Managerial satisfaction with subsidiary performance; the influence of the parent MNE's capabilities and the subsidiary's environment

Multinational enterprise performance is one of the most researched topics in the strategic management literature over the last thirty years. Despite the proliferation of studies, the dispute over the relation between firms’ international investment activities and corporate performance has not yet reached a consensus. This paper’s contribution is threefold. First, we focus on entry by West European multinational enterprises into Central and East European countries. Second, we develop a multi-theory argument, combining insights from transaction cost, new institutional, behavioral, resource-based and international strategy theories. Third, we estimate the determinants of managerial satisfaction with subsidiary performance with questionnaire data for a sample of 198 subsidiaries.

Managerial satisfaction with subsidiary performance; the influence of the parent MNE's capabilities and the subsidiary's environment

Multinational enterprise performance is one of the most researched topics in the strategic management literature over the last thirty years. Despite the proliferation of studies, the dispute over the relation between firms? international investment activities and corporate performance has not yet reached a consensus. This paper?s contribution is threefold. First, we focus on entry by West European multinational enterprises into Central and East European countries. Second, we develop a multi-theory argument, combining insights from transaction cost, new institutional, behavioral, resource-based and international strategy theories. Third, we estimate the determinants of managerial satisfaction with subsidiary performance with questionnaire data for a sample of 198 subsidiaries.

Acquisition versus greenfield foreign entry : diversification mode choice in Central and Eastern Europe

Departing from the traditional transaction cost approach in diversification mode literature, this study investigates the influence of experimental organizational learning on the choice between acquisition and a greenfield investment. We provide empirical support that prior experience with acquisitions and/or greenfield investments, firm?s predominant international strategy (global or multidomestic) and the technological intensity of the parent play a crucial role in subsequent diversifications. Furthermore, contrary to extant arguments that foreign ownership decision is independent of a diversification mode choice we demonstrate that the type of ownership (joint venture vs. wholly owned subsidiary) is a significant predictor of firms? preference for acquisition or a greenfield. Unlike Caves and Mehra (1986) and Larimo (2002) who found a positive relationship between acquisitions and full ownership, we show that acquisitions in Central and Eastern European (CEE) transition economies are unlikely to be wholly owned subsidiaries. In addition, we contribute to extant diversification literature by introducing another neglected predictor of firms? diversification strategy: We demonstrate the incremental power of hostcountries? institutional structure on investors? diversification choice.

Properties of Co-Cr Dental Alloys Fabricated Using Additive Technologies

The aim of the present paper is to make a review of the properties of dental alloys, fabricated using Additive Technologies (AT). The microstructure and mechanical properties of Co-Cr alloys as well as the accuracy and surface roughness of dental constructions are discussed. In dentistry two different approaches can be applied for production of metal frameworks using AT. According to the first one the wax/polymeric cast patterns are fabricated by 3D printing, than the constructions are cast from dental alloy with as-printed patterns. Through the second one the metal framework is manufactured form powder alloy directly from 3D virtual model by Selective Electron Beam Melting (SEBM) or Selective Laser Melting (SLM). The microstructure and mechanical properties of Co-Cr dental alloys, cast using 3D printed patterns, are typical for cast alloys. Their dimensional and adjustment accuracy is higher comparing to constructions, produced by traditional lost-wax casting or by SLM. The surface roughness is higher than that of the samples, cast by conventional technology, but lower comparing to the SLM objects. The microstructure of SLM Co-Cr dental alloys is fine grained and more homogeneous comparing that of the cast alloys, which defines higher hardness and mechanical properties, higher wear and corrosion resistance

