Search

Extant literature inform us the relation between lead firm’s governance and suppliers’ upgrading in the global value chain. Yet, studies have not explained the upgrading mechanism of the suppliers as to what value is created and/or co-created (i.e. exchange-value & value-in-use) in suppliers firms and how that value links to suppliers’ capability development in the apparel firms. Focusing on Bangladeshi apparel industry as a context and using a comparative and embedded case study method, we investigate both the lead firms and the suppliers of H&M from Sweden and Bestseller from Denmark. Given the contrasting nature of governance, length of relationship, value of purchase and organizational vision of the two lead firms, our study investigates different sizes of suppliers and their value creation mechanism as well as capability development. Based on a focus group interview with 6 senior merchandisers from leading apparel companies and 20 in-depth interviews from six large and medium sized suppliers, study reveals that there are mainly four areas in which value is created in supplier’s organization in the relational mechanism, thus the process leads to suppliers differentiated capability development. The four areas are: (1) production capacity, (2) product development capacity, (3) occupational health, safety and compliance capacity, (4) and sustainability capacity. Study however finds that the value creation is affected by the relational conditions between buyer-supplier (e.g. support activities by buyers depend on suppliers ranking i.e. platinum, gold, and silver), the nature of buyers’ management (e.g. nature of governance and management system applied to maintain relationship with suppliers), and suppliers’ organizational capability including the absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial dynamics that emphasizes long-term sustainability. Study thus postulates that suppliers’ capability is a consequence of value creation process in relational mechanism in which buyers’ tend to drive suppliers capability, mostly indirectly, through policy issues, compliance mechanism, knowledge sharing, transaction and relationship development and strategic vision. Whilst suppliers organizational resources, vision, and absorptive capacity make the most direct contribution to supplier’s capability development, which is rooted in the institutional context.

Despite extensive corporate responsibility activities (CSR), MNE Subsidiaries often fail to meet stakeholders expectations; not only that they often violate laws, regulations, thus the paradoxical conditions arise from the simultaneous application of CSR and the violations of institutional standards, leading to lowering legitimacy. To demonstrate it, we illustrate a case called Grameenphone from Bangladesh that has such a paradoxical condition and argue that the lack of organizational ambidexterity capability (i.e. balancing between social and economic goals) causes this paradox and lowering legitimacy. Balancing between the two goals depends on the nature of governance, management and organizational structure, which ensures its effectiveness in practice. We argue that ambidexterity is possible when firm’s ownership and management realizes CSR philosophy, which typically optimizes both social and economic goals, and orients its entire functions and operations towards it. We conceptualize ambidexterity capability by three key eclectic components (ROS): realizing CSR, orienting CSR, and synchronizing CSR in governance and operation. Thus, the synchronization would support the legitimacy earning process because it would take into account the multiple stakeholders expectations. MNE subsidiary therefore should develop a governance mechanism that is compatible to the complex organizational and ownership structure across the global operations and supporting ROS mechanism. Developing compatible organizational culture and employee mind-set would help ensure consistency between CSR operation and CSR orientation and can reduce tensions and avoid conflicts with the stakeholders.

GnRH antagonists have several clinical applications in prostate cancer, regulation of ovulation induction in females, breast cancer, male contraception and others. Antagonists differ from natural GnRH decapeptide in having five or more amino acid substitutions, whereas most of the antagonists are available as subcutaneous (SC) formula for injection some are formulated as a depot formulation for sustained release (e.g., Cetrorelix, Degarelix). Systemic delivery of cetrorelix acetate by intratracheal route can be achieved using dry powder for inhalation of the adhesive mixture when the powder deposition reaches stage four. The oral route for systemic delivery of peptide without its degradation can be achieved using gastrointestinal permeation enhancement technology GIPET® provided by acyline.

