Bringing tasks back in: an organizational theory of resource complementarity and partner selection

To progress beyond the idea that the value of inter-firm collaboration is largely determined by the complementarity of the resources held by partners, we build a theoretical framework that explains under which conditions a set of resources or capabilities can be considered as complementary and resulting in superior value creation. Specifically, we argue that the tasks that an inter-firm collaboration has to perform determine complementarities, and that complementarities arise from similar and dissimilar resources alike. We capture this relationship in the concept of task resource complementarity. Further, we examine factors that impact on the relevance of this construct as a predictor of partner selection. Finally, we discuss which implications arise for a theory of the firm when tasks are explicitly incorporated into the conceptualization of resource complementarity

Fit for the task: complementarity, asymmetry, and partner selection in alliances

Most existing theories of relationship formation imply that organizations establish ties to procure complementary resources, and that doing so adroitly generates relational rents. While this entails a responsibility for organizations to recognize and harness complementarity, most theories struggle with ambiguity around the concept of resource complementarity, neglect its power implications, and rely on rules-of-thumb that assign no role to managers' intentions. To explain the formation of ties that successfully combine critical resources, we propose that a positive interplay among resources only exists insofar as organizations use task requirements to guide their combination. As such, a well-matched tie is one that manages task resource interdependence while offsetting imbalances in task-related resources. We test our theory on project-based, inter-organizational partnerships for public construction in Italy. We find that: (1) The probability of tie formation increases with the quality of the match between the task and actors' resources; (2) There are two distinct, task-related dimensions along which this happens: depth and scope; (3) The effect of these dimensions dwarfs the effect found by measures that assess complementarity irrespective of task; and (4) The probability of tie formation decreases when a task calls for resources that potential partners possess in unequal amounts

A new integrated approach to cardiac mechanics: reference values for normal left ventricle

The association between left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation and hemodynamic forces is still mostly unexplored. The normative values and the effects of demographic and technical factors on hemodynamic forces are not known. The authors studied the association between LV myocardial deformation and hemodynamic forces in a large cohort of healthy volunteers. One-hundred seventy-six consecutive subjects (age range, 16\u201382; 51% women), with no cardiovascular risk factors or any relevant diseases, were enrolled. All subjects underwent an echo-Doppler examination. Both 2D global myocardial and endocardial longitudinal strain (GLS), circumferential strain (GCS), and the hemodynamic forces were measured with new software that enabled to calculate all these values and parameters from the three apical views. Higher LV mass index and larger LV volumes were found in males compared to females (85 \ub1 17 vs 74 \ub1 15\ua0g/m2 and 127 \ub1 28 vs 85 \ub1 18\ua0ml, p < 0.0001 respectively) while no differences of the mean values of endocardial and myocardial GLS and of myocardial GCS were found (p = ns) and higher endocardial GCS in women ( 12\ua030.6 \ub1 4.2 vs 12\ua031.8 \ub1 3.7; p = 0.05). LV longitudinal force, LV systolic longitudinal force and LV impulse were higher in men (16.2 \ub1 5.3 vs 13.2 \ub1 3.6; 25.1 \ub1 7.9 vs 19.4 \ub1 5.6 and 20.4 \ub1 7 vs 16.6 \ub1 5.2, p < 0.0001, respectively). A weak but statistically significant decline with age (p < 0.0001) was also found for these force parameters. This new integrated approach could differentiate normality from pathology by providing average deformation values and hemodynamic forces parameters, differentiated by age and gender

The organization of R&D work and knowledge search in intrafirm networks

This study investigates the effects of the organization of industrial Research & Development on industrial researchers' knowledge acquisition behavior. Specifically, we test a model about how the fit of individuals with their research tasks affects whether industrial researchers acquire knowledge from outside their assigned projects. Empirical analyses from the R&D laboratory of a global pharmaceutical company show that person-task-fit has a non-linear effect on the knowledge content exchanged through interpersonal interactions. Implications for the management and organization of R&D activities are discussed

A prospective study on the efficacy of patient simulation in heart and lung auscultation

Background: The use of simulation technology for skill training and assessment in medical education has progressively increased over the last decade. Nevertheless, the teaching efficacy of most technologies remains to be fully determined. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if a short individual training on a patient simulator could improve heart and lung auscultation skills in undergraduate students. Methods: A group of fifth-year medical school students, who had trained on a patient simulator in their third year (EXP, n = 55), was compared to a group of fifth-year medical school students who had not previously trained on it (CNT, n = 49). Students were recruited on a voluntary basis. Students were evaluated in terms of their ability to correctly identify three heart (II sound wide split, mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis) and five lung sounds (coarse crackles, fine crackles, pleural rubs, rhonchi, wheezes), which were reproduced in a random order on the Kyoto-Kagaku patient simulator. Results: Exposure to patient simulator significantly improved heart auscultation skills, as mitral regurgitation was correctly recognized by 89.7% of EXP students as compared to 71.4% of CNT students (p = 0.02). In addition, a significantly greater percentage of EXP students correctly graphed all the heart diagnoses as compared to CNT students. There were no differences between the groups in lung auscultation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that training medical students with a patient simulator, individually for one hour, significantly ameliorated their heart auscultation skills. Our data suggests that patient simulation might be useful for learning auscultation skills, especially when it is combined with graphic sound display

Fast Rotation of the N=Z Nucleus 36Ar

A highly-deformed rotational band has been identified in the N=Z nucleus 36Ar. At high spin the band is observed to its presumed termination at I=16+, while at low spin it has been firmly linked to previously known states in 36Ar. Spins, parities, and absolute excitation energies have thus been determined throughout the band. Lifetime measurements establish a large low-spin quadrupole deformation (beta_2=0.46+-0.03) and indicate a decreasing collectivity as the band termination is approached. With effectively complete spectroscopic information and a valence space large enough for significant collectivity to develop, yet small enough to be meaningfully approached from the shell model perspective, this rotational band in 36Ar provides many exciting opportunities to test and compare complementary models of collective motion in nuclei

How wide and broad is the gap? Complementarities among resources and tasks

As interfirm collaboration becomes a regular occurrence in the organizational landscape, it is vital to reach a better understanding of how the resources pooled by different firms interact and influence the creation of value. We build on prior research to understand complementary combination of resources as those that fill a gap in the resource endowments of potential partners. At the same time we propose that a much sharper understanding is gained by bringing also task characteristics into the picture. Further, unlike part of the recent literature, we propose that complementarity arises from diversity and dissimilarity alike, and that it is also subject to dissipation. A test of our ideas on a large sample of construction alliances yields strong support for our model