The organization of research corporations and researcher ability

This paper analyzes the formation of Research Corporations as an alternative governance structure for performing R&D compared to pursuing in-house R&D projects. Research Corporations are privatefor-profit research centers that bring together several firms with similar research goals. In a Research Corporation formal authority over the choice of projects is jointly exercised by the top management of the member firms. A private for-profit organization cannot commit not to interfere with the project choice of the researchers. However, increasing the number of member firms of the Research Corporation reduces the incentive of member firms to meddle with the research projects of researchers because exercising formal authority over the choice of research projects is a public good. The Research Corporation thus offers researchers greater autonomy than a single firm pursuing an identical research program in its in-house R&D department. This attracts higher ability researchers to the Research Corporation compared to the internal R&D department. The paper uses the theoretical model to analyze the organization of the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). The facts of this case confirm the existence of a tension between control over the choice of research projects and the ability of researchers that the organization is able to attract or hold onto.

The so-called 'external partners' in the groups of corporations: A model of presentation in the consolidated statements

This paper studies, on the one hand, theories set out around theconsideration of the external partners in the consolidated informationand on the other hand, financial models that discuss the convenience ofthe separation or not of the different elements that form part of theliabilities of the balance sheet of the companies. A Model is proposed,the External Partners Model, which financially argues a certain presentationand processing of such and that, in our opinion, facilitates the analysisof the consolidated financial statements. This model is based on twohypotheses: (1) the economic and financial variables are not independentand (2) the value of the company depends, among other factors, of thetype of sources that constitute their capital. These two hypotheses willimply that a separation should be included in the consolidated balance sheet between equity and liabilities as they are different sources ofcapital and then its separation will give relevant information to itsusers.

Environmental conflicts, environmental justice and valuation

In this article some historical and contemporary environmental conflicts are described. The international environmental liability of mining corporations is discussed. Comparisons are made with conflicts in the United States and in South Africa which fall under the rubric of the Environmental Justice movement. Such conflicts are fought out in many languages, and the economic valuation of damages is only one of such languages. Who has the power to impose particular languages of valuation? Who rules over the ways and means of simplifying complexity, deciding that some points of view are out of order? Who has power to determine which is the bottom-line in an environmental discussion?

Una casa, una hist��ria: patrimoni arquitect��nic i hum�� d'una casa de la Selva del Camp

Treball de recerca realitzat per una alumna d'ensenyament secundari i guardonat amb un Premi CIRIT per fomentar l'esperit cient��fic del Jovent l'any 2009. El treball t�� com a objecte de recerca un habitatge del municipi de la Selva del Camp. Aquest, es centra tant en els aspectes art��stics i decoratius, com en l���an��lisi de l���evoluci�� patrimonial i l�����s social de l���edifici entre els segles XVIII-XX. En la recerca s���ha analitzat, per una banda, el proc��s de transformaci�� de l���edifici des de l���any 1749 i els elements art��stics que encara s���hi conserven com pintures neocl��ssiques, treballs de ferro forjat, etc., els quals fan que sigui una de les cases m��s emblem��tiques del Carrer Major de la Selva. D���altra banda, s���ha indagat en les diferents generacions que, des de mitjan segle XVIII, n���han tingut la propietat i el paper que aquestes fam��lies han jugat dins la societat selvatana. La casa, en aquests anys, ha pertanyut a dues fam��lies i al Sindicat Agr��cola. La primera, els Fortuny, terratinents i amb c��rrecs al govern municipal; l'altra, els Carnicer, comerciants d'avellanes dels quals jo en s��c descendent. De 1910 a 1920 la casa fou al seu del Sindicat Agr��cola i a partir de textos de Puig i Ferreter s���ha pogut descriure l���ambient que s'hi vivia i les activitats que s���hi duien a terme. Alhora, el fet d���analitzar les diferents funcions que l���edifici ha tingut al llarg d���aquests anys (resid��ncia familiar, corredoria de comer��, premsa d���oli, seu del Centre Republic�� o del Sindicat Agr��cola) ha perm��s explicar la hist��ria de la vila de la Selva a partir de la d���aquest edifici.

Perceptions of Europe in political and economic elites: a geographical compared analysis of Germany, Spain and Poland

Elite perceptions about Europe are a very important point in order to understand the current European integration process, as well as the future perspectives for the continent. This study makes a comparison between the perceptions which political and economical elites in some European countries have about the European Union process and its mechanisms. The main goal is to identify the differences in positions of each type of elites, as well as the variations among three key countries. The database built thanks to the INTUNE (Integrated and United? A quest for Citizenship in an ��ever closer Europe��) Project Survey on European Elites and Masses, funded by the Sixth Framework Programme of the EU [Contract CIT 3-CT-2005-513421] have being used. The questionnaire was applied between February and May 2007, in a total of 18 European countries. The national teams got a total of almost 2000 valid responses at European level. In the analysis we have showed some general descriptive statistics about the perception of Europe taking as a reference two dimensions of the INTUNE project: identity (attachment to the national level, the meaning of being a truly national, and the threats from Turkey that EU is facing at this moment) and representation (trust in European and national institutions, preferences for a national or an European army). The results are presented distinguishing between political (national MP���s in low chambers) and economical elites (presidents of corporations, general managers���) and, at the same time, among three countries: Germany as an original member of the European Union; Spain, incorporated in 1986; and a new member, Poland, joining the EU in 2004.

