Management Compensation Systems in MNCs and Domestic Firms

• This is a study of the relationship between institutional settings and managerial compensation systems, based on extensive cross-national survey evidence.
• We compare differences in practices between Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and domestic firms across a range of capitalist archetypes.
• We find that MNCs are more likely to promote compensation systems that incentivise managers in line with organisational performance compared to domestic firms. Our findings also reveal persistent diversity reflecting firm type and institutional setting. We find that the gap between MNCs and domestic firms in terms of the usage of incentive-related compensation is less pronounced in Liberal Market Economies than in other settings. This suggests that it is a combination of being an MNC and the specific home locale that moulds approaches to managerial compensation. This reflects considerable hybridisation of practices within and between settings.

     

Spin Structures of the Hubbard Clusters and the Pseudogap

The spin and charge structures formed in the Hubbard model for a finite two-dimensional cluster have been studied in the mean field approximation. The self-consistent iterative procedure reduces an uncorrelated initial spin distribution into stable structures with spectral properties typical of stripes. It is shown that the density of states of the system for any doping has a sharp minimum at the Fermi level, the pseudogap. The pinning of the gap at the Fermi level is characteristic not only of a superconducting state, but also typical of a normal state of spin glasses. Our results support conception of the PG state as a state with frozen locally nematic spin structures of antiferromagnetic domains.     

Subsidiary Interdependencies and International Human Resource Management Practices in German MNCs

• Using the resource-based view, this paper links the degree of interdependence that exists between subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) to the use of various International Human Resource Management (IHRM) practices.
• We assume that in many MNCs this interdependence has increased the need for cross-border coordination.
• We analyze to what extent MNCs use IHRM practices in order to enhance their coordination capability across national borders.
• We present a framework that addresses these effects and empirically test it using data from a questionnaire survey among 142 majority-owned overseas subsidiaries of German MNCs.
• The findings show that the degree of interdependence is related to the level of international experience of staff employed in subsidiaries, the use of third-country nationals, the provision of training, the use of cross-cultural management teams, and the choice of employee evaluation and reward methods.
• We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for IHRM practitioners and scholars as well as the limitations of our study.

     

Geometric and Electronic Structures of Tc and Mn Clusters by Density Functional Calculations

The geometric structures of Tc₂-Tc₅ and Mn₂-Mn₈ clusters were optimized by the Amsterdam density functional method. The trimeric, tetrameric, and pentameric Tc clusters exhibit the equilibrium structures of isosceles triangle, tetrahedron, and square pyramid, respectively. The structures of the Mn clusters up to Mn₄ are similar to those of the respective Tc clusters, while the Mn₅, Mn₆, Mn₇, and Mn₈ clusters have the distorted trigonal bipyramidal, distorted octahedral, pentagonal bipyramidal, and C2v structures, respectively. The Tc clusters are paramagnetic, while the Mn clusters are basically ferromagnetic.     

Regional Innovation Systems, Clusters, and the Knowledge Economy

This paper presents a systematic account of the idea and contentof regional innovation systems following discoveries made byregional scientists, economic geographers and innovation analysts.It considers the conditions and criteria for empirical recognitionand judgement as to whether scientifically analysed, concretecases of innovation activity warrant the designation of regionalinnovation system. The paper concludes by claiming that thesource for Europe's innovation gap with the United States restson excess reliance on public intervention, which signifies majormarket failure. The future will require widespread evolutionof public innovation support systems along with stronger institutionaland organizational support from the private sector.     

面向区域产业集群的应用型IE人才培养的课程教学模式

基于温州区域产业集群对工业工程人才的需求特征,构建了面向区域产业集群的应用型工业工程创新人才培养目标,提出了对接区域产业集群的基础工业工程课程创新教学模式,阐述了课程创新教学模式的3个方面:对接区域产业需求的多元化实践教学创新、面向区域产业需求的课程体系优化、支持创新学习的网络课程平台开发.     

Success Factors of Regional Strategies for Multinational Corporations: Exploring the Appropriate Degree of Regional Management Autonomy and Regional Product/Service Adaptation

This paper examines the factors that drive the success of multinational corporations (MNCs) in their pursuit of regional strategies. Based on contingency theory, we develop a comprehensive regional success factor model to investigate the effects of regional management autonomy and regional product/service adaptation on the regional success of MNCs. Using structural equation modelling, we also analyse the interaction effects of regional orientation and inter-regional distance. We evaluate our model by means of both primary and secondary data for Fortune Global 500 firms. Our findings show that appropriate degrees of regional management autonomy and regional product/service adaptation are highly contingent upon contextual influences on MNCs.     

