The Dual Ownership Structure: a Model to Connect the Cooperative Model With Financial Markets

In business literature, the conflicts among workers, shareholders and the management have been studied mostly in the frame of stakeholder theory. The stakeholder theory recognizes this issue as an agency problem, and tries to solve the problem by establishing a contractual relationship between the agent and principals. However, as Marcoux pointed out, the appropriateness of the contract as a medium to reduce the agency problem should be questioned. As an alternative, the cooperative model minimizes the agency costs by integrating the concept of workers, owners and management. Mondragon Corporation is a successful example of the cooperative model which grew into the sixth largest corporation in Spain. However, the cooperative model has long been ignored in discussions of corporate governance, mainly because the success of the cooperative model is extremely difficult to duplicate in reality. This thesis hopes to revitalize the scholarly examination of cooperatives by developing a new model that overcomes the fundamental problem in the cooperative model: the limited access to capital markets. By dividing the ownership interest into financial and control interest, the dual ownership structure allows cooperatives to issue stock in the capital market by making a financial product out of financial interest.

The Dark Side of Leadership: Dealing with a Narcissistic Boss

Some of the defining characteristics of narcissists include a grandiose sense of self-importance, preoccupation with success and power, a sense of infallibility, and a supreme confidence in their ability and intelligence. Ironically, many of these characteristics are rewarded in business organizations, which may explain why there seems to be so many narcissists in management positions. Assuming we will be dealing with narcissists throughout our career, it makes sense for us to understand what makes them tick, and more importantly what we can do to work with them in a constructive manner.

JExample: Exploiting Dependencies Between Tests to Improve Defect Localization

To quickly localize defects, we want our attention to be focussed on relevant failing tests. We propose to improve defect localization by exploiting dependencies between tests, using a JUnit extension called JExample. In a case study, a monolithic white-box test suite for a complex algorithm is refactored into two traditional JUnit style tests and to JExample. Of the three refactorings, JExample reports five times fewer defect locations and slightly better performance (-8-12\%), while having similar maintenance characteristics. Compared to the original implementation, JExample greatly improves maintainability due the improved factorization following the accepted test quality guidelines. As such, JExample combines the benefits of test chains with test quality aspects of JUnit style testing.

PyGirl: Generating Whole-System VMs from High-Level Prototypes Using PyPy

Virtual machines (VMs) emulating hardware devices are generally implemented in low-level languages for performance reasons. This results in unmaintainable systems that are difficult to understand. In this paper we report on our experience using the PyPy toolchain to improve the portability and reduce the complexity of whole-system VM implementations. As a case study we implement a VM prototype for a Nintendo Game Boy, called PyGirl, in which the high-level model is separated from low-level VM implementation issues. We shed light on the process of refactoring from a low-level VM implementation in Java to a high-level model in RPython. We show that our whole-system VM written with PyPy is significantly less complex than standard implementations, without substantial loss in performance.

Actions speak louder than words

Ethical scandals in business have led to calls for more ethical or moral leadership. Yet, we still know very little about what characterizes ethical leadership and what its positive consequences actually are. We argue that the major question is not about what leaders value, but rather whether their ethical values are regularly reflected in behavioral patterns across situations and situational challenges. To address this, we have begun to build the Ethical Leadership Behavior Scale, which is based on behaviors reflecting concrete manifestations of ethical values (e.g., fairness, respect) across occasions and situational barriers. A study with 592 employees of 110 work units in two departments provided a first test of this scale and demonstrated that the level of ethical leadership behavior predicts important work-related attitudes (job satisfaction, work engagement, affective organizational commitment) and outcomes (health complaints, emotional exhaustion, absenteeism).

The Houston Academy of Medicine--Texas Medical Center Library management information system.

A management information system (MIS) provides a means for collecting, reporting, and analyzing data from all segments of an organization. Such systems are common in business but rare in libraries. The Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library developed an MIS that operates on a system of networked IBM PCs and Paradox, a commercial database software package. The data collected in the system include monthly reports, client profile information, and data collected at the time of service requests. The MIS assists with enforcement of library policies, ensures that correct information is recorded, and provides reports for library managers. It also can be used to help answer a variety of ad hoc questions. Future plans call for the development of an MIS that could be adapted to other libraries' needs, and a decision-support interface that would facilitate access to the data contained in the MIS databases.

Enabling knowledge creation through outsiders: towards a push model of open innovation

Open innovation is increasingly being adopted in business and describes a situation in which firms exchange ideas and knowledge with external participants, such as customers, suppliers, partner firms, and universities. This article extends the concept of open innovation with a push model of open innovation: knowledge is voluntarily created outside a firm by individuals and organisations who proceed to push knowledge into a firm’s open innovation project. For empirical analysis, we examine source code and newsgroup data on the Eclipse Development Platform. We find that outsiders invest as much in the firm’s project as the founding firm itself. Based on the insights from Eclipse, we develop four propositions: ‘preemptive generosity’ of a firm, ‘continuous commitment’, ‘adaptive governance structure’, and ‘low entry barrier’ are contexts that enable the push model of open innovation.