Journal of Health Research, 31, 2

Background: Peripheral venous access is frequently performed in various health care settings. However, babies’ veins are smaller and poorly supported by surrounding soft tissue casing further difficulty of insertion compared to adult patients’vein. Transillumination device is recommended for difficult insertion of peripheral veins. Nursing practice should accommodate with evolving health care advancement, and therefore the nurses’ are required to develop their knowledge and attitude towards new skill and practice.Objectives: To assess the level of nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding the use of transillumination device for establishing venous access.Methods: A descriptive study design that was conducted among a sample of 20 Nurses working at Hail General Hospital, KSA. The study tool included a questionnaire sheet of 2 parts as demographic variables and then knowledge and practice regarding use of transillumination device for establishing venous access. Selected nurses were asked to fill up the questionnaire sheet.Results: The majority 50% of the nurses were under the age group of 31yrs and above. Most of the 95% nurses were bachelor’s degree and only 5% was master’s degree. The year of experience were majority of nurses 35% had 7-9 yrs. Designation of nurses indicates, almost 50% of the nurses were working as a Charge Nurse, among 45% as staff Nurse and only 5% as Head Nurse.Obviously, 100% of the nurses perform cannulation in first attempt. Before, 65% of the nurses had no awareness of using veinlite. 100% of the nurses used 26G size cannula.Furtherly, 85% assures that they could incorporate transillumination device into practice. The opinion of 65% nurses feel, this device was easy to use.Conclusion: The study says that, most of the 65% NICU nurses has only average and 35% has good knowledge and practice regarding use of transillumination device for establishing venous access. The nurses have interest in practicing transillumination device and seems to be time saving and effective. Suitable interventional packages need to be given periodically for the effectiveness of qualitative nursing service.

This paper demonstrates that the existing understanding of technological newness in product innovation lacks nuance and does not properly explain the concept of modular innovation that can lead to radical product innovation. We apply a careful examination of two technologically new products: Tesla’s car (an all-electric car) and iRobot’s Roomba (an autonomous vacuum cleaner). Product innovation in management science often refers to the function and utility of products, while our view on product innovation emphasizes the architecture of the technology itself. Using extensive data on the product architectures and patent data of components and modules within the studied products, we gain a comprehensive understanding of why these new technologies are really new. Through the nexus of engineering science and management science, we understand that modular innovation, in contrast to previous notions, can trigger architectural innovation and eventually radical product innovation. Our crystallization of the term ‘new technology’ at the system, function, module, and component levels, thus, paves the way for an argument for why some product innovations are grown in a sequence from modular to architectural and, then, to radical innovation. We identify specific modules in each product and highlight specific novelties in product modules. Finally, we discuss, conceptually, how technological newness in modules affects changes in product structures and interfaces. This discussion of modular and architectural innovation is tied to a dynamic model describing how we can differentiate incremental product innovation from radical product innovation. Our research, thus, touches on a long-called-for discussion on technological newness in product innovation and adds insight to the seminal work on modular and architectural innovation initially conducted by Henderson and Clark in 1990.

On August 28, 2015, Ashraful Alam, Managing Director of Rizvi and Brothers (the RB Group, precursor to Walton HIL) was flying from Dhaka to Frankfurt to attend the International Trade Fair. In the plane, he began thinking about his veteran grandfather, who had sown the seed of entrepreneurship and internationalisation in the generations that had followed him. Alam has led the internationalisation of the Walton brand since the creation of Walton in 2007, and its recent strategic expansion – the establishment of a subsidiary in Stuttgart, Germany – left him poised to expand Walton’s reach to both EU and the United States. By 2014, the company was selling refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, mobile phones and home appliances bearing the Walton brand name to over 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Australia, including in its home base in Bangladesh. Despite this rapid expansion, Alam worried about whether Walton could really compete with leading international brands, given its limited managerial talents and incremental innovation, and establish itself as a true global brand in near future. In early 2000, the management of RB group, comprising five brothers including Alam, realised that manufacturing locally could add more value than importing and assembling, which would enable them to wield more power over the value chain actors. Vast local market and the availability of cheap labour in Bangladesh, together with government incentives and a discounted income tax for local production facilities, boosted its cost competitiveness in the initial stage and provided a platform to establish the brand locally and globally. Understanding the nature of electronics and the electrical goods market, they realised that maintaining cost competitiveness alone would not be sufficient for future growth and market expansion. Thus, over time, the RB Group and Walton enhanced their upstream and downstream value chain activities by establishing R&D units, an IT firm, an equipment and accessories manufacturing unit, a printing and packaging unit, an advertising agency and many specialised sales outlets throughout the country and beyond. Walton was highly committed to achieving its ambitious business mission: “Walton in every home.”

