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The Business Judgment Rule (BJR) is a rule developed by the case law of the American courts that establishes that judges will respect directors' business decisions, as long as they made an informed decision, in the best interest of the company and without violating the law or breaching their fiduciary duties. This paper reviews the application of the BJR in Colombia and the unsuccessful bills presented on this matter. In addition, it aims to analyze the economic implications of its adoption and, through a qualitative methodology and from a law and economics perspective, demonstrates its significant macroeconomic and microeconomic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to assess the factor structure of the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI) in a multi-occupational sample of Colombian workers. On the basis of previous results and the factor structure of the instrument, a four-factor model was hypothesized. The sample consisted of 153 Colombian workers from different occupational sectors. The SBI was applied. This instrument is composed of 20 items distributed in four dimensions: Enthusiasm toward the job (5 items), Psychological exhaustion (4 items), Indolence (6 items), and Guilt (5 items). The psychometric properties were examined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha. The items presented adequate statistical and psychometric values, as well as the scales. The model presented an acceptable fit to the data: GFI = .858, RMSEA = .066(.051-.079), NNFI = .913, CFI = .927. Reliability was adequate for all scales (α = .79 to α = .87). The results indicate that the SBI is an instrument with psychometric validity to assess the burnout in the Colombian cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exposes a relation between the accumulation and dispossession process of land in Colombia as a product of war, from a perspective of space. The theoretical frame of this paper assumes that coloniality of power is a complex form of dissociation of the land, one that transforms the experience of serfdom. Via reading thinkers like Marx, Harvey, Castro-Gómez, and Mariátegui, this paper problematizes the experiences of dispossession of land in Colombia and the economy of power that it engenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the profile required by a chief risk officer (CRO) in large companies in Colombia, based on knowledge of the traits, skills, aptitudes and knowledge that are necessary to achieve adequate performance, so that it contributes the achievement of objectives. The study is carried out under a qualitative methodology of descriptive scope. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with risk managers of large Colombian companies in different sectors, and experts. In the results found it can be evidenced the importance to the chief risk officer and as well as to develop their profile both in technical aspects and in the soft skills they require. This is due to the fact that from their performance they add value to the company with their expertise and provide a prospective vision on the risk situations to which they may be exposed. This paper contributes to the knowledge about CRO that requires further academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an advance of research of a doctoral thesis on the scope of arbitration in Colombia and Spain. It states that, in the Colombian legal system, arbitration has a jurisdictional nature. In addition to being transitory judges, arbitrators have a wide margin of autonomy to choose the law applicable to the case. To this is added that, as it is a single instance process, subject only to the motion for annulment, which process for defects in form or procedure, there is no procedural way to question the substance of the decision. The research is descriptive and is done from the qualitative approach. The general objective of the article is to demonstrate that, despite the above, and to that idea was reached in the conclusions, the arbitrators are subject to the precedent of the Constitutional Court, by virtue of the principles of constitutional supremacy, consistent interpretation and legal certainty. The purpose of the article is to generate arguments so that, from the arbitration processes, the constitutional precedents are respected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study how the legal subject "homeless" (habitante de la calle) was created in Colombia, and how it allowed certain ways of governance in contemporary cities. Focusing on the Colombian case, we argue that contemporary forms of control were only possible when the subject 'homeless' was distanced from other concepts such as lazy, indigent or mad. Furthermore, we make an analysis of the legal frame and academic discourses that developed the new subject of government, and studied how they legitimized new forms of crime control and new ways of organizing urban spaces. In order to do so, a case study of Bogota has been conducted focusing on national and local regulations on the matter, as well as on the discourses on security, crime control and government of problematic populations in both scales of the state administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a technology with recognition in Telecommunication industry because of its capacity of developing reconfigurable communication systems. This paper presents the implementation and field-testing evaluation for a low-cost radar system using the gr-radar toolbox created into the version 3.7.4 of GNU Radio. Tests allowed to measure distances and velocities of a target in movement. Velocity estimation errors were obtained with 1.8% and 3.22% in a round trip. Range estimation errors were also obtained with 1.56% and 2.75% in a round trip. Radar system was configured to transmit at 2.4 GHz with Multiple CW technique. The test scenario was the Nueva Granada Military University Campus in Colombia. The results are oriented toward using this tools for deepening on basic Radar principles with low-cost devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to increase the legal certainty of the international