Coordination and Control Mechanisms of Western European MNC towards Southeast Asia Subsidiaries: A Case Study of PZ Cussons

Abstract Date of final seminar:           June 3rd, 2010   Level: Master Thesis: EFO705 (15 Credits)   Authors: Ratiboon    Assawajaruwan (850522) Teeranuch Pumthong           (850508) Title: Coordination and Control Mechanisms of Western European MNC towards Southeast Asia Subsidiaries   Tutor: Leif Linnskog                         Examiner:       Ole     Liljefors   Research Problem:   “How does Western European MNC coordinate and control its subsidiaries in Southeast Asia?”   Purpose: To describe how Western European MNC controls and coordinates with its subsidiaries in Southeast Asia.   Method: The qualitative approach is employed for gathering data and analysis. The primary data is collected by the semi-structure interview. PZ Cussons is selected as a case study in order to study and describe the control and coordination mechanisms between headquarters and subsidiaries.   Conclusion: To achieve effective business operation and respond to increased complexity of international environments, it is important for a large and complex MNC as PZ Cussons to concern the control and coordination mechanisms between headquarters and subsidiaries. Considering different contexts among various subsidiaries, PZ Cussons structured the organization as multi-home-based MNC with partial in heterarchical management and deploys a combination of several control and coordination mechanisms to fit with each subsidiary’s environment. Transnational solution as well as control and coordination mechanisms as differentiated fit and shared value are integrated and implemented by PZ Cussons headquarters in UK to cooperate with Thailand and Indonesia subsidiaries in Southeast Asia.   Keywords: Multinational Company, Organization structure, Coordination mechanism

Acceptance of Influenza Vaccination among Pregnant Women attending the Antenatal Care Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Objectives: To determine the acceptance rate and associated factors of influenza vaccination among Thai pregnant women.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from November 2014 to March 2015. Pregnant women were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires that collected data on acceptance of vaccination, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding to influenza vaccination during pregnancy. The associated factors were determined by logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 412 women completed the questionnaires. Acceptance rate of influenza vaccination among the participants was 40.5% (95% CI 35.9-45.3). Most participants (320 women, 77.7%) had good knowledge about influenza and the vaccine. Factors positively associated with the acceptance were ‘advice from physicians’ (adjusted OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.55-4.39), ‘notification about vaccination in current pregnancy’ (adjusted OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17-2.89), ‘protection of newborn’ (adjusted OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.74-4.62) and ‘cost of vaccination’ (adjusted OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.46-3.82). Negatively associated factors included ‘experience of side effects following past vaccination’ (adjusted OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05-0.74), ‘belief that vaccination is unnecessary’ (adjusted OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.86), and ‘unsafe during the first trimester’ (adjusted OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34-0.90).Conclusion: Acceptance rate of influenza vaccination during pregnancy among women in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital was 40.5%. To increase vaccination rate, health care providers should advise or mention on influenza vaccination and provide information to support that the immunization can protect their newborns and is safe at any trimeste

Impact of Pharmacist-Led Implementation of a Community Hospital-Based Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy on Clinical Outcomes in Thailand

