Search results

This paper applies the mixed logit and the latent class models to analyse the heterogeneity in foreign investment location choices in Central and Eastern Europe. The empirical results show that the responsiveness of the probabilities of choices to invest in a particular location to country-level variables differs both across sectors and across firms of different characteristics. The paper highlights the superiority of the latent class model with regards to the model fit and the interpretation of results.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of the statical admissibility of the recovered solution and the ability of the recovered solution to represent the singular solution; also the accuracy, local and global effectivity of recovery‐based error estimators for enriched finite element methods (e.g. the extended finite element method, XFEM).

The authors study the performance of two recovery techniques. The first is a recently developed superconvergent patch recovery procedure with equilibration and enrichment (SPR‐CX). The second is known as the extended moving least squares recovery (XMLS), which enriches the recovered solutions but does not enforce equilibrium constraints. Both are extended recovery techniques as the polynomial basis used in the recovery process is enriched with singular terms for a better description of the singular nature of the solution.

Numerical results comparing the convergence and the effectivity index of both techniques with those obtained without the enrichment enhancement clearly show the need for the use of extended recovery techniques in Zienkiewicz‐Zhu type error estimators for this class of problems. The results also reveal significant improvements in the effectivities yielded by statically admissible recovered solutions.

The paper shows that both extended recovery procedures and statical admissibility are key to an accurate assessment of the quality of enriched finite element approximations.

An extension of the concept of error on constitutive relation is proposed to the case of Mindlin plate finite element computations. The error of the performed analysis is estimated from the incompatibility in relation with the constitutive equation of admissible fields calculated from the finite element results. In a first stage, loads and moments densities leading to the equilibrium of each element are computed on the element edges as the sums of densities derived from the finite element solution and of densities with a resultant equal to zero on each element edge. Then strictly statically admissible stress resultants are calculated within each element. Both of the two stages allow an optimization for the statically admissible field in order to get a more accurate error. The calculations are local which is very interesting especially in case of complex structure analyses with a large number of degrees of freedom for which adaptivity is an important feature. A set of examples shows the efficiency of the proposed estimator and the good adaptation of the error on constitutive law method to Mindlin plate analysis.

While the charity retail literature emphasizes the richness of human resource practices among charity retailers, it rarely makes the link between these practices and their interest for establishing charity retailers' brands. Simultaneously, while the retail branding literature increasingly emphasizes the central role of human resource practices for retail branding, it rarely explains how retailers should conduct such practices. The purpose of this study is to test the recent model proposed by Burt and Sparks in 2002 (the “fifth generation of retail branding”) which proposes that a retail brand depends on the alignment between a retailer's substance (vision and culture) and its perceived image by customers.

The research is based on an ethnographic study conducted within the Oxfam Trading Division, GB from October to December 2002.

The study supports the Burt and Spark's model and makes explicit the practice of human resource for branding. The study demonstrates that it was the alignment between the vision of Oxfam's top management and its new customer‐oriented culture, two elements of its core substance mediated to customers by store employees, which has enabled an improved customers' perception of the brand. The study also seeks to elaborate upon the Burt and Spark's model by specifying an ascending feedback loop starting from customers' perception of Oxfam brand and enabling the creation of a suitable culture and vision again mediated by store employees.

New research should explore whether and how retailers create synergies between human resource and marketing functions to sustain their brand image.

If the adoption of business practices by charity retailers is often discussed, this study highlights that commercial retailers could usefully transfer human resource best practices from leading charity retailers to develop their retail brand.

The paper is of value to commercial retailers.

Organizations continue to employ the matrix organizational form as it enables companies to use human resources flexibly, produce innovative solutions to complex problems in unstable environments, increase information flow through the use of lateral communication channels, and leverage economies of scale while remaining small and task oriented. Despite its strengths, the matrix has inherent problems. Earlier studies have primarily addressed structural problems. In this paper, we identify four interpersonal challenges that impede matrix performance: misaligned goals increase competition among employees, roles and responsibilities are unclear, decision‐making is untimely and of possibly low quality, and silo‐focused employees do not cooperate. We propose that emotionally intelligent employees can function better in the matrix. We offer solutions for both managers and employees to improve performance in matrix organizations by applying the four components of emotional intelligence, specifically, managing, understanding, using, and perceiving emotion, to each interpersonal challenge.

Through a survey of 200 employees working in five of the thirty establishments analysed in previous research about the microeconomic effects of reducing the working time (Cahier 25), the consequences on employees of such a reduction can be assessed; and relevant attitudes and aspirations better known.