Analysis of the satisfaction factors in international cooperation activities with and without capital investment in SMEs

The paper analyzes international medium and long-term cooperation by legally and economically independent SMEs. In a frame of reference using decision and contingency theory, a model is constructed for two phases of cooperation activity. It is postulated that the success of cooperation activity depends on whether the system variables structure, strategy and culture are consistent during realization. At the same time, the decisions made in the initiation phase of cooperation activity are modeled directly and indirectly on its success. An empirical examination on the effect relationships from the point of view of 164 SME managers provides tentative proof of the effect relationships postulated, namely in a comparison of cooperation activities with and without capital investment. An overall model is proposed for phase observation of cooperation activities.capital investment, international cooperation, satisfaction factors, small or medium size enterprise (SME).

Vertical Aliances between Retail and Manufacturer Companies in the Fashion Industry

While vertical firms dominate the fashion markets worldwide since years, only little research is done on vertical alliances between non-vertical retailer and manufacturing companies in this sector. These paper analyses vertical alliances from the perspective of 98 traditional fashion retailers and 104 fashion manufacturers. Based on a process oriented value chain approach, the results show how primary market and supply chain oriented value chain activities are viewed in the context of alliances, particularly in terms of own competence, perceived potential for co-operation, and the level of co-operation achieved. The data show that retailers and manufacturers see co-operation potentials in value chain activities with both low and high levels of own competence. Secondly the data show that co-operation potentials identified by both partners and the co-operation levels achieved differ. Third the data show the relation between the co-operation levels achieved in the value chain activities and the degree of success in turnover, costs, and time-to- market.fashion retail, value chain, vertical alliances, co-operation

Einflussfaktoren auf die Wahl einer Markteintrittsstrategie: Eine meta-analytische Untersuchung der Entscheidung zwischen Tochtergesellschaft und Kooperation

Zusammenfassung: Die Wahl einer Markteintrittsstrategie, eine der wichtigsten Entscheidungen im Kontext der Internationalisierung, wurde in zahlreichen empirischen Untersuchungen analysiert. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse sind vielfältig, teilweise kontrovers und nur noch schwer zu überschauen. In der vorliegenden Meta-Analyse werden empirische Ergebnisse zur Entscheidung zwischen den Alternativen Tochtergesellschaft und Kooperation integriert. Auf Basis von 61 empirischen Untersuchungen wird analysiert, welche Einflussfaktoren auf die Entscheidung bislang betrachtet wurden und welche bei der Kombination der bisherigen Studienergebnisse einen signifikanten Einfluss aufweisen. Zugleich wird ein Bezug zu unterschiedlichen theoretischen Ansätzen, welche einen Erklärungsbeitrag zur Wahl der Markteintrittsentscheidung liefern, hergestellt. Als Ergebnisse können zusammenfassend signifikante Einflüsse der Mitarbeiterzahl des Unternehmens, der Machtabstandstoleranz im Stammland, der landesspezifischen internationalen Erfahrung, der Werbe- und Exportintensität, der internationalen Produktdiversifikation, des Marktwachstums, der Ressourcen-Intensität der Auslandseinheit, der Marktgröße, der staatlichen Restriktionen im Gastland und des Länderrisikos festgestellt werden. Nicht-signifikante Ergebnisse werden für eine Vielzahl von Variablen erzielt, so für die Faktorspezifität, die F&E-Intensität, die Größe der Tochtergesellschaft, das Vermögen und den Umsatz des Unternehmen

Vertical Aliances between Retail and Manufacturer Companies in the Fashion Industry

While vertical firms dominate the fashion markets worldwide since years, only little research is done on vertical alliances between non-vertical retailer and manufacturing companies in this sector. These paper analyses vertical alliances from the perspective of 98 traditional fashion retailers and 104 fashion manufacturers. Based on a process oriented value chain approach, the results show how primary market and supply chain oriented value chain activities are viewed in the context of alliances, particularly in terms of own competence, perceived potential for co-operation, and the level of co-operation achieved. The data show that retailers and manufacturers see co-operation potentials in value chain activities with both low and high levels of own competence. Secondly the data show that co-operation potentials identified by both partners and the co-operation levels achieved differ. Third the data show the relation between the co-operation levels achieved in the value chain activities and the degree of success in turnover, costs, and time-to- market