Increasingly, business students the world over work with cases from prominent emerging markets, especially the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries. The Goldman Sachs economists, a few years after coining the BRIC moniker, created the N-11 emerging market economies list. Bangladesh is one of the N-11 economies and cases from the N-11 emerging markets, particularly Bangladesh, are hard to find. This case of the brand Walton has been developed to illustrate the various dimensions of internationalisation capability, in particular: firm capabilities, marketing and internationalisation strategies that led this Bangladesh-based firm to first achieve incremental growth in international markets, and later set the stage for a more wide-ranging and challenging stage of internationalisation. In particular, the Walton case represents how rudimentary forms of internationalisation, dating back to British colonial rule in South Asia and rooted in the multi-generational history of a business family that traded across boundaries, spawned a mind-set that inspired the third generation entrepreneurs in this family to develop the capability to internationalise their brand. The contemporary internationalisation process unfolded gradually, step-by-step, and now the company seems poised to enter a new phase that is geographically as well as competitively much more challenging than the preceding phases. CASE OBJECTIVESAt the end of the discussion of this case, students will be able to understand:•The pattern of internationalisation of a large firm from the N-11 emerging market•The diversification and brand development (marketing mix) strategies of a newly internationalised firm from an emerging market•How firm capabilities (i.e. ownership advantages) affect internationalisation and why a firm chooses different locations in the internationalisation process•Why a firm internalises or externalises functions in internationalisation •The challenges in internationalisation and realise how important international management capabilities are to managing and establishing a brand in international marketingPOSITION IN COURSEThis case is designed for courses in ‘international marketing' and/or 'international business’ at both the bachelor's and master's level. However, it is also suitable for ‘global branding and strategies’ and ‘marketing’ courses.

Drawing on empirical examination of six European MNE-subsidiaries, using a multiple-case method and process analysis, this paper investigates the nexus between subsidiaries & civil society actors in institutional void that affect legitimacy development. Study finds four different levels (i.e. degree) of legitimacy- acceptance, image, endorsement, and synergy (acceptance + efficiency) subsidiaries earn, develop, or co-develop in collaboration with CS actors in internationalization. Our study brings a new insight on legitimacy theory in international management that isomorphism perspective of legitimacy cannot explain the complexity of subsidiary legitimization in institutional void. Because, subsidiaries not only earn acceptance in institutional context, they also create and co-create image, endorsement, and synergy. We thus combine institutional isomorphism and institutional innovation perspective in legitimization and conclude that subsidiaries strategic endeavors generate various levels of legitimacy, as an output; not just acceptance level only. It is hard to separate legitimacy and efficiency as strategic outcomes, because subsidiaries fill up institutional voids by institutional innovation and create operational efficiency as well as legitimacy in market and society. We conceptualize the development of different levels of legitimacy by ‘spiral metaphor’ and combine isomorphism perspective with institutional innovation, and business model-fit to illustrate how they influence legitimacy and efficiency development.

Composite steel-concrete slabs represent a popular form of flooring system in high rise buildings and bridges. This thesis comprises of experimental studies and numerical analyses into the behaviour of post-tensioned composite slabs and composite slabs with end anchorage. The shear bond between the profiled steel sheets and the concrete is very crucial to the behaviour and strength of post-tensioned composite slabs. Therefore, the possible influence of prestress on this bond behaviour is a fundamental issue for these types of slabs. In this context, a series of push tests incorporating post-tensioning at the steel bar to apply precompression to the concrete were conducted. The test results indicated that the prestress has a detrimental effect on the bond between the profiled steel sheets and concrete in post-tensioned composite slabs. This research study developed a three dimensional nonlinear finite element model of a post-tensioned push specimen using ABAQUS to simulate the bond stress-slip relations accurately. The bond stress-slip relations obtained from push tests were then assessed for post-tensioned profiled composite slabs numerically. A parametric study was conducted using the verified finite element model to study the effects of concrete strength, level of prestress, and thickness of the profiled steel sheets on the overall performance of this type of slabs. The end anchorages in combination with other shear transfer mechanism play an important role into the strength, stiffness and ductility of composite slabs. A series of tests were carried out on solid and profiled composite slabs under restrained and unrestrained conditions. The test results showed that end anchorages have a positive effect on the ultimate strength of both solid and composite slabs irrespective of the long term loading conditions. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to simulate the behaviour of composite slabs with end anchorage. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the influence of concrete strength, shear stud strength and profiled sheeting thickness in profiled composite slabs. In general, the findings of the experimental studies and numerical analyses presented in this thesis herein are expected to be contributing a further knowledge to the continuing improvement of composite steel-concrete structures.

