Investigating the Information Systems Heterarchy

This article assesses how one IS organization is changing in response to the increased globalization of software development and posits the emergence of a new form of multi-national enterprise (MNE)—the heterarchy. Data from two projects create new insights into the structures and behaviors of ISMNEs as they adapt to global systems development. The article identifies four primary dimensions of impact—cultural, economic, operational, and organizational—and suggests how such organizations are evolvin

Relative Health Effects of Education, Socioeconomic Status and Domestic Gender Inequity in Sweden: A Cohort Study

Introduction: Limited existing research on gender inequities suggests that for men workplace atmosphere shapes wellbeing while women are less susceptible to socioeconomic or work status but vulnerable to home inequities. Methods: Using the 2007 Northern Swedish Cohort (n = 773) we identified relative contributions of perceived gender inequities in relationships, financial strain, and education to self-reported health to determine whether controlling for sex, examining interactions between sex and other social variables, or sex-disaggregating data yielded most information about sex differences. Results and Discussion: Men had lower education but also less financial strain, and experienced less gender inequity. Overall, low education and financial strain detracted from health. However, sex-disaggregated data showed this to be true for women, whereas for men only gender inequity at home affected health. In the relatively egalitarian Swedish environment where women more readily enter all work arenas and men often provide parenting, traditional primacy of the home environment (for women) and the work environment (for men) in shaping health is reversing such that perceived domestic gender inequity has a significant health impact on men, while for women only education and financial strain are contributory. These outcomes were identified only when data were sex-disaggregated

Inter-organizational knowledge transfer:current issues and future prospects

Many papers have been published recently in the fields of strategy and international business research incorporating the role of organizational knowledge as a basis of firm competitive advantage. While such knowledge is normally developed within the firm, it is important that firms possess the ability to learn from others in order to meet the increasing pace of competition. Knowledge transfer, defined here as an event through which one organization learns from the experience of another, has thus become an important research area within the broader domain of organizational learning and knowledge management. This paper presents a theoretical framework, identifies key themes covered by the six articles included in the Special Issue on Inter-Organizational Knowledge Transfer, and then discusses priorities for future research

The lysine-rich motif of intrinsically disordered stress protein CDeT11-24 from Craterostigma plantagineum is responsible for phosphatidic acid binding and protection of enzymes from damaging effects caused by desiccation

The late embryogenesis abundant (LEA)-like protein CDeT11-24 is one of the major desiccation-related phosphoproteins of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum. In this study, it was shown that CDeT11-24 is mostly intrinsically disordered and protects two different enzymes, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase, against damaging effects caused by desiccation. Lipid-binding assays revealed that CDeT11-24 is able to interact with phosphatidic acid, although electrostatic repulsion was expected due to the overall negative net charge of the protein under the tested physiological conditions. CDeT11-24 carries an N-terminal lysine-rich sequence, which is predicted to form an amphipathic α-helix. Analysis of the truncated CDeT11-24 protein identified this region to be responsible for both activities: enzyme protection and phosphatidic acid interaction. Possible functions of the CDeT11-24 protein are discussed in the context of desiccation tolerance. Abbreviations: ABA: abscisic acid; CD: circular dichroism; CS: citrate synthase; IDP: intrinsically disordered protein; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; LEA: late embryogenesis abundant; PA: phosphatidic acid; PC: phosphatidylcholine; TFE: trifluoroethanol

Chemical interaction of Fe and Al2O3 as a source of heterogeneity at the Earth's core-mantle boundary

Seismological studies have revealed that a complex texture or heterogeneity exists in the Earth's inner core and at the boundary between core and mantle(1-4). These studies highlight the importance of understanding the properties of iron when modelling th</p

Entrepreneurship through relationships - navigating from creativity to commercialisation

This paper explores the role of relationships in the emergence of a network's value creation structure. The strategic navigation from creative exploration to global exploitation through the use of so-called transformation networks is particularly highlighted. The creativity phase requires a creator with visionary leadership. The commercialisation phase, on the other hand, requires technology integration and global marketing excellence. Realising that this requires more than a bright inventor, the creator of Anoto brought in the right complementary assets at distinct phases of the commercialisation process. Our case illustrates how integrator and marketeer profiles were brought into a networked act of entrepreneurship for joint navigation across an ocean of relationships that gave birth to a global standard for digital writing. By combining theories on open innovation and networking, a theoretical framework is developed to analyse the different nature of the networks (or the value creation structure) in which complementary assets can be accessed, transferred and transformed into commercialised innovation. The analysis suggests that the value of complementary assets are embedded in and unlocked by three distinct types of networks: creativity networks, transformation networks and process networks. It also suggests that the ideal approach to accessing complementary assets shifts over the research and development management process, and happens through these three different types and levels of networks, requiring fundamentally different approaches to leadership and relationship management. Current literature describes open and networked innovation as a continuous - not dynamic - process of exploration and exploitation without any distinction of how types and structures of networks evolve and interact in the process

Stability of Ferropericlase in the Lower Mantle

We have heated ferropericlases (Mg 0.60 Fe 0.40 )O and (Mg 0.50 Fe 0.50 )O to temperatures of 1000 kelvin at pressures of 86 gigapascals, simulating the stability of the solid solution at physical conditions relevant to Earth's lower mantle. The in situ x-ray study of the externally heated samples in a Mao-Bell–type diamond anvil cell shows that ferropericlase may dissociate into magnesium-rich and iron-rich oxide components. The result is important because the decomposition of ferropericlase into lighter and heavier phases will cause dynamic effects that could lead to mantle heterogeneity. </jats:p