On Motives Associated to Graph Polynomials

The appearance of multiple zeta values in anomalous dimensions and $\beta$-functions of renormalizable quantum field theories has given evidence towards a motivic interpretation of these renormalization group functions. In this paper we start to hunt the motive, restricting our attention to a subclass of graphs in four dimensional scalar field theory which give scheme independent contributions to the above functions.Comment: 54

Counting points on varieties over finite fields related to a conjecture of Kontsevich

We describe a characteristic-free algorithm for “reducing” an algebraic variety defined by the vanishing of a set of integer polynomials. In very special cases, the algorithm can be used to decide whether the number of points on a variety, as the ground field varies over finite fields, is a polynomial function of the size of the field. The algorithm is then used to investigate a conjecture of Kontsevich regarding the number of points on a variety associated with the set of spanning trees of any graph. We also prove several theorems describing properties of a (hypothetical) minimal counterexample to the conjecture, and produce counterexamples to some related conjectures.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43265/1/26_2005_Article_BF01608531.pd

Supplier Value of Customer-Initiated Product Development:An In-Depth Case Study of a European Industrial Mass-Producer

Part 2: Sustainable Supply ChainsInternational audienceIncreased market demand and shortened product life cycles generate industrial customer requests for collaborative product development. Manufacture-to-stock suppliers struggle to manage the request process to obtain profitability. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if request management is profitable for mass-producing suppliers, and to examine possible relations between profitability of requests and the requesting customer. Through a case study, request management is identified as a profitable process due to long-term accumulated profit from developed products. Request profitability is not identified as related to profitability or turnover of existing customers, and thus profitability of requests cannot be predicted based on these customer data. Results from a coupled interview study indicate that request management has a large potential for future exploitation, and an outline of the supplier value potential of collaborative product development is proposed

Cohesion or confusion? Towards a typology for organizational learning research

The study of organizational learning is no longer in its infancy. Since Cyert and March first introduced the notion in the early 1960s, a plethora of books and journal publications have presented their own interpretations of the meaning and significance of the term. Despite such endeavours, there is little common agreement about what organizational learning represents and how future research may build cumulatively upon the many diverse ideas articulated. The intention here is by no means to address these issues, which have been comprehensively examined elsewhere. The purpose is rather to compare and contrast approaches in order to analyse similarities and dissimilarities, together with research challenges, for each approach. This is achieved by presenting a comparative framework to categorize the literature according to (a) its prescriptive/explanatory bias and (b) in line with the level of analysis, examining whether there is a focus on the organization as a whole or upon individuals and their work communities instead. The review concludes by presenting some preliminary suggestions for cross-quadrant research. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006