The ghost in the city industrial complex: Le Corbusier and the fascist theory of Urbanisme

Le Corbusier participated in an urban dialogue with the first group in France to call itself fascist: the journalist Georges Valois’s militant Faisceau des Combattants et Producteurs (1925-1927), the “Blue Shirts,” inspired by the Italian “Fasci” of Mussolini. Le Corbusier’s portrait photograph materialised on the front cover of the January 1927 issue of the Faisceau League’s newspaper Le Nouveau Siècle edited by the former anarcho-syndicalist journalist Georges Valois, its leader, who fashioned himself as the French Mussolini. Le Corbusier was described in the Revue as one of les animateurs (the “organisers”) of the Party1 – meaning a member of the technical elite who would drive the Faisceau’s plans. On 1 May 1927, the Nouveau Siècle printed a full-page feature “Le Plan Voisin” on Le Corbusier’s 1922 redesign of Paris : the architect’s single-point perspective sketch appeared below an extract lifted from the architect’s original polemic Le Centre de Paris on the pages of Le Corbusier’s second book Urbanisme published two years earlier, a treatise on urbanism.2 Three weeks later, Le Corbusier presented a slide show of his urban plans at a fascist rally for the inauguration of the Faisceau’s new headquarters on the rue du faubourg Poissonniere, thereby crystalising the architect’s hallowed status in the league...

Developing and Integrating HRM Practices in MNC Subsidiaries in China

Whilst previous research on Human Resource Management (HRM) in subsidiaries of multinational companies (MNCs) has focused extensively on the HRM practices that exist in foreign subsidiaries and the extent to which they resemble MNC home country and/or local host country practices, considerably less attention has been directed at the question of how these practices come to exist. Accordingly, this thesis aims to shed light on the processes that shape HRM practices and capabilities in MNC subsidiaries. The main contribution of the thesis is the focus on how; how HRM practices are integrated in MNC subsidiaries, and how subsidiary HRM capabilities are developed through involvement in social networks. Furthermore, this thesis includes a time aspect which, despite not being purely longitudinal, provides an indication of the ongoing changes in HRM in MNC subsidiaries in China. Data for this study were collected in 2005-2006 through structured face to face interviews with 153 general managers and HR managers in 87 subsidiaries of European MNCs located in China. Five of the six thesis papers build on this questionnaire data and one paper builds on qualitative data collected at the same time. Two papers build on dual data sets, meaning that they in addition to the abovementioned data include quantitative questionnaire data from 1996 and 1999 respectively. The thesis focuses on the following four sub-questions i) To what extent do subsidiary HRM practices resemble parent MNC and host country practices? How has this changed over time and why? ii) How are HRM practices integrated into MNC subsidiaries and why are certain integration mechanisms used? iii) How does involvement in internal and external social networks influence subsidiary HRM capabilities? iv) What factors influence the strategic role of the subsidiary HR department? Regarding the first sub-question the findings indicate that the HRM practices of MNC subsidiaries in China are converging with both local company practices and parent MNC practices. This is interesting in the sense that it suggests that the isomorphic pressures the subsidiary faces from the MNC and from its local host environment are not always in conflict with each other. Concerning the question of how HRM practices are integrated into MNC subsidiaries and why certain integration mechanisms are used, the thesis provides a fine-grained examination of four mechanisms that MNCs use to integrate HRM practices in subsidiaries. The findings suggest that MNCs use a variety of different integration mechanisms as complements rather than as substitutes for each other. Furthermore, it is apparent that different contextual factors in the subsidiary and the subsidiary-headquarters relationship influence why certain mechanisms are or are not used. The most interesting contribution of the thesis in regard to the third question is that it highlights the importance of network involvement for learning about HRM practices in the Chinese context. Networks with other MNCs in China clearly emerged as particularly important contributors to enhanced HRM capabilities. Finally, concerning the fourth sub-question the findings indicate that the role of the HR department in MNC subsidiaries in China had become more strategic between 1999 and 2006.