Few studies have analyzed community hospital-based parenteral anti-infective therapy (CohPAT). We aimed to assess the clinical impact of a pharmacist-led implementation of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for CohPAT, and to determine the pharmacist’s role in CohPAT medication management. The prospective-period patients (post-implementation group) were compared with the historical control-period patients (pre-implementation group) for receiving a continuous antimicrobial parenteral injection. A CPG was used for laboratory testing for efficacy and safety, the monitoring of adverse drug events during admission, microbiology results coordination, and dosage adjustment. For any antimicrobial drug-related problems, the pharmacist consulted with the clinicians. Over 14 months, 50 participants were included in each group. In the pre-implementation period, 7 (14%) and 4 (8%) out of 50 patients received an inappropriate dosage and nonlaboratory monitoring for dose adjustment, respectively. The patients received the proper dosage of antimicrobial agents, which increased significantly from 78% pre- to 100% post-implementation (p = 0.000). The pharmacist’s interventions during the prospective-period were completely accepted by the clinicians, and significantly greater laboratory monitoring complying with CPG was given to the postimplementation group than the pre-implementation group (100% vs. 60%; p = 0.000). Significantly less patients with unfavorable outcomes (failure or in-hospital mortality) were observed in the post-implementation than in the pre-implementation (6% vs. 26%; p = 0.006) group. For the logistic regression analysis, lower respiratory infection (adjusted OR, aOR 3.68; 95%CI 1.13–12.06) and the post-implementation period (aOR 0.21; 95%CI 0.06–0.83) were significant risk factors that were associated with unfavorable outcomes. Given the better clinical outcomes and the improved quality of septic patient care observed after implementation, pharmacist-led implementation should be adopted in healthcare settings

การใช้แป้งข้าวสีนิลทดแทนแป้งสาลีในส่วนเปลือกของขนมเปี๊ยะกุหลาบ

วารสารวิชาการและวิจัย มทร.พระนคร, 12(1) : 27-39The objectives of this research were to study the effect of the substitution of sinin rice flour to wheat flour in the crust of the flaky Chinese pastry (Kha-Nom Pia Kularb) on the physical quality, the chemical composition and the consumer acceptance of the developed product. The ratios of sinin rice flour substituted for wheat flour (w/w) at 0:100 (control), 10:90, 20:80, 30:70 and 40:60 were studied. The results showed that increasing substitution levels caused darker purple, lower cohesiveness and more difficult for shaping. Additional, the higher level of substitution, the more decreased of product’s size, specific volume, and lightness (L*) of crust and filling. According to the texture profile analysis, when the ratio of sinin rice flour in the product increased, the hardness, springiness and cohesiveness of the product decreased while the chewiness increased. Sensory quality evaluated with 9-point hedonic scale by 55 panelists. The crust of product which was formulated using a ratio of sinin rice flour: wheat flour at 20:80 had liking score higher than the others with moderate liking score. Analysis of chemical compositions (100 g product) showed that the contents of moisture, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate and dietary fiber as 16.37, 7.09, 26.30, 0.62, 49.62 and 2.27 g, respectively. The total calorie was calculated as 463..54 Kcal/100 g. Furthermore, this product provided anthocyanin 6.5 mg/100g (dry basis). Moreover, consumer acceptance test with 120 consumers revealed that the overall liking of this product was like highly and 98.0% of consumers accept it, besides, 96.7% of them decided to buy it.Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakho

Novel Color Change Film as a Time–Temperature Indicator Using Polydiacetylene/Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Time–temperature indicators (TTIs) can be important tools in product applications to monitor food quality losses, especially for fruits and vegetables. In this context, the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and glycerol on the color change of polydiacetylene/AgNPs (PDA/AgNPs) embedded in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) film as time–temperature indicators (TTIs) were investigated. A CMC film prepared with 30 mg/L AgNPs and a 1:3 (v/v) PDA:AgNP ratio exhibited a faster color change than under other conditions. At 35 °C, the films with PDA/AgNPs changed color from purplish-blue to purple and purple to reddish-purple over time due to the higher thermal conductivity of AgNPs and larger PDA surface area exposed to specific temperatures. The total color difference (TCD) of PDA/AgNP-embedded CMC film directly changed with regard to time and temperature. However, adding glycerol to the system resulted in a symmetrical chemical structure, a factor that delayed the color change. Scanning electron micrographs showed AgNPs embedded in the CMC films. Transmission electron micrographs indicated a core-shell structure of PDA/AgNP vesicles in the CMC matrix. PDA/AgNP vesicles were confirmed by second derivative Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, with a new peak at 1390–1150 cm−1. The kinetics of TTIs from PDA/AgNP-embedded CMC films yielded an activation energy of 58.70 kJ/mol