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The purpose of this paper is to unpack the black box of post-merger and acquisition (M&A) integration of reverse M&A by Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs).

This research adopts multiple cases of Chinese reverse M&A. Data are collected using the approaches of in-depth interviews, storytelling and narratives.

This research identifies various antecedents underlying Chinese post-M&A integration, such as asymmetries in resources, capabilities, vision and status between Chinese MNEs and acquired firms. The post-M&A integration process of Chinese reverse M&A consists of a top-down effortless integration initiated by Chinese MNEs with both benefits and problems, and a bottom-up reverse integration conducted by acquired firms.

By linking the pre-M&A phase and the post-M&A phase, this research builds a new model of post-M&A integration of Chinese reverse M&A from an indigenous Wu Wei paradigm. The new model counterpoises extant literature, shifting from the task and efficiency-focussed view to the people and harmony-focussed view.

This paper aims to examine dynamic multi-stage post-merger integration (PMI) evolutions by Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs) in the German market and their potential influencing factors.

A data set was collected from 25 interviews with 21 respondents from six Chinese acquisition cases in Germany, and a comparative multi-case study and content analysis were applied.

The results reveal that Chinese acquirers take segmented linear integration path in Germany from nearly no integration to organisational integration and then to production integration. It contains three sub-paths: the P-O-O path (partnering–organisational optimisation–production optimisation), the P-P-P path (preservation–organisational preservation–production preservation) and the P-C-C path (preservation–organisational centralisation–production confusion). The initial nearly no integration condition is mainly impacted by asymmetric information and the targets’ strategic positions, whereas different organisational and production integration degrees in mid- and long-term stages are primarily influenced by Chinese acquirers' different dynamic capabilities. Moreover, Chinese acquirers' corporate ownership is not found to be a significant factor that influences CMNEs to take different integration strategies in different PMI stages.

This paper contributes to broaden emerging multinational enterprises’ (EMNEs) PMI theory by adding dynamic perspective and provides suggestions for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) practitioners to identify integration options and avoid integration pitfalls in different integration stages.

Existing works identified that EMNEs prefer to partner with the targets in advanced markets, but lacked a dynamic perspective to disclose whether the partnering strategy would be adjusted or not over time. This study is the first to explore multi-stage integration changes and is one of the few studies that recognise the interaction of the integration strategy with the dynamic capability of the acquiring enterprises.

The purpose of this paper is to propose and model collaboration and information exchange enabler strategies, designed to accomplish significant improvements in supply chain (SC) performance. Some of these improvements to the SC include the reduction of the bullwhip effect and increased customer and SC partner benefits. The authors propose a fully collaborative replenishment model. The study details the information flow required to implement new SC collaboration strategies, clarifying a specific strategy for information sharing involving inventory levels (on hand, in process, etc.), orders and demand forecast.

The authors suggest the adoption of business process modelling (BPM) methodology, aimed at identifying which information should be shared by SC partners, in order to create fully collaborative strategies.

The features of BPM allow for the effortless integration of the modelled information collaboration strategies into a general network information system, creating a flexible structure that can be quickly and even automatically adapted to new conditions.

In this paper, a serial SC has been analysed, but enterprises also commonly manage more complex kind of chains. Chains composed of more than one member in the same echelon, divergent chains, convergent chains, network chains are all different configurations that require their own algorithm. The authors use the order up to policy, but there are other policies that can be considered to extend the scope of the model.

BPM, specifically through Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Business Process Modelling Notation standards, represents a suitable technique to develop and implement new SC collaboration practices, serving as a communication link between managers and software developers.

The expected results of this work imply the proposal of a reference model for collaborative supply chain (CSC) organisations, contributing to the enhancement of value creation for the whole CSC.

The aim of this paper is to clarify the information-sharing algorithm required to implement a collaborative structure for an SC. This algorithm is expressed using the BPM technique, specifically UML and Business Process Model and Notation standards.

