A general qualitative technique for the comparison of economic structures

Quantitative methods normally do not fully exhaust nor sufficiently show the structural information contained in sets of data. Therefore the authors introduce a new general technique for analyzing structures which is based on qualitative methods. The proposed technique can be divided into several steps. First, the given structural information is prepared with the help of graph theoretical tools. Then the obtained results are condensed in several steps to manageable vectors (key values), the most important step being the construction of graph theoretical decay patterns. These strongly condensed data allow the use of statistical methods and offer the chance to compare even a large number of structures simultaneously. After having introduced the necessary theoretical tools, the authors then present the results of some empirical investigations which showed the usefulness of the proposed technique. Compared with the corresponding quantitative methods, the empirical investigations also showed that our technique is relatively robust with respect to short-comings in the primary material. This result opens up opportunities for obtaining more actual yet costsaving structural information.     

Beeinflussung der Wirtschaftsstabilität durch monetäre Kräfte

Ohne ZusammenfassungAus dem Englischen übersetzt von Dr. K. Socher, Wien; Professor Haberler hat den deutschen Text seines Vortrages selbst durchgesehen.     

Das reale internationale Austauschverhältnis (Terms of Trade) und die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung

Ohne ZusammenfassungAus dem Englischen übersetzt von Vally Rothschild, Wien     

Finding the connection between research and design: the knowledge development of STEM teachers in a professional learning community

International Journal of Technology and Design Education - Research and design activities are becoming more important in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and D&T...     

Translating macro-ideas into micro-level practices: The role of social interactions

Translation studies have conceptualized language, editing and meaning in the adoption of new ideas or policies, but left the role of interpersonal relationships largely unexplored. This paper contributes to translation theory by using insights from social exchange theory to analyze the role of social interactions in translation. Our case is the translation of the macro-idea of ‘activation’ in practices of sickness absence management within Dutch and Danish hospitals. The study reveals that the translation of this macro-idea into micro-practices varies along with the local managers’ positive or negative interpretation of social interactions with their sick-listed employees. The findings thus suggest a crucial role for interpersonal relationships in explaining meaning, reciprocity and outcomes of translation. The findings are used to develop a model of how macro-ideas are related to micro-practices via mechanisms of social exchange.     

Market Power, Industrial Concentration and Innovative Activity

This paper discusses the paradox between the positive effect of industrial concentration on R & D spending, and its non-positive effect on the number of innovations. Also, I analyze whether concentration has different effects on small- and large-firm R & D. The analysis shows that the positive effect of industrial concentration on R & D spending is at least as strong for small firms as it is for large firms within an industry, which indicates that the possession of market power is not in itself conducive to innovative effort. In addition, high concentration appears to be attended with a loss of efficiency in R & D spending.     

使用透明的规划对维修进行优化——论优化流程中维修规划系统的重要性

使用维修规划系统（MPS）就意味着工厂的维修业务比以往变得更加透明,而且有了更多的手段对维修业务进行更为有效地控制。这样做能提高工厂维修系统的可用性,并确保设备的性能处于最佳状态。     

Macht,Management und Verhaltensbiologie Grundzüge eines verhaltensorientierten Managements

Collective action is not conceivable without the exercising of power. Therefore, the issue of power is a central one with regard to the behaviour of individuals. There are four strategic alternatives for handling power — direct and indirect physical power strategies and political strategies in the form of altruistic and Machiavellian approaches. Protagonists primarily have two objectives in relation to power — to achieve power with the aim of occupying as high a rung in the hierarchical structure as possible and to administer or exercise power by leading social groups. Commensurate with the two different objectives, there are various optimal behavioural alternatives, i.e. the strategy mix differs according to the given objective. Leaders seem to be neurobiologically predisposed to handle power. This makes it easier for them to achieve power. However, it is probably more difficult for them to modify or adapt their behaviour when exercising their power. This leads to deficiencies in leadership and compromises the leader’s position. In organisations with a stable environment, groups have some limited scope for balancing out leadership deficiencies.