Automatizaci��n de sistemas de desarrollo ��gil - Scrum: Team & Role

Este proyecto ha sido realizado en una empresa mediante un convenio entre la UAB y la sede UNIT4 de Barber�� del Vall��s. En ��l se estudia la evoluci��n de la implementaci��n de un proyecto desarrollado mediante la metodolog��a Scrum. Para realizar el seguimiento, el autor ha participado en un equipo de desarrollo formado por un conjunto de proyectistas de la UAB. El proyecto desarrollado consta de cuatro m��dulos que, en su conjunto, constituyen una aplicaci��n capaz de gestionar los recursos de la metodolog��a. Cada proyectista es responsable de un m��dulo. En este documento se recogen tanto las partes relacionadas con el m��dulo desarrollado, como con la evoluci��n del proyecto.

La dimensi�� pol��tica de la construcci�� social del Programari Lliure

Aquest estudi es presenta com una aproximaci�� al fenomen del Programari Lliure des de la seva vessant pol��tica. Lluny de tractar-se d'una alternativa tecnol��gica la naturalesa de la qual seria explicable en termes exclusivament t��cnics - la qual cosa no faria sin�� atribuir-li una presumpta neutralitat tecnol��gica -, ac�� assumim que tota tecnologia s'inscriu en un proc��s de construcci�� social en el que incideixen factors de tipus social, econ��mic, pol��tic i/o moral que rebasen all�� merament t��cnic. Creguem que en el cas del Programari Lliure es donen cita tots aquests factors, sent el pl��nol pol��tic el que adquireix un especial protagonisme en dit proc��s de construcci�� i que mereix de tractament a��llat. D'aquesta manera, la sem��ntica de all�� pol��tic ser�� examinada en les seves diferents accepcions a trav��s de dos pl��nols complementaris. Per una banda, rastrejant els fonaments culturals que subjauen al Programari Lliure i les seves possibles concomit��ncies de contingut pol��tic. D'altra, descrivint la praxis actual d'actors heterogenis (corporacions, governs, associacions d'usuaris,...) desenvolupada en un marc global d'interacci�� col��lectiva, que es revisteix igualment, producte de la confrontaci�� estrat��gica d'interpretacions i discursos particulars sobre el mateix, d'un car��cter indubtablement pol��tic.

Aplicaci�� web per a gesti�� patrimonial de les administracions publiques

Aplicaci�� web que adapti el Reglament deB��ns de les Entitats Locals a la gesti�� Patrimonial que fan les Corporacions dels seus b��ns, amb l'objectiu d'establir les normes procedimentals a seguir en els expedients administratius municipals, quan afecten al seu patrimoni.

Gesti��n en el territorio de una empresa de seguridad mediante est��ndares SIG e integraci��n de datos con GOOGLE MAPS

Amb l'evoluci�� de les noves tecnologies, els Sistemes d'Informaci�� Geogr��fica (SIG) es basen cada vegada menys en plataformes propiet��ries (��nicament a l'abast de grans companyies). L'objectiu que persegueix el Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) ��s que tot el m��n pugui beneficiar-se de la informaci�� geogr��fica, fent que els serveis estiguin disponibles en qualsevol xarxa, aplicaci�� o sistema.

Implantaci�� d'una eina de gesti�� de xarxes i sistemes

A partir d'un escenari d'una organitzaci�� fict��cia organitzada en diverses seus, en la qual els sistemes d'informaci�� s��n distribu��ts per a poder organitzar grups de treball, compartir recursos o comunicar la informaci�� r��pidament, hem justificat la necessitat de disposar d'una eina de gesti��.

Internet i les multinacionals europees a l'��sia Oriental

Aquest document identifica quins s��n els valors culturals (en forma d'imatges gr��fiques) que fan servir les multinacionals europees en les p��gines web que adrecen als mercats de l'��sia oriental. Rebat, per al cas estudiat, l'��s d'estrat��gies comunicatives adaptades a entorns culturals concrets com l'asi��tic i posa de manifest el poder de les multinacionals en la transmissi�� dels seus valors.

Dissolution of Dynamic Electronic Institutions, a first approach: Relevant factors and causes

In the context of the digital business ecosystems, small organizations cooperate between them in order to achieve common goals or offer new services for expanding their markets. There are different approaches for these cooperation models such as virtual enterprises, virtual organizations or dynamic electronic institutions which in their lifecycle have in common a dissolution phase. However this phase has not been studied deeply in the current literature and it lacks formalization. In this paper a first approach for achieving and managing the dissolution phase is proposed, as well as a CBR process in order to support it in a multi-agent system

Transformaci�� de dades pel comer�� electr��nic de Tous

Aquest projecte es tracta de la creaci�� d'una aplicaci�� que ens ajudar�� a establir comunicaci�� entre la web de comer�� on-line de l'empresa ���Joieria Tous���, que estar�� administrat per ���GSI Commerce��� i el sistema inform��tic de la nostra central log��stica. Observarem que el sistema actual ��s totalment propietari i fet a mida, llavors per poder tenir una comunicaci�� amb les noves botigues on-line s'ha de crear una plataforma que transformi les dades d'entrada al sistema inform��tic de la nostra empresa i les dades de sortida al sistema inform��tic de la empresa externa que gestionar�� el comer�� on-line: ���GSI Commerce���.

Credit lines: The other side of corporate liquidity

In this paper we offer the first large sample evidence on the availability and usage ofcredit lines in U.S. public corporations and use it to re-examine the existing findings oncorporate liquidity. We show that the availability of credit lines is widespread and thataverage undrawn credit is of the same order of magnitude as cash holdings. We test thetrade-off theory of liquidity according to which firms target an optimum level of liquidity,computed as the sum of cash and undrawn credit lines. We provide support for the existenceof a liquidity target, but also show that the reasons why firms hold cash and credit linesare very different. While the precautionary motive explains well cash holdings, the optimumlevel of credit lines appears to be driven by the restrictions imposed by the credit line itself,in terms of stated purpose and covenants. In support to these findings, credit line drawdownsare associated with capital expenditures, acquisitions, and working capital.