Does the technological sourcing decision matter? Evidence from Spanish panel data

This paper extends previous analysis of the choice between internal and external R&D to consider the effect of this decision on productivity. Existing empirical research confirms that there is a positive relationship between technological assets and firm performance. However, few works have attempted to identify whether the technological sourcing decision taken by the firm affects productivity. The main finding of this paper is that the technological strategy developed by the firm does affect productivity. This issue is particularly novel as it incorporates the technological sourcing decision taken by the firm. The results we obtain indicate that the technological sourcing decision affects the relationship between technological capital and productivity. Thus, our findings suggest that the decision between internal and external R&D matters.     

A comparative study of codes of ethics in health care facilities and energy companies

Though written corporate codes of ethics have been touted as a panacea for the embarrassments and uncertainties of the past two decades, the absence of clear evaluation procedures severely compromises their usefulness. An ethnographic study comparing development processes and compliance outcomes in large health care facilities and energy companies shows that neither of the two industries has encountered much success with a codes of ethics program. Companies that distribute copies of their code of ethics seldom ensure the process is completed or that employees understand the purpose of the document, and staff responsible for the code give it a low priority relative to their overall responsibilities. Contrary to expectations, health care facilities are no more likely to develop or implement codes of ethics effectively than are energy companies. More extensive research is needed in order to generate the data necessary for the development of realistic standards for the evaluation of codes of ethics.Isaac D. Montoya, is President of Affiliated Systems Corporation, a management and research consulting practice specializing in the health care industry. He has worked with numerous hospitals, medical schools, and government entities in developing health care systems around the world. He has developed training programs for health care personnel, administrators, and Boards of Directors as well as taught at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He serves on a number of Boards of Directors and Federal grant review committees.Alan J. Richard, is a Research Assistant for Affiliated Systems Corporation. Recently, he helped prepare a statistical analysis of Ryan White funding priorities for Harris County HIV Services. He is currently engaged in an evaluation of cocaine abuse treatment modalities at Riverside Hospital in Houston, Texas.