The influence of context on the strategic decision-making process:a review of the literature

This paper critically reviews the strategic decision-making process literature, with a specific focus on the effects of context. Context refers to the top management team, strategic decision-specific characteristics, the external environment and firm characteristics. This literature review also develops an illustrative framework that incorporates these four different categories of contextual variables that influence the strategic decision-making process. As a result of the variety and pervasiveness of contextual variables featured within the literature, a comprehensive and up-to-date review is essential for organizing and synthesizing the extant literature to explicate an agenda for future research. The purpose of this literature review is threefold: first, to critically review the strategic decision-making process literature to highlight the underlying themes, issues, tensions and debates in the field; second, to identify the opportunities for future theory development; and third, to state the methodological implications arising from this review. © 2013 British Academy of Management and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Optical biochemical sensors based on long-period fibre gratings UV-inscribed in D-fibre with enhanced sensitivity by HF etching process

We report a new concept of biochemical sensor device based on long-period grating structures UV-inscribed in D-fiber. The surrounding-medium refractive index sensitivity of the devices has been enhanced significantly by a hydrofluoric acid etching process. The devices have been used to measure the sugar concentrations showing clearly an encoding relation between the chemical concentration and the grating spectral response, demonstrating their capability for potential biochemical sensing applications.

On the Maximum of a Branching Process Conditioned on the Total Progeny

The maximum M of a critical Bienaymé-Galton-Watson process conditioned on the total progeny N is studied. Imbedding of the process in a random walk is used. A limit theorem for the distribution of M as N → ∞ is proved. The result is trasferred to the non-critical processes. A corollary for the maximal strata of a random rooted labeled tree is obtained.

Some Theoretical Results on the Progeny of a Bisexual Galton-Watson Branching Process

A Superadditive Bisexual Galton-Watson Branching Process is considered and the total number of mating units, females and males, until the n-th generation, are studied. In particular some results about the stochastic monotony, probability generating functions and moments are obtained. Finally, the limit behaviour of those variables suitably normed is investigated.

Examination of Passwords’ Influation on the Compressing Process of Non-Encrypted Objects

The principal methods of compression and different types of non-encrypted objects are described. An analysis is made of the results obtained from examinations of the speed of compression for objects when using passwords with different length. The size of the new file obtained after compression is also analyzed. Some evaluations are made with regard to the methods and the objects used in the examinations. In conclusion some deductions are drawn as well as recommendations for future work.

Increasing Reliability and Improving the Process of Accumulator Charging Based on the Development of PCGraph Application

The article presents the software written in Builder C++ that monitors the process of processor impulse charger. Protocol, interface, components used and the future research are presented.

Research of Influence of Medication Preparations on the Process of Renewal of the Broken Equilibrium of Man Organism on the Doctor of Phytotherapy Workstation

In the given work by authors new approach to the exposure of degree of influencing of medications of vegetable origin in a time of renewal of broken equilibrium of man organism is offered. During realization of the given approach it is suggested to use the mathematical vehicle of.

Modeling of Effective Process of Network Maintaining Based on Statistical Data

This paper is dedicated to modelling of network maintaining based on live example – maintaining ATM banking network, where any problems are mean money loss. A full analysis is made in order to estimate valuable and not-valuable parameters based on complex analysis of available data. Correlation analysis helps to estimate provided data and to produce a complex solution of increasing network maintaining effectiveness.

Client discourses on the process of seeking same-sex couple counselling

How same-sex couples manage the process of seeking help for their relationships is an under-researched area. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 people who had engaged in same-sex couple counselling, and were analysed using discourse analysis. The ways in which the couples positioned themselves as part of a 'minority group', or part of a generic group of couples struggling with relationship issues, impacted on how they discussed seeking help. We conclude that counsellors and psychotherapists need to be aware of the ways in which couples construct their relationships, and mindful of the tricky navigations around similarity to, and difference from, different-sex relationships. The impact of this on couples seeking therapeutic help is considered. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

A Note on the Asymptotic Behaviour of a Periodic Multitype Galton-Watson Branching Process

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60J80.

Reliability modelling and verification of manufacturing processes based on process knowledge management

Reliability modelling and verification is indispensable in modern manufacturing, especially for product development risk reduction. Based on the discussion of the deficiencies of traditional reliability modelling methods for process reliability, a novel modelling method is presented herein that draws upon a knowledge network of process scenarios based on the analytic network process (ANP). An integration framework of manufacturing process reliability and product quality is presented together with a product development and reliability verification process. According to the roles of key characteristics (KCs) in manufacturing processes, KCs are organised into four clusters, that is, product KCs, material KCs, operation KCs and equipment KCs, which represent the process knowledge network of manufacturing processes. A mathematical model and algorithm is developed for calculating the reliability requirements of KCs with respect to different manufacturing process scenarios. A case study on valve-sleeve component manufacturing is provided as an application example of the new reliability modelling and verification procedure. This methodology is applied in the valve-sleeve component manufacturing processes to manage and deploy production resources.

Early Detection of Emergent Events Based on an Extremal Process Approach

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 60G70, 62F03.

On the Poisson Process of Order k Space

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60E05, 62P05.