Towards Explaining the Use of Control Mechanisms in Foreign Subsidiaries of MNCs (summary section only)

Control is central to management and there is already a considerable body of research on control. However, the emergence and growth of multinational corporations (MNCs) has renewed the interest in control, as MNCs are complex (often large) organizations that face circumstances beyond those of national business organizations. The geographical dispersion of MNC activities means that the headquarters controls subsidiaries that differ with regard to power and that are embedded in different cultural, political, legal and educational systems. Foreign subsidiary control also takes place across language boundaries and physical (i.e. geographical) distances. In face of these challenges, how are foreign subsidiaries controlled? The thesis explores different types of control mechanisms and attempts to explain the degree to which they are used to control foreign subsidiaries. It contributes to existing knowledge on control by exploring how five different control mechanisms are related to each other. Previous research has tended to focus only on one or two control mechanisms and seldom has their effect on each other been explored. The thesis also contributes by including two central aspects of the MNC that have been neglected in much of the research on foreign subsidiary control: language competence of subsidiary staff and physical distance between the headquarters and its subsidiaries. The findings indicate that specific control mechanisms should not be studied in isolation as there are intricate relationships among the different control mechanisms. Language competence of the subsidiary staff can furthermore affect the type and degree of control that the headquarters can exercise over a subsidiary. The findings also indicate that changes in the physical distance between subsidiaries and its headquarters (i.e. a relocation of the headquarters as part of a restructuring process) can have great consequences for the headquarters-subsidiary relationship.

Managers Talk about Gender: What Managers in Large Transnational Corporations Say about Gender Policies, Structures and Practices

Mainstream research on management generally continues to ignore gender relations. Even so, over recent years there has been a major growth of international research on gender relations in organizations. Yet, most of this has focused on gender relations in lower or middle levels rather than at the apex of the organization. This book draws on research on gender policies, structures and practices of management in large Finnish corporations. It builds on earlier survey work of gender policies in the 100 largest corporations in Finland, to examine, through qualitative interviews, more detailed gendered processes in seven selected corporations. These represent corporations that are ‘relatively active’, ‘moderately active’, and ‘not active’ in relation to gender equality. Key issues include contrasts between formal policies and organizational practices; different corporate contexts and individual managers’ views; definition and scope of gender policy; and the relation of gender policies and diversity policy. This focus on gender policies is understood and located within organizational structures, most obviously gendered corporate hierarchies. Important structures include national context in relation to transnationalization, relations of headquarters and subsidiaries, and interrelations of management, policy development and policy implementation. Gender relations in practice and gender practices are considered in more detail. These women and men managers operate at the intersections of gendered transnational managerial work, careers and family-type relations, including marriage and children, or lack thereof. Women and men managers may be part of the same management levels or management teams, but have totally different family-type situations and gendered experiences. Interconnections of management, domestic life and transnationalizations are intensely gendered matters. The debate on the public/private continues to be important for both gender relations and organizational relations, but complicated through transnationalizations. The modern transnational corporation is considered in terms of gender divisions and gender power, with particular reference to top management. The concluding discussion notes implications for research and policy.

Regional hydrological impacts of climate change: implications for water management in India

Climate change is most likely to introduce an additional stress to already stressed water systems in developing countries. Climate change is inherently linked with the hydrological cycle and is expected to cause significant alterations in regional water resources systems necessitating measures for adaptation and mitigation. Increasing temperatures, for example, are likely to change precipitation patterns resulting in alterations of regional water availability, evapotranspirative water demand of crops and vegetation, extremes of floods and droughts, and water quality. A comprehensive assessment of regional hydrological impacts of climate change is thus necessary. Global climate model simulations provide future projections of the climate system taking into consideration changes in external forcings, such as atmospheric carbon-dioxide and aerosols, especially those resulting from anthropogenic emissions. However, such simulations are typically run at a coarse scale, and are not equipped to reproduce regional hydrological processes. This paper summarizes recent research on the assessment of climate change impacts on regional hydrology, addressing the scale and physical processes mismatch issues. Particular attention is given to changes in water availability, irrigation demands and water quality. This paper also includes description of the methodologies developed to address uncertainties in the projections resulting from incomplete knowledge about future evolution of the human-induced emissions and from using multiple climate models. Approaches for investigating possible causes of historically observed changes in regional hydrological variables are also discussed. Illustrations of all the above-mentioned methods are provided for Indian regions with a view to specifically aiding water management in India.

Recuperar plásticos desechables a los fines de conformar elementos constructivos de una vivienda económica como respuesta social, analizada como un problema de ingeniería industrial

