Co-operation as a response to a turbulent environment

The objective of this study was to find out 'how SMEs perceive and respond to a turbulent environment'. We define a turbulent environment as an environment in which customer needs are rapidly changing. Based on this interpretation, we are interested in to what extent SMEs perceive these changes in customer needs and how they respond to these changes - particularly focussing on strategy and cooperation. The main conclusion of our research is that SMEs co-operate mainly to reduce costs or improve the competitive position, not to meet customer needs more adequately. SMEs do not realise the advantages of seeking cooperation in order to share means and expertise in delivering a custom or tailor-made product or service to their customer. With respect to their suppliers, SMEs often lack countervailing power, which is an obstacle for co-operation. SMEs in the retail sectors are unable to convince their suppliers of the need to respond to changes quickly. Regarding co-operation with the clients, one might question whether existing customisation strategies are really demand-driven. This research does not support the impression that SMEs really know their customers' wishes and needs. On the contrary, some businesses intentionally do not adjust their products to changing customer needs.

Family business in the Dutch SME-sector

Dit rapport geeft inzicht in de rol die familiebedrijven spelen in het midden- en kleinbedrijf in Nederland. Er worden definities gegeven van familiebedrijven en er wordt een vergelijking gemaakt tussen familiebedrijven en niet-familiebedrijven.

Reflections on the artist interview and the conservator's point of view by example of Ger van Elk

Ger van Elk is regarded as a conceptual artist, although the relationship between the material execution and the concept contributes significantly to the final work of art. He creates painterly or sculptural artworks and installations in which photography, film and video are incorporated in an unconventional way. His work became internationally known when he participated in high-profile exhibitions, such as Op losse schroeven and When Attitude Becomes Form in 1969. Soon after this he worked in Los Angeles, together with Bas Jan Ader, where he took up the medium of photography for the first time in order to visualise his ideas. The significance of his work lies in a visual play involving the relationship between artwork and reality, in which the traditions and the mechanism of representation in art are examined. The quality of the image must be perfect to obtain the intended effect, but due to the degradation of the photographic material this is often no longer the case. Therefore, the core of the conservation problem of his work is whether photographic components should be replaced and if so, in which manner this should be done. This is problematic since the photographs are incorporated in three-dimensional structures and have been painted on as well, which makes it clear that these are unique works that cannot simply be reproduced