The evolution of the purchasing department to one of managing the supply chain involves a strategic shift in the vision of this department. The purchasing department used to be closed looking at specific internal information only: requisitions, warehouse inventory applications and input materials. The change has been that now the department has to have an understanding of the movements and objectives of each of the participants in the supply chain from the original producer of raw materials to reach the final user.

It is impossible for someone in charge of supply can anticipate many of the situations you do not know the behavior, inertia and magnitudes of each of the participants in the supply chain.

The basis for improved decision-making is in the quality of information we receive from the farm to our internal and external customers. Generally, the information starts by generating a projected sales, projected sales this becomes a production scheduling, production scheduling becomes an explosion of materials, the explosion becomes material purchase requisitions, and requisitions Purchase pass to our supplier where surely the cycle repeats.

The problem is that each participant in the chain leads to an error in their projections and estimates:

1) Sales: Poor sales estimates due to many factors such as competitive activity, changes in customers, cyclicality, seasonality, problems in the department, climate change, etc.

2) Production: Low estimate may come from estimated losses of product, changes in formulation, raw material substitution, process changes, changes in raw materials, etc.

3) Winery: The winery can produce bad information because misled inventories, shortages in measuring, wrong product stock, misallocated codes, etc.

Assume that everyone in the chain with an estimated 10% error in their projections. The calculation of the performance of the projections is 90% x 90% x 90% = 72.9%. Now you imagine working with our supplier so poor projections. The final solution is usually to increase inventory levels, which raises costs across the chain.

The two-way information sharing with our “business partners” and the truth of it is extremely critical in managing the supply chain. Because of this, we must seek continuous improvement in our ability to design and create early warning systems that tell us when the baseline conditions of our calculations and projections have changed.

INEGI reports that seasonally adjusted figures based on Global Offering (equal to global demand) of goods and services registered a growth of 2.08% in the quarter April-June 2010 compared to the previous quarter. At its heart, the GDP grew 3.22% and Total Imports of Goods and Services rose 5.77% against the first quarter.

Seasonally adjusted figures and trend. Global Supply and Demand of Goods and Services for the second quarter of 2010 (Millions of pesos at 2003 prices)

seasonally adjusted figures and trend. Components of the Global Offering of Goods and Services for the second quarter of 2010 (Millions of pesos at 2003 prices) Source: INEGI.

In its annual comparison, the Global Offering of Goods and Services, presented a real growth of 12.8% during the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier. Its main component, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) advanced 7.6% annual rate, as reported in due time, the other consisting of the Imports of goods and services rose 31.4% over the same period, a result of increased procurement consumer goods, intermediate and final, basically.

European Business School (EEN) will hold the workshop “Balance Analysis for Decision-Making”, which will allow attendees to manage in an effective way to maximize profit.

The course will be held on September 22 at headquarters that the EEN has in Murcia and on days 23 and 24 in Allocate. The aim is to provide training in accordance with the business reality of time, recycling the students’ knowledge and adapting to the market.

This seminar will facilitate the fact of transferring the theoretical concepts and data presented in the annual accounting documents to optimize the economic benefits of the company. The European School of Business offers the opportunity to learn how to turn this information into knowledge, available to those responsible for economic and financial departments of a company.

The course “Balance Analysis for Decision Making” of the EEN is structured and seminar-workshop format, so that the theoretical contents will be supplemented with graphic and practices applicable to the reality of a company.

In addition, the European School of Business provides companies assistant economic and financial analysis completely free with which they can identify business opportunities and threats arising from their activities and assets and financial status. EEN even advise in the management of the best tools in the event that had to implement corrective actions in the company.

European Business School was founded in 1986 and since then, is one of the relevant training institutions on the national scene, and one of the most outstanding growths in Latin America. This is due to his teaching at postgraduate and senior management training with a clear corporate identity, which bases its structure on three basic principles: proximity, technical guidance and a strong commitment to international expansion.

In our company is not doing well, earnings are down considerably… What do we do? Surely, something has changed something we are doing wrong or someone is doing better than we are, this is an ideal for ourselves internally and to review our strengths and weaknesses, we realize that our resources are not sufficient or our skills are cleaved a way, which undoubtedly affects our “competitive advantage.”

There are many successful cases of companies largely stopped by several factors that have competitive advantage in the market such as IBM, DEC, Xerox, General Motors lost market share because it did not last over time advantage over its competitors.

Another definition of competitive advantage can say is the organization’s ability to outperform its rivals. This ability is based primarily on reducing costs through higher efficiency supplies of high quality and accurate response to customer needs.

Competitive advantage is generated over four main blocks: efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. For a company creates competitive advantage is at least about going over their competitors in one of four large blocks that I cited earlier.

To give an example, Ghana y Montero Digital has competitive advantage over other consultants and software factories because it offers quality products and services, following a thorough process of quality assurance and compliance with accepted standards internaciolmente ISO 9001, CMMI Level 3.

Firms have distinctive abilities, these allow assignor higher price for their products and services or achieve substantially lower prices for its rivals. Of note, these distinctive skills arise from two complementary sources: the resources and capabilities. Being the most difficult to imitate capabilities than resources.

Who does not know imitation strategies? Blueprint for improving such as Compaq DELL applied for online computer sales and many others.

Some of the powers of any person or company are the knowledge of certain skills set to display the set of competencies. Noting the knowledge and competence in business, it is important to understand from an economic point of view the usefulness of it, that is, how much better and under what conditions is worth.

It lets you make and how much under the conditions that allow to enforce. It may seem ill formulated, but keeps the essence of what this article is intended to convey.

Any event and the events that are stored information that is; one can trace any relationship of an event or incident. That is why, on this idea, which has developed a wide array of techniques and tools for the management of various business and industrial processes relaciodos with data handling and management of information and knowledge.

In addition, as for many scholars, that any business model consists of a historical sequence, any market condition implies a historical sequence of events and / or interrelated events.

The business plans are often mentioned as regards the study of supply and demand, from the standpoint of strategic planning that will assess potential approaches and / or strategies with a time horizon of application will probably different.

To study the current and potential customers could provide information about which are more profitable and which are not. However, this depends on your point of view. From the standpoint of market research and traditional tools such as analysis of supply and demand would be a bit exhaustive study. Poe even with the same amount of information and new approaches would be unable to obtain further information was obtained. For example:

RFM Analysis of an entirely different approach where the client is seen as an asset to the company. The econometric analysis and recognition of consumption patterns and trends could also be helpful. Both large and medium-sized enterprises, small and micro enterprises could make use of techniques and tools.

How much? Vale do what you allow, that is, you could have much or little information, but combined with clear objectives may have an important impact on certain initiatives and the formulation of strategic and operational plans. Another important point is the heterogeneity of sources, and it is important to discover information crosses low mesh combinations and variations resulting new information.

The conditions to give vouchers to information also related to their treatment and opportunity. This means that you could have biased or incomplete information but with a corrective treatment could rescue important values, it is also possible to study possible scenarios. On the other hand, it must be timely, it must serve the objectives.

Finally, it is important to approach it, there are similar treatments of data, but bring in as the situation requires it, for it is important to test under controlled conditions the effects of decisions that have as input the resulting information of a given process.

Information obtained in the field is forced to prepare data for analysis. In this post, quickly develop some guidelines for the preparation of information such as encryption, file creation, consistency and weight.

Once collected the data, provide codes relevant to the categories or alternative response of questions of the measuring instrument. Coded categories, we proceed to develop the codebook. Return in another post with the design guidelines of the codebook.

The coding can be made before or after lifting the information in the field. The coding can be made at time of questionnaire design, if the categories were pre-coded and the meter has no open questions.

On the contrary, postcodificación is to establish a code to each of the possible answers ready to be mentioned at time of interview in the open questions of the questionnaire. Therefore, the obtained postcodificación done all of the information.

The results of the measuring instrument are transferred to a matrix or database, using as support the codebook. Without the codebook, cannot be encoded and an array of database meaningless. The creation of the data file involves two steps: the recording and definition of the file.

In turn, the recording of the file can be committed in two ways: manual, i.e. using the computer keyboard, or mechanically with the use of optical scanners. The optical scanners read the codes and transcribed simultaneously.

The definition of the data file has protocols related to each statistical package. These protocols will be developed in detail in subsequent deliveries.

Information obtained in the field and finished recording and definition of data file, it must establish guidelines or procedures for quality control of data prior to analysis. Here soon some notes about the consistency of quantitative data.

Definitely, the consistency of data is a crucial time, complex and laborious process of preparing information for analysis.

The purpose of data consistency to ensure the quality of information. The consistency of data is performed in two stages or phases: at first, completed the recording and definition of the data file. In a second time by the systematic review of each of the variables and their relationship with others.

Designed the data file, i.e. the design of the study variables and their format, consistency begins with the application of filter controls and quotas.

It must pass through a filter selection control of the universe under study in order to verify that all the respondents belong to the objective universe.

In addition, the data must pass through a quota control, in order to verify that the composition of the sample matches the sample design.

In a second step, it checks to determine variables by procedure descriptive statistics, frequency distributions of all variables and relationships between them.

These procedures and protocols are critical in the process prior to analysis. It is necessary to carry out this stage of the consistency of a rigorous and systematic. Completed all these steps, the information shall be submitted for analysis.

Finally, the sample obtained in the field should be proportional to the distribution of the universe or population. Therefore, before starting the analysis of the data, we must verify that each individual or respondent in the sample has a weight proportional to the population distribution. The technique of assigning a weight to each individual or interviewee is called sampling weights.

In subsequent deliveries will develop in more detail these patterns of preparing information for analysis. This post is intended to serve as an introduction to the workshop by Spas Data Analysis. In the first session of the workshop, by way of introduction, we will discuss this and other memos, essential for the success or failure of any investigation. Until then.

It is time to rebuild Mexico. The current moral crisis, economic, environmental, and social policy marks the end of an era. This degradation has caused serious damage to the historical conquests of Mexico and threatens our viability as a nation.