Resumen: El hecho de seleccionar a los plásticos dentro de nuestro proyecto es porque son en particular, partes abundantes y visibles en la composición de los residuos generados en nuestra sede UCA Campus Rosario. Razonamos que son varias las áreas que los producen en forma cotidiana o de modo transitorio (como es el caso de eventos), a las que podemos sumar un accionar ambientalmente responsable. Ello nos impone la responsabilidad de proponer algún modo de re-utilizarlos en el diseño de ciertos elemento que los integre como materia prima, material de aporte, insumo o material auxiliar, con un amplio campo de posibilidades como es en la construcción, a partir de una mirada desde la ingeniería ambiental. La metodología de trabajo que desarrollamos implica inspeccionar la materia prima con la cual se va a trabajar, a los fines de conocerla fehacientemente, así como internalizar la posible combinación entre los distintos tipos de plásticos de acuerdo a su composición y su respuesta en la integración con otros materiales de uso tradicional, de acuerdo a experiencias reconocidas Desde una mirada lineal la educación sola no alcanza, como tampoco la tecnología ni las medidas parciales son suficientes para aliviar este tremendo desequilibrio que venimos heredando. Ante estos hechos es perentorio comprender la complejidad, actuar desde allí descubriendo la conexión invisible entre el ser humano y el medio, y los seres humanos entre sí. Debido a ello entendemos que para restaurar el medio ambiente en principio hay que comenzar por restaurar los vínculos y los ciclos que los contienen, esto implica re-ciclar.

Estrategias de afrontamiento en estudiantes de Psicología

Resumen: El objetivo de la presente investigación fue conocer el tipo de estrategias de afrontamiento que utilizan los estudiantes universitarios y su relación con variables académicas, tales como año de cursada y cantidad de materias aprobadas, como también con el género. El estudio se llevó a cabo con una muestra intencional de 140 estudiantes de la carrera de Psicología de la Universidad Católica Argentina, sede Mendoza, en el año 2013. Se utilizó el Inventario de Respuestas de Afrontamiento para Jóvenes (Moos, 1993, 1995); adaptación de Ongarato, de la Iglesia, Stover y Fernández Liporace (2009). Las pruebas revelaron que el tipo de estrategia de afrontamiento predominante utilizada por los estudiantes es Afrontamiento Por Aproximación Cognitiva.

Emaús, una organización de acción social

[ES] Emaús Bilbao Sociedad Cooperativa, es una entidad de Economía Social y Solidaria para la inserción sociolaboral, dedicada a la gestión integral de residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU), con sede en Bilbao y que desarrolla esta actividad en Bizkaia.

Zustand der Herings- und Sprottenbestände in Nord- und Ostsee, östlichem Kanal und westlichen britischen Gewässern. Beurteilung durch die Herings- und Ostsee-Arbeitsgruppe des ICES, März/April 1999

Information is given about the results of the latest meeting of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62° N and the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group, which were conducted in March and April at ICES headquarters in Copenhagen. The actual stock development and the catch options estimated for different assessment units of herring and sprat are presented. The spawning stock size of North Sea herring reached in 1998 for the first time since 1991 a level above the Minimum Biological Acceptable Level (MBAL) of 800 000 t. Keeping the fishery at the present level the spawning stock size should reach in 1999 a level of about 1.2 mio. t. For the Western Baltic Spring spawning herring stock no actual stock estimate was presented. Due to uncertainties in splitting the catches in North Sea autumn and Baltic spring spawners no analytical assessment was accepted.

Nigerian German Kainji Lake Fisheries Promotion Project - approach, result, future

The paper highlighted the overall goal and purpose of the Nigerian German Kainji Lake Fisheries Promotion Project. The main goal is to increase the standard of living of fishing communities in the project area. The target groups are the fishermen and fisherwomen in the area. The project also developed in effective extension delivery system in the basin. Also developed at the project headquarters are facilities for the execution of the project. The project are able to carry out frame, gear and stock assessment surveys on the Lake and able to formulate a fisheries management plan for the fisheries of Kainji Lake

Arbeitsgebiete Ichthyologie und Fischsammlung am Institut für Seefischerei werden Ende 1992 aufgegeben

On 31 Oecember 1992, the Institut für Seefischerei Hamburg (ISH) will dissolve its branch of systematic ichthyology at the Zoologieal Museum Hamburg University. Remaining ISH ichthyology staff and facilities will move back in January 1993 to Institut für Seefischerei headquarters in Palmaille 9, D-·2000 Hamburg 50 (Tel. 040·389050, Fax 040·38905 129). The research field systematic ichthyology will not be continued at ISH. The ISH fish collection will be handed over to the Zoological Museum of Hamburg University (ZMH) as future responsible holder from 1 January 1993 onward. Loan requests for former ISH material should be addressed from January 1993 on only to: Prof. Dr. H. Wilkens, Kustos Ichthyologie, Zoological Museum der Universität, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, D·2000 Hamburg 13 (Tel. 040·4123 3870, Fax 040·4123 3937). A couple of months will be needed before requests for loan of former ISH holdings can be handled again. It should, however, be noted that even for a longer period there may be problems in serving loan requests promptly due to logistic difficulties and shortage of staff at the ZMH ichthyology department.

