Cross-cultural interfaces: hybridization of HRM practices of MNCs in developing countries and emerging economies

The present study examines hybrid human resources management (HRM) practices of multinational companies (MNCs) operating in developing countries (DCEEs) and the outcomes of this hybridization in terms of local employees' perceptions of appropriate and effective HRM practices. With the increased investment of Western industrialized world to DCEEs, managing HR in MNCs becomes an issue of critical importance (Jackson, 2004a). However, to balance the incompatible demands of being locally responsive while preserving global integration is a challenging task for HRM managers in MNCs (Horwitz, (Camoche, & Chew, 2002) and this challenging task eventually leads to adoption of hybrid models. Not only the description of the process of the hybridization of HRM practices but also its outcomes are missing in the literature. According to Jackson (2004b), the effects of HRM hybridization must be examined with a specific focus on their effectiveness and appropriateness both at the organizational and individual levels. The objectives of this study are to a) contribute to the literature by examining perceived outcomes of so-called 'Western' cultural influences in the context of HRM in DCEEs, and b) contribute to practice by providing feedback to HRM practitioners, especially in MNCs, about how to implement HRM in particular cultural and institutional contexts to increase their appropriateness and effectiveness. In a concurrent mixed-method design with a pragmatic approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated. Quantitative data collected from snowball samples of employees working in MNCs in Turkey and Romania through a large scale survey revealed a significant relationship between socio-cultural values and preferred HRM practices. Values rather than institutional contextual variables revealed to be stronger predictors of understanding HRM in context. Results further revealed that as the discrepancy between preferred and actual HRM decreases, it was perceived more appropriate and effective, which, in turn, lead to higher organizational commitment (OC) and lower turnover intention through mediation of higher person-organization (PO) fit. Furthermore, not only did the structural equation modeling findings establish the validity of the constructs of HRM hybridity, appropriateness and effectiveness (i.e., measurement model), they also supported the link between hybridity and positive employee attitudes, mediated by HRM appropriateness and effectiveness (i.e., structural model). Qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews from employees in two case MNCs in Turkey and Romania also revealed the influence of various factors including cultural values and higher institutions on the implementation of HRM as well as its hybridization process. Findings complementing quantitative data as well as theoretical and practical contributions of the present research, its limitations, and future research avenues were also presented

Curvature Inheritance Symmetry In Riemannian Spaces with Applications to String Cloud and String Fluids

We study, in this paper, curvature inheritance symmetry (CI), $\pounds_{\xi}R_{bcd}^{a}=2\alpha R_{bcd}^{a}$, where $\alpha$ is a scalar function, for string cloud and string fluid in the context of general relativity. Also, we have obtained some result when a proper CI (i.e., $\alpha \neq 0$) is also a conformal Killing vector.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, no figures, to appear in the International Journal of Modern Physics D (IJMPD), Vol.8, No.5(Oct.,1999

Generation and detection of axions using guided structures

We propose a new experimental technique to generate and detect axions in the lab with a good experimental sensitivity over a broad axion mass range. The scheme relies on using laser-based four-wave mixing, which is mediated by the hypothetical axion field. Intense pump and Stokes laser beams that are confined to a waveguide (i.e., for example, an optical fiber) with appropriately chosen frequencies resonantly drive axion generation. Under such a geometry, we predict the existence of guided axion waves, which we refer to as "axitons". These are solutions of the axion Klein-Gordon field equation that are spatially guided by the profiles of the driving pump and Stokes laser beams. These guided axitons can then couple to a nearby fiber and mix with another laser, affecting the propagation of a probe laser beam. A key advantage of the scheme is that the mass range of the hypothetical axion can be scanned by varying the frequencies of the pump and the Stokes laser beams. We predict that, using reasonable parameters, the technique will be able to detect axions in the mass range $10^{-6}$eV $< m<$ $10^{-2}$eV with a sensitivity at the level of $10^{-12}$ GeV$^{-1}$ for the axion-photon coupling constant

XPS characterization of Bi and Mn collected on atom-trapping silica for AAS

The chemical state of analyte species collected on a water-cooled silica tube during atom-trapping atomic absorption spectrometric determination is investigated with the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for Bi and Mn. Analysis of the Bi 4f(7/2) peak reveals that the chemical state of Bi is +3 during initial trapping (before the atomization stage), but an additional 0-valence state of Bi is also observed after the atomization stage. With the use of the measured Mn 2p(3/2) binding energy together with the observed 3s multiplet splitting, the chemical state of Mn is determined as +2 in all stages. Together with our previous determination of 0 valence for Au, it is now postulated that the stability of certain valence states of the three elements (Au, Bi, and Mn) on the silica matrix can be correlated to their electrochemical reduction potentials

Design Chart for Reinforced Concrete Rectangular Section

Design charts are very useful for fast determining the percentage of reinforcement for singly and doubly reinforced concrete beams having known cross-sectional dimensions, characteristic strengths of the concrete and steel, and the ultimate design moment. A complete set of design charts is given in BS: 8110 - 85: Part 3, but it seems difficult to use these charts especially for doubly reinforced beams. In this paper, a straight-forward design chart has been developed based on BS: 8110 – 97 design rules. Several design examples have been solved using the developed chart and good results have been obtained

Capacidad antioxidante y perfil de ácidos grasos de Centaurea kotschyi (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek var. persica (Boiss.) Wagenitz de Turquía

The antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract and the fatty acid composition of C. kotschyi var. persica were investigated. Six different chemical methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity. The fatty acid composition was analyzed using gas chromatography. The IC50 value of the extract was determined as 37.09 μg/ml (in the DPPH assay). In the β-carotene/linoleic acid system, the extract exhibited 65.22% inhibition against linoleic acid oxidation. The amount of total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity were detected as 36.52 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 74.93 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AE)/g, respectively. The major fatty acid in the composition of C. kotschyi var. persica was found to be C 18:3 ω3 (α-linolenic acid) by GC analysis. The results presented here indicate that C. kotschyi var. persica possess strong antioxidant properties. Therefore, the species can be used as a natural additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.La capacidad antioxidante de extractos metanólicos y composición de ácidos grasos de C. kotschyi var. pérsica fueron investigados. Seis métodos químicos diferentes fueron realizados para la determinación de la capacidad antioxidante. La composición de ácidos grasos fue analizada por cromatografía de gases. Los valores de IC50 de los extractos fueron 37.09 μg/ml (en el ensayo con DPPH). En el sistema β-carotene/ácido linoleico, el extracto mostró un 65.22% de inhibición frente a la oxidación del ácido linoleico. La cantidad total de contenido fenólico y capacidad antioxidante total fueron 36.52 mg equivalentes de ácido gallico (GAE)/g y 74.93 mg equivalentes de ácido ascórbico (AE)/g, respectivamente. El principal ácidos graso encontrado, por análisis de CG, en C. kotschyi var. pérsica fue el C 18:3 ω3 (ácido α-linolenico). Los resultados presentados aquí indican que C. kotschyi var. pérsica posee unas fuertes propiedades antioxidantes. Además, las especies pueden ser usadas como aditivos naturales en los alimentos, en cosmética y en industria farmacéutica

Flexural retrofit of support regions of reinforced concrete beams with anchored FRP ropes under reversed cyclic loading

Many studies have been conducted for enhancing the positive moment capacity of the mid-span areas of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement under monotonic increasing loads. However under seismic actions, the support regions of beams may also require retrofitting. In such cases, retrofitting should be effective under reversed cyclic flexural actions. According to the best knowledge of authors, there is no study investigating this important issue in the literature. Therefore, the present study focuses on retrofitting of beam support regions under reversed cyclic flexural moments. As the initial stage of a more comprehensive testing program, three full-scale RC beam-column-slab sub-assemblages were tested. The sub-assemblages also included a part of transverse beams perpendicular to the main beam tested. One specimen was tested as a reference specimen while the remaining two specimens were tested after being retrofitted with near surface mounted (NSM) carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) ropes with two different details in terms of anchorage of the CFRP ropes into joint region. The anchorage of CFRP ropes was provided by NSM application over the slab next to the column in one of the specimens, while CFRP rope was anchored by epoxy adhesive within the joint core by embedding it through a drilled hole on the column in other specimen. The effectiveness of the proposed anchoring methods was investigated through experimentally. The findings of the study indicated that the specimen retrofitted with NSM anchoring method achieved a remarkable enhancement in flexural capacity, whereas, anchoring through embedment of the CFRP rope within the epoxied drilled hole was not that successful