Dysfunctional learning in decision processes: the case of employee reciprocity

While traditional economic models characterize individuals as boundlessly self‐interested, decades of empirical findings suggest that individuals' self‐interest motives are constrained by concurrent preferences for fairness. Individuals act on these preferences by behaving reciprocally: rewarding others perceived as behaving fairly and punishing others perceived as behaving unfairly. Successful firms must learn to navigate environments characterized by the reciprocity of their transaction partners. This paper investigates firms' judgments about employee reciprocity and posits a dysfunctional learning process whereby firms that overestimate employee reciprocity learn to correct their beliefs through feedback, while those that underestimate employee reciprocity do not. The result, demonstrated through computer simulation, is a systematic bias toward an overemphasis on employee self‐interest, and a resulting inefficiency in wage choices that hurts firm profitability. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incorporating non-academics in academic spin-off entrepreneurial teams: the vertical diversity that can make the difference

To enhance the development of academic spin-offs, surrogate (external) entrepreneurs are often added to the entrepreneurial team comprising academics. Existing research focused on entrepreneurial team diversity (horizontal member differences) and has mixed results. Vertical member differences (i.e., inequality) between academics and non-academics are not addressed. However, strategic decision making is one of the main responsibilities of an entrepreneurial team. Decision-making power, as reflected in ownership, in particular, is thus of the essence. Based on a sample of 164 Italian academic spin-offs, this article investigates the impacts of both horizontal and vertical heterogeneity of entrepreneurial teams on the firms’ performance. The findings confirm that surrogate entrepreneurs generally make a positive contribution to academic spin-off performance but become counter-productive when their presence overpowers that of academics.     

Perception evaluation kit: a case study with materials and learning styles

International Journal of Technology and Design Education - Materials are elements that configure our built environment and are key components in design and engineering education. This research aims...     

中石化改制分流公司出路探索

中国石化集团公司如何应对加入WTO的挑战，在更激烈的市场竞争中求生存、图发展，关键政策之一就是减员分流。该政策的成功执行无疑会给中石化带来巨大利益。减员分流政策能否顺利执行，关键看分流公司脱离母体后的独立生存、发展、获利能力能否带来经济效益和社会效益。分流公司从它一诞生，服务对象就只有石化公司，市场也是被行政条块划分好了的石化行业内部市场，可以说是无竞争的市场。现在市场打开了，竞争来了，问题来了，市场也来了，发展的空间大了，我们应该怎样去应对这个市场，怎样在新的环境下寻找自身生存、发展的空间，笔…     

Physics competition to inspire learning and improve soft skills: a case of the Chain Experiment

International Journal of Technology and Design Education - The Chain Experiment competition has been held successfully for 6 years in Poland and is attracting growing interest. The...     

Global strategy and population-level learning: the case of hard disk drives

Some scholars argue that firms within the same industry engage in similar foreign investment behavior irrespective of nationality because they face a common set of pressures and incentives. Others emphasize the persistent diversity in business practices and behavior of firms from different nations as they invest abroad. Using the hard disk drive industry as a case, this paper explores whether nationality or industry has the greater influence on global strategy and whether it affects industry performance. The findings suggest that firms from the same nation are likely to adopt similar global strategies initially, but that, over time, the industry as a whole converges on the same blueprint for action. At the same time, however, strategic focus and organizational characteristics moderate national influences: firms from the same nation are more likely to adopt the same global strategy if they compete in the same product segment and are of similar size and age. The evidence also indicates that the national industry that is first to select what becomes the dominant strategy acquires an advantage over competitors from other countries. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linking learning activities and assessment activities to learning outcomes and assessment standards when teaching technology: a case study

In this article the results of a critical reflection on the analysis of 564 technology education lesson plans are discussed. The critical reflection draws on the responses of approximately 120 South African technology education teachers in a teaching practice workbook where they had to choose a project and base five lessons on the project. The analysis of the above mentioned lesson plans is done in such a way that the linking of learning activities and assessment activities to learning outcomes and assessment standards is highlighted. In general it can be concluded that, although the learning outcomes and assessment standards are readily available and specified clearly in the policy documents of the national department of education, the particular teachers find it difficult to translate theory into practice when converting what is specified in the policy documents to learning activities and assessment activities in their lesson plans. This implies that the instructional strategy for the particular technology education programme should be adapted to include a comprehensive section on how to integrate aspects mentioned in the policy documents of the national department of education into actual lesson plans. Although the outcomes of the critical reflection on the results of the analysis mentioned above are directed at improving and adapting an instructional strategy in a particular in-service technology education programme in South Africa some knowledge transfer to similar situations should be possible.     

