. Monitored networking information categorised using McKinsey’s Three Horizons proved to be an effective way to organise networking interventions ensuring sustained engagement. CONCLUSIONS The study reinforces the difficulty of developing and sustaining a DH IE in a resource-poor setting. It demonstrates the effective monitored networking approach supported by Social Network Analysis allows to map the networks and provide valuable information to plan future networking interventions (e.g. involving patients or service users). McKinsey’s Three Horizons of growth-based categorisation of the networking assets help ensure continued engagement in the DH IE contributing towards its long-term sustainability. Collecting ongoing data using survey or connection card method will become more labour intensive and ubiquitous ethically driven data collection methods can be used in future to make the process more agile and responsive.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 01005
Author(s):  
Mostafa Hassan M

In Africa, roads are the dominant mode of passenger and freight transport, for which the need is growing rapidly. It is noticeable that most of the African countries do not do enough to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure as it has been widely reported that roads are affected, to varying degrees, by premature deterioration. Most of the African countries have adopted institutional reforms, notably entailing the creation of road funds and road agencies, and made significant progress on road maintenance. However, many challenges remain to be addressed in all of them to ensure appropriate maintenance. Although spending on road maintenance has increased over time in all African countries it remains insufficient to cover the needs. Poorly maintained roads constrain mobility, significantly raise vehicle operating costs, increase accident rates and their associated human and property costs, and aggravate isolation, poverty, poor health, and illiteracy in rural communities. This paper focuses, in particular, on road maintenance in some African countries considering types of road maintenance and the different approaches aiming at a comparison to reflect on similarities and differences.


2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Cole

Many outcome variables in developmental psychopathology research are highly stable over time. In conventional longitudinal data analytic approaches such as multiple regression, controlling for prior levels of the outcome variable often yields little (if any) reliable variance in the dependent variable for putative predictors to explain. Three strategies for coping with this problem are described. One involves focusing on developmental periods of transition, in which the outcome of interest may be less stable. A second is to give careful consideration to the amount of time allowed to elapse between waves of data collection. The third is to consider trait-state-occasion models that partition the outcome variable into two dimensions: one entirely stable and trait-like, the other less stable and subject to occasion-specific fluctuations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (6-8) ◽  
pp. 748-767
Author(s):  
Catalina Iordache ◽  
Leo Van Audenhove ◽  
Jan Loisen

Recent developments in the online distribution and consumption of audio-visual content have brought relevant changes to the transnational flow of content. Thus, the need for a theoretical and methodological rejuvenation of flows research has been signalled. The aim of the present study is to analyse the different flow studies throughout time, following a series of parameters such as research question, methodology and scale of study. This article is a systematic literature review of 30 flow studies on film and television programmes, published between 1974 and 2014. The methods used by the studies are brought into focus and discussed thoroughly, in light of the method of data collection, the type of data used and the method of data analysis. Main findings show an evolution towards more detailed research, to include more contextual factors, an increased use of secondary data, as well as more focused regional and comparative studies.


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