contract, the applicable law to international contract should be highly foreseeable. To reach it, the States have been implementing uniform substantive legislation and uniform conflict of law rules. However, domestic conflict of law rules, in countries such as Colombia, still unfortunately play a leading role. The hierarchy and application of these provisions represents a huge challenge for the Colombian´s courts. The main objective of this paper is to establish the criteria that the Colombian judge must follow to determine the applicable law to international sales contract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The passing sight distance (DVA) required for a stretch of road is obtained from the geometric design manuals of roads and road signs of each country; in Colombia there are the road geometric design Manual of the 2008 [1] and The 2015 [2] road signs Manual to get it. The objective of this paper is to apply and compare the methodologies established in each one of them to calculate the required DVA and to measure the DVA available in planes. When comparing these last two are indicated the sections where it is permissible to advance to signal the axis of the road with discontinuous line. When calculating the required DVA in each one of the Colombian's manuals, different values are obtained. To understand the effect of these and the differences on road signs, the values and methodology of each of them are applied to the Tunel de Occidente Road-San Jerónimo, which is a two-lane representative road and located in Antioquia department, Colombia. After having the respective road sign, gaps and contradictions were detected In the Colombian regulation of road design and signposting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central issue addressed by this paper is the determination of the attributes that companies in Antioquia demand from their managerial level officers. It derives from an empirical study whose objective was to recognize the opinion of top executives concerning the expectations companies have about the qualities of a good administrative officer. The research method used was qualitative, descriptive and exploratory in nature. The information was generated through a review of literature and in-depth interviews with top organization executives. The value-generating attributes that employers seek in their managers were determined; among them, humanistic formation was considered the most important one; technical knowledge is considered a rather hygienic factor. The results of the study lend themselves to be used as criteria for the analysis of business programs management, both at the undergraduate and MBA levels, when it comes to curricula reviews, teaching and learning methods and faculty development, all of which may contribute to achieve and/or further the competitive advantages of the institutions offering the programs and their graduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of the distinct changes caused by the globalization phe-nomenon, there is a strong competitive rivalry in several economic sectors. Small companies face real obstacles in order to be competitive. This paper studies the marketing management process contribution to the small service companies' competitiveness in order to explore its concept from an economic perspective through the theory of resources and capabili-ties. This paper has a quantitative focus in which the deductive method is used in the outcome interpretation phase and theoretical construction. The services offer in Medellín sometimes meet effectively the needs and likes of a more increasing and demanding market, which leads to a marke-ting associated problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper answers the question how to evaluate the maturity of Knowledge Management (KM) in thirty-one organizations of the Departments of Antioquia and Caldas, articulating the functionalist and interpretive positions. This multivariate cluster analysis technique and a methodology that provides an algorithm that makes semi-quantitative qualitative variables from a Likert scale questionnaire applied to a fourteen variables used. The results allow us to obtain the final ranking of firms in both regions by interpretable clusters according to certain traits, - organizational and people, technological and interpretative Knowledge Management processes -that influence the concept of maturity KM. One of the main findings is the whole instrument, which is designed to position itself as an easily understandable self-assessment instrument. And later, it will be put online, to allow comparisons with world class companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the results of a research study whose purpose is to evaluate the technical efficiency of institutions of higher education in Colombia during the years 2011-2013 by applying the data envelopment analysis and data mining techniques. With data envelopment analysis, it is determined the technical efficiency and data mining allows to discover hidden information. The result of the combination of these techniques allows to establish prediction rules based on a group of management indicators that can be used by the designers of educational policies to determine the reasons for inefficiency of institutions of higher education. The information provided by the Ministry of National Education was used as a source for the data. It was observed that seven of the 32 institutions considered had an efficiency of 100% during the period of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is the impact assessment analysis of the pilot project Rede@prender carried out in Colombia under the Programme EUROsociAL within the overall context of the Euro-Latin American cooperation. The first part of the paper introduces to, on the one hand, the Euro-Latin American cooperation model and the Programme's overall philosophy, while on the other hand presents the contents of the Colombian policy on education in citizenship competencies within which context the project was carried out. The second part elaborates an in-depth analysis of the main characteristics of the pilot project and tries to give account of its impact and achieved results. Finally, the third and inal part of the text contains some considerations on the application of the evaluation criteria, best practices and lessons learned from the project Rede@prender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the relationship that is present between the jurisprudence of the Colombian Constitutional Court (regarding the writ of tutela) during the twenty years that the Colombian Constitution has been in legal force, on the one hand, and the Coase theorem, proposed by the Nobel laureate Ronald H. Coase, on the other hand. The paper states that the Colombian Constitutional Court, although implicitly and without noticing, when considering efficiency as a criterion for deciding at least some of its cases and allocating rights that facilitates transactions between the parties to the lawsuit, has performed an analysis similar to the one that Coase explains in his paper "The Problem of Social Cost". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the problem of supplying network design for a multinational Colombian company leader in designing, manufacturing and distributing clothes, knapsacks, backpacks, purses, briefcases and accessories, with more than 200 selling points in 15 countries. Because of the computational complexity and size of the supply network problem, this paper proposes a three-phase resolution approach based on the construction and resolution of linear programming models. Such approach is implemented using real-life data provided by the company under study, allowing the actual presentation of alternatives for an efficient and rational decision-making at the enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to feature a theoretical discussion of competitiveness as an entry point for further empirical studies within the School of Business at the Universidad del Norte. The concept of competitiveness has been part of the debate among several "think tanks" at the international level. After the analysis of the theoretical foundations of competitiveness, the paper highlights some concepts to support those theories. In the scope of Colombia, the study explores the country's efforts addressed towards the application of competitiveness concepts. At the end of the paper a model is proposed as a basis for further studies. Moreover, a series of questions and recommendations are made considering the region as a unit of analysis, where competitiveness should be studied as a theoretical structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses current dynamics of the relationship between Colombia and the United States. The Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the atoned conflict in Colombia and the Plan Colombia have been central issues in bilateral relations. Recent political changes in the region promise to affect not only Colombia's bilateral relations with its neighbors, but have an effect on US.-Colombian relations. The paper evaluates the particularities of president Uribe's Democratic Security policy, and the state of U.S.-Colombia relations during the Uribe administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses current dynamics of the relationship between Colombia and the United States. The Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the armed conflict in Colombia and the Plan Colombia have been central issues in bilateral relations. Recent political changes in the region promise to affect not only Colombia's bilateral relations with its neighbors, but have an effect on US. - Colombian relations. The paper evaluates the particularities of president Uribe's Democratic Security policy, and the state of U.S. - Colombia relations during the Uribe administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many equipments that work the most part of their time in transient regime; therefore, in the design of their drive systems must be employed different methodologies to when, they work in stationary regime. In this paper is shown the application of two distinct methods to the design and selection of the components of an drive system for rapid movements. The Transient Power - Double Kinetic Energy Method and Torque - Time Constant Method were applied to select the drive system of a axis to linear guidance in a punch machine, this case was developed within a project founded by Colciencias. It was necessary to use MATLAB and information obtained from catalogs in order to carry out the required simulations in the evaluation process of the convenience of distinct drive kinds. Also, in this paper is analyzed the complementariness of the referenced methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests a total change in the government of public universities in Colombia within the frame of a proposal of reform of the higher education. This reform should include the idea of deepening democracy which is in line with the political and social changes that are taking place in the country mainly as a change in political power structures. This total change must take place through a radicalization of faculty and student representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este artículo es el resultado de una investigación cuyo principal objetivo fue analizar el acceso a la justicia en el mecanismo de solución de controversia previsto en el Tratado de Libre Comercio suscrito entre Colombia y Estados Unidos (TLC COL-USA) y su impacto en los sectores económicos colombianos. De esta forma, se analizó la temática a partir de la conceptualización teórica del acceso a la justicia construida a partir de la doctrina y de la jurisprudencia tanto colombiana como estadounidense, así como del análisis del Sistema de Solución de Controversias consagrado en el TLC y su relación con un agente del sector productivo colombiano especifico como son los microempresarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En este artículo presentamos los primeros resultados del trabajo de campo realizado en el marco de la investigación Narrativas de la violencia sexual en la guerra irregular en el Caribe colombiano: voces de homosexuales, transexuales, intersexuales, bisexuales y lesbianas, cuyo objetivo es narrar