Negotiation of Investment Shares in Interorganizational Supply Chains: A Game-Theoretic Approach

In this paper, we analyze negotiations of investment shares in interorganizational supply chains. To formulate the research issue more precisely, we develop a taxonomy of enterprise networks in general. We propose an investment sharing model that makes use of Shapley values as indicators of relative negotiation power in a network. It turns out that a focal buyer (supplier) in a supply chain can reduce investment shares and by that increase profits from the network if the number of non-focal suppliers (buyers) increases. However, this effect is connected with distortions of investment incentives and makes investment decisions difficult to implement. In the presence of additional coordination costs to support a certain supplier (buyer) base, an optimal number of suppliers (buyers) exists. As a large part of investments for interorganizational supply chains often concerns information and communication systems and technologies, these results are particularly important in the field of information management

Information System Flexibility and the Cost Efficiency of Business Processes

In order to be effective, an information system (IS) needs to be flexible, that is, it must be able to accommodate a certain amount of variation regarding the requirements of the supported business process. Despite many previous studies on the flexibility of organizations, processes, and various organizational technologies, the economics of flexibility are not yet well understood. The current paper contributes to IS theory building with a focus on the impact of IS flexibility on the cost efficiency of a given business process. We present a theoretical model that details the economics of two generic strategies of IS flexibility (i.e., flexibility-to-use regarding the IS features that are provided at the time of implementation, and flexibility-to-change regarding the IS features that constitute an option for later system upgrade), and that also includes the possibility of process performance outside of the IS (manual operations). Based on an analysis of the model, we conclude that IS flexibility-to-change is cost efficiently deployed to support a business process characterized by a high level of structural and environmental uncertainty, whereas a low level of process uncertainty corresponds efficiently with IS flexibility-to-use. The model also indicates that high process variability can improve the importance of IS flexibility management in general, as it tends to limit the value of an IS over manual operations, whereas a high level of time-criticality of process requirements tends to increase the value of an IS over manual operations

How Much to Spend on Flexibility? Determining the Value of Information System Flexibility

ABSTRACT In the current paper, we outline several approaches to determine the value of information system (IS) flexibility, defined as the extent to which an IS can be modified and upgraded following its initial implementation. Building on an earlier conceptual model by Gebauer and Schober (2006), we calculate the value of IS flexibility for a numerical example with deterministic and stochastic model parameters. We compare the results of decision tree analysis and real option analysis and present the results of a simulation experiment. Besides practical implications, our results contribute to earlier research on IS flexibility as they highlight the need to include stochastic elements in the evaluation of IS flexibility

Restructuring the German Outpatient Health Care System: An Economic and IT Perspective

Among other proposals to reform the German outpatient health care system the establishment of networks of cooperating physicians (doctors’ networks) has found high and controversial consideration in recent years. In this paper we analyze doctors’ networks both from an economic perspective, particularly with a view on network strategies, and the perspective of supporting information technologies. Our main conclusions are that the viability of doctors’ networks critically depends on trust-building mechanisms like the restriction of the network in size and complexity and the application of fair profit allocation rules. Concerning information technology the implementation and use of highly integrated interorganizational systems appears most promising. We propose an architecture of such systems. It integrates information technology along the medical, the business and the communication systems dimension and serves as a vehicle for efficient use of shared patient data and other network resources, knowledge creation, fair profit allocation, improved business control and a high level of integrity vis-a-vis the patient

On the nature of amorphous polymorphism of water

We report elastic and inelastic neutron scattering experiments on different amorphous ice modifications. It is shown that an amorphous structure (HDA') indiscernible from the high-density phase (HDA), obtained by compression of crystalline ice, can be formed from the very high-density phase (vHDA) as an intermediate stage of the transition of vHDA into its low-density modification (LDA'). Both, HDA and HDA' exhibit comparable small angle scattering signals characterizing them as structures heterogeneous on a length scale of a few nano-meters. The homogeneous structures are the initial and final transition stages vHDA and LDA', respectively. Despite, their apparent structural identity on a local scale HDA and HDA' differ in their transition kinetics explored by in situ experiments. The activation energy of the vHDA-to-LDA' transition is at least 20 kJ/mol higher than the activation energy of the HDA-to-LDA transition

Effect of ischemia on localization of heat shock protein 25 in kidney

Effect of ischemia on localization of heat shock protein 25 in kidney. The effects of renal ischemia on the intracellular distribution of the low-molecular weight heat shock protein (HSP)25 were examined using immunofluorescence microscopy. In all kidney zones, ischemia decreased HSP25 in the supernatant of the tissue homogenates and increased it in the pellet fraction (containing mainly nuclei and cytoskeletal components). This was associated with disappearance of HSP25 staining from the brush border of proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) cells. Because no nuclear staining of cortical tubule cells was apparent either in control or ischemic kidneys, ischemia seems to cause a closer association of HSP25 with cytoskeletal components. HSP25 probably participates in the postischemic restructuring of the cytoskeleton of PCT cells

Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles

Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases