亲缘关系、创新能力与企业绩效

本文认为,CEO与控制性股东之间的亲缘关系会影响企业的创新能力,是解释家族企业治理效率的重要理论依据之一.通过构建有中介的调节变量模型,本文以2001-2005年沪深两市上市的家族企业为样本,实证检验了家族上市公司CEO与控制性股东之间的亲缘关系对企业绩效的影响,以及创新能力在此关系中的中介作用和股权结构的调节作用.结果显示:(1)家族上市公司CEO与控制性股东之间的亲缘关系与企业创新能力和企业绩效之间均存在显著的正相关关系;(2)创新能力与企业绩效之间存在显著的正相关关系,且创新能力在亲缘关系对企业绩效的影响路径中起部分中介作用;(3)股权结构形式对亲缘关系与创新能力和企业绩效之间的关系起显著的调节作用.即相对于直接持股式股权结构.金字塔式股权结构下亲缘关系对企业创新能力和企业绩效的影响更强.     

日本跨国公司对华直接投资的动机与区位因素分析

基于一项对230家日本在华投资母公司的问卷调查,本文对日本跨国公司对华直接投资的动机和区位因素进行了实证分析。根据因子分析,日本跨国公司对华直接投资的动机可以归纳为市场寻求动机、资源转移动机和竞争压力动机;影响日本跨国公司对华直接投资的区位因素可以归纳为宏观环境因素、政府效率因素、法律法规因素、激励因素、服务因素和投入成本因素。     

Combined Effects of Contaminant Desorption and Toxicity on Risk from PAH Contaminated Sediments

A strong inverse correlation was observed between the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mass fraction desorbed, a surrogate measure of bioavailability, and relative carcinogenicity, as quantified by potency equivalency factors (PEFs), for two study sediments from the New York/New Jersey Harbor estuary. Because compounds with the highest toxicity, such as dibenz(a,h)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene (BAP), also tended to be the least rapidly and least extensively desorbed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) default guidance may dramatically overestimate risk from exposure to PAH-contaminated soils or sediments. A "relative risk index" (RRI) was developed to account for the combined effects of compound-specific bioavailability and toxic potency in estimating excess cancer risk. Using this approach, estimated excess cancer risk may be diminished by as much as a factor of 159 times versus default EPA guidance. Also, the hierarchy of estimated risk between study sediments and among treatment fractions of study sediments differed using the two approaches, implying that the default approach may inaccurately determine site clean-up priorities. The percentage contribution of each potentially carcinogenic priority PAH to total excess cancer risk was computed under various scenarios. In each case, the contribution of BAP to total excess cancer risk was remarkably invariable, for example, ranging from 48% to 52% in one sediment, and 44% to 54% in the other, over four different exposure durations. These results suggest that BAP may be an excellent indexing compound for gauging relative exposure risk across sediments. Other important contributors to total excess cancer risk were benz(a)anthracene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene. Together, these three compounds comprised nearly 90% of total excess cancer risk from all PAHs in every scenario. This integrated RRI approach may enable regulators to more accurately gauge relative risks and make more informed sediment management decisions.     

The Role of Strategic Agility in Acquisitions

The aim of the present study is to examine the role of strategic agility as a component of the acquisition process by investigating its constituent elements and effects on knowledge transfer in the context of acquisitions. The study also elaborates on the relationship between knowledge transfer and performance in acquisitions. We test our theoretical model on a quantitative data set of acquisitions conducted by Finnish companies.     

Systemic Valuation of Strategic Preparedness Through Application of the Inoperability Input-Output Model with Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has mandated all regions to "carefully weigh the benefit of each homeland security endeavor and only allocate resources where the benefit of reducing risk is worth the amount of additional cost" (DHS, 2006, p. 64). This mandate illuminates the need to develop methods for systemic valuation of preparedness measures that support strategic decision making. This article proposes an analysis method that naturally emerges from the structure of the inoperability input-output model (IIM) through which various regional- and sector-specific impact analyses can be cost-effectively integrated for natural and man-made disasters. The IIM is described extensively in a companion paper (Lian et al., 2007). Its reliance on data classifications structured by the U.S. Census Bureau and its extensive accounting of economic interdependencies enables us to decompose a risk analysis activity, perform independent assessments, and properly integrate the assessment for a systemic valuation of risk and risk management activity. In this article, we account for and assess some of the major impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to demonstrate this use of the IIM and illustrate hypothetical, reduced impacts resulting from various strategic preparedness decisions. Our results indicate the capability of the IIM to guide the decision-making processes involved in developing a preparedness strategy.     

