Building Core Competencies in a Turbulent Environment: An Exploratory Study of Firm Resources and Capabilities in Chinese Transitional Economy

The impact of firm resources and capabilities on performance among Chinese enterprises has been a subject of anecdotal speculation due to its significant implications for organizational researchers as well as practitioners. Yet empirical evidence has been very limited. In this research, set in the People’s Republic of China, we examine firm resources and capabilities and their impact on firm performance among Chinese enterprises. Using large sample of 12,047 Chinese firms from 1991 to 1992, we found that most of the firm specific resources and capabilities examined in this study have a positive impact on performance. We discussed the implications for organizational researchers, policy makers, and managers, and proposed directions for future research.economic transition, firm strategy, resources and capabilities

Attraction of Culex mosquitoes to aldehydes from human emanations.

Anecdotes related to preferential mosquito bites are very common, but to date there is no complete explanation as to why one out of two people systematically receives more mosquito bites than the other when both are equally accessible. Here we tested the hypothesis that two constituents of skin emanations, 6-methyl-5-heptan-2-one (6-MHO) and geranylacetone (GA), are natural repellents and may account for differential attraction in different ratios. We studied skin emanations from two human subjects, confirmed in behavioral assays that female southern house mosquitoes are significantly more attracted to subject A (attractant) than to subject N (non-attractant), and tested their 6-MHO/GA ratios in a dual-choice olfactometer. Although repelling at high doses, 6-MHO/GA mixtures were not active at the levels emitted by human skin. We found, however, differential attraction elicited by the aldehydes in the ratios produced by subjects A and N. When tested in a dose commensurate with the level released from human skin and in the ratio produced by subject A, the aldehyde mixture significantly attracted mosquitoes. By contrast, an aldehyde mixture at the same ratio released by subject N did not attract mosquitoes. We, therefore, hypothesized that aldehydes may play a role in the commonly observed differential attraction

Building core competencies in a turbulent environment

The impact of firm resources and capabilities on performance among Chinese enterprises has been a subject of anecdotal speculation due to its significant implications for organizational researchers as well as practitioners. Yet empirical evidence has been very limited. In this research, set in the People`s Republic of China, we examine firm resources and capabilities and their impact on firm performance among Chinese enterprises. Using large sample of 12,047 Chinese firms from 1991 to 1992, we found that most of the firm specific resources and capabilities examined in this study have a positive impact on performance. We discussed the implications for organiyational researchers, policy makers, and managers, and proposed directions for future research

Secondary Prevention Strategies Following Concussions in High School Football Student-Athletes

28 pagesObjective: The focus of this research is the implementation of secondary prevention strategies in high school football. Specifically, the study will assess how Oregon high school coaches adhere to concussion laws and test their knowledge of concussion management. Background: “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by an impact to your head or a blow to the body that causes your head and brain to move back and forth rapidly” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It is estimated that between 1.7-3 million people sustain a sports-related concussion every year, and 300,000 of all concussions reported are from athletes that play football (UPMC). Between 2018-2019, researchers estimated that around 44% of all concussions that occur in high school sports are from football (Injury Claim Coach). Because sports concussions cannot be completely prevented, researchers and youth sports leaders agree that the focus should shift to implementing efficient concussion management strategies. This secondary prevention approach centers increasing awareness of concussion signs and symptoms, promoting recognition when it first happens, and implementing effective management strategies (i.e., removal from play, monitoring symptoms, gradual return to activity). High school students’ brains are still developing and rushing them back into sports puts their safety and health at risk in both the short-term and long-term. Furthermore, the culture of sports negatively influences athletes’ self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their compliance with return-to-play guidelines, exposing them to more safety and health concerns (Committee on Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, 2014). Methods: In order to analyze and assess concussion knowledge, a survey will be distributed to Oregon high school football coaches. The survey will assess coaches’ knowledge of common concussion signs and symptoms. Items will address knowledge of Max’s Law guidelines and the degree to which coaches are following the law. The survey will be sent out via email from the Oregon Athletic Coaches’ Association. The data gathered from the survey will be analyzed in a table format containing the most commonly missed signs and symptoms and most common beliefs. The responses to the Max’s Law questions will be sorted based on frequency

Wage-Productivity Analysis of U.S. Domestic Airlines

This study examines the impact of wages on productivity by examining US domestic airlines. Current literature places emphasis on jobs conducted in-flight, specifically pilots and cabin crew. This paper considers all job titles involved in the operations of the airline, including executives and management. Existing research focuses on factors such as governance, domestic economic level, and personal attributes such as intrinsic motivation, gender, and age. There is insufficient research regarding the relationship between wage and productivity. Thus, it is uncertain if high wage leads to high productivity. Preliminary findings suggest higher wage equates to higher productivity