Showing papers on "Formal relationships published in 2009"

Safety Case Development as an Information Modelling Problem

Abstract: This paper considers the benefits from applying information modelling as the basis for creating an electronically-based safety case. It highlights the current difficulties of developing and managing large document-based safety cases for complex systems such as those found in Air Traffic Control systems. After a review of current tools and related literature on this subject, the paper proceeds to examine the many relationships between entities that can exist within a large safety case. The paper considers the benefits to both safety case writers and readers from the future development of an ideal safety case tool that is able to exploit these information models. The paper also introduces the idea that the safety case has formal relationships between entities that directly support the safety case argument using a methodology such as GSN, and informal relationships that provide links to direct and backing evidence and to supporting information.

Developing, Maintaining and Disengaging from Workplace Friendships

Abstract: An ‘organizational chart’ is a document that illustrates the formal reporting lines among different employees and units in an organization. The chart’s lines represent formal relationships that typically bear little resemblance to how the organization actually functions. Instead, organizing occurs primarily in the context of informal relationships that are invisible in the organizational chart, but exist in the chart’s ‘white spaces’ (Eisenberg & Goodall, 2004). Among the most ubiquitous and powerful of these informal relationships are workplace friendships.

The influence of network relationships in the internationalization of SMEs

Abstract: Title: The influence of network relationships in the internationalization of SMEs Authors: Andersson, Arvid & Helander, Anna Tutor: Karlsson, Tomas Date: June, 2009 Background: The world has become globalized, resulting in a rapid increase in international trade. Also many SMEs actively internationalize. At the same time, networks are increasingly replacing traditional markets. In the internationalization process of SMEs it has through research been confirmed that firms are influenced by network relationships in their internationalization process. Problem: Choice of foreign market and market entry mode are crucial decisions SMEs make in their internationalization process. It has been found that network relationships affect SMEs in these decisions. However, the research within this area has been focusing heavily on knowledge-intensive SMEs. Scholars call for further research in relation to other industries, as well as a more specific investigation of what kind of different network relationships that affect choice of foreign market and of market entry mode. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how SMEs’ choice of foreign market and market entry mode is influenced by different types of network relationships. Method: A multiple case study strategy was applied and four SMEs were included in the sample. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, (three personal and one telephone interview), and complemented with secondary data. The respondents were the CEOs of the case firms. The collected data was categorized and each case firm was analyzed, followed by cross-case comparisons. Conclusion: The findings in this thesis show that all case firms had been affected by network relationships in the choice of foreign market and/or choice of market entry mode. Generally the findings conformed to a certain degree to previous findings concerning SMEs in knowledge intensive industries. Further, it was found that network relationship influence was more frequent in the choice of foreign market. In this decision, firms which had taken a proactive approach were mainly infuenced by strong and formal relationships. Firms taking a reactive approach were mainly influenced by weak and informal relationships. Concerning entry mode, it was only weak, informal relationships which had influenced the decision.

Formal Relationships: Introduction and Orientation

Abstract: In 2009, Demographic Research will be publishing short reports on mathematical relationships in formal demography in a new Special Collection called "Formal Relationships". This first publication outlines the goals and procedures for publications in the collection. The guest editors of the collection are Joshua R. Goldstein and James W. Vaupel.