Aporte adicional de energía renovable geotérmica a instalación con cogeneración en hospital existente.

[ES]Este proyecto tiene como objetivo apoyar a la generación de energía por cogeneración mediante una fuente de energía renovable. Se pretende plantear una solución que satisfaga parte de las necesidades básicas del Hospital Universitario de Álava, en su sede del Hospital de Santiago, de una forma económicamente rentable. Este proyecto se enmarca dentro de los esfuerzos en la promoción de energías renovables que comenzaron con el protocolo Kioto, al que le siguieron los objetivos Europa 20/20/20. Se realizará un acercamiento a la utilización de la energía renovable geotérmica como fuente de energía que disminuye el impacto ambiental. El edificio hospitalario considerado ya cuenta con un sistema de generación energética con cogeneración, considerada dentro del régimen especial, por la utilización de energía residual para procesos que de otra manera hubieran requerido consumo de combustible. Se plantearán diferentes alternativas para la generación de energía térmica con geotermia, que al ser de origen renovable, es una fuente de energía de combustibles no fósiles, y se demostraran sus beneficios analizando cómo mejora la huella de carbono del hospital con la propuesta. Finalmente, para valorar si se trata de un proyecto viable se planteará el estudio económico analizando el presupuesto y análisis de rentabilidad.

O direito ao entretenimento na função social da cidade

O art. 6 da Constituição Federal estabelece que o lazer é um direito social. A referida proteção constitucional conquistada com a Carta Cidadã de 1988, somada a previsão internacional da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos por si só ensejam a elaboração de estudo detalhado do tema. Além disso, a ascensão de uma nova classe média com maior poder de consumo, a efervescência da terceira revolução industrial e a eleição do Brasil, e especificamente da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, como sede de diversos eventos de entretenimento internacional, são os argumentos que introduzem o estudo a cidade e a satisfação do direito ao (do) entretenimento. Assim, a partir da conceituação de entretenimento à luz da comparação com as outras ciências humanas e o direito alienígena, enseja-se a propositura de um conceito próprio para o ordenamento jurídico pátrio, que delimita os deveres do Estado na satisfação deste direito, e na regulação e fomento da atividade econômica que circundam o lazer, denominada indústria do entretenimento. O estudo aborda ainda a compreensão de que a cidade pode ser concebida como oikos do entretenimento, permitindo uma análise das formas como as cidades devem comportar conteúdo mínimo que viabilize a satisfação do lazer. Ao final, tendo por paradigma a cidade do Rio de Janeiro, se analisa como determinadas cidade podem possuir características geográficas, históricas e culturais próprias que permitem que sua vocação econômica seja a satisfação do entretenimento em nível internacional.

Na tela, o cine Guaraci, um artefato transformado em símbolo geográfico no cruzamento dos tempos em Rocha Miranda, Rio de Janeiro

Esta pesquisa tem em vista a influência geográfica do Cinema Guaraci, um artefato geográfico, colaborador do desenvolvimento econômico e na formação sociocultural da população de Rocha Miranda. Localizado na zona norte da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, descortinando esta parte da cidade pouco estudada nos estudos citadinos, constitui este o recorte espacial sob o marco temporal compreendendo o período de sua inauguração de 1953 a 2013, quando persistem os esforços em prol da reabertura desta sala de espetáculos. Através da relação de significações e topofilia, de moradores e frequentadores do lugar, para com este testemunho geográfico, foram escolhidos para esta investigação indivíduos de diversas gerações. Ressalta-se a importância deste símbolo, para a organização espacial do bairro, bem como a obstinada estima pela reabertura do Cine. Para alcançar a profundidade das expressões simbólica e geográfica deste bem, serão realizadas entrevistas e mesmo conversas informais com seus residentes e frequentadores. De igual modo, no processo de elaboração desta pesquisa ainda constam coleta de dados e material bibliográfico com respeito a informações sobre o bairro obtidos nos órgãos de pesquisa competentes, sede do Grupo Pró-Cine Guaraci, instituições como a Biblioteca Nacional, o Arquivo Geral da Cidade, a Fundação Parques e Jardins, o Instituto Pereira Passos, as bibliotecas da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, além do enriquecimento de obras de autores como Yi-Fu Tuan, David Seamon, Roberto L. Corrêa, Zeny Rosendahl, João B. F. Mello, Alice Gonzaga, Ecléa Bosi, entre outros. Desta feita, ao analisar a evolução de um símbolo, desde o seu surgimento, de como este influenciou na dinâmica e crescimento econômico de um bairro, testifica-se o quanto é fundamental sua permanência, especialmente quando sua influência distende na formação cultural de sua gente.