Forming and maintaining cross-cultural interorganisational networks

This research addresses the problem: How do cross-cultural influences affect interorganisational formation and maintenance international business networks? In particular, the two concepts of stages of network development and psychic distance in partner selection are explored. A partnership between educational institutions and small and medium enterprises in developing trade relationships in the Asia Pacific region are analysed is analysed in depth. This cross-cultural business network did not appear to develop through clearly defined, predictable stages and all dimensions of culture appeared to consistently influence the networks' development. It seems that personal and business networks are important for both partners (not only for Chinese Malaysians) but if these networks are not consciously linked or expanded jointly, very little basis for cross-cultural understanding is built. An investment in a cross-cultural network should be a multi-faceted and long term financial, organisational and personal investment, which will have to change in ways that are difficult to forecast except to say that they will be needed if the network is not to eventually die

Millerocaulis richmondii sp. nov., an osmundaceous fern from Mesozoic strata near Little Swanport, Tasmania, Australia

A permineralised rhizome from Mesozoic strata south of Little Swanport, Tasmania, represents a new species of Millerocaulis (M. richmondii).Its stem is 6 x 7 mm across and is surrounded by adhering leaf bases with each having a stipular expansion typical of the Osmundaceae. The xylem of the ectophloic siphonostele comprising this stem is dissected by leaf gaps and consists of 14 xylem strands in its cylinder.Twenty leaf traces occur in a transverse section of its cortices. The xylem of its leaf traces and petiolar vascular strands is generally curved adaxially with a single protoxylem cluster being median on the trace. This proroxylem cluster bifurcates into two protoxylem groups immediately after leaving the stem and upon entering the petiole. The sclerotic ring of the petiole base is uniform in width and cell-wall thickness. A mass of sclerenchyma present in the adaxial concavity of the petiolar vascular strand expands at higher levels of the petiole until it fills the concavity of the strand and becomes immediately adjacent to the sclerotic ring. A large, round cellular mass of sclerenchyma occurs in the stipular expansions midway between their sclerotic rings and their tips. Millerocaulis richmondii is an additional species in the family Osmundaceae which was very abundant in Tasmania during mid-Mesozoic time

Achieving the DREAM: The Effect of IRCA on Immigrant Youth Post-Secondary Educational Access

This issue of The Takeaway describes Dr. Kalena Cortes’s research on the relationship between the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and subsequent enrollment of immigrant youth, providing insight into potential effects and intergenerational benefits of effective immigration policy. Reducing barriers to higher education for undocumented immigrant youth can significantly improve higher educational attainment for these populations, leading to more prosperous communities. Cortes’s research found a significant increase in post-secondary enrollment among immigrant youth to whom amnesty was granted by the IRCA

Preparing for the coming storm: Exploring interactions between corporate values and crisis management

One of the most prevalent corporate trends of the last several years has been the rush for companies to identify their core purpose and core values as a means to differentiate and create a sustainable winning culture. Yet even with more emphasis on stated ethical philosophies, internal crises and scandals have continued to plague corporations. This pilot project uses in-depth interviews with senior public relations executives from large companies. The project examines how companies integrate corporate ethical philosophy into their crisis planning and response procedures and concludes that, while a well-entrenched core values program can serve as a powerful tool and a framework for crisis planning and decision-making, it should not be viewed as a panacea. Further, the research finds that poorly executed values programs are destabilizing to an organization and actually make crisis response more problematic

Investigating Predictive Factors for Online College Coursework Success Among High School Students

This study seeks to examine the relationship of motivation and self-regulated learning with online college course completion among dual enrolled high school students in Northwest Iowa. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a predictive relationship between high school student self-efficacy, intrinsic value, test anxiety, cognitive strategy usage and self-regulation strategy usage and successful completion of an online college course. A predictive correlational study was performed. A convenient sample of 23 high school students from one urban Northwest Iowa school district was utilized. Students were surveyed regarding these traits using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Once survey responses were attained, binary logistic regression modeling was used to determine the strength of predictor variables to predict the final course grade of passing or failing. The study determined there was not a significant predictive relationship between variables and successful course completion. It is suggested that further study be conducted with a larger sample