Reputation and Efficiency: A Nonparametric Assessment of America's Top-Rated MBA Programs

Widely publicized reports of fresh MBAs getting multiple job offers with six-figure annual salaries leave a long-lasting general impression about the high quality of selected business schools. While such spectacular achievement in job placement rightly deserves recognition, one should not lose sight of the resources expended in order to accomplish this result. In this study, we employ a measure of Pareto-Koopmans global efficiency to evaluate the efficiency levels of the MBA programs in Business Week's top-rated list. We compute input- and output-oriented radial and non-radial efficiency measures for comparison. Among three tier groups, the schools from a higher tier group on average are more efficient than those from lower tiers, although variations in efficiency levels do occur within the same tier, which exist over different measures of efficiency.

Patenting genes and gene sequences: Analysis of public health implications and the law

At issue is whether or not isolated DNA is patent eligible under the U.S. Patent Law and the implications of that determination on public health. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued patents on DNA since the 1980s, and scientists and researchers have proceeded under that milieu since that time. Today, genetic research and testing related to the human breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 is conducted within the framework of seven patents that were issued to Myriad Genetics and the University of Utah Research Foundation between 1997 and 2000. In 2009, suit was filed on behalf of multiple researchers, professional associations and others to invalidate fifteen of the claims underlying those patents. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears patent cases, has invalidated claims for analyzing and comparing isolated DNA but has upheld claims to isolated DNA. The specific issue of whether isolated DNA is patent eligible is now before the Supreme Court, which is expected to decide the case by year's end. In this work, a systematic review was performed to determine the effects of DNA patents on various stakeholders and, ultimately, on public health; and to provide a legal analysis of the patent eligibility of isolated DNA and the likely outcome of the Supreme Court's decision. ^ A literature review was conducted to: first, identify principle stakeholders with an interest in patent eligibility of the isolated DNA sequences BRCA1 and BRCA2; and second, determine the effect of the case on those stakeholders. Published reports that addressed gene patents, the Myriad litigation, and implications of gene patents on stakeholders were included. Next, an in-depth legal analysis of the patent eligibility of isolated DNA and methods for analyzing it was performed pursuant to accepted methods of legal research and analysis based on legal briefs, federal law and jurisprudence, scholarly works and standard practice legal analysis. ^ Biotechnology, biomedical and clinical research, access to health care, and personalized medicine were identified as the principle stakeholders and interests herein. Many experts believe that the patent eligibility of isolated DNA will not greatly affect the biotechnology industry insofar as genetic testing is concerned; unlike for therapeutics, genetic testing does not require tremendous resources or lead time. The actual impact on biomedical researchers is uncertain, with greater impact expected for researchers whose work is intended for commercial purposes (versus basic science). The impact on access to health care has been surprisingly difficult to assess; while invalidating gene patents might be expected to decrease the cost of genetic testing and improve access to more laboratories and physicians' offices that provide the test, a 2010 study on the actual impact was inconclusive. As for personalized medicine, many experts believe that the availability of personalized medicine is ultimately a public policy issue for Congress, not the courts. ^ Based on the legal analysis performed in this work, this writer believes the Supreme Court is likely to invalidate patents on isolated DNA whose sequences are found in nature, because these gene sequences are a basic tool of scientific and technologic work and patents on isolated DNA would unduly inhibit their future use. Patents on complementary DNA (cDNA) are expected to stand, however, based on the human intervention required to craft cDNA and the product's distinction from the DNA found in nature. ^ In the end, the solution as to how to address gene patents may lie not in jurisprudence but in a fundamental change in business practices to provide expanded licenses to better address the interests of the several stakeholders. ^

Duraznos O'Henry : impacto económico por pérdidas de calidad

El durazno O'Henry para consumo en fresco es una variedades apta para la exportación. Consecuentemente se propone un método sencillo para determinar las pérdidas de calidad que impiden obtener mejores precios en los mercados.. Las mismas se relacionan con una mala gestión en todos los niveles: producción, empaque y comercialización, y la deficiente capacitación del personal involucrado. En la temporada 1999/2000 el granizo fue la causa más frecuente en precosecha; sus marcas explican el 70 % de los frutos con falta de calidad. En cambio, el principal factor en cosecha fueron las picaduras de grafolita, dando 80 % de frutos sin calidad exportable. En galpón de empaque, el mal manejo poscosecha -revelado en machucones, marcas de uñas y rajaduras- originó el 30 % de las causas de no calidad; si se le agregan las picaduras de grafolita, el porcentaje se aproxima al 60 %. Ambas causas pueden minimizarse con buena planificación y capacitación. Con simulación económica se detectó -en la precitada temporada- 20 % de pérdida de calidad de una partida lo cual motiva una disminución superior al 13 % en los ingresos. Esta diferencia depende no sólo del peso relativo de las distintas calidades sino también del precio pactado.