Doing the Right Things and Doing the Things Right -Endorsers in Retail Store Flyer Advertising

Store flyers are an important but rarely investigated medium in influencing store image percep-tions and store sales. This paper investigates whether depicting of entrepreneurs with their asso-ciates, or showing physically attractive models, or no endorsers at all can make a contribution to such influence. We examined the impact of endorsers' effectiveness and efficiency on consumer perceptions by interviewing 300 respondents, as well as their effect on purchasing behavior by disseminating 90,000 store flyers. The findings demonstrate new insights on the impact of en-dorsers on consumer perceptions, however, the results do not support the same influence on pur-chasing behavior

Hsp21potentiates antifungal drug tolerance in Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Development of a hypoallergenic recombinant parvalbumin for first-in-man subcutaneous immunotherapy of fish allergy.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked Files. This article is open access.The FAST (food allergy-specific immunotherapy) project aims at developing safe and effective subcutaneous immunotherapy for fish allergy, using recombinant hypoallergenic carp parvalbumin, Cyp c 1.Preclinical characterization and good manufacturing practice (GMP) production of mutant Cyp (mCyp) c 1.Escherichia coli-produced mCyp c 1 was purified using standard chromatographic techniques. Physicochemical properties were investigated by gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism spectroscopy, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Allergenicity was assessed by ImmunoCAP inhibition and basophil histamine release assay, immunogenicity by immunization of laboratory animals and stimulation of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Reference molecules were purified wild-type Cyp c 1 (natural and/or recombinant). GMP-compliant alum-adsorbed mCyp c 1 was tested for acute toxicity in mice and rabbits and for repeated-dose toxicity in mice. Accelerated and real-time protocols were used to evaluate stability of mCyp c 1 as drug substance and drug product.Purified mCyp c 1 behaves as a folded and stable molecule. Using sera of 26 double-blind placebo-controlled food-challenge-proven fish-allergic patients, reduction in allergenic activity ranged from 10- to 5,000-fold (1,000-fold on average), but with retained immunogenicity (immunization in mice/rabbits) and potency to stimulate human PBMCs. Toxicity studies revealed no toxic effects and real-time stability studies on the Al(OH)3-adsorbed drug product demonstrated at least 20 months of stability.The GMP drug product developed for treatment of fish allergy has the characteristics targeted for in FAST: i.e. hypoallergenicity with retained immunogenicity. These results have warranted first-in-man immunotherapy studies to evaluate the safety of this innovative vaccine.info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/20187

Endorsement of Global Product Brands by Global Corporate Brands – A Consumer Perspective Across Nations

Many multinational corporations use their corporate brand to endorse their products but thereby attract international consumers differently. Therefore, it is important to analyze whether corporations profit from endorsed branding strategies across nations or whether they must rely on country-specific factors. The authors propose a theory-based framework and apply multilevel mediation structural equation modeling with cross-level interactions to analyze the typical direct and indirect effects of global corporate brand image and global product brand image on product purchase intention across nations. The authors rely on hierarchical data from 7660 consumer evaluations of a multinational corporation's global corporate and product brands in 35 countries. Importantly, the results provide insights into country-specific moderators, i.e., the degree of country development and national culture, and the respective country portfolio. They further contribute to the application of theory and show a positive indirect effect of global corporate brand image on product purchase intention via global product brand image across nations. Additionally, a positive, although weaker, direct effect of global corporate brand image on product purchase intention is found. However, the degree of country development and national culture moderate both effects differently. This study provides new theoretical implications and shows that a country portfolio offers concrete hints for managers