Knowledge transfer in IT offshoring relationships: the roles of social capital,efficacy and outcome expectations

Information technology (IT) development in global organisations relies heavily on the transfer of tacit and complex knowledge from onshore units to offshore subsidiaries. A central concern of such organisations is the development of social capital, which is known to facilitate the smooth transfer of knowledge. However, only a few studies in IS research have explicitly examined the role of social capital for knowledge transfer in an IT offshoring context. In this paper, we argue that such knowledge transfer mechanisms can be understood better by considering social capital in concert with knowledge senders' efficacy and outcome expectations, two of the potentially key motivational drivers of knowledge transfer. We develop our arguments through a qualitative case study of a large German multinational company. German IT developers in this firm provided in‐depth accounts of their experience with offshore colleagues in an Indian captive subsidiary unit. Drawing on our analysis, we develop a model that depicts the influence of social capital, efficacy and outcome expectations on onshore IT developers' ability and willingness to transfer knowledge to offshore colleagues. Through the model, we also explain how social capital, efficacy and outcome expectations are interrelated and generate three interlocked, self‐reinforcing circles of knowledge transfer success in IT offshoring relationships.     

Macroporous polymers made from medium internal phase emulsion templates: Effect of emulsion formulation on the pore structure of polyMIPEs

Emulsion templating is an effective route to prepare low-density, interconnected macroporous polymers known as poly(merised)High and Medium Internal Phase (Ratio) Emulsions. Here, we provide evidence that the interconnectivity of polyMIPEs is strongly dependent on the initiator used for the polymerisation of the continuous phase of the template. The characteristic interconnected pore structure can be observed if an oil soluble initiator, we used α,α′-azoisobutyronitrile, is used irrespectively of the surfactant employed to stabilise the emulsion templates. However, polymerisation of the continuous emulsion phase initiated by water-soluble initiators such as redox initiators or potassium peroxodisulfate results in low pore interconnectivity or even closed celled polyMIPEs.     

Dense silicon carbonitride ceramics by pyrolysis of cross-linked and warm pressed polysilazane powders

This study reports on the pyrolysis and densifaction behavior of cross-linked poly(hydridomethylsilazane) powders. The influence of the cross-linking procedure such as temperature and annealing time of the polymer powders on the compaction behavior under cold and warm pressing conditions is discussed. The degree of cross-linking is determined by thermal mechanical analysis (TMA). In addition to particle sliding which is assumed to be the compaction mechanism obtained by cold-pressing, the polymer powder consolidates by plastic deformation applying warm-pressing. A continuous 3-dimensional polysilazane network is formed after a dwelling time under these conditions. Pyrolysis of the cross-linked and compacted polysilazane powder in argon at 1100°C gives crack-free amorphous silicon carbonitride Si_3+xC_x+yN₄ with compositions ranging from x=1·47 and y=0·88 for cold pressed samples to x=1·47 and y=1·86 for warm pressed materials. The residual open porosity is significantly reduced from 10–15 vol% in the cold pressed specimens to 1·3–5 vol% by the warm pressing procedure. The weight loss during pyrolysis between room temperature and 1300°C is about 5 wt% lower than that for cold pressed specimens. This result is explained by a reduced methane evolution during the polymer-to-ceramic conversion and is in accordance with the enhanced carbon content of the warm pressed material.     

Durability of fire retardant treated wood products at humid and exterior conditions review of literature

Fire retardants may considerably improve the fire properties of wood products, but the durability, e.g. in exterior applications, has not been addressed fully. This paper reviews the existing knowledge and experience mainly from the USA with the aim of supporting further development in Europe. The review is concentrated on pressure impregnated fire retardant treated wood products which have the best opportunities for increased durability. Copyright © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linking Simultaneous In Situ WAXS/SAXS/Raman with Raman/ATR/UV–vis Spectroscopy: Comprehensive Insight into the Synthesis of Molybdate Catalyst Precursors

A new setup is presented which enables simultaneous wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS) and Raman spectroscopic experiments during the synthesis of Mo-based mixed oxide catalyst precursors at the μ-spot beamline at the Berliner Elektronenspeicherring-Gesellschaft für Synchrotronstrahlung (BESSY). Furthermore, we report about the separate monitoring of the same reactions under comparable conditions by simultaneous combined ATR/UV–vis/Raman spectroscopic measurements. For testing the performance of both experimental setups two syntheses were described comprising the precipitation of metal molybdates by mixing solutions of metal nitrates and ammonium heptamolybdate. Additionally, the effect of H₃PO₄ admixture on precipitation was investigated. The combined evaluation of spectroscopic and WAXS/SAXS data allows the discrimination between different molybdate species appearing in solution and precipitate. Furthermore, these molybdate species could be assigned to separate phases of different crystallinity.     

