Trojan Horses or Local Allies: Host-country National Managers in Developing Market Subsidiaries

We investigate a multinational corporation's (MNC) decision to appoint host-country national (HCN) managers to foreign subsidiaries based on the institutional context of and familiarity with the host country. HCN managers are commonly associated with specialized knowledge, superior responsiveness, and higher legitimacy. Yet, we argue that local familiarity of HCNs can also be perceived as risky or harmful by MNC parents. We analyze how formal and informal institutions affect the trade-off between positive effects and potential costs associated with HCN managers ("Local allies" vs. "Trojan horses"). We find that legal institutions protect foreign MNCs from potential costs, encourage the use of HCNs and reinforce their benefits. Corruption and corruption distance, however, increase perceived costs associated with HCN managers up to a point at which they outweigh their perceived benefits

Optimal higher order modeling methodology based on method of moments and finite element method for electromagnetics

2011 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.General guidelines and quantitative recipes for adoptions of optimal higher order parameters for computational electromagnetics (CEM) modeling using the method of moments and the finite element method are established and validated, based on an exhaustive series of numerical experiments and comprehensive case studies on higher order hierarchical CEM models of metallic and dielectric scatterers. The modeling parameters considered are: electrical dimensions of elements (subdivisions) in the model (h-refinement), polynomial orders of basis and testing functions (p-refinement), orders of Gauss-Legendre integration formulas (numbers of integration points - integration accuracy), and geometrical orders of elements (orders of Lagrange-type curvature) in the model. The goal of the study, which is the first such study of higher order parameters in CEM, is to reduce the dilemmas and uncertainties associated with the great modeling flexibility of higher order elements, basis and testing functions, and integration procedures (this flexibility is the principal advantage but also the greatest shortcoming of the higher order CEM), and to ease and facilitate the decisions to be made on how to actually use them, by both CEM developers and practitioners. The ultimate goal is to close the large gap between the rising academic interest in higher order CEM, which evidently shows great numerical potential, and its actual usefulness and application to electromagnetics research and engineering applications

Luftmatratze vs. Hotel - wie man Home Sharing reguliert

Das Aufkommen von Unternehmen à la Airbnb oder Wimdu, die der Sharing Economy zugerechnet werden, sorgte für einigen Aufruhr. Beklagt wurden unfaires Verhalten, gesetzliche Graubereiche und eine Menge Unsicherheiten: Doch die Politik schaffte Ordnung, und klare Rahmenbedingungen regen nun Innovationen an

How "space" and "place" influence subsidiary host country political embeddedness

As a part of multinational corporations (MNCs), subsidiaries operate in distinct host countries and have to deal with their external context. Host country political embeddedness, in particular, helps subsidiaries to obtain knowledge and understanding of the regulatory and political context, and to get access to local networks. Moreover, they get some guidance and support from their headquarters. Distance between MNC home and host countries, however, alienates subsidiaries from the MNC and influences the extent of subsidiary host country political embeddedness. We suggest that the host country political and regulatory context moderates the effect of distance on subsidiary host country political embeddedness by reducing the need and/or value of headquarters support. Using a sample of 124 European manufacturing subsidiaries, we find that distance (space) and context (place) matter jointly: the impact of distance is stronger for subsidiaries that operate in host countries with low governance quality and low political stability in place

Washington Square Commercial Local Historic District: Preserving an Illinois Community's Historic Resources

This project worked to protect the City of Washington's historic downtown Square and celebrate its historic resources. By recording the City's historic resources, and collaborating with a variety of stakeholder groups, we achieved our goal through the designation of a local historic district and the adoption of design guidelines.Ope

Die Kompetenz im schlussfolgernden Denken bei Studentinnen und Studenten zu Studienbeginn

Ziel dieser Studie war es, Übergänge im schlussfolgernden Denken zwischen dem konkreten und dem formalen Stadium nach Piaget bei Studienanfängerinnen und Studienanfängern zu identifizieren. Diese setzen sich aus 165 Psychologiestudierenden (w=123, m=42) und 322 Naturwissenschaftsstudierenden (w=164, m=158) zusammen. Durch die Vorgabe des SDV (Schlussfolgerndes Denken Verbal) und unter Anwendung von Mixed Rasch-Modellen konnten vier Klassen extrahiert werden, die sich sowohl qualitativ als auch quantitativ in ihren Kompetenzen zum schlussfolgernden Denken unterscheiden. Diese vier Klassen bilden analog einer Vorgängerstudie das konkrete Stadium, 2 Übergangsstadien und zusätzlich ein drittes fortgeschrittenes Übergangsstadium der kognitiven Entwicklung ab. Die Analysen zeigten, dass Naturwissenschaftsstudierende im Durchschnitt höhere Kompetenzen im schlussfolgernden Denken aufweisen als Psychologiestudierende. Die Inanspruchnahme von Studienberatung hatte keinen Einfluss auf die Passung zwischen Leistungs- und Anforderungsprofil bzgl. der Forderung nach Kompetenzen im schlussfolgernden Denken bei Studierenden.The purpose of this study was to identify transitions in reasoning that are situated between the concrete and the formal stadium postulated by Piaget in a sample of first year students. They consisted of 165 psychology (f=123, m=42) and 322 science students (f=164, m=158). Using SDV, a verbal reasoning test, and the application of Mixed-Rasch-Models led to the extraction of four classes, that differ both qualitatively and quantitatively in their reasoning skills. These four classes reproduce along the lines of a previous study the concrete stadium, two transitional stages and in addition a third advanced transitional stage in cognitive development. Analyses revealed, that on average reasoning skills are higher for science than for psychology students. Concerning the call for competence in reasoning with students, claiming Student Advisory Service had no influence on the match between performance in reasoning tasks and requirement profile