Este documento propone y modela estrategias de colaboración y habilitación de intercambio de información, diseñadas para lograr mejoras significativas en el rendimiento de la cadena de suministro (SC). Algunas de estas mejoras incluyen la reducción del efecto látigo y mayores beneficios para los clientes y socios de la cadena de suministro. Proponemos un modelo de reabastecimiento totalmente colaborativo. El estudio detalla el flujo de información requerido para implementar nuevas estrategias de colaboración en la cadena de suministro, aclarando una estrategia específica para el intercambio de información que involucra niveles de inventario (en mano, en proceso, etc.), pedidos y previsión de la demanda.

Sugerimos la adopción de la metodología de Modelado de Procesos de Negocio, dirigida a identificar qué información debe ser compartida por los socios de la cadena de suministro, a fin de crear estrategias totalmente colaborativas.

las características del Modelado de Procesos de Negocio permiten la integración, sin un excesivo esfuerzo, de las estrategias de colaboración modeladas en un sistema de información general, creando una estructura flexible que puede adaptarse rápida e incluso automáticamente a las nuevas condiciones.

en este documento, se ha analizado una cadena de suministro en serie, sin embargo las empresas también suelen administrar cadenas más complejas. Cadenas compuestas de más de un miembro en el mismo escalón, cadenas divergentes, cadenas convergentes, cadenas de red, son todas configuraciones diferentes que requieren su propio algoritmo. Igualmente, en este artículo usamos la política de pedido “order up to” aunque también existen otras políticas que se pueden considerar para ampliar el alcance del modelo.

el modelado de procesos BPM, específicamente a través del Lenguaje Unificado de Modelado (UML) y estándares para la notación de Modelado de Procesos de Negocio (BPMN), representa una técnica adecuada para desarrollar e implementar nuevas prácticas de colaboración de cadena de suministro, que sirve como un enlace de comunicación entre los gerentes y los desarrolladores de software.

los resultados esperados de este trabajo implican la propuesta de un modelo de referencia para la colaboración de las organizaciones de la cadena de suministro, contribuyendo a la mejora de la creación de valor para toda la cadena de suministro colaborativa.

el objetivo de este documento es aclarar el algoritmo de intercambio de información requerido para implementar una estructura colaborativa para una cadena de suministro. Este algoritmo se expresa utilizando la técnica BPM, específicamente a través de los estándares UML y BPMN.

Today's requirements concerning successful learning support comprise a variety of application scenarios. Therefore, the development of supporting software preferably aims at modular design. This article discusses requirements regarding flexibility of e‐learning systems and presents important principles, which should be met by successful systems. The purpose of this paper is to achieve a highly flexible system as follows: first of all, the system itself should be capable of easily being integrated into other systems. Second, the approach should allow easy integration of new components, respectively, existing resources without the need to adapt the whole system.

Guided by the results of previous projects and by various experiences in online education the importance of modular structures of an effective architecture as well as for the system usage were discovered. Accordingly, existing e‐learning systems were examined and some deficiency regarding support of synchronous learning activities were found.

The architecture of the Meeting Room Platform (MRP) is introduced as an example implementation of synchronous communication and collaboration systems. In addition to fulfilling explained flexibility requirements, it is configurable in a way so that the user can choose a set of services he wants to provide in online meetings.

With aforementioned aspects of flexibility in mind, the concept of the MRP system differs from existing systems and constitutes a new approach in designing synchronous e‐learning environments. Finally, various use cases as described in this article show the benefit of this approach more detailed.

Developing agility and innovativeness as dynamic capabilities are important for firms to sustain their competitive advantage in today’s global economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how the supply chain agility and innovativeness are achieved through IT integration and trust in members of supply chain and how these, in turn, can enhance firms’ competitive advantage.

This research employs a survey method and data are collected from senior managers working in the supply chain or IT area. The model and hypotheses are tested utilizing data from 204 usable Taiwan manufacturing firms via structural equations modeling methodology.

The study demonstrates that both IT integration and trust in supply chain members significantly enhance supply chain agility and innovativeness, which in turn positively affect firm’s competitive advantage. The results indicate that IT integration and trust are antecedents and major joint partnership resources for improving supply chain agility and innovativeness.

Data are collected from manufacturing industry in Taiwan and single respondent from each firm, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries should require additional investigation.

