In earlier articles, you have learned from Ray Wild and Stuart Brown something of the origins of the Teaching Company Scheme, and some details of the Molins/Henley/Brunel venture…
Abstract
In earlier articles, you have learned from Ray Wild and Stuart Brown something of the origins of the Teaching Company Scheme, and some details of the Molins/Henley/Brunel venture with which they are personally involved. It is now my task to give you, so to speak, the ‘policy background’ to the scheme and an over‐view of how it is developing, and in view of the complexity I make no apology for some repetition. We are still in the experimental stage of a complex and dynamic situation in which the factors involved are ill‐defined, and their importance and relationships are not well understood. The scheme guided by the management committee must obviously be flexible to allow for opportunism and judgment, but within a corporate policy. Such being the case, the opportunity for criticism of its actions is immense!
To reflect on the process of trade between cultures.
Abstract
Purpose
To reflect on the process of trade between cultures.
Design/methodology/approach
Fictional poem.
Findings
The poem considers the trading positions of two cultures and the needs of both sides. It suggests a separation of commodities, regular items under contract being treated differently from those produced as unique and more highly valued artefacts.
Originality/value
Promotes reflection on the respective values of the two sides in the negotiation; of their needs and wants, and their economic backgrounds. Provides a unique account of negotiation and settling on price where different cultures meet.
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Michael Perini and Beth Roszkowski
Undergraduate information commons have become pervasive in the academic library landscape. In recent years, librarians and administrators have come to identify the need for…
Abstract
Undergraduate information commons have become pervasive in the academic library landscape. In recent years, librarians and administrators have come to identify the need for comparable commons’ spaces and services for graduate students. This chapter serves as a review of recently developed models of graduate commons—in this discussion referred to as Scholars’ Commons—as defined by an integration of physical learning spaces, personnel, and a dynamic availability of research support services that support assist graduate students throughout their academic life cycle. These provisions serve as the foundation for the development of enhanced library-supported graduate student success.
Still a rare commodity, existing models from selected institutional web sites were examined using a framework for analysis consisting of several criteria: new use of space; segmented services; partnerships; and new organizational structures. Through a synthesis of the commonalities prevalent in these systems, this chapter aims to provide recommendations for prospective Scholars’ Commons models and proposals for their development. Library organizations contemplating the development of a Scholars’ Commons need to consider the needs of their target population, potential new or reallocated spaces, feasibility of providing support and research technologies, and possible staffing models. As well, the authors consider the importance of library-based graduate student support that bolsters cross-divisional collaborative partnerships across the academy.
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Hannu Littunen and Markku Virtanen
The purpose of this study is to analyse which factors differentiate growing firms from the non‐growth businesses. It seeks to analyse the start‐up factors as well as the changes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyse which factors differentiate growing firms from the non‐growth businesses. It seeks to analyse the start‐up factors as well as the changes in the activities and the characteristics during the seven‐year period from the start‐up stage.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is a part of a longitudinal research project that has followed the development of 200 SMEs in Finnish metal‐based manufacturing and business services since their start‐up in 1990. The paper uses a contingency approach and concentrates on 86 respondents who have survived after seven years' activity. The paper develops a model for testing the factors that differentiate growing ventures from the non‐growth companies.
Findings
Static characteristics of the entrepreneur and the firm other than group management style do not explain the growth of the firm. The factors that differentiate growing businesses from non‐growth companies include mainly dynamic variables such as increases in production capacity and external network relations, and changes in adopting a specialised product policy. In most cases extrovert attitude and proactive strategies, particularly with respect to markets, were necessary to achieve growth over an extended period.
Research limitations/implications
The study is restricted to two branches of industry and the period covered included a severe recession in the economy. Thus more branches and development during a less turbulent time period could be included. The most important implication of the study is that analysing growth should concentrate on the dynamics of firm development rather than on static characteristics of the entrepreneur or the firm.
Practical implications
The practitioners, e.g. venture capitalists, could use the results when selecting their portfolio companies, since the findings suggest the variables which should be used in differentiating growing businesses from non‐growth companies.
Originality/value
The paper uses a contingency approach together with longitudinal data in the analysis. The results show that the differentiating factors of growing companies are dynamic variables, including especially motivation and strategy factors. Thus longitudinal data are a necessary condition for robust analysis of growth.
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Stephen Potter and Chris Lovatt
Analyses the law covering the role of the management of auction sales and the implications they bring. Explores the legal obligations of the parties to an auction sale with…
Abstract
Analyses the law covering the role of the management of auction sales and the implications they bring. Explores the legal obligations of the parties to an auction sale with specific reference to the newly defined liability of the managers of the auction where articles or property are sold “without reserve”. Concludes that it is now clear that if an auctioneer refuses to sell to the highest bidder then he will incur liability to the bidder. States that this could have dire consequences. Examines existing case law and new precedent materials to draw such conclusions and provides some recommendations.
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In this paper, I demonstrate an alternative explanation to the development of the American electricity industry. I propose a social embeddedness approach (Granovetter, 1985, 1992…
Abstract
In this paper, I demonstrate an alternative explanation to the development of the American electricity industry. I propose a social embeddedness approach (Granovetter, 1985, 1992) to interpret why the American electricity industry appears the way it does today, and start by addressing the following questions: Why is the generating dynamo located in well‐connected central stations rather than in isolated stations? Why does not every manufacturing firm, hospital, school, or even household operate its own generating equipment? Why do we use incandescent lamps rather than arc lamps or gas lamps for lighting? At the end of the nineteenth century, the first era of the electricity industry, all these technical as well as organizational forms were indeed possible alternatives. The centralized systems we see today comprise integrated, urban, central station firms which produce and sell electricity to users within a monopolized territory. Yet there were visions of a more decentralized electricity industry. For instance, a geographically decentralized system might have dispersed small systems based around an isolated or neighborhood generating dynamo; or a functionally decentralized system which included firms solely generating and transmitting the power, and selling the power to locally‐owned distribution firms (McGuire, Granovetter, and Schwartz, forthcoming). Similarly, the incandescent lamp was not the only illuminating device available at that time. The arc lamp was more suitable for large‐space lighting than incandescent lamps; and the second‐generation gas lamp ‐ Welsbach mantle lamp ‐ was much cheaper than the incandescent electric light and nearly as good in quality (Passer, 1953:196–197).
Interest in developing institutional explanations of political and economic behavior has blossomed among social scientists since the early 1980s. Three intellectual perspectives…
Abstract
Interest in developing institutional explanations of political and economic behavior has blossomed among social scientists since the early 1980s. Three intellectual perspectives are now prevalent: rational choice theory, historical institutionalism and a new school of organizational analysis. This paper summarizes, compares and contrasts these views and suggests ways in which cross‐fertilization may be achieved. Particular attention is paid to how the insights of organizational analysis and historical institutionalism can be blended to provide fruitful avenues of research and theorizing, especially with regard to the production, adoption, and mobilization of ideas by decision makers.