Formal versus informal knowledge networks in R&D: a case study using social network analysis

The existence of informal social networks within organizations has long been recognized as important and the unique working relationships among scientific and technical personnel have been well documented by both academics and practitioners. The growing interest in knowledge management practices has led to increased attention being paid to social network analysis as a tool for mapping the nature and membership of informal networks. However, despite the knowledge-intensive nature of research and development (R&D) activities, social network analyses of the R&D function remain relatively rare. This paper discusses the role of informal networks in the development, exchange and dissemination of knowledge within the R&D function. A case study using social network analysis is used to compare and contrast formal and informal knowledge networks within ICI. Marked differences between the informal organization and ICI's formal structures for knowledge exchange are revealed and a series of insights into the working habits of technical staff are presented. The implications for managers are clear: through a better understanding of the informal organization of R&D staff, they can more successfully capture and exploit new ideas; more efficiently disseminate information throughout the function; and more effectively understand the working habits and activities of employees.     

CEO更替报告

每年,博斯公司都会对世界前2500家上市公司的CEO更替进行持续且透彻的研究。自2000年起,这项研究已持续了11年。每年我们都会在CEO更替研究中提出新的维度。今年的研究方向是CEO的角色以及CEO角色对任期和更替的影响。CEO及其高级管理团队在业务中亲身实践的程度如何？他们如何参与自身领导的业务？我们发现这些因素对任期和更替的影响非常明显。在这些公司中,总部参与运营决策的程度越高,CEO更替的频率可能就越高。     

Collective Choice in the Commons: Experimental Results on Proposed Allocation Rules and Votes

We analyse and empirically examine a multi-level common-pool resource (CPR) game consisting of a collective-choice level game and an operational-level game. In the collective-choice game, participants anonymously propose allocation rules to be used in the operational game and vote anonymously on the proposed rules. Majority and unanimity rules are investigated. Our major finding is that both types of voting rules substantially increase efficiency relative to a baseline with no opportunity for collective choice, but the distributional consequences of the rules differ. To understand the process by which efficiency is improved better, we examine four predictive theories related to proposals, votes, and outcomes.     

Paying the price: The affinity credit card relationship

Since affinity credit cards were launched in the United Kingdom in 1988 their numbers have grown steadily. These cards are offered by financial institutions to charity supporters, and each time the card is used for a transaction, a sum of money is paid to the charity by the institution. This paper is based on the results of a 1995 survey of UK charities holding affinity credit cards and on the. follow-up interviews. The question is considered of who holds the balance of power in the relationship between the profit-orientated institution and the nonprofit charitable organisation.     

Family ownership,altruism and agency costs in Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises

Given the continuing uncertainty about whether family firms enjoy lower agency costs, this article hypothesizes that a combination of the effects of family ownership, altruism and self-control is instead at play. To begin with, family ownership can indeed reduce agency costs through better aligning the interests of owners and managers. This is a ‘determining’ effect in that it independently mitigates one source of agency problems. However, altruism combined with self-control problems arising from the highly concentrated ownership often found in family firms can also increase agency costs. This is an ‘embedding’ effect as it is rooted in the personal relationships within the family firm. Using the Business Longitudinal Database compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we find that for larger SMEs (those with 20–200 employees), the gains in lower agency costs arising from family ownership are almost completely offset by the losses from altruism and the lack of self-control.     

THE LOCAL EFFECTS OF LARGE DAM RESERVOIRS: U.S. EXPERIENCE, 1975–1995

Dam construction has been an important component of economic development initiatives in the United States. However, few comprehensive empirical studies examine the effects of such projects on local employment and income. This paper employs quasi-experimental control group methods to examine the effects of large dam reservoirs on county income, earnings, population and employment growth for dams opened in the U.S. during the period 1975–1984. The paper shows that large dam reservoirs have some statistically significant positive effects and tend to stimulate growth. There is considerable variation, however, with dams constructed for flood control purposes and dams further away from markets and large cities having less of an effect.