The study suggests that a firm should focus on IT integration and trust in supply chain members to achieve supply chain agility and innovativeness. To take advantage of supply chain agility and innovativeness, through maximizing firm’s competitive advantage, firms should continually adapt to the fast changing business environment and search for creative ways to satisfy new market needs.

Given the attention paid to supply chain agility and innovativeness in terms of importance to responding to business uncertainty and competitiveness, and more recently, as important capabilities in managing supply chain management, this paper investigates how IT integration and trust can contribute to supply chain agility and innovativeness. Provide evidence regarding the impact of IT integration and trust on agility of supply chains, innovativeness and competitive advantage.

Purpose: To describe some of the tensions that both unaccompanied and accompanied immigrant children and youth face when reuniting with family members living abroad after years of living apart, separated by borders and anti-immigrant policies are described.

Methods: Fifty-eight interviews with immigrant minors from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and the tensions they reported having after moving in with their biological parents or legal sponsors in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area are drawn upon.

Findings: Youth reported that getting used to cohabitation and in-person relationships with their parents or other sponsor was difficult at first, though it improved over time. Despite the biological, emotional, and financial bonds, minors had to learn how to relate to new authority figures and follow their rules. Many reported feeling lonely and missing grandmothers and other family members and friends left behind in the country of birth.

Research implications: Interviews with counselors and local authorities that interface with these families show that parenting and youth programs in the places of settlement can become effective interventions to improve relations between children and parents recently reunited, which can indeed help with scholastic achievement and socio-economic advancement.

Value: The interview extracts bring a window into intrafamily dynamics, often overlooked in discussions of the integration of immigrant children and youth into their new homes and communities.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the point of view of architecture of an interdisciplinary research on housing and social integration of people with severe mental disorder (SMD) in Brazil after deinstitutionalization. It first aims to present the need for a qualitative evaluation of the way people with SMD deal with their living spaces (house and city); then to describe the method adopted to approach people living under control – in therapeutic residential services (SRTs) proposed by the State as the only alternative model for those leaving psychiatric institutions – and people living alone – with little psychiatric assistance and no dwelling support provided by the State. It aims to conclude with a discussion of the observed dwellings pointing towards the need to accommodate differences in any housing model adopted by the State.

The qualitative evaluation enabled the focus of participant observation on the way people interact with each other and with their living space. The authors followed the routines of chosen people with SMD in three different cities in Brazil and provided reports for the whole group to analyze them.

It was found that those living in SRTs are much more obstructed by institutional control than those living alone. Despite the difficulties and fragilities of those living alone because of the lack of support, they end with more possibilities for autonomy and social integration.

Most research on the subject approaches objective housing issues focusing on statistical results. This research evaluates qualitative dwelling issues, summarizing little pointers for future health policy on housing for people with SMD.

Humanitarian demining is addressed as an engineering‐driven duty, aiming at optimal price/effectiveness figures, joining low‐cost robotics and flexible automation. The mine sweeping is highly dangerous task, and safety is sought by automatic rigs, with remote steering and control. The small price is achieved with resort to locally available equipment, technology and know‐how.

The robotic solutions are split at three levels: the mobility enabler, exploiting standard agricultural machinery; the demining outfits, specialising cheap end‐effectors; the robot path planner, exploring reliable remote govern options. The approach aims at the pace‐wise deployment of consistent rigs with assessed productivity and tiny investment.

The paper explores basic ideas to modify common agricultural machines, placing in front proper effectors and specifying the guidelines needed to choose both carriers and suitable demining tools. The remote command logic of the suggested demining strategy is then outlined, specifying the communication and instrumentation for the case study. Finally, the warning/emergency occurrences management is described.

The ensuing robotic equipment joins the remote‐command abilities, with safe and reliable management of dangerous tasks and emergency healing, to the technological appropriateness (shared know‐how and commitment) and the price tag fitness (on‐place device availability). The final set‐up grants dramatic up‐grading, as compared with the current demining practice.

Unmanned mine‐clearing is presently a sophisticated accomplishment of the industrialised countries' armies. By the prospected methods/fixtures, the technical/economic feasibility of the practice is shown to be practicable in third‐world countries.