Why and how does shared language affect subsidiary knowledge inflows? A social identity perspective

We draw on social identity theory to conceptualize a moderated mediation model that examines the relationship between shared language among subsidiary and HQ managers, and subsidiaries’ knowledge inflows from HQ. Specifically, we study (1) whether this relationship is mediated by the extent to which subsidiary managers share HQ goals and vision, and the extent to which HR decisions are centralized; and (2) whether subsidiary type moderates these mediated relationships. Building on a sample of 817 subsidiaries in nine countries/regions, we find support for our model. Implications for research on HQ-subsidiary knowledge flows, social identity theory and international HRM are discussed

How does successive inpatriation contribute to subsidiary capability building and subsidiary evolution? An organizational knowledge creation perspective

Intra-company knowledge transfer is a key source of competitive advantage for multinational companies (MNCs) and this knowledge is usually embedded in individuals. Drawing on organizational knowledge creation theory, we explore how inpatriation contributes to knowledge transfer and, in turn, subsidiary performance. Inpatriation involves the international assignment of employees from an MNC’s foreign subsidiary to its headquarters. Despite increasing attention to the role of inpatriation, we lack a clear understanding of whether and how inpatriates provide value to their subsidiaries after returning from headquarters. Through a qualitative case study of Japanese MNCs, we demonstrate the process through which inpatriates’ knowledge transfer contributes to subsidiary capability building and subsidiary evolution over time, and explain why successive inpatriation is thus critical to enhance subsidiary performance. Our theoretical model highlights the value of inpatriates as knowledge agents, reveals the process through which inpatriates transfer knowledge between HQ and subsidiaries, and provides a more nuanced understanding of the micro-foundations of intra-MNC knowledge transfer processes. Based on these findings, we argue that inpatriation is not merely a staffing method that is complementary to expatriation, but a key practice in its own right to support subsidiaries’ growth and performance

The bridging role of expatriates and inpatriates in knowledge transfer in multinational corporations

Drawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm, this paper provides the first empirical study that explicitly investigates the relationship between different categories of international assignees and knowledge transfer in multinational corporations (MNCs). Specifically, we examine (1) the extent to which expatriate presence in different functional areas is related to knowledge transfer from and to headquarters in these functions; and (2) the extent to which different categories of international assignees (expatriates vs. inpatriates) contribute to knowledge transfer from and to headquarters. We base our investigation on a large scale survey, encompassing data from more than 800 subsidiaries of MNCs in thirteen countries. By disaggregating the role of knowledge transfer across management functions, directions of knowledge transfer, and type of international assignees, we find that (1) expatriate presence generally increases function-specific knowledge transfer from and, to a lesser extent, to headquarters; and that (2) the relevance of expatriates and former inpatriates varies for knowledge flows between headquarters and subsidiaries. Additionally, we discuss implications for research and practice, in particular regarding different management functions and different forms of international assignments, and provide suggestions for future research

Smith-Purcell Radiation from Rough Surfaces

Radiation of a charged particle moving parallel to a inhomogeneous surface is considered. Within a single formalism periodic and random gratings are examined. For the periodically inhomogeneous surface we derive new expressions for the dispersion relation and the spectral-angular intensity. In particular, for a given observation direction two wavelengths are emitted instead of one wavelength of the standard Smith-Purcell effect. For a rough surface we show that the main contribution to the radiation intensity is given by surface polaritons induced on the interface between two media. These polaritons are multiply scattered on the roughness of surface and convert into real photons. The spectral-angular intensity is calculated and its dependence on different parameters is revealed.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beam

A chorus of different tongues: Official corporate language fluency and informal influence in multinational teams

Multinational team members commonly face challenges to influence their peers to attain shared work goals in a language different from their mother tongue. However, the mechanisms linking multinational team members’ official corporate language fluency and their displays of informal influence are not well understood. Drawing from status characteristics theory, we propose that peer-granted status mediates the relationship between fluency in the official corporate language and informal influence. We tested this prediction across two field studies and two experiments utilizing three different operationalizations of informal influence: voice behavior, voice quality, and leadership emergence. Overall, we demonstrate that members fluent in the official corporate language receive higher peer-granted status than their less fluent peers, and this relationship is stronger in teams whose members primarily converse in a common non-corporate language. In turn, high-status members engage in voice more frequently, and are more likely to convey voice quality and emerge as leaders

Big Data Analytics on combining RADAR and optical remote sensing imagery

Remote sensing data is big, which makes it inherently not FAIR, due to the great burden put on the users, for the data to be truly Accessible. In turn, this makes it unfeasible to process data to an Interoperable form. The ESA’s Copernicus program raised the bar for quality data in earth observation satellite sensors ..

Blue and green upconversion in Er(3+)-doped fluoroindate glasses

The upconversion properties of Er3+ in fluoroindate bulk glasses (composition: 40InF3-20ZnF2-16BaF2-(20-x)SrF2-2GaF3-2NaF-xErF3 with x=1,2,3 and 4 mole %) are investigated, following F-4(9/2) excitation with a red krypton laser. A strong green and a weaker blue luminescence is observed at room temperature corresponding to emissions from the thermally coupled S-4(3/2) and H-2(11/2) bands and the H-2(9/2) level respectively. Resonant energy transfer processes involving two excited erbium ions and a two-step absorption process are proposed to explain the upconversion phenomena. The emission intensities depend on the excitation power as P(exc)n with 1.5 less-than-or-equal-to n less-than-or-equal-to 1.7 for the green and 1.6 less-than-or-equal-to n less-than-or-equal-to 1.9 for the blue emission. The decay times and the relative intensities of the luminescences are also studied as a function of Er3+ concentration

Transport through open quantum dots: making semiclassics quantitative

We investigate electron transport through clean open quantum dots (quantum billiards). We present a semiclassical theory that allows to accurately reproduce quantum transport calculations. Quantitative agreement is reached for individual energy and magnetic field dependent elements of the scattering matrix. Two key ingredients are essential: (i) inclusion of pseudo-paths which have the topology of linked classical paths resulting from diffraction in addition to classical paths and (ii) a high-level approximation to diffractive scattering. Within this framework of the pseudo-path semiclassical approximation (PSCA), typical shortcomings of semiclassical theories such as violation of the anti-correlation between reflection and transmission and the overestimation of conductance fluctuations are overcome. Beyond its predictive capabilities the PSCA provides deeper insights into the quantum-to-classical crossover.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figure