Influence of subcontracting on innovation and economic performance of SMEs in Indian automobile industry

Trans-national corporations (TNCs) expanding their production bases to developing countries having better conditions of manufacturing and domestic markets provide increasing opportunities for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to have subcontracting relationships with these TNCs Even though some theoretical and a few empirical studies throw light on the nature of assistance provided by TNCs to local SMEs through subcontracting relationships none of the studies so far quantitatively analysed the role of this assistance on the innovative performance of SMEs leading to better economic performance This paper probes the extent and diversity of assistance received by SMEs from a TNC through subcontracting and its influence on technological innovations and economic performance of SMEs in the Indian automobile industry Indian SMEs were able to receive mainly product related and purchase process assistance thereby implying that subcontracting is largely confined to purchase-supply relationships However assistance received through subcontracting is beneficial as It promoted technological innovations of SMEs the higher the degree of assistance the higher the level of innovations carried out by these SMEs which in turn facilitated their economic performance Thus this paper substantiates in the Indian context that subcontracting relationship with a TNC can be an important source of technological innovations and enhanced economic performance for SMEs (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Efficient and practical synthesis of modular chiral beta-organochalcogeno amines, ArYCH2CH(R)NH2, and single crystal structures of (S) - MsOCH2CH(Bz)NH3+ center dot Cl- and (R)-MsOCH2CH(Ph)NH3+ center dot Cl-

Modular chiral I3-organochalcogeno amines, ArYCH2CH(R)NH2 (4a-4g) where R = Me, Bz, Ph; and ArY = PhS, BzSe and 4-MeOC6H4Te respectively have been synthesized and characterized. Compounds 4a-4g were synthesized (Method II) from chiral aminoalkyl 13-methanesulfonate hydrochlorides, MsOCH2CH(R)NH3+ center dot Cl- (2a-2c) through nucleophilic displacement of MsO- with organochalcogenolate (ArY-). In another attempt (Method I) chiral beta-organotelluro amines (4a-4c) were prepared by deprotection of chiral N-boc I3-organotelluro amides, 4-MeOC6H4TeCH2CH(R)NH-Boc (3a-3c), which in turn, 13,-,1 were made from chiral N-boc 13-methanesulfonate amides (la-lc) and ArTeNa. 1H, and FTIR spectra of all the compounds (3a-3c and 4a-4g) were characteristic. The composition of 3a-3c was determined by elemental analysis. The a]TD values of 3b-3c and 4a-4g were determined. The single crystal structures of (S)-2b and (R)-2c were determined by X-Ray diffraction studies. Both (S)-2b and (R)2c were crystallized in orthorhombic system and the Flack parameter x was found 0.08(12) and 0.00(2) respectively. The crystal of (S)-2b contain two asymmetric units with gauche (A) and staggered (B) conformations. There are NH Cl-, NH-O and CH-O intra and intermolecular secondary interactions in (S)-2b and (R)-2c resulting in supramolecular structures. (C) 2015 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

The management of large mammals in relation to male strategies and conflict with people

Many large mammals such as elephant, rhino and tiger often come into conflict with people by destroying agricultural crops and even killing people, thus providing a deterrent to conservation efforts. The males of these polygynous species have a greater variance in reproductive success than females, leading to selection pressures favouring a ‘high risk-high gain’ strategy for promoting reproductive success. This brings them into greater conflict with people. For instance, adult male elephants are far more prone than a member of a female-led family herd to raid agricultural crops and to kill people. In polygynous species, the removal of a certain proportion of ‘surplus’ adult males is not likely to affect the fertility and growth rate of the population. Hence, this could be a management tool which would effectively reduce animal-human conflict, and at the same time maintain the viability of the population. Selective removal of males would result in a skewed sex ratio. This would reduce the ‘effective population size’ (as opposed to the total population or census number), increase the rate of genetic drift and, in small populations, lead to inbreeding depression. Plans for managing destructive mammals through the culling of males will have to ensure that the appropriate minimum size in the populations is being maintained.

Innovation and growth of engineering SMEs in Bangalore: Why do only some innovate and only some grow faster?

This paper probes two research questions by ascertaining the factors which distinguish (i) innovative SMEs from those which are not, and (ii) SMEs which experienced a higher sales growth from those which experienced a lower sales growth, with reference to 197 engineering industry SMEs in Bangalore city. The differentiating factors between innovative and non-innovative SMEs brought out that SMEs must have ``own resources and capabilities'' in the form of internal strength and definite internal strategy if they have to innovate successfully. Younger and smaller firms which are ``entrepreneurial'' in nature and which are innovative contributed to higher sales growth of SMEs compared to older and larger firms which are ``salary-substitute firms'' in nature and which are not innovative. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.