Process issues in alliance management: A panel discussion.

The purpose in this series of papers is to examine different perspectives on the evolution of the process of collaboration and the management challenges therein by focusing on a single case experience. The literature on alliance and collaboration has grown immensely in the last few years. Much attention has been given to the economic rationale for intermediate organizational forms, the so-called «swollen middle» (Hennart, 1993) that lies between market and hierarchical solutions, and to the conditions under which such structures are optimal (Hennart, 1988; Balakrishnan & Koza, 1993; Buckley and Casson, 1996). More recently, there has been a virtual explosion in the treatment of the managerial challenges involved in inter-firm collaboration, ranging from issues of negotiation and conflict resolution to the role of strategic intent or prior experience, as well as numerous attempts to conceptualize and measure that most ephemeral and over-abused concept, trust. The initial paper in the series introduces the specifics of the case on which our discussion is based, and presents a view on the role that perceptions of efficiency and equity between the partners within a relationship have on the evolution of their collaboration. As elaborated in the paper, efficiency perceptions refer to the partners' views on the potential for value creation within the alliance, relative to other organizational choices. Equity perceptions relate to the expected balance between the partners' relative costs and benefits in the alliance, that is, the potential for fairness in value appropriation. The paper starts by summarizing the facts of a failed international joint venture, and chronicles the process of its disintegration through a series of events in its 3-year history. The concepts of efficiency and equity are then defined and formalized. Next, the authors provide their own interpretation of the case data and propose a structure for the analysis of the inter-partner relationship. Finally, they offer a model of the evolution of collaboration that is driven by the maintenance of relational quality among the partners, including the accommodation of changes in both the business environment and the strategies of the partners over time. The three other papers in the series elaborate on this interpretation and bring a broader set of concerns derived from each author's own research trajectory. Since two of these were responsible for earlier models on which the initial case analysis was based, they have a unique opportunity to revisit their original thinking and reinterpret it in view of the facts presented. They take a more dynamic view and incorporate more recent theoretical insights from the management process literature to the collaborative process. The last paper ventures beyond the dyadic framework of the original analysis to examine the lessons that can be drawn for broader networks of collaborative alliances. A final section on conclusions summarizes the arguments and suggests where there may be convergence, as well as proposing new avenues for research.alliances; evolution process collaboration; management challenges;

Vertical disintegration of production and the rise of market for brands

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Imprinting-Deprinting-Reimprinting: A Process Theory of Intergenerational Learning and Spin-off Entry

New entrants very often spin out from established firms and because they set on a course at founding, their learning and capabilities become inextricably linked to their organizational and technological heritage. But while this heritage may provide an initial advantage, it can also generate inertia and resistance to change, unless the new company is able to unlearn some practices from the parent company and learn something new in order to establish its own sources of competitive uniqueness. This tension between inherited path and new trajectory, imprinted past and search for newness is the object of this paper. Building on an in depth case study of Acorn Computers and ARM semiconductors we show that while there are strong influences from the parent company on the spinoff, these imprinted organizational effects can be overridden. We use the term deprinting to stress the reversible nature of this process in contrast with the irreversibility embodied by the classic imprinting notion. This is followed by a phase of intense learning efforts whereby the spinoff establishes its competitive identity based on a blending of retained routines, repeated improvisation and feedbacks from the market. We refer to this process with the term reimprinting, to emphasize the metamorphosis experienced by the spinoff as it sets on a new distinctive trajectory

The Intellectual Property Business Model (IP-BM) - Lessons from ARM Plc.

Under what conditions can technology ventures design and implement a sustainable Intellectual Property Business Model? Many new firms in technology-intensive domains seek to adopt such models. This enables them to focus limited resources on core areas of competence, but raises significant challenges. These include the reluctance of customers to license the technology until it is generating value in applications and the experimentation needed to identify appropriate applications and markets, especially for generic technologies. Complementary assets must be fostered to transfer the technology across the value chain. Protecting the IP during scale up is problematic. In this paper we offer a detailed study of a firm that succeeded in overcoming these challenges, ARM plc. We attempt to identify what aspects of their experience (of IP generated growth) are generalizable to other firms. We define a business model as the way the firm is organized to create and capture value. We explore the kind of business ecosystem that must be nurtured for a firm to sustain growth through value creation and capture based on an intellectual property business model and find that reciprocity of benefits across the business ecosystem is needed

Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective The COVID-19 outbreak led to an increase in mental disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the general population and especially in high-risk populations such as patients with rheumatologic conditions. Although these latters are considered vulnerable to developing PTSD, few specific data have been particularly reported in the framework of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate PTSD and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a sample of patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD), followed in the framework of a prospective observational study during the pandemic. Methods The PERMAS project is a prospective observational study including patients with SAD and involving the Rheumatology and the Psychiatric Clinics of the Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP, Pisa, Italy) and the Institute of Management of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy). The assessments included: a data-sheet for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), for PTSD and PTSS; the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life. Results The total sample consisted of 252 patients with SAD, including 131 with connective tissue disease, 101 with arthritis and 20 with systemic vasculitis. The diagnostic groups differed significantly in age (p<0.001), gender (p<0.001), prevalence of full-blown and partial PTSD (p=0.001), and other psychopathologic variables. Connective tissue disease and SF-36 were significantly associated with the TALS-SR scores in both univariate (p<0.001) and multivariate (p<0.025; p<0.001) analyses. Conclusion Patients with SAD, and, in particular, patients with connective tissue diseases reported an increased risk of developing stress-related psychopathological symptoms, indicating the need for special psychological monitoring of this high-risk group

Rapporto 2007 su consumo e dipendenze da sostanze in Emilia-Romagna.