The greed of the mafia in power has no limits: It concentrates wealth in few hands, in exchange for millions of Mexicans condemning to a life of poverty and exclusion unacceptable, canceling the future of youth and children. This oligarchy is considered the owner of Mexico and we have become one of the most unequal countries in the world. With ambition, has hijacked the institutions, run over constitutional guarantees, given the national assets to foreigners and devastated the environment.

The only way to end these injustices is a profound transformation of the country. That is why we call the Mexican people to defend their rights, to carry out a revolution of conscience, of historical significance, to rebuild the nation from its foundations, to realize freedom, goodwill, justice and democracy.

The rebirth of Mexico requires the participation of all free citizens working in the construction of the common good. We want a country to provide security and welfare of its people, who respect freedom and diversity, a nation of decent people, united and happy: women, men, youth, indigenous people, peasants, workers, professionals, businesspersons, students, children, elderly.

This country is changing. Social power is underway. We are millions who are committed to transformation. Our guide is the story of the exploits popular Hidalgo’s example by founding the independent nation of Morels who gave the invocation of popular sovereignty, the Juarez to defend the Republic and the secular state, that of Madera called for a revolution effective suffrage. Zapata flag resumed the land and freedom; we recover the spirit of justice of Villa and the commitment of the Flores Macon to end injustice and exploitation. General Lazar Cardenas, who defended the sovereignty and economic independence, inspires us.

We are calling the people of Mexico to unite will and collective efforts in a constitutional process: to create the civic organization that defends the rights of all and new public institutions in Mexico make a democratic, inclusive and sovereign.

It is time to act, to organize from below and from the left, to struggle peacefully. We hope to add to that majority that wants a change because we defend a reason based on the love of equality and appreciation for diversity.

The project of nation that we offer consultation is a starting point for national debate on the Mexico we dream and want to build. A broad and diverse group of intellectuals and specialists committed to democratic change prepared this document. We put for discussion to be enriched with the experiences, proposals, ideas and demands of all sectors. The Mexico that we should be built together. As of December 2010 will reflect the individual contributions, collective and discussion forums to be made, in March 2011 will be presented the results of national consultation.

Colombian companies increased their production capacity and investments to meet growing demand in Venezuela between 2008 and 2009. According to the Bank of the Republic of Colombia (equivalent to the Central Bank of Ecuador), Foreign Direct Investment in Venezuela-balance between input and output of capital-was $ 51 million in 2009.

“Companies like Alpine imported part of their products but then put a plant there. At this moment an issue of legal uncertainty in Venezuela holds it back, says Ana Maria Camacho, COM Venezuela.

The currency issue and discretion in the delivery of permits are the most sensitive. “For some companies are given permits and others doing not. It is impossible to plan how they will behave in the Venezuelan market, because then there is the order of the importing country, but you can access foreign or permissions are granted but can not be exported but the market demands it. “

Companies can not repatriate their profits, which are considered another obstacle. Noel Alvarez, Fedecamaras of Venezuela, holds that the legal uncertainty for all companies and not just for Colombians.

Since there is no size limit state, government spending can be fired as has happened in Peru in 2009. It seems that this year will repeat the error.

There is a relative acceptance among analysts that the fiscal deficit ceiling should not exceed 2% and low inflation of 2%, but there is not the optimal size for the state. A lack of it, it is natural that the APRA will naturally see increased state spending.

If they were more committed to civil liberties would not allow government spending to grow. A further expenditure must have more income, more income and more taxes, more taxes and less private spending, less investment, savings, growth, result in a reduced choice of citizens.

It is noted that the chart prepared by the Peruvian Institute of Economy how the expenditure of capital (machinery, equipment, tools) and current expenditures (wages, salaries, pensions) have grown significantly.

Small and medium-sized businesses spend on average about U.S. $ 51,000 a year in information protection. The study is based on surveys conducted in May 2010-2152 SME executives and IT staff responsible for decision making in 28 countries in May 2010.

The study revealed that small and medium businesses (10-250 employees) are now making the information protection a top priority of IT, as opposed to 15 months ago, when a high percentage had been unable to implement the most basic protections.

This change makes sense given that Sees face greater threats of cyber attacks, loss of devices and loss of confidential data or protected.

Key aspects of the study:

* Sees surveyed showed greater interest and increased investment in information protection. Qualify data loss and cyber attacks as the biggest business risk, rather than the traditional criminal activity, natural disasters and terrorism.
* The critical data loss threat to Sees. Seventy-four percent of Sees surveyed are concerned or extremely concerned about the loss of electronic information
* Cyber attacks are a critical threat for Sees. Seventy-three percent of respondents were victims of cyber attacks last year. Thirty percent of those attacks were considered successful or extremely successful.

Symantec’s recommendations:

* Train employees: developing the internet safety rules and train employees on safety, security and the latest Internet threats.
* Protect important business information: the protection of information is essential for companies of all sizes and confidential information of Sees face greater risks.
* Implement an effective plan for backup and recovery: the protection of the information is not limited to implementing an antivirus solution.
* Protect the resources of the Web and e-mail: select a Web security solution and e-mail that can help mitigate spam and email threats for Sees to protect confidential information and spend more time with their daily activities.