Microstructure and Compression Strength of Novel TRIP‐Steel/Mg‐PSZ Composites

Novel composites on basis of austenitic stainless TRIP‐steel as matrix with reinforcements of Mg‐PSZ are presented. Compact rods were produced by cold isostatic pressing and sintering, square honeycomb samples by the ceramic extrusion technique. The samples are characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy before and after deformation, showing the microstructure and the deformation‐ induced martensite formation. The mechanical properties of samples with 5 vol% zirconia are superior compared to zirconia‐free samples and composites with higher zirconia contents in terms of bending and compression tests. The honeycomb samples exhibit extraordinary high specific energy absorption in compression.     

Applications of sample preparation techniques in the analysis of pesticides and PCBs in food

Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are found in various parts of the environment in quite small concentrations, but they accumulate and thus become a threat to human health and life. A review is focused on the application of some popular techniques for sample preparation in analysis of these compounds in food. Even with the emergence of advanced techniques of final analysis, complex matrices, such as food, require extensive sample extraction and purification. Traditional sample preparation techniques are time consuming and require large amount of solvents, which are expensive, generate considerable waste, contaminate the sample and can enrich it for analytes. There have been many sample preparation techniques proposed to meet the requirements connected with the multiplicity of food. Optimal sample preparation can reduce analysis time, sources of error, enhance sensitivity and enable unequivocal identification and quantification. Sample extraction and purification techniques are discussed and their most recent applications in food analysis are provided. This review pointed out that sample preparation is the critical step.     

ESBL-producing E. coli in Austrian sewage sludge

The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of contamination of sewage sludge with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains and the effectiveness of different sewage sludge treatment methods.Monthly sewage sludge samples were collected between January and September 2009 in 5 different sewage treatment plants and tested for the presence of ESBL E. coli. In addition, the number of colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli and coliform bacteria before and after the different sludge treatment methods (aerobic/anaerobic digestion, lime stabilization, and thermal treatment) was investigated.Of the 72 sewage sludge samples investigated, ESBL-positive E. coli were found in 44 (61.1%) sewage sludge samples. The classification of β-lactamase groups was carried out in 15 strains resulting in the detection of 2 different groups (CTX-M and TEM) of bla genes. All 15 of them had a CTX-M gene and 4 of these strains furthermore carried a TEM gene.With regard to the CFU of E. coli and coliform bacteria, thermal treatment and lime stabilization following dehydration sufficiently reduced pathogen concentrations. The plants using merely stabilization and dehydration showed an increase of E. coli and coliform bacteria and thus also an increase in ESBL-producing E. coli.     

Open Innovation and Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Social Capital

This article examines the role of social relations and networks in open innovation settings. Building on extant open innovation literature as well as on social capital theory, we develop a model that conceptualizes social capital as a mediator between the implementation of open innovation instruments and firm performance. In doing so, this paper adds to the understanding of the role of structure and content of social relations in open innovation contexts as well as of sustainable side‐effects of open innovation. In particular, we argue that apart from a direct effect of open innovation instruments on firm performance, there is also a mediated relationship between these variables. More precisely, we propose that the implementation of open innovation instruments strengthens an organization's social capital, which is, in turn, positively related to firm performance.     

Building a Quantum Network: How to Optimize Security and Expenses

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is regarded as a key-technology for the upcoming decades. Its practicability has been demonstrated through various experimental implementations. Wide-area QKD networks are a natural next step and should inherit the selling point of provable security. However, most research in QKD focuses on point-to-point connections, leaving end-to-end security to the trustworthiness of intermediate repeater nodes, thus defeating any formal proof of security: why bother outwitting QKD, if the repeater node is an easy prey, and an equally valuable target? We discuss methods of designing QKD networks with provable end-to-end security at provably optimized efforts. We formulate two optimization problems, along with investigations of computational difficulty: First, what is the minimal cost for a desired security? Second, how much security is achievable under given (budget-)constraints? Both problems permit applications of commercial optimization software, so allow taking a step towards an economic implementation of a globally spanning QKD network.