Stephanie Christine Schleimer

The Driving Forces of Subsidiary Absorptive Capacity

The study investigates how a multinational corporation (MNC) can promote the absorptive capacity of its subsidiaries. The focus is on what drives the MNC subsidiarys ability to absorb marketing strategies that are initiated by the MNC parent, as well as how the subsidiary enacts on this absorptive capacity in order to compete in its focal market. The dual embeddedness of MNC subsidiaries plays a key role in this investigation, as subsidiaries belong to the MNC network and are simultaneously embedded in their host country environment. We argue that subsidiary absorptive capacity is formed as a purposeful response to this dual embeddedness. An analysis of marketing strategy absorptions undertaken by 213 subsidiaries reveals that MNCs can assist their subsidiaries to compete in competitive and dynamic focal markets by forming specific organizational mechanisms that are conducive to the development of subsidiary absorptive capacity. The findings hold important theoretical and practical implications.

Knowledge transfer between globally dispersed units at BMW

– Building on the social network view and new product development perspective, the purpose of this paper is to examine how knowledge is transferred between identical, yet geographically distant units within a multinational corporation., – An embedded case study of Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) examining core drivers that impact on inter‐unit knowledge transfers between six events and exhibitions (EE only then are they in a position to decide how much knowledge transfer via different network and communication channels is needed between geographically dispersed E&E units.

WHEN INTRA-FIRM AND INTER-FIRM COLLABORATIONS CO-OCCUR: COMPARING THEIR IMPACT ACROSS NEW SERVICES VERSUS NEW PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

There is evidence that intra-firm collaboration and inter-firm collaboration are important for new service development (NSD) and new product development (NPD) success. However, evidence of the contributions of each to innovative outcomes is inconsistent. This inconsistency is associated with the tendency of studies to examine the impact of intra-firm collaboration or inter-firm collaborations exclusively. However, most firms involved in NSD or NPD engage simultaneously in intra-firm and inter-firm collaborations. Using a multi-dimensional conception of collaboration we advance a deeper understanding of the relative contributions of these attributes in intra-firm versus inter-firm collaborative environments during NSD versus NPD. Analyses of survey data from 134 innovations confirm that collaboration clearly matters for both NSD and NPD success, but its impact differs depending on (a) whether a new product or service was developed, (b) on the collaborative environment (intra-firm or inter-firm), and (c) on the collaborative attributes examined. Implications for advancing innovation theory and practice are provided.

Dynamic workplace interactions for improving patient safety climate

Purpose Employee engagement (EE), supervisor support (SS) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) are important contributors to patient safety climate (PSC). The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically test a model that suggests the presence of a three-way interaction effect between EE, IPC and SS in creating a stronger PSC. Design/methodology/approach Using validated tools to measure EE, SS, IPC and PSC data were collected from a questionnaire of 250 clinical and support staff in an Australian health service. Using a statistical package (SPSS) an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Bivariate correlations between the derived variables were calculated and a hierarchical ordinary least squares analysis was used to examine the interaction between the variables. Findings This research finds that PSC emerges from synergies between EE, IPC and SS. Modelling demonstrates that the effect of IPC with PSC is the strongest when staff are highly engaged. While the authors expected SS to be an important predictor of PSC; EE has a stronger relationship to PSC. Practical implications These findings have important implications for the development of patient safety programmes that focus on developing excellent supervisors and enabling IPC. Originality/value The authors provide quantitative evidence relating to three of the often mentioned constructs in the typology of patient safety and how they work together to improve PSC. The authors believe this to be the first empirically based study that confirms the importance of IPC as a lead marker for improved patient safety.

Bricks-and-mortar and patient safety culture

Purpose Building a new hospital requires a major investment in capital infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of bricks-and-mortar on patient safety culture before and two years after the move of a large tertiary hospital to a greenfield site. The difference in patient safety perceptions between clinical and non-clinical staff is also explored. Design/methodology/approach This research uses data collected from the same workforce across two time periods (2013 and 2015) in a large Australian healthcare service. Validated surveys of patient safety culture ( n=306 and 246) were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings Using two-way analysis of variance, the authors found that perceived patient safety culture remains unchanged for staff despite a major relocation and upgrade of services and different perceptions of patient safety culture between staff groups remains the same throughout change. Practical implications A dramatic change in physical context, such as moving an entire hospital, made no measurable impact on perceived patient safety culture by major groups of staff. Improving patient safety culture requires more than investment in buildings and infrastructure. Understanding differences in professional perspectives of patient safety culture may inform organisational management approaches, and enhance the targeting of specific strategies. Originality/value The authors believe this to be the first empirically based paper that investigates the impact of a large investment into hospital capital and a subsequent relocation of services on clinical and non-clinical staff perceptions of patient safety culture.