Overcoming Particle Segregation in the Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Industries

Abstract

Segregation (separation) of particles in mixtures is a common problem in many industries. In the pharmaceutical industry such segregation is often of major concern when handling direct compression formulations prior to pressing tablets or capsules. The result can be unacceptable variations in tablet or capsule weights and/or assays. Similarly in the cosmetics industry, particle segregation can cause severe quality control problems.

Particle segregation can occur by one of five primary mechanisms, three of which are common in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Which mechanism is predominant in a given application depends on the physical properties of the material being handled as well as the type of equipment being used.

Each of the three common mechanisms will be described in detail. Then typical solutions will be presented for both retrofitting existing facilities as well as designing new plants. While it is not always possible to eliminate segregation, it can usually be minimized to the point that significant gains in product quality can be realized.     

Overcoming Failure: Abandonments and Delays of Innovation Projects in SMEs

Innovation development is a very complex and risky activity that requires adequate financial resources and appropriate skills and knowledge. Due to the complexity of the development process, innovation project can be either delayed or abandoned. In this paper we investigate factors that make it possible for small and medium enterprises (SME) that experienced delays or abandonment to continue innovating. While in SMEs weak resources and capabilities contribute to occurrence of development problems, this study suggests that SMEs can enhance their efficiency to produce innovative output by improving their capabilities (external or internal). These capabilities augment the value of resources and can be acquired through external collaboration, non-technological innovation or former innovations. These capabilities have larger effect on the development of new services than on new products.     

离子交换分离碘量法微量测定金属有机物中的碘

当金属与卤素共存时,可采用强酸性阳离子交换树脂将金属离子吸附,再用碘量法测碘。卤素氯、溴、氟不干扰。回收率97～100% RSD 0.74%     

Clusters of Spikes in CMOS Image Sensors Irradiated by Protons and Neutrons

The distribution of pixels with high-value dark current in CMOS image sensors irradiated by protons with the energy of 1000 MeV and neutrons with a continuous spectrum simulating the energy spectrum of atmospheric neutrons is explored. Data on generation of spike clusters in the irradiated sensors and the exposure time influence on the cluster parameters are obtained.     

一种超声波测距系统的设计与实现

设计了一种基于MSP430的超声波测距系统。系统能实时检测汽车尾部与障碍物的距离,根据设定的距离值由蜂鸣器发出不同频率的警报信息反馈给司机,对行车或倒车安全有至关重要作用。该系统具有一定的实用价值。     

Clusters in dense-inertial granular flows: two new views of the conundrum

There is a conundrum in the rheological behavior of Dense-inertial granular flows. Dense inertial flows are dominated by clusters of particles which provide a path for internal force transmission through the elasticity of the interparticle contacts. Yet arguably the presence or absence of the clusters have no quantitative effect on the stresses. One possible explanation is that, even though the clusters exist they are mechanically inactive so the flow behaves as if it were a collisional flow. This paper addresses that possibility in two ways. First, computer simulations that assess both the actual contact stress tensor and a parallel collisional stress tensor show that the collisional stresses can be a small fraction of the total stresses until the flow approaches a fully collisional state, supporting the idea that clusters are indeed important. The second method was to compute force correlations between particles that inhabit the same cluster, as a way of assessing the efficiency of the cluster in force transmission. But once again, the results indicate that forces can be well correlated within a cluster and thus do provide an elastic path for force transmission. Both indicate that clusters are important in internal transport within a dense-inertial granular flow and thus shed no light on why clusters do not quantitatively affect the stresses.     

External Knowledge and Innovation Performance in Clusters: Empirical Evidence from the Uruguay Software Cluster

The importance of geographic proximity for innovation has been widely stressed in the cluster literature. Yet, new insights from the inter-organisational network and cluster literatures underline the role of non-local linkages in enabling firms in networks to enhance learning and to innovate. This paper contributes to this literature by examining the importance of local and non-local knowledge networks for the innovation performance of firms in clusters. Our analysis is based on primary data from a survey of 95 software firms clustered in Montevideo, Uruguay. The results highlight that the most innovative firms in clusters heavily rely on non-local knowledge networks. Moreover, the number of indirect local ties to other firms is a better predictor of innovative performance than the number of direct local ties. Finally, our findings confirm the presence of knowledge gatekeepers in clusters and emphasise their role in enhancing innovation in clusters by absorbing knowledge from extra-cluster sources and diffusing it to other local firms.     

Distance and velocity measurements by the use of an orthogonal Michelson interferometer

A novel signal processing scheme for detecting distance and velocity signals simultaneously is demonstrated. In this method, a frequency-modulated diode laser is used to illuminate a dual-channel Michelson interferometer with two orthogonal output signals. The distance and the velocity signals then exist on the beat frequencies of the output interferometric signal. Two interferometric output signals with a quadrature phase shift are used to adjust the gating time period of frequency counters for beat-frequency measurement. The distance and velocity signals can thus be obtained from the counting number within the gated-in time period.