企业风险管理创新与中国海油自保公司案例研究

自保公司是指一个由非保险公司拥有的保险或者再保险公司,其主要业务是对其母公司或者关联公司的风险进行承保或者再保险.自保公司是在企业风险管理创新中产生的一种典型的非传统风险转移工具.其作用主要表现在:它是企业直接与保险市场联系的专业渠道,是全球化风险管理的工具;它可以为母公司减少保费成本,建立风险储备基金,使母公司增加风险转移的宽度和深度,减少商业保险循环周期对企业保费成本的波动影响,增加母公司集团盈利能力,并为母公司无法在商业保险市场转移的风险提供保障.到2004年,全球自保公司数量已达4800余家.中国境内唯一的一家自保公司--中海石油保险有限公司(CIL)2000年8月在香港设立,在中国海油风险管理策略的指导下,CIL根据市场变化,调整经营策略,获得了快速发展.     

开山：求解中国企业“新命题”

核心技术缺失一直被认为是中国制造企业最大的短板。但对那些雄心勃勃的企业而言,这恐怕并非惟一的考验。在开山成功实现从技术“追随者”到“领先者”的蜕变之后,新的命题也随之而来……     

Exploring subcultural differences in hofstede's value survey: The case of the Chinese

Hofstede's Value Survey Module (VSM) identifies fundamental differences in the way people in various countries perceive and interpret their worlds. After adjusting value scores on the basis of demographic features of samples in the present study, values between subcultural groupings in four Chinese-populated regions (Taiwan, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Wuhan) were compared, and strong subcultural differences revealed. A methodology is proposed to facilitate VSM comparisons using limited, secondary data sources. Propositions concerning subcultural differences are suggested on the basis of the findings.     

R&D at Indian Organic Chemicals Limited (IOCL) – from a service to an enterprise: a case study

IOCL is a pioneer in the country in the field of bulk chemical manufacture. The company achieved its leadership position by utilizing the locally available feedstock i.e. ethyl alcohol from molasses and homegrown technologies to produce a range of bulk chemicals. The R&D activity in the company started almost simultaneously with the erection of the first production plant. It was envisaged to play a role of a typical ‘in-house’ R&D set up. Thus, its activities encompassed the traditional spectrum that most in-house R&D departments of the times were built to perform. These were: 1. Supporting ongoing production activity. 2. Value addition by extending the product line. 3. Improving the quality of the products. The R&D department played these roles competently. Towards this end, the department was well served by trained task oriented staff. However, perhaps the very success of its efforts led to the development of a highly inward-looking culture. However, the post liberalization era brought with it a new set of challenges. With entry barriers slowly diminishing, the company was no longer able to sustain its position of pre-eminence in the fields that it was a leader. Local competition by leaner and meaner players equipped with better technology also played its part in this erosion. Unfavourable economies of scale and lower margins on the traditional products led to the management to rethink on future business strategy. A change of course was called for. For a company with IOCL’s resources, the course change that the management thought would preserve share holder value, was to shift the product mix from bulk chemicals characterized by high volume/low value to fine and specialty areas characterized by low volumes and high value. It decided that the R&D would provide the driving force for this strategic change. In essence, the R&D would be supporting a cluster of new activities, which would be revenue generating and thus be able to metamorphose from a cost center to a profit center. In order to play its new role, the R&D required to redefine its own character. Several changes in the existing systems and introduction of some newer management practices were necessary. The steps to be taken were identified as follows: 1. Shifting from a skill-based to knowledge-based staffing; 2. Creating a structured approach to project management; 3. Initiating a multi functional approach to shorten the project time cycles; 4. Putting in place mechanisms to interface and interact with the customers; 5. Inculcate a business orientation into a traditionally groomed group of scientists and technicians; 6. Integrating the activities of R&D into the enterprise resource planning network of the company; 7. Most importantly, set up a mechanism to market the R&D services.     

Naked Exclusion in the Lab: The Case of Sequential Contracting

In the context of the naked exclusion model of Rasmusen, Ramseyer and Wiley [1991] and Segal and Whinston [2009b], we examine whether sequential contracting is more conducive to exclusion in the lab, and whether it is cheaper for the incumbent than simultaneous contracting. We find that an incumbent who proposes contracts to buyers sequentially, excludes significantly more often than an incumbent who proposes contracts simultaneously. In contrast to theory, this comes at a substantial cost for the incumbent. Accounting for the observation that buyers are more likely to accept an exclusive contract the higher the payment, substantially improves the fit between theoretical predictions and observed behavior.     

Group task management: a key element in technology across the curriculum

It is generally recognised that curriculum development is required to develop methods of delivering technology across the curriculum. This paper is based on the three years of development of an approach known as group task management (GTM). Central to the approach is the setting of a task which groups co-operate in achieving, in competition with other groups. Although GTM can be undertaken within the normal timetable structure it is argued that the most beneficial approach is to use a blocked period of time. Students report that the activity is relevant and of benefit.     