literariamente casos de violencia sexual perpetrados por los grupos paramilitares arraigados en esta zona del país contra la población LGTBI del Caribe colombiano. Para desarrollar nuestro propósito, en la introducción presentamos una breve reseña de los fundamentos teóricos de nuestra investigación; luego, en la sección "Una aguja en un pajar" narramos la difícil búsqueda de víctimas decididas a dar testimonio; en la sección "El territorio, el viaje y la música" describimos el contexto en el cual se realizaron las entrevistas que dieron lugar a las narraciones literarias que presentamos en la sección "Voces vivas y voces ausentes", para finalmente mostrar algunas de las conclusiones de esta segunda fase de nuestra investigación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este artículo muestra los resultados de la caracterización de los imaginarios sociales en torno al derecho de protección de niños y niñas escolarizados, entre 7 y 12 años de edad, de dos instituciones educativas de los municipios de Manatí y Malambo departamento del Atlántico (Colombia). A partir de afirmaciones obtenidas en grupos focales, se hizo un ejercicio de interpretación de la manera cómo operan y se construyen los imaginarios sociales que tienen los niños y niñas, como sujetos titulares de derechos, frente al derecho a la protección, con el propósito de generar insumos que replanteen la forma como se diseñan las estrategias de comunicación orientadas a prevenir el maltrato, abuso y abandono. Partiendo de un análisis descriptivo y empleando el software de procesamiento de datos cualitativos Atlas-Ti se lograron identificar, describir y contrastar teóricamente los imaginarios: la familia como territorio protector, el espacio público como territorio negado y las instituciones como responsables de la protección de la infancia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En el estudio del comportamiento electoral, a pesar de que las teorías sociológica, partidista y de elección racional continúan aplicándose vigorosamente para analizarlo, la respuesta al interrogante sobre ¿cuáles son los factores que predominan en la toma de la decisión del voto? no alcanzan, aún, una respuesta que logre el consenso académico. Así, este trabajo pretende identificar el perfil del votante colombiano en las elecciones presidenciales de 2002, 2006 y 2010 a partir de las semejanzas y diferencias de estos en términos de sofisticación política, orientación político-partidista y características sociodemográficas. El análisis estadístico se realiza con datos de la encuesta LAPOP, y se centra en los votantes de los partidos Liberal, Polo Democrático y Partido de la Unidad Nacional. En la primera parte del documento se plantean los principales aspectos teóricos que guían la investigación. Luego se muestran los rasgos principales del contexto en el que se desarrollaron los tres procesos electorales. Finalmente, se presentan los resultados de los análisis así como algunas ideas a modo de conclusión. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes of articulation between universities and industry resulting from the identification of needs and interests in common, to allow for the transfer and management of knowledge between the parties. This paper presents the results of the evaluation of the quality of the relationship university - industry in the Department of Boyacá low in relationship marketing approach. Was necessary for evaluation conducting multivariate analysis and the use of structural equations from technical Partial Least Square (PLS). Among the findings is the importance of consistent and constant communication, so you can be the confidence in establishing working arrangements and commitment in the joint that may result in a greater benefit of regional competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to characterize the management skills that leaders count with, and how these contribute to exercise their duties and the impact on management. The type of study used was the exploratory - descriptive one. To carry out this work, it was designed an instrument of 18 questions and was applied to 786 leaders of mid-sized businesses in the Pacific, Caribbean and Andean regions, that allowed to identify the characteristics of leaders, their ways of conduct and behavior among others; it can be concluded generally that leaders have clear what this concept means, they have a relational leadership profile, they use in a greater proportion oral communication, they behave as reagents leaders, very busy and with high stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal objetive of this paper is to analyze possibilities and limits of production of the legal field of community justice in Colombia, particularly the development of equity conciliation processes into the context of social and population dynamics fractured by dispossession and forced displacement. The search is made from the previous investigations about case studies in the Caribbean Coast where were promoting equity conciliation processes, specifically in the areas of Loma de Peyé and Pozón, located in the city of Cartagena, and Siete de Abril and Bosque, located in the city of Barranquilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discussion about whom and when rights are included in democracies, is an unresolved issue. Those who defend that the legislature should be the one guaranteeing these rights, argue on behalf of the popular origin of the parliament and the functions that the constitution grants; in the other side, the current detractors base their reviews on the fact that the legislature, by nature and origin, is linked to the public opinion which makes difficult for it to break off the trial of majorities, that sometimes goes against unrepresented minorities. Colombia, thanks to the judgment C-577 of 2011-in which the Constitutional Court ruled on the constitutionality of two expressions of the marriage contract-renewed interest in the rights of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual/gender, and Intersexual) couples. While the Court recognized the discrimination hidden in the existence of an alternative way to shelter marital unions