Energy is one of the most important ingredients required to alleviate poverty and realize socio-economic and human development, which is directly interconnected to the prominence of life in rural areas. An extensive survey on household energy consumption pattern interrelating socio-economic and demographic factors was carried out in the disregarded villages of Bangladesh using stratified random sampling technique of 120 households. This paper focuses on household energy consumption, various combinations of fuels and their expenditure in the study area. Biomass, kerosene, electricity, LPG and candle were found as the energy carrier used in the rural households in this study. The study shows that 92% households use biomass, 28% LPG, 89% kerosene, 78% electricity and 27% candle as fuel types. It was found that 56% households collected biomass from their own homesteads and/or agricultural lands. Bamboo, branches, cow dung, firewood, rice husk, leaves & twigs and straw were found as the biomass for household energy use. Average monthly household expenditure for total energy was US$ 9.67 (SE, 0.31) per month while the total monthly income of the household was US$ 123 (SE, 2.53). The ratio of the total monthly energy expenditure to the total monthly income was 7.86%. The study will be helpful to understand the energy consumption system and its expenditure in the rural areas of Bangladesh and to the policy formulation for energy production, consumption and utilization.

Business system theory (BST) lies at the intersection of organization theory, political economy and sociology. It is gaining incremental attention in the field of management, particularly in cross-border and comparative studies of the structure, strategy and management of multinationals. Yet, international business (IB) studies do not tend to borrow much from this sub-field. This paper reviews BST literature from 1992 to 2015 and seeks to identify its contributions and gaps, in ways that can be helpful for future research in IB. Trend analysis of BST literature and mapping this sub-field suggests that the BST research stream can be identified in relation to four ‘broad themes’ which we describe as junctures- i.e. comparative business systems, internationalisation and MNC management, organizational capability and innovation, and transnational communities. Mapping and pattern recognition of the ‘themes’ focused in BST literature show that the highest focus of publications is on the study of internationalisation and the structure, strategy and management of multinationals. International business studies, particularly that using neo- and new-institutionalism as a framework have much to learn from the BST and its literature. Thus, the systematic review, on the one hand, presents a perspective on the key themes of BST literature and how they inter-relate and have developed, whilst, on the other hand, it brings these themes and contributions into the light for IB studies and suggests how IB and BST can enter into a productive dialogue.

Considering the risks associated with food consumption, several risk reduction strategies are used by consumers, all linked to brand loyalty, store image or label references that build trust in the product. A food product can be labeled organic if it complies with the principles for organic production, processing, labeling and control. Previous researchers have identified that organic certification logo have significant impact on consumption of organic products in urban markets. Organic logo increases trustworthiness of urban consumers about organic produces. Previous studies further observed that high price has deep connotation with trustworthiness about organic produces and urban buyers have ability to pay high price. The urban buyers though they have ability to pay high price for organic produces, they do not get them from trustworthy sources due to lack of believable information about organic produces. The urban organic consumers mostly come from affluent part of the society who have access to technology and have access to smartphone for available information about sources of organic produces. Quick response code (QR code) is a type of 2D bar code that is used to provide easy access to information using free application with smartphone or QR scanner. The information (authentication code, grower code, name, location, contact number, Facebook URL, production date, expiry date and regulatory authority URL) about authentic organic growers can be embedded on QR code that can track easily at no cost. This paper addresses the model of adopting QR code based labeling mechanism for organic produces that dramatically will improve trustworthiness among organic consumers. This authentication process will eliminate fake organic growers also. The QR code based mechanism may increase brand loyalty, store image and can be used as a tool to replace the traditional organic labeling for urban markets.

This paper focuses on ‘institutional void’ (IV) and ‘civil society’ (CS). Investigating five European MNEs in a fragmented business system by using a multiple-case-study method and a sense-making approach, we explore how IV and CS affect MNEs and how MNEs respond to them in pursuit of legitimacy. Our study reveals three forms of IV, i.e., system void, value chain void, and void between social need and citizen services, and two broad roles of CS, being an enabler and constrainer that affect MNE operations and survival. We validate four types of legitimacy strategies presented by previous research: adaptation, bypass, manipulation, and intervention/innovation. However, the paper goes further by presenting an operational framework for legitimacy strategy, postulating that it is grounded in the ‘corporate commitment’ of MNEs and is operationalized either by ‘corporate initiative’ or ‘collaborative engagement’. It further illustrates how, through these two strategic initiatives, MNEs can earn and maintain four levels of legitimacy, i.e., acceptance, image, endorsement, and synergy. The paper contributes to the theory and practice of institutionalism, international management, and strategic management by emphasizing the co-evolutionary perspective of legitimation.