Production of high-quality temporary crowns and bridges by stereolithography

Introduction: Temporary crowns and bridges are the main elements in the treatment with fixed partial dentures. They are usually manufactured from methacrylate polymers and composites by heat-curing or CAD/CAM milling. Additive technologies (ATs) offer a number of advantages in the production of temporary dental restorations. However, there is a lack of information about the application of AT for manufacturing of provisional prostheses due to the multiple variants and complexity of their design as well as the wide variety of the 3D printing processes.Aim: The aim of the present paper was to establish the peculiarities in the production of high-quality temporary crowns and bridges by stereolithography (SLA) with digital light projection (DLP).Materials and Methods: Two groups of samples - cubic (5 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm) and four-part dental bridges (1-st premolar to 2-nd molar) were printed with different layer thickness - 35 µm and 50 µm from NextDent C+B polymer using RapidShape D30.  Results and Discussion: It was established that for effective production of temporary crowns and bridges with high dimensional accuracy and surface smoothness, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the 3D printing process and to make corrections still at the stage of virtual model generation. Individual corrections of the dimensions along the separate axes of the virtual model have to be done with correction coefficients, depending on the construction type - crown or bridge. In order to obtain high smoothness, the construction should be positioned with the vertical axes of the teeth parallel to the printing direction (Z-axis). The number of the supports has to be increased (≥4 per tooth) for reduction of the deformations during 3D printing and final photopolymerization.Conclusion: The findings in the present study could be very helpful in the development of proper construction design and technological process for improving the quality of temporary restorations

The poetics of embodiment : Elisaveta Bagryana and Rade Drainac, a love affair

The article aims to disclose how the encounters with Drainac changed Bagryana’s poetry and her perception of poetic language and herself. For that purpose, the poetry of Bagryana before 1930, mainly the key poems from “The Eternal and Holy”, will be analysed. The views expressed in those poetic strophes will be related to Drainac’s own poetic texts from the 1920s and his ideas on aesthetics and writing as expressed in the magazine “Hypnos”. Then the article will proceed to examine Bagryana’s 1930-31 poems and the tangible alteration in her wording, images and poetic rhythm. The final underlying question this article attempts to answer is about the struggle of poetic language to reinvent itself while incorporating and reassembling the poet’s everyday life and encounters within the poems’ structure

Gas discharge visualization - historical developments, research dynamics and innovative applications

Abstract: Gas discharge visualization (GDV) is a method for entire diagnosis, which is based on natural physical phenomena in human body. Since the invention of GVD, till present, there is an inscreased interest in its application in different areas of life. The most important use of GVD is in medicine. GVD has a possibility for  quantitative measurement of human physical and psychological  well-being.  It is used  in medicine, psychology and sport for  diagnosis, prevention and  monitoring.The purpose of  this  article is to summarize the  dynamics of scientific  interest in GDV application in medicine, psychology and sport and to present current concepts and techiques in  the use of this device in alternative medicine.Matherial and methods: research of the  publishing activity in  application of  GVD in medicine, psychology and sport during last 70 years.Results:  We observed an increasement of the scientific intreset in GVD use in medicine, alternative medicine, psychology and sport with progression for each decade, from 1950 - till now. GVD is a focus of large number of  clinical studies in three dimentions of medicine - prevention, diagnosis and treatment, with culmination of publishing activity in all of the fields during last year.  Conclusion: Although GVD is not well known in our country, the results of our survey are in prove of the uniqueness of GVD as a device for diagnosis, prevention and monitoring of illness. The opportunity  for application of this method in conventional medicine,  alternative medicine, pshychology and sport, is a beginning of  new perspectives for personalized healthcare.  

Forecasting of professional development of young specialists in the conditions of career consultation

In article relevance of a problem of forecasting of professional development is analyzed. The possibilities of career consultation in forecasting of the professional future of young specialists are considered; diagnostic potential of the «Profkaryera» test complex in the solution of this taskАнализируется актуальность проблемы прогнозирования профессионального развития. Рассматриваются возможности карьерного консультирования в прогнозировании профессионального будущего молодых специалистов, диагностический потенциал тестового комплекса «Профкарьера» в решении этой задач

ORIENTATION TO DEVELOPMENT AS PREDICTOR OF FORECASTING OF TRANSPROFESSIONALISM OF UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

В статье анализируются результаты исследования профессиональных компетенций, личностных качеств обучающихся, в контексте развития транспрофессионализма и прогнозирования профессионального развитияIn article results of a research of professional competences, personal qualities of students, in the context of development of transprofessionalism and forecasting of professional development are analyze