Advertising competition and industry channel structure

The introduction of independent retailers has long been recognized as a buffer that alleviates the price competition between channels. In this paper, we argue that this effect may be counter-balanced if the manufacturers compete along dimensions that differ from prices (such as advertising). We find that delegating to retailers may intensify other non-price competition between the manufacturers and therefore make the manufacturers worse off. Our analysis shows that the “retailer buffer” may be a two-edged sword and thus suggests that channel structure may critically depend on the specific dimensions along which the manufacturers compete with each other.     

A Framework for Adopting Collaboration 2.0 Tools for Virtual Group Decision Making

Decision making in virtual teams is gaining momentum due to globalization, mobility of employees, and the need for collective and rapid decision making by members who are in different locations. These factors resulted in a proliferation of virtual team software support tools for decision making, the latest of which is social software (also known as collaboration 2.0), which includes tools such as wikis, blogs, microblogs, discussion forums, and social networking platforms. This paper describes the potential use of collaboration 2.0 software for improving the process and the specific tasks in virtual group decision making. The paper proposes a framework for exploring the fitness between social software and the major activities in the group decision making process and how such tools can be successfully adopted. Specifically, we use a fit-viability model to help assessing whether social software fit a decision task and what organizational factors are important for such tools to be effective. Representative research issues related to the use of such tools are also presented.     

Lending technologies,lending specialization,and minority access to small-business loans

We investigate minority access to small-business loans using a probit model of loan application denial that recognizes two loan types (line-of-credit loans and non-line-of-credit loans) made by two lender types (commercial banks and nonbank financial institutions). We estimate our model on data from the 1998 Survey of Small Business Finances. We find evidence consistent with minority equal access to bank credit lines and nonbank non-line-of-credit loans in highly competitive loan markets; in less competitive markets we find evidence consistent with unequal access to these loans. We also find evidence consistent with unequal minority access to bank non-line-of-credit loans, regardless of loan market competitiveness. Our findings differ from previous research which treats small-business loans as a homogenous product and finds evidence consistent with unequal minority access to small-business loans generally. We argue that the existence of multiple small-business lending technologies and loan specialization by lenders account for our findings and demonstrate the need to treat small-business loans as a heterogeneous product when investigating equal access to small-business credit.     

Teams developing business ideas: how member characteristics and conflict affect member-rated team effectiveness

Team researchers have found that the diversity to effectiveness ratings are mediated by team conflict. Using a sample of 73 teams developing their business ideas, I found direct effects of diversity and conflict on member-rated team effectiveness. Here, I explain how the circumstances under which these teams operate can lead to these findings. For these teams, task conflict was found to relate negatively to member-rated team effectiveness. This finding contrasts with research on organizational teams, where task conflict usually relates positively to team effectiveness ratings. I also found that both diversity and average member experience influence member-rated effectiveness. These findings imply that diversity, conflict, and ratings of team effectiveness may differ for teams developing business ideas as compared to organizational teams. Thus, findings from organizational team research should be applied with caution to teams developing business ideas and possibly to new venture teams in general.     

Der Wettbewerb im Einzelhandel mit Arzneimitteln

Der Apothekenmarkt wird in Deutschland in vieler Hinsicht reglementiert. Ein Gro?teil der verkauften Produkte unterliegt einer Preisbindung und der Marktzugang ist stark beschr?nkt. Die Autorin pl?diert für eine Liberalisierung des Marktes und macht konkrete Reformvorschl?ge.     

Pflegeberatung ist Vertrauenssache

M?ngeln in der h?uslichen Pflege pr?ventiv begegnen – Vertrauen ohne Kontrolle, Routine, überforderung oder das Nichtbeachten des Beziehungsgeflechtes zwischen Pflegenden und Gepflegten führt oft zu Problemen. Der Gesetzgeber verpflichtete deshalb die Pflegekassen und Tr?gerverb?nde von ambulanten Pflegeeinrichtungen zur Erarbeitung von Richtlinien und standardisierten Verfahren für die Pflegefachberatung. Leider gibt es bislang keine verbindliche Umsetzung.     

Technik für ein langes Leben

Megatrend Ambient Assisted Living - Im Jahr 2035 wird in Deutschland jeder dritte Mensch ?lter sein als 60 Jahre. Die Nachfrage nach Dienstleistungen und unterstützenden Systemen wird steigen. Technische Assistenzsysteme für Pflegende, Pflegebedürftige und deren Angeh?rige sollen das Leben im Alter sicherer und bequemer machen.     

Eden als Alternative

Eine Betreuungsphilosophie für Altenpflegeeinrichtungen - Die Alterung der Gesellschaft stellt viele westliche Gesellschaften vor neue Herausforderungen. Mit der Eden-Alternative^? wurde inzwischen weltweit ein Konzept umgesetzt, das die Art und Weise, wie pflegebedürftige Menschen im hohen Alter betreut und gepflegt werden, grundlegend ver?ndert hat.     

Débridement mit topischer Therapie kombinieren

Bew?hrte und neue Therapieans?tze zur Behandlung chronischer Wunden – Unter chronischen, schlecht heilenden Wunden leiden in Deutschland etwa 800.000 Menschen. Weil die Erkrankung für den Patienten schwerwiegende Einschr?nkungen im Alltag mit sich bringt, steht eine effektive Wundbehandlung im Zentrum des Interesses.     

Der MDK kommt!

Vorbereitung auf die Qualit?tsprüfung — Steht der MDK unangemeldet vor der Tür, kommt es unter den Mitarbeitern h?ufig zu Unsicherheiten, die sich negativ auf die Prüfung auswirken k?nnen. Doch durch klare Aufgabenverteilungen und einen „Handlungsleitfaden“ legen Sie und Ihre Mitarbeiter den Grundstein für ein gutes Prüfungsergebnis.