Global Visions and Globalizing Corporations: an Analysis of Images and Texts from Fortune Global 500 Companies

Transnational corporations (TNCs) have a central role to play in globalization. At the same time, globalization carries risks for the corporation, and not all of those associated with TNCs may support globalization. While much of the globalization literature suggests that corporations are globalizing their production systems, or contributing to a global culture, there is little exploration of how globalization is framed and mediated within the corporate community itself. This article employs a semiotic analysis of images and texts from annual reports of Fortune Global 500 corporations. It argues that globalizing TNCs generate several narratives geared to persuading employees, shareholders, business partners and members of the financial community of the merits of globalization. They can be divided into at least three types geared to brand, industry leadership or organization. The narratives all have common themes to the extent that they are rooted in a customer focus, but they also demonstrate multiple and sometimes ambiguous global aspirations and expectations.Capitalism; Globalization; Image; Narrative; Semiotics; Transnational Corporation

No One Shall Be Held in Slavery or Servitude: A critical analysis of international slavery conventions

Traces the development of slavery definitions in international agreements from 1815 to 2001. Overview of slavery definitions in international law; Historical analysis of the evolution of slavery definitions in international agreements; Analysis of the main characteristics of slavery in international agreements; Types of social theory that can be used in illuminating slavery; Discussion on the dimensions of slavery

Book review: law and the economy in colonial India by Tirthankar Roy and Anand V. Swamy

In Law and Economy in Colonial India, Tirthankar Roy and Anand V. Swamy explore the origins of British law and continued legal impediments of the Indian economy today. Reserving high praise for this nuanced book, Peter Robb finds it refreshing to encounter such dispassionate, evidence-based analysis of subjects that are so often treated through polemic

Peter Robbins: Have Newspapers Written Their Own Obituary?

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The genesis of synthetic biology: Innovation, interdisciplinarity and the IGEM student competition

Synthetic biology involves using interchangeable DNA sequences to genetically engineer organisms in new ways. In this paper I use the annual International Genetically Engineered Machines (IGEM) undergraduate student competition at MIT as a case study to examine ways in which synthetic biologists, several of whom were originally pioneers in software and computing, have attempted to establish this field. In particular, they have emphasised open source science and technology, the ‘private collective’ innovation model and interdisciplinary team-working. The registry of standard biological parts (‘BioBricks’), featured in the competition and maintained by MIT, is a good example of this open source approach to science. BioBricks are freely and publicly accessible, allowing research to develop quickly, and at relatively low cost. Notably, one student team used BioBricks in their project to engineer e-coli to recognise arsenic, which could be used for low-cost water testing in countries like Bangladesh, where many wells are arsenic polluted. At the same time, there are concerns about some aspects of the development of such tools and their potential for bioterrorism. Interviews with key scientists and engineers who established the competition and students who have taken part form the basis of the dataset

Psychological type and work-related psychological health among clergy in Australia, England and New Zealand

A sample of 3,715 clergy from Australia, England and New Zealand completed two indices of work-related psychological health, the Scale of Emotional Exhaustion in Ministry (negative affect) and the Satisfaction in Ministry Scale (positive affect), together with a measure of Jungian psychological type, the Francis Psychological Type Scales. The data were employed to establish three issues: the level of work-related psychological health among clergy; the psychological type profile of clergy; and the relationship between psychological type and individual differences in work-related psychological health. The data demonstrate that clergy display high levels of positive affect coupled with high levels of negative affect; that the predominant psychological type profile of clergy prefers introversion over extraversion, sensing over intuition, feeling over thinking, and judging over perceiving; and that psychological type is able to predict differences in work-related psychological health among clergy. Clergy who prefer introversion and thinking experience lower levels of work-related psychological health than clergy who prefer extraversion and feeling. The implications of these findings are discussed for developing effective and healthy Christian ministry

Bilateral abducens nerve palsy due to septic thrombophlebitis.

PurposeTo report a case of septic thrombophlebitis producing bilateral abducens nerve palsy.ObservationA 65 year-old woman with recent sinus surgery experienced the onset of horizontal diplopia during treatment for bacteremia. Computer tomography of head and a neck ultrasonography showed right internal jugular vein occlusion. Ophthalmology examination was consistent with bilateral abducens nerve palsy. She was treated with systemic antibiotics and antiplatelet therapy with resolution of the internal jugular vein occlusion. The diplopia improved over a six-months.Conclusion and importanceOur patient had Lemierre syndrome with an unusual presentation. The patient was treated for septic thrombophlebitis with a resolution of her ocular symptoms

Design of a Market Information System for Small Scale Producers and Traders in three Districts of Uganda

The authors propose a design for a pilot market information service in Uganda, based on the findings of a preliminary study conducted by IITA. The pilot project is divided into three commodity-based components ­ maize, beans and cassava ­ and involves consultations with farmers, traders and processorsA study report proposing a design for a pilot market information service in Uganda, based on the findings of a preliminary study conducted by IITA

Stage-gate or straitjacket; how too much structure can be bad for innovation

The new product or service development (NPD/NSD) process is arguably the most important dynamic capability within a firm, with success at innovation being vital not only for firm success but also for survival. Despite this, little is known about innovation in Ireland; specifically, about how organisations manage for innovation. Auditing 347 firms across numerous sectors in Ireland our research finds that the majority of firms do not have a formal innovation process with service sector firms being the least likely to have a formalised process. Yet, clear evidence of the benefits of having an innovation process exist, with these being most evident in the launch and diffusion of innovations. At the same time, firms without a process are more successful in the ideation, or idea generation phase with these firms also having a better record in creating ‘new to the market’ ideas than firms who conform to an a-priori process

Building Collaborative Networks for Innovation

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