The Initial Mass Function in disc galaxies and in galaxy clusters: the chemo-photometric picture

The observed brightness of the Tully-Fisher relation suggests a low stellar M/L ratio and a "bottom-light" IMF in disc galaxies, but the corresponding efficiency of chemical enrichment tends to exceed the observational estimates. Either suitable tuning of the IMF slope and mass limits or metal outflows from disc galaxies must then be invoked. A standard Solar Neighbourhood IMF cannot explain the high metallicity of the hot intra-cluster medium: a different IMF must be at work in clusters of galaxies. Alternatively, if the IMF is universal and chemical enrichment is everywhere as efficient as observed in clusters, substantial loss of metals must occur from the Solar Neighbourhood and from disc galaxies in general; a "non-standard" scenario challenging our understanding of disc galaxy formation.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; in Proceedings of IMF@50: the Initial Mass Function 50 years later; Corbelli, Palla and Zinnecker (eds.

Relational, interactive service innovation : Building branding competence

Original article can be found at: http://mtq.sagepub.com/ Copyright Sage [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]In this paper we discuss how to develop service innovation through building branding competence. We demonstrate that using relationships in a process of sharing adds value to the service innovation process. We draw upon two distinct perspectives in the literature. We agree that value in new service development comes from incorporating the consumer. Yet we also deduce that it is the firm's core competencies that provide optimal resources for innovation. We then conceptualize how these two perspectives on service innovation can be integrated around relationships incorporating the 'customer resource'. This process is relational, interactive service innovation. The conceptual framework we have developed offers a different approach for companies to view the new service development process in general and the building of branding competence in particular. We suggest that organizations may be able to improve their new service development process by emphasizing the internal and external linkages within the management of innovation.Peer reviewe