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of Emilia-Romagna Region.Il report analizza il fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della Regione Emilia-Romagna. La descrizione del fenomeno si sviluppa intorno all\u27analisi degli indicatori individuati dall\u27Osservatorio Europeo delle Dipendenze di Lisbona (OEDT): 1-uso di sostanze nella popolazione generale (questo indicatore va a rilevare i comportamenti nei confronti di alcol e sostanze psicoattive da parte della popolazione generale); 2-prevalenza d\u27uso problematico delle sostanze psicoattive; 3-domanda di trattamento degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 4-mortalit? degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 5-malattie infettive. Altri due importanti indicatori che si stanno sviluppando, e che vengono qui illustrati, sono l\u27analisi delle Schede di Dimissione Ospedaliera (SDO) e gli indicatori relativi alle conseguenza sociali dell\u27uso di droghe (criminalit? droga correlata). Inoltre sono state applicate diverse metodologie standard di stima sia per quantificare la quota parte sconosciuta di utilizzatori di sostanze che non afferiscono ai servizi, sia per identificarne alcune caratteristiche

Efficacy and safety of infliximab or adalimumab in severe mucocutaneous Behçet’s syndrome refractory to traditional immunosuppressants: a 6-month, multicentre, randomised controlled, prospective, parallel group, single-blind trial

Introduction: Evidence from randomised controlled trials on anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS) is low. Method: We conducted a phase 3, multicentre, prospective, randomised, active-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of either infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab (ADA) in patients with BS. Adults patients with BS presenting with active mucocutaneous manifestations, occurring while on therapy with either azathioprine or cyclosporine for at least 3 months prior to study entry, were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive IFX or ADA for 6 months. The primary study outcome was the time to response of manifestations over 6-month anti-TNF alpha agents' treatment. Results: 42 patients underwent screening visits, of whom 40 were randomly assigned to the IFX group (n=22) or to the ADA group (n=18). All patients at the time of randomisation had active mucocutaneous manifestations and a smaller proportion had concomitant vital organ involvement (ie, six and three patients with ocular and neurological involvement, respectively). A total of 14 (64%) responders in the IFX group and 17 (94%) in the ADA group were observed. Retention on treatment was 95% and 94% in the IFX and in the ADA group, respectively. Quality of life resulted to be significantly improved in both groups from baseline, as well as Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form assessment. We registered two adverse events (one serious) in the ADA group and three non-serious adverse events in the IFX group. Discussion: The overall results of this study confirm the effectiveness of both IFX and ADA in achieving remission in patients with BS affected by mucocutaneous involvement

The outlines of a micro-founded food ecosystem: unexpected events, dormant resources and triggering actors. Co-Design and tools for innovation: the case study of Lion Fish / I contorni di un ecosistema alimentare microfondato: eventi imprevisti, risorse dormienti e attori scatenanti. Co-Design e strumenti per l'innovazione: il caso studio del pesce leone

The lionfish invasion represents an unexpected event quickly spreading in a wide area of the Caribbean. A wide spectrum of actors was confronted at the policy level, the marine conservation authority, large and small communities of economic actors starting from the tourism to the fisheries sectors. A first option to eradicate the new species was confronted with the search for balanced control. The threat was transformed into an opportunity by using the predator as an edible source of food. This target required the coordination activity of a wide network of players and design activities took place showing the relevance of emerging idle, dormant resources, new project design capabilities, but also new organizational practices fitting with an innovative eco-friendly inclusive perspective. The creative paths and unconventional routines helped to reach a new equilibrium in the marine ecology and in the economic activities as well.L'invasione del pesce leone rappresenta un evento inatteso che si sta rapidamente diffondendo in una vasta area dei Caraibi. Si sono confrontati un ampio spettro di attori a livello politico, l'autorità per la conservazione marina, grandi e piccole comunità di attori economici a partire dal turismo fino ai settori della pesca. Una prima opzione per eradicare la nuova specie si è confrontata con la ricerca di un controllo equilibrato. La minaccia è stata trasformata in un'opportunità utilizzando il predatore come fonte commestibile di cibo. Le attività di progettazione si sono svolte mostrando la rilevanza di risorse inattive e dormienti emergenti, nuove capacità progettuali, ma anche nuove pratiche organizzative che si adattano a una prospettiva inclusiva eco-compatibile innovativa. I percorsi creativi e le routine non convenzionali hanno contribuito a raggiungere un nuovo equilibrio nell'ecologia marina e nelle attività economiche