Effects of Surface Material,Ventilation, and Human Behavior on Indirect Contact Transmission Risk of Respiratory Infection

Infectious particles can be deposited on surfaces. Susceptible persons who contacted these contaminated surfaces may transfer the pathogens to their mucous membranes via hands, leading to a risk of respiratory infection. The exposure and infection risk contributed by this transmission route depend on indoor surface material, ventilation, and human behavior. In this study, quantitative infection risk assessments were used to compare the significances of these factors. The risks of three pathogens, influenza A virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus, in an aircraft cabin and in a hospital ward were assessed. Results showed that reducing the contact rate is relatively more effective than increasing the ventilation rate to lower the infection risk. Nonfabric surface materials were found to be much more favorable in the indirect contact transmission for RSV and rhinovirus than fabric surface materials. In the cases considered in this study, halving the ventilation rate and doubling the hand contact rate to surfaces and the hand contact rate to mucous membranes would increase the risk by 3.7–16.2%, 34.4–94.2%, and 24.1–117.7%, respectively. Contacting contaminated nonfabric surfaces may pose an indirect contact risk up to three orders of magnitude higher than that of contacting contaminated fabric surfaces. These findings provide more consideration for infection control and building environmental design.     

Scheduling of Multi‐skilled Staff Across Multiple Locations

We address the problem of assigning airline customer service agents (CSAs) to tasks related to departing flights, such as selling tickets and collecting boarding cards, at an international terminal of a large airport. The airline specifies minimum and target levels of staff and required (or desired) types and levels of skills for each location in each time period. The assignment problem is complicated by staff heterogeneity, time required for moves between locations, and lunch and rest‐break requirements. We present a mixed‐integer formulation that considers both staffing shortages and skills mismatches and show that the problem is NP‐hard. We derive valid inequalities that tighten the bounds within a branch‐and‐cut procedure, enabling us to obtain near‐optimal solutions for problems of realistic size very quickly. We also present a generalization to simultaneously optimize shift starting times and task assignments, which can aid in longer term workforce planning. Finally, we utilize our procedure to obtain managerial insights regarding the benefits of flexibility derived from more highly skilled staff, allowing more frequent moves, and choices of shift starting times. We also demonstrate the benefits of our procedure vs. a heuristic that mimics what an experienced scheduler might choose.     

廊下派政治哲学的三个维度

哲学史研究通常轻视甚至忽视廊下派的政治哲学。其实,廊下派哲学不仅有政治性,而且包含三个鲜明的政治维度：普适性、保留性以及顺从性。廊下派认为世上所有智者乃至常人都是或应当生活在同一个城邦之中,彼此互爱并受共同律法的支配。作为社会动物的人不只是理想城邦的公民,他还有义务“有所保留地”参与实际的政治生活。不过,廊下派尤其是罗马廊下派宣称现实的国家政制在很大程度上是命运的结果,因而人应该对它首先表示顺从。其中,普适性最决定性地构成了廊下派对传统城邦政治以及古典政治哲学的超越。廊下派通过暗中接续智术师的政治信念,为近现代的启蒙思潮铺平了道路。     

Interprofessional collaboration between social workers and school counsellors in tackling youth at-risk behaviour

In Singapore, although youths are engaged in school, at-risk behaviours still prevail. This study discovers the experiences of collaboration between social workers and school counsellors when working together to tackle the multi-dimensional problems that youths face. It is posited that the collaborative processes have strengthened as seen in the role clarity, flexibility and tight communicative processes amongst professionals. There are also issues of concerns raised, such as confidentiality and clashes in agenda. These are discussed in light of the processes and orientations that influenced professionals in their practise. Last, relevant recommendations are given to develop collaborative work.