in this community, the problem is not solved, yet. Therefore, the Court called for the legislator to regulate the mater in a two year term, by the establishment of an equivalent possibility for LGBTI couples; otherwise, these couples will be able to go before a notary or a judge to formalize their union by a solemn contract. This article presumes that the legislature is the one in charge of the inclusion of the LGBTI community, and for this particular case, through the recognition of the right of these couples to join in marriage and form a family. In this sense, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate the elements that an inclusive legislation on the rights of LGBTI people requires, claiming the figure of the Parliament and its role within the Colombian democratic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main idea of this paper is to identify the management patterns of university research according to the most outstanding models that characterize Research and Development structures (R+D) in Colombian universities; and also to analyze the most typical research administration processes In countries with low scientific absorption, highlighting the case of Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes as inputs for its analysis the trade flows between Colombia and a selected group of the East Asian countries, the export-import trade for each country, the intra-industry trade taking place in those countries and the Colombian national competitiveness situation. From that infor-mation it is inferred that Colombia is still following the Dependency path which means that trade with the most developed Asian countries may fall in the circumscription of exporting primary sector products. Only if Co-lombia seeks to enter in the intra-industry trade sectors in the Asian mar-kets with competitive products, will be able to diversify its export basket and break the pattern imposed by dependency. Therefore, the priorities for Colombia are mainly achieving high national competitiveness and produ-cing competitive products, but right now competitiveness is still weak and this demands upgrading its competitive factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay proposes an alternative narrative of the financial crisis that fifteen years ago occasioned the homelessness of thousands of mortgagors. Much has been said on this subject at this time. The Corte Constitucional, Consejo de Estado, Corte Suprema de Justicia, academics, constitucionalist, economist and debtor associations have examined the causes, consequences and effectiveness of the strategies from the government to solve the problem. Specifically, this paper was derived from the analysis of the experience of judges and magistrates who attended the judicial process of the obligations of UPAC. These judges refused the ordering the termination of court proceedings given by the Corte Constitucional being aware of the precarious situation of housing debtors. Consequently, many borrowers lost their homes despite the protection committed by the high Court, but why the judges refused to apply these judgments? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how the principles of corporate social responsibility are included in the Colombian legal system. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional research based on qualitative data, which examines the legal regulation of CSR in Colombia, from the analysis of the principles of Global Compact grouped into four areas: human rights, labor, environmental and fight against corruption. It is concluded that the different aspects of CSR are regulated to a greater or lesser extent in the Colombian legal system, which shows that this is not, at least not entirely voluntary and that the regulation in this area as well as voluntary initiatives are appropriate and necessary, not contradictory, but are complementary instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an attempt to associate the concepts of foresight and strategic management of knowledge and their role within Colombian research groups (coined here as GRIN). It is emphasized that these concepts should be integrated into policies and strategies to be adopted by the local universities to meet their objectives for research, technological development and innovation, and the synergies to be generated both in the social and productive sectors. It is proposed that foresight should be associated with specific actions within systems of competitive intelligence and technology surveillance to identify the most relevant variables on which the GRIN technology can track, prior to technology foresight exercises. This calls for the incorporation of strategic management of technology, innovation and knowledge within the GRIN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the degree of knowledge, use and perception citizens have towards two judicial institutions known as equity mediators and judges of peace. In order to assess this, a survey was applied to two different Justice Centers that operate in the city of Barren-quilla: 349 surveys for barrio Simon Bolivar and 301 for La Paz. Findings show that people are more familiar with equity mediators than with Peace Judges but there is a very low degree of usage of both institutions. Local government needs to develop active pedagogy dynamics and create workshops to determine the degree of receptivity the community has towards these institutions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We explore the codes of conduct in order to characterize the responsibility and ethical performance parameters that Colombian oil companies define for themselves. Method: The paper is exploratory and descriptive. We use the method of multiple case study and a model of Gaumnitz and Lere (2004) in order to classify the codes. Results: The codes are grouped into three blocks according to their structure: codes of conduct of multinational companies; codes of conduct of local companies with international ambitions; codes of conduct of small local companies. Conclusions: Codes of global companies are extensive and legalistic. Codes of local companies with international ambitions are short