3 results
6 - Intra-organizational turbulences in multinational corporations
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- By Andreas Schotter, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona USA, Paul W. Beamish, University of Western Ontario, Canada
- Edited by Christoph Dörrenbächer, Mike Geppert, University of Surrey
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- Book:
- Politics and Power in the Multinational Corporation
- Published online:
- 26 April 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 191-230
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Summary
Introduction
Scholars have recently pointed out that intra-organizational conflict in multinational corporations (MNCs) between headquarters (HQ) and their foreign subsidiaries is not necessarily dysfunctional (Dörrenbächer and Geppert 2006; see also chapter by Blazejewski and Becker-Ritterspach in this volume) or a sign of unsuccessful global integration (Bouquet and Birkinshaw 2008; Tasoluk et al. 2006), as often stressed in previous management research. Instead, the growing importance of foreign subsidiaries, especially from large emerging markets, requires a different approach when managing headquarters–subsidiary relationships. This includes a departure from the traditional antagonistic view of the global integration versus local responsiveness quandary. This chapter aims to advance the literature on MNC headquarters–subsidiary relationships by adding new insights to the global versus local discussion (Bartlett 1986; Bartlett and Ghoshal 1989; Ghemawat 2007; Prahalad and Doz 1987; Roth and Morrison 1990).
Global integration refers to strategic and organizational activities that seek to reduce organizational and operational dissimilarities between different MNC subunits (Prahalad and Doz 1987). The objectives of global integration include efficiency improvements through aggregation, the exploitation of scope and scale economies, and the transfer of knowledge and practices across the MNC network. Local responsiveness refers to subsidiary decision-making autonomy while responding to local customer needs and specific host market competitive demands (Bartlett 1986; Doz and Prahalad 1991). Local responsiveness activities usually increase intra-organizational heterogeneity in MNCs.
Magnetoresistive sensors and magnetic nanoparticles for biotechnology
- Guenter Reiss, Hubert Brueckl, Andreas Huetten, Joerg Schotter, Monika Brzeska, Michael Panhorst, Daniela Sudfeld, Anke Becker, Paul B. Kamp, Alfred Puehler, Klaus Wojczykowski, Peter Jutzi
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- Journal:
- Journal of Materials Research / Volume 20 / Issue 12 / December 2005
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 December 2005, pp. 3294-3302
- Print publication:
- December 2005
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Magnetoresistive biosensors use a new detection method for molecular recognition reactions based on two recently developed techniques and devices: Magnetic markers and XMR sensors, where XMR means either giant magnetoresistance (GMR) or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR). The markers are specifically attached to the target molecules, and their magnetic stray field is picked up by an embedded magnetoresistive sensor as a change of the electrical resistance. Compared to established, e.g., fluorescent, detection methods, magnetic biosensors have a number of advantages, including low molecular detection limits, flexibility, and the direct availability of an electronic signal suitable for further automated analysis. This makes them a promising choice for the detection units of future widespread and easy-to-use lab-on-a-chip systems or biochips. In this article, we discuss recent advances in this field and compare possible approaches toward single molecule detection.
Magnetoresistive Sensors and Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biotechnology
- Guenter Reiss, Hubert Brueckl, Andreas Huetten, Joerg Schotter, Monika Brzeska, D. Sudfeld, Anke Becker, Paul B. Kamp, Alfred Puehler, Peter Jutzi
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 853 / 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 February 2011, I9.1
- Print publication:
- 2004
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Magnetoresistive Biosensors use a new detection method for molecular recognition reactions based on two recently developed techniques and devices: Magnetic markers and XMR –sensors, where XMR means either GiantMagneto- (GMR) or Tunneling-MagnetoResistance (TMR). The markers are specifically attached to the target molecules, and their magnetic stray field is picked up by the embedded magnetoresistive sensor as a change of the electrical resistance. Compared to established, e.g. fluorescent, detection methods, magnetic biosensors have a number of advantages, including low molecular detection limits, flexibility and the direct availability of an electronic signal suitable for further automated analysis. This makes them a promising choice for the detection units of future widespread and easy to use lab-on-a-chip systems or biochips.
Both the measurement technique using XMR-sensors as well as new developments in the preparation of magnetic carriers are discussed here. Different configurations are discussed and the results for Giant Magnetoresistance sensors are compared to an analysis of the same biological systems marked with fluorescence dyes. Down to a concentration of about 10 pg/μl of, e.g., DNA molecules, the magnetoresistive technique is competitive with nowadays standard analysis methods. The capability of the TMR sensors to detect even single markers is additionally demonstrated by a model experiment using the tip of a magnetic force microscope to meamic the presence of a magnetic particle on top of the sensor surface.
The magnetic carriers (beads) usually detected by the sensors consist of paramagnetic magnetite particles embedded in a polymer matrix with sizes from some μm down to about 100nm. They are linked to, e.g., DNA or proteins (often by a avidin-biotin bond) and thereby enable highly specific detection of complementary molecules. These magnetic particles often suffer from their broad size distribution and the relatively small magnetic moment. With the new colloidal synthesis of superpara- or ferromagnetic Co, CoFe and FePt nanocrystals by, e.g., pyrolythic decomposition of CVD precursor molecules, magnetic markers with superior magnetic moments, smaller size and size distribution can be produced. Here, the question about their potential to replace magnetite is addressed. Starting from a magnetic analysis of the corresponding magnetophoretic mobility of Co and FeCo based alloys their synthesis and resulting microstructural and magnetic properties as function of the underlying particle size distribution and the stability of the oleic acid ligand are discussed.
Moreover, the magnetic particles offer an additional feature: They can be manipulated on chip via currents running through specially designed line patterns. We show, that this manipulation can be performed in a precise and reproducible manner, enabling locally enhanced concentration or even the measurement of binding forces with very low loading rates.