A successful British MNE in the backyard of American big business: Explaining the performance of the American and Canadian subsidiaries of Lever Brothers 1888–1914

After 1888, Lever Brothers expanded into the United States and Canada. The surviving archival evidence suggests that the Canadian subsidiary was more successful than the American one. This article considers a number of factors that help to explain why this was the case. Some of the factors considered, such as differences between the Canadian and American tariffs, Canada's more robust system of trademark protection, and the absence of an anti-trust law in Canada before 1908, are related to themes very familiar to business historians. This article also applies concepts that are not part of the normal toolkit of business historians. The article draws on the literature on identity economics and argues that the greater success enjoyed by Lever Brothers in Canada was, in part, rooted in Canada's strongly British identity. The impact of identities on the policymakers, managers, and consumers who collectively shaped the two North American subsidiaries is assessed.     

基于声卡的便携式数据采集与分析系统设计

文章利用声卡作为数据采集设备,用数据分析和处理功能非常强大的工程实用软件Labview作为软件开发平台,设计了一个低成本、高性能的数据采集与分析系统。实现了数据采集、信号分析(时域分析和频域分析)及信号发生等多种功能。     

CLV

SUMMARY

It is becoming increasingly clear from the literature that there is a need for a metric that can objectively measure future profitability of the customer to the firm. This paper traces the emergence of such a metric—the customer lifetime value (CLV) and discusses the two measures of computing CLV—the aggregate approach and the individual level approach. Subsequently, eight strategies that are available to firms for maximizing CLV are discussed. These strategies assist firms in deciding how to: select the best customer, make loyal customers profitable, optimally allocate the resources, pitch the right product to the right customer at the right time, link acquisition and retention to profitability, prevent customer attrition, encourage multi-channel shopping behavior, and maximize brand value. Each of these strategies was successfully implemented by different firms across various industries, resulting in significant increases in the bottom-line. Further, the challenges in implementing a CLV-based framework in a B-to-C organization are also discussed with an illustration.     

Motives and Modes of FDI,Firm Characteristics and Performance

Abstract

In this exploratory study, die autfiors attempt to determine and interpret die interdependencies between die motives and modes of setting up subsidiaries by foreign investors in Poland, and the main characteristics and performance of these subsidiaries. Two modes of setting up a subsidiary are examined: green-field and acquisition. The audiors use data collected from seven foreign subsidiaries operating in Poland and apply within-case and cross-case analytical approach to identify and interpret relationships between die variables under consideration. The results of the study lead to a formulation of eight hypotheses requiring further testing and research.     

一种半履带式单臂无线数据采集机器人的设计与实现

给出了一种带有机械手臂并能采集环境温度、湿度等信息的半履带式机器人的控制设计方案。其关键是硬件电路特别是多个多种电机的控制与构成,无线通信控制、软件设计等。文章详细给出了关键部分的设计与实现过程。     

Customer Selection and Prioritization

Abstract

That a firm benefits most when customers stick around for the long haul is a central premise of relationship marketing. This conviction has manifested itself over the past decade in the form of numerous formal loyalty programs that aim to seek and foster customer relationships. Scant evidence for the success of such programs has accrued since. This has lead firms to re-evaluate their investments in customer relationship management. Optimal resource allocation models address issues of relative investments in customer acquisition versus retention, and on managing relationships with profitable customers so that the value of a firm's customer base is maximized.     

Product innovation and firms’ ownership

This paper explores (i) the incentives for an incumbent firm to acquire an entrant willing to sell a product innovation rather than openly competing with this entrant, and (ii) in case of acquisition, the incentives to sell simultaneously both the existing products and the new one rather than specializing on a single variant. We prove that, in some circumstances, an incumbent firm can find it profitable to make an acquisition proposal to the entrant. Nevertheless, in this acquisition scenario, a product proliferation strategy is never observed at equilibrium. Furthermore, while being available for sale, sometimes the innovation simply remains unexploited.     

剩余电流保护器的应用分析

该文对剩余电流保护器在选型和安装等方面,进行正确与错误做法的对比分析,提出应用中几点注意事项。     

跨国公司在华增资扩股的实现机制——一个基才知识获取与谈判力量变迁的分析模型

越来越多的合资或合作企业在华经营数年后，通过增资扩股，转变为母公司控股型合资企业甚至是独资企业。针对跨国公司在华增资扩股的实现机制问题。文章在理论研究的基础上，提出了一个基于知识获取与谈判力量变迁的分析模型，并进一步探讨了影响外方合伙人知识获取以致谈判力量变迁的主要因素。     

400MHz高速数据采集系统的设计与实现

介绍了一种用ECL逻辑和TTL逻辑器件构成的高速数据采集系统，采样频率为400MHz。系统实现简单，工作稳定。对系统进行的性能测试表明其有效位数为6位以上，满足实际应用的需要，适用于高速数字信号处理领域。