Comparative analysis of knowledge transfer barriers from headquarters to foreign subsidiaries in a MNC

Knowledge transfer between organizational units in international settings helps to build competitive advantage for MNCs. However, knowledge does not flow easily within the organization owing to existence of knowledge transfer impediments. Moreover, knowledge transfer from headquarter to subsidiaries is considered as an important factor for the daughter units’ successful operation. Nevertheless, the previous research presumed that knowledge transfer barriers are identical for all subsidiaries. Therefore, there was two research questions stated in this study. The first one was focused to examine whether knowledge transfer barriers differ in the case of each subsidiary. The second one was dedicated to investigate what factors can affect this difference. Empirical study was conducted through qualitative research method taken place in case study by means of semi-structured personal and phone interviews. There was 12 interviews organized in total: 6 with subsidiary and headquarter managers; and 6 with parent and daughter companies’ employees. The results showed that there are some barriers which will always exist between headquarter and subsidiaries, such as transmission channels, market, cultural and linguistic difference owing to the fact that it is an international transfer. On the other hand, knowledge barriers can vary due to social capital difference between parties and diverse subsidiary characteristics. Study showed that strong personal ties have significant positive effect on efficiency of knowledge transfer, trust building and relationships’ formation. Research showed that such subsidiaries’ specifications as difference in size, age, mode of entry, level of autonomy, and geographical distance determine a variety among knowledge transfer barriers. The results also showed the importance of efficient transmission channels, proper Human Resource Management practices and headquarter role as knowledge transfer facilitator.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

The decision of technological equipment for large dimension frameworks lifting

This publication has recommendation for choosing and applying the technological infrastructure equipment, which can improve the method of large dimension frameworks lifting in buildings and constructions erection. As experimental researches and construction practice showed while increasing the ceiling panel thickness till 350-450 mm the adhesion force is enhanced and can reach 50-70% by ceiling panel mass. In that context the necessity to develop the method of adhesion force determination and find technological equipment for decreasing this force is appeared purposely for enhancing the operational efficiency of load weight-lifting equipment. The experimental researches were occurred for purpose to find out the dependence of adhesion force off amount of factors. The analytic expression, allowing calculating adhesion force, was derived after mathematical elaboration of results

NEOLOGISMS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The article focuses on analysis of nominative processes and lexical change occurring in Eng-lish at the present stage of language development. Lexical system, being the most flexible and accessible, constantly evolves with the development of society embracing new lexical means and thus reflecting current social trends. New recently coined English words are the object of this article. The material included neologisms which have been added to oxford online dictionaries since 2010. Most of these lexical units have been selected for Oxford Word of the Year shortlists, compiled on the basis of their frequent use and significance in a particular year. A brief review of theoretical approaches to studying neologisms and the factors influencing their coinage is accompanied by comparative studies of statistical data conducted by linguists in late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. This paper examines some distinctive characteristics of popular English neologisms and their actualization in everyday communication of native speakers of the English language. The research consisted of two stages: analytical, which included lexical analysis of neologisms, and interactive presenting an informant survey. A number of generalized thematic groups / functioning spheres have been identified in the semantic aspect during the initial stage. The degree of actual usage of these linguistic units by native English speakers has been determined in the survey of informants. The analysis of survey results has been performed and the attitude of native speakers to new and emerging words has been considered. An attempt has been made to reveal the underlying causes of the current changes and to propose an interpretation of the results received

The decision of technological equipment for large dimension frameworks lifting

This publication has recommendation for choosing and applying the technological infrastructure equipment, which can improve the method of large dimension frameworks lifting in buildings and constructions erection. As experimental researches and construction practice showed while increasing the ceiling panel thickness till 350-450 mm the adhesion force is enhanced and can reach 50-70% by ceiling panel mass. In that context the necessity to develop the method of adhesion force determination and find technological equipment for decreasing this force is appeared purposely for enhancing the operational efficiency of load weight-lifting equipment. The experimental researches were occurred for purpose to find out the dependence of adhesion force off amount of factors. The analytic expression, allowing calculating adhesion force, was derived after mathematical elaboration of results

Iron-Phosphate Ceramics for Solidification of Mixed Low-Level Waste

A method of immobilizing mixed low-level waste is provided which uses low cost materials and has a relatively long hardening period. The method includes: forming a mixture of iron oxide powders having ratios, in mass %, of FeO: Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}: Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} equal to 25-40: 40-10: 35-50, or weighing a definite amount of magnitite powder. Metallurgical cinder can also be used as the source of iron oxides. A solution of the orthophosphoric acid, or a solution of the orthophosphoric acid and ferric oxide, is formed and a powder phase of low-level waste and the mixture of iron oxide powders or cinder (or magnetite powder) is also formed. The acid solution is mixed with the powder phase to form a slurry with the ratio of components (mass %) of waste: iron oxide powders or magnitite: acid solution = 30-60: 15-10: 55-30. The slurry is blended to form a homogeneous mixture which is cured at room temperature to form the final product

Conditions for Production of Composite Material Based on Aluminum and Carbon Nanofibers and Its Physic-Mechanical Properties

Aluminum-based metallic matrix composites reinforced by carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are important precursors for development of new light and ultralight materials with enhanced properties and high specific characteristics. In the present work, powder metallurgy technique was applied for production of composites based on reinforcement of aluminum matrices by CNFs of different concentrations (0~2.5 wt%). CNFs were produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and mechanical activation. We determined that in situ synthesis of carbon nanostructures with subsequent mechanic activation provides satisfactory distribution of nanofibers and homogeneous composite microstructure. Introduction of 1 vol% of flux (0.25 NaCl + 0.25 KCl + 0.5 CaF2) during mechanic activation helps to reduce the strength of the contacts between the particles. Additionally, better reinforcement of alumina particles and strengthening the bond between CNFs and aluminum are observed due to alumina film removal. Introduction of pure aluminum into mechanically alloyed powder provides the possibility to control composite durability, plasticity and thermal conductivity

Replication data for: Thrombodynamics – a New Global Hemostasis Assay for Heparin Monitoring in Patients under the Anticoagulant Treatment

Here we deposit the data on coagulation assays results of 250 patients enrolled in the study by Balandina et al. "Thrombodynamics – a New Global Hemostasis Assay for Heparin Monitoring in Patients under the Anticoagulant Treatment

Immunobiological Characteristics of the Attenuated African Swine Fever Virus Strain Katanga-350

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the cause of a recent pandemic that is threatening the global pig industry. The virus infects domestic and wild pigs and manifests with a variety of clinical symptoms, depending on the strain. No commercial vaccine is currently available to protect animals from this virus, but some attenuated and recombinant live vaccine candidates might be effective against the disease. This article describes the immunobiological characteristics of one such candidate—the laboratory-attenuated ASFV strain, Katanga-350—which belongs to genotype I. In this study, we assessed clinical signs and post-mortem changes, the levels of viremia and the presence of viral DNA caused by injection of ASF virus strains Katanga-350, Lisbon-57, and Stavropol 08/01. Intramuscular injection of this strain protected 80% of pigs from a virulent strain of the same genotype and seroimmunotype (Lisbon-57). At least 50% of the surviving pigs received protection from subsequent intramuscular infection with a heterologous (genotype II, seroimmunotype VIII) virulent strain (Stavropol 08/01). Virus-specific antibodies were detectable in serum and saliva samples between 8–78 days after the first inoculation of the Katanga-350 strain (the observational period). The results suggested that this strain could serve as a basis for the development of a recombinant vaccine against ASF viruses belonging to seroimmunotype I