and legalistic. Codes of small local companies are short and missionary. Virtually all codes have their roots in the utilitarian ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of globalization and economic interdependence among countries, companies have faced internationalization processes in the international market, generating uncertainty about the strategies to be used by businesses, especially small and medium-sized, to operate in the international arena. Seeking to resolve this concern, this paper aims at performing an analytical review of the major issues in the internationalization of small and medium enterprises in the world. To fulfill this purpose, we analyze different studies in the European continent and Colombia. As a main conclusion, we propose that the Uppsala Processes theory remains as the internationalization theory most widely used by small businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the results obtained from several studies, the effects of the violent experiences and violent acts exerted on the others in the spread of the armed conflict has been proved, affecting subjects' mental health. We study in this paper this type of link between violent actions or experiences and the psychological trauma and symptoms caused in 36 subjects (20 victims and 16 victimizers), who were listened in psychological counseling through Alta Consejeria para la Reintegraci6n, Defensorias del Pueblo del Atlfintico and MAPP-OEA programmes, in the framework of the 121549326151 investigation project funded by Colciencias. 2 to 7 in-depth interviews were done with each one depending on their interest in going on with the process. Multi-case comparative design and well-founded theory were used linked through an Analysis Matrix called ARIADGE (Immediate Responses Analysis: Acts, Displacement, War and Exceptions). Discursive results were organized in emerging categories and subcategories representing gradual production of knowledge in relation to the way these subjects reported traumatic situations and the effects caused in their psyche because of the armed conflict spread in regions of Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar and Cásar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the transformation that has taken place in the family law regime towards the inclusion of same-sex couples, the Constitutional Court has played a central role and perhaps alone. This paper analyzes the main decisions of the Constitutional Court concerning standardization in the field of protection for same-sex couples, drawing from each building elements, most relevant jurisprudence. Thus I argue that through a variety of interpretive tools, the Court has instrumentalized its decisions to exercise political opportunity in the direction of the prevailing view, using the conditioning of the judgments of constitutionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents the results obtained during the development of the Project of impact assessment of the quality management processes in liquidity and profitability of the industrial area of Via 40. This is initially a detailed description of evaluation of organizational systems, systems of quality management, liquidity ratios, profitability ratios, the criteria for evaluating the impact of systems of quality management in liquidity and profitability of the Via 40 area and the industrial use ofdiscriminant analysis technique. This was developed through a qualitative and quantitative, descriptive and purposeful perspective. From the discriminant function obtained and the analyzed statistics we can conclude that the ISO 9001 quality certification, positively affects the financial indicators Net Capital (NC) Gross Margin (GM) and Operating Income (EBIT) of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to show the results of a research project, which aimed at establishing if indeed the medium enterprises in the city of Barranquilla carry out fair selection and recruitment processes, caring the company policies and procedures. We used the information provided by the Chamber of Commerce (2008) and DANE (2005), which enabled us to collect a random sample of 260 companies; we designed two models of survey and one interview model which allowed to appreciate the reality of employment status. Simultaneously the heads of Human Resources of the companies were interviewed and those interviews gave the information base to determine the reality in the selection process. And finally, a representative sample was taken from the working population to compare the information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the author presents some considerations concerning the doctrinal debate introduced in Colombia in connection with contractual nature of companies and the criteria to which we must turn to qualify as civil or commercial. From corresponding legislative reforms he argues that it is now more accurate to refer to corporate legal business than to partnership agreement, since it supports the existence of a sole proprietor. It also lists the criteria used in Colombia to qualify commercial companies showing the way by which the regime has become corporate in this country, from the Code of 1971 to Act 1258 of 2008 on society by simplified stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how the Colombian Constitutional Court in its jurisprudence includes references to case law of the European Court of Human Rights, in exercising its constitutional oversight and review of protection measures, analyzed from the incorporation of the principle of human dignity, which is considered a social foundation of our state and founding principle of the law. With this aim we present first, all referents concerning legal, doctrinal and jurisprudential universal and regional human rights protection systems; secondly, the constitutional development given in Colombia to the human rights issue and finally we analyze the sentences in which the Constitutional Court refers to the European Court on the scope of the principle of human dignity Statements that specifically refer to the protection of prison population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper presents and approach in the debate regarding the relevance of control and tracking of resources and the results obtained on the effectiveness of International Development Cooperation (IDC). We discuss the public and private sectors, as well as civil organizations and donors. Using an international viewpoint and the current Colombian Legislation, our analysis allows us to identify and define the latent risks of inadequate management of resources of IDC in Colombia. In particular, we point out some weakness of financial, legislative and technical nature. With the analysis presented we are able to propose several improvement in financing process involving the IDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a contribution to the competitive socio-cultural perspective is developed through an analytical scheme that allows to identify limiting factors to the competitive capacity of region vulnerable economical sectors. It is based on the cultural anthropology analytical proposal that considers the ecology, the social structure, and the ideology as determinant factors of socio-cultural systems that let describe, explain, and classify communities and their dynamics. Based upon identification of poultry sector in the Valle del Cauca Region (Colombia), on its vulnerability, and on its importance as an alternative to the region productive platform diversification, geo-economical and sociopolitical factors schemes were applied. This exercise was complemented with consultancies to the sector's entrepreneurs who not only validated the factors found with their opinion but they also intervened on neuralgic points of strategic action definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the developments and the real impact of the new law for science and technology, in the case of Colombia and compare regional decentralization policies with what happened in the continent in the last decade. We will also analyze economic trends and the impact of the current crisis facing the development of the CTI and what awaits the country in the coming years and in particular to their regions against the revolutionary processes to boost innovation and funding of science and scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public contracting in Colombia is conflicting and inefficient. It frequently leads to the patrimonial damage to the State. Colombian legal system can not assure the efficient and transparent public contracting. The cause is the institutional environment characterized by high transaction costs. The Colombian law makes things worse by recognizing the principle of economic equilibrium of the public contracts. This principle augments the contract incompleteness and makes impossible the use of the economic incentives to control the opportunism of the economic agents. The authors present the hypothesis that the economic equilibrium principle increases the conflictive nature of the public contracting. They make the empirical test of the hypothesis. The first section of the paper presents the summary of the literature on the transaction costs economics, as well as the legal literature on the historical origin and the content of the economic equilibrium principle. The second section describes the methodology of the empirical study. The third section shows the empirical evidence of the effects that the economic equilibrium principle exerts over the public contracting. The last section presents the conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper identifies the type of learning needs for adolescent sexuality between 10 and 19 years of the Municipality of Tierralta, Cordoba, Colombia, analyzing the knowledge, attitudes and practices that are the subject of study and aspire to have. The ethnographic study is under the case-study method, the sample was comprised of 69 secondary school pupils from the urban area of the municipality of Tierralta, the data were collected through focus groups, workshops, interviews, participant observation and role playing. Learning needs for the training of young people are sexually aimed at having the desire to know about dating, love, expressions of affection, which feels a person with HIV and what is experienced when you are pregnant. You can also assert that the patriarchal vision and the socio-cultural mark the imaginary sex of the youth population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1988 there have been eight mayoral elections in Colombia. In Barranquilla, the introduction of popular elections for mayor has proved to follow a pattern of dynamic alliance formations centered around strong personal and factional presence and weak political parties and movements. However, this arrangement has produced its own kind of stability. This paper examines the eight popular mayoral elections in Barranquilla, assesses the degree of party institutionalization, inter party completion and alliance formation between different party factions. It argues that Political groups show a great adapting capability to new rules and that is why political reforms have not had an important impact on their behavior. We conclude that applying traditional political party theory presents difficulties in explaining patterns of party affiliation and alliance formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a model to assess seismic damage of earth buildings when a seismic action occurs; this is carried out through seismic vulnerability functions. The model relates the vulnerability index with the damage index according to a specific seism. Seismic vulnerability is based on the index proposed by Benedetti y Petrini adapted to the condition of Colombian buildings. The damage index is estimated using the capacity/demand relationship. A sample of the 53 earth buildings in Bucaramanga was considered in the construction of the seismic vulnerability functions. The vulnerability index and the damage index were calculated on each one of the buildings for different maximum accelerations, and then with these indexes a vulnerability functions were estimated. These functions were used to evaluation seismic damage in the city of Bucaramanga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]