University of Mannheim

About: University of Mannheim is a education organization based out in Mannheim, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 4448 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 446557 citations. The organization is also known as: Uni Mannheim & UMA.

Corruption and Entrepreneurship: How Formal and Informal Institutions Shape Small Firm Behavior in Transition and Mature Market Economies:

Abstract: This article explores the determinants of corruption in transition economies of the post–Soviet Union, Central–Eastern Europe, and Western industrialized states. We look in–depth at the East–West g...

Heuristic and randomized optimization for the join ordering problem

Abstract: Recent developments in database technology, such as deductive database systems, have given rise to the demand for new, cost-effective optimization techniques for join expressions. In this paper many different algorithms that compute approximate solutions for optimizing join orders are studied since traditional dynamic programming techniques are not appropriate for complex problems. Two possible solution spaces, the space of left-deep and bushy processing trees, are evaluated from a statistical point of view. The result is that the common limitation to left-deep processing trees is only advisable for certain join graph types. Basically, optimizers from three classes are analysed: heuristic, randomized and genetic algorithms. Each one is extensively scrutinized with respect to its working principle and its fitness for the desired application. It turns out that randomized and genetic algorithms are well suited for optimizing join expressions. They generate solutions of high quality within a reasonable running time. The benefits of heuristic optimizers, namely the short running time, are often outweighed by merely moderate optimization performance.

Implementing the Marketing Concept at the Employee–Customer Interface: The Role of Customer Need Knowledge

Abstract: Although the identification of customer needs constitutes a cornerstone of the marketing concept, the accuracy of frontline employees' perceptions of customer needs has never been examined in a systematic manner. Following research in social cognition, this article introduces the concept of “customer need knowledge” (CNK), which describes the extent to which a frontline employee can accurately identify a given customer's hierarchy of needs. The results of two large-scale, multilevel investigations involving data from three different levels (customers, employees, and managers) demonstrate the importance of CNK for the provision of customer satisfaction and customer value. In particular, CNK fully mediates the influence of employees' customer orientation and cognitive empathy on these customer outcomes. Moreover, whereas the length of the relationship between an employee and a particular customer enhances CNK, a large age discrepancy in relation to the customer decreases employees' level of CNK.

Quality of work, well-being, and intended early retirement of older employees: baseline results from the SHARE Study.

Abstract: Background: Given the challenge of a high proportion of older employees who retire early from work we analyse associations of indicators of a poor psychosocial quality of work with intended premature departure from work in a large sample of older male and female employees in 10 European countries. Methods: Baseline data from the 'Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe' (SHARE) were obtained from 3523 men and 3318 women in 10 European countries. Data on intended early retirement, four measures of well-being (self-rated health, depressive symptoms, general symptom load, and quality of life), and quality of work (effort-reward imbalance; low control at work) were obtained from struc- tured interviews and questionnaires. Country-specific and total samples are analysed, using logistic regression analysis. Results: Poor quality of work is significantly associated with intended early retire- ment. After adjustment for well-being odds ratios (OR) of effort-reward imbalance (OR 1.72 (1.43-2.08)) and low control at work (OR 1.51 (1.27-1.80)) on intended early retirement are observed. Poor quality of work and reduced well-being are independently associated with the intention to retire from work. Conclusion: The consistent association of a poor psychosocial quality of work with intended early retire- ment among older employees across all European countries under study calls for improved investments into better quality of work, in particular increased control and an appropriate balance between efforts spent and rewards received at work.