Diaspora and trade facilitation: The case of ethnic Chinese in Australia

Using a sample of 135 Australian firms with operations in Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan), this paper seeks to examine whether members of an ethnic diaspora can facilitate trade between Australia and their countries of origin. Specifically, it found that companies that are owned by immigrants and/or hired immigrants in key decision making positions (immigrant effect or IE, in short) were (a) more likely to resort to a higher resource commitment when entering into the target market; and (b) used more extensively in target markets where there are greater variations in customer behavior. There was no significant difference (a) in the deployment of immigrants between Australian firms operating in Mainland China vis-à-vis those in Hong Kong/Taiwan; (b) where there were variations in product life cycle stages between the home and target markets; (c) based on the length of operations in the target market; and (d) in performance between firms with IE and those without in the target markets. The influence of firm size, overall international business experience, variations in political-legal, economic, and competitive environments between the home and target markets, and industry type were also examined. The findings of the study with implications for theory and practice are discussed.     

Turning Around a State Owned Enterprise: The Case of Scooters India Limited

Past research on firm turnaround shows that the propensity of an organization to undertake a successful turnaround depends on a complex interaction between action choices in the organization and constraints in the business environment. This article extends this line of research by examining corporate decline and turnaround in an environment with numerous challenging environmental constraints: the state-owned sector in India. Using an in-depth case study of a state-owned enterprise in India, this research found that the business environment, the firm's decision-making process, its leadership characteristics, and the stakeholders' responses were are all found to influence the firm's action choices and turnaround process. This study also shows that in addition to the strategic and operational changes so commonly associated with firm turnaround, the importance of leadership and the basic credibility of the firm's top management with major stakeholders and government officials also play key roles in the turnaround.     

浅谈集团公司货币资金内部控制

企业内部控制制度的建立和完善 ,在实践过程中 ,已得到各界的认同。财政部在下发《内部会计控制规范———基本规范》时 ,紧接着出台了《内部会计控制规范———货币资金 (试行 )》 ,正是由于货币资金是企业中流动性最强的资产 ,而决定它的内部控制属于企业内部控制系统中的重要部分。如何在集团公司中搞好货币资金的内部控制 ,除按照常规建立内部控制系统应遵循的基本原则外 ,还应有其独特的特点。笔者所在的平顶山煤业 (集团 )有限责任公司 ,是全国特大型煤炭工业基地 ,经济效益在煤炭企业中名列前茅 ,多年来形成了具有平煤特色的各项内部…     

Antecedents and consequences of the strategic orientations in new product development: The case of Chinese manufacturers

The objective of the present study is to advance the understanding of the role of the strategic orientation of the firm for successful new product development (NPD), in the context of Chinese manufacturing firms. Through field research accompanied by a review of the related literature, this study identifies customer orientation and technology orientation as crucial strategic components that are important to successful new product development. This research proposes a conceptual model of strategic orientations, in which firm-internal (organizational support) and -external (environmental turbulence) factors are expected to influence strategic orientations, which, in turn, impact NPD performance. The model is tested using data collected from a large-scale survey of 232 manufacturing firms in China. The results largely support the hypotheses derived from the conceptual model. First, organizational support and environmental turbulence have a positive influence on the implementation of strategic orientations. Second, the two strategic orientations show a different pattern of performance implications.     

中国石油天然气股份有限公司质量管理的形势和任务

进入21世纪以来，随着全球经济一体化的飞速发展，质量成为企业在市场竞争中取胜的关键，质量管理成为企业管理的核心内容。正如美国质量管理专家朱兰博士预言的那样．21世纪已经成为质量世纪。     

A strategic analysis of surging Chinese manufacturers: The case of Galanz

Recent years have witnessed the surging of Chinese manufacturers, as China has become the world’s factory floor. This paper presents a case study of one of the most successful manufacturers in China, the Galanz Group, now the world’s largest microwave manufacturer. Based on theories of multinational corporations from emerging economies, the paper examines the process of Galanz’s integration into the global market. The company has developed unique competitive strategies that have made it a great success within China and in overseas markets. The Galanz model suggests strong strategic implications for both Chinese firms and incumbent multinational corporations.

Markups in a dual labour market: The case of the Netherlands

We follow the production function approach to assess markups, which requires the estimation of the output elasticity of a flexible input. In the basic setup we estimate a structural value added production function, using temporary contract hours as flexible input. We find rather stable markups in the Netherlands in the period 2006–2016. We show that extending the flexible input incorrectly with fixed contract hours results in an increasing markup. Findings are robust to an alternative setup, in which a gross output production function is specified and materials are used as flexible input. Implications for applied work and policy are discussed.