The paper presents the novel concept of a low frequency, wireless energy harvesting system capable of acquiring, processing, and transmitting electrocardiogram (ECG) and Ballistocardiogram (BCG) data. The System on Chip (SoC) is designed to be capable of autonomous power management and operation derived from harvested power. A MEMS based piezoelectric energy harvesting cantilever is employed for this purpose. It consists of a silicon beam integrated with piezoelectric thin film (PZT) elements fabricated on parallel top. A silicon proof mass is attached to the silicon beam. The arrangement of silicon beam and proof mass enables the structure to extract energy from low frequency vibrations. The energy harvester when integrated with the proposed system can perform ECG heart rate extraction and atrial fibrillation detection while only consuming a few μWs of harvested power. This novel design of energy harvesters provides an additional benefit of Ballistocardiogram (BCG) that can help in early stages of a heart disease diagnostics.

Business system (BS) theory at the intersection between institutionalism and management is gaining incremental attention in the field of management and organization, particularly in cross-border and comparative studies of multinationals management. Yet, this stream does not meet the mainstream international business/management researches. This led me to synthesize the contributions of this stream. The review of BS literature from 1992 to 2013 makes an account of its contributions and gaps, brings them to light for international management (IM) studies to show how IM can benefit from this stream, while gaps found in BS studies present a thirst that future studies of BS can contribute to advance this field of research.

This research has been conducted to investigate critical factors affecting the operational excellence (OPX) of service firms in Jordan. The main factors of interest are leadership, human resource management practices, operations strategy, and involvement culture. This research considered different service sub-sectors including banks, ICT, insurance, aviation, hotels and medical care.A research questionnaire was developed to test the hypotheses, with 700 questionnaires distributed by hand and email. A total number of 368 were returned, representing a response rate of 53%. Multiple and linear regression tests were then executed to examine the research hypotheses. The multiple regression test showed a high positive impact of the research variables on operational excellence with (R = 83.2%) and (R2=69.2%) where the highest contribution was from operations strategy’, and the lowest contribution was by ‘leadership’. At the same time, when the research factors were tested individually, they all showed high positive impact on operational excellence. It has also been noticed that there are variations in perceptions across services subsectors: hotels recorded the highest mean value across all factors.In the light of the findings of this research, which are consistent with previous literature, the researchers propose some recommendations to be considered by both academics and practitioners in the field.

The study investigates the knowledge spill-over from the TNCs to supplier-firms in the apparel industry in Bangladesh. Study finds that dynamic capability of the entrepreneurs and the absorptive capacity of the employees enable firms to upgrade their position from CMT (cut-make-trim) to ODM (own-design-manufacturer) and OBM (own-brand-manufacturer) stage in the global value chain. This is a sign to make a move from static efficiency to dynamic efficiency that ensures downstream upgradation. Using case study method with ten firms from both TNCs and the supplier-firms, the study explores four fundamental factors such as a) national level infrastructure and institutional support, b) firm level infrastructure and resources (tangible), c) visionary leadership, and d) managerial & technical efficiency that lead such upgradation in the value chain process. The study further argues that close relationship between TNCs and supplier-firms and the visionary leadership of the supplier firm directly affect the knowledge spill-over and upgradation of supplier firms from developing country.

Naturally individuals prefer to receive the rewards after purchasing a certain amount of products or services. Customer rewards program is an effective tool for the company to increase the customer loyalty. Luxury and necessity products can be offered as rewards under the product reward program. The main purpose of this study is to find out how individuals discount luxury rewards over necessity rewards in differences of time length. In this research empirical data has been collected from the students living in student apartments through the survey questionnaire. The respondents were given five time variances such as today, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year to present their preferences between luxury and necessity products of equal value. After collecting and analyzing the survey data it was found that majority of the respondents prefers the necessity rewards in shorter period of time whereas in the longer delay they prefer the luxury rewards. Hence individuals discount luxury rewards over the necessity rewards of equal value in the variance of time.