Análisis de los factores explicativos de la rentabilidad de las empresas vinícolas de Castilla-La Mancha

El sector del vino experimenta, en las últimas décadas, un vertiginoso proceso de cambio y nuevas dinámicas, que están afectando el desempeño y estrategias de las empresas del sector: internacionalización creciente, caída de los mercados internos de los países tradicionalmente productores, entrada de capital exógeno, etc. La pericia que muestre la organización para adecuarse a la nueva situación se reflejará en la rentabilidad, indicador básico para juzgar la eficiencia en la gestión empresarial. En este estudio, a partir de una muestra representativa de empresas de Castilla-La Mancha, región española con la mayor dimensión vinícola mundial, se ha planteado un modelo econométrico novedoso integrado por variables de desempeño, definidas con la técnica de componentes principales. De los resultados obtenidos se infiere que la rentabilidad de las empresas proviene de: a) su estructura societaria (mayor si son empresas capitalistas que sociedades cooperativas), b) de su tamaño (mejor desempeño a mayor tamaño, aprovechando economías de escala), y c) estructura financiera (mayor rentabilidad si en la composición de la misma priman los recursos propios y liquidez). Por el contrario, la falta de financiación permanente para hacer frente al activo fijo y una dinámica comercial más orientada hacia las ventas de vino a granel a bajo precio, reducen significativamente los ratios de rentabilidad.

Archivos y empresas : Un consenso ineludible

El artículo que presentamos tiene por objeto analizar la necesaria presencia de un servicio de archivos en las empresas, en aras de la rentabilidad y la eficacia. Para ello, estructuramos el trabajo en dos apartados: por un lado, analizamos las propiedades que hoy caracterizan a la Archivística y proponemos una definición de nuestra disciplina; por otro, nos centramos en la necesaria acción de la gestión documental en las empresas. Tras describir en qué consiste dicha gestión documental, exponemos las fases para la planificación de un sistema archivístico en cualquier organización empresarial (fase de análisis, elaboración y diseño, implantación del sistema y control). Para esto último, realizamos una comparación sistemática de lo que dicen al respecto algunos autores

Cuando la persistencia es una cuestión de familia. Relaciones familiares, traspaso y género en explotaciones agropecuarias del Sudoeste bonaerense (1987-2007)

Las explicaciones del fenómeno de persistencia de la producción familiar en el sector agropecuario pampeano se han ensayado generalmente teniendo en cuenta aspectos económicos y productivos. Si bien ese énfasis coincide con la creciente importancia que la escala y la capitalización adquieren en la etapa actual de desarrollo del capitalismo agrario, por el propio carácter de estas unidades productivas -por el rol que juegan dentro de ellas las relaciones familiares- resulta necesario tomar en cuenta asimismo aspectos subjetivos y culturales, con el fin de lograr análisis más complejos y precisos sobre las estrategias que permitieron esa permanencia. En este trabajo indagamos en la influencia que las relaciones familiares y las concepciones culturales de las familias han tenido en las trayectorias de persistencia de un grupo de familias productoras del sudoeste bonaerense. En base al análisis de entrevistas realizadas a diez familias productoras de los partidos de Puán y Saavedra indagamos en el papel que los vínculos entre padres e hijos, las cuestiones de género y las aspiraciones y expectativas de los miembros de las familias han jugado en procesos fundamentales para la continuidad de las explotaciones como el traspaso generacional y en la configuración y sostenimiento de las estrategias que les permitieron permanecer en la actividad a lo largo de los últimos veinte años.

Archivos y empresas : Un consenso ineludible

El artículo que presentamos tiene por objeto analizar la necesaria presencia de un servicio de archivos en las empresas, en aras de la rentabilidad y la eficacia. Para ello, estructuramos el trabajo en dos apartados: por un lado, analizamos las propiedades que hoy caracterizan a la Archivística y proponemos una definición de nuestra disciplina; por otro, nos centramos en la necesaria acción de la gestión documental en las empresas. Tras describir en qué consiste dicha gestión documental, exponemos las fases para la planificación de un sistema archivístico en cualquier organización empresarial (fase de análisis, elaboración y diseño, implantación del sistema y control). Para esto último, realizamos una comparación sistemática de lo que dicen al respecto algunos autores