This paper explores the concept of knowledge networks in order to disclose how firms are able to increase innovative performance as a result of network structure and network content, which concern how firms connect with network partners (network structure), what the essence of exchange is for firms to acquire knowledge in the network (knowledge heterogeneity), and why firms need to cooperate wi...

In this paper we present Evaluate, a platform for learning performance monitoring. Evaluate manages a number of artefacts that can be used to monitor learning performance, like metrics, measures, surveys, questionnaires, or reports. The portal serves various types of users such as business process leaders, monitoring project leaders, learners, and instructors. Based on a powerful modular compon...

This paper considers the effect of different firm leadership on the innovative performance of firms from seven EU countries. We investigate whether owner-led or manager-led firms achieve a larger share of their turnover with product innovations. Economic theory does not propose clear answers to this question. In the empirical analysis, it turns out that the manager-led firms are more active inn...

This paper explores the impact of diversity of innovative strategy of firms upon the industrial dynamics through a micro-simulation model. We consider two types of firms each one being characterised by a specific innovative strategy. Basically we assume that some cumulative firms adopt an internal learning by searching strategy, while non-cumulative firms adopt an external learning strategy aim...

Pay-for-performance (P4P) programs have the potential to improve overall quality of care by narrowing gaps between what national care guidelines recommend and those treatments actually delivered in routine community practice. P4P is also viewed as a tool to promote more efficient use of healthcare resources while improving patient outcomes. P4P provides financial incentives for quality of servi...

Union rent-seeking is considered a tax on f irm returns f rom investments in innovative activity. We examine this proposition by considering the responses o f f irms in a 1985 survey on R&D and product innovation. Consistent with our model, we f ind that innovative activity is significantly less important for union than for similar nonunion firms. We conclude that innovative activity may be an ...

A highly efficient soil-burrowing dung beetle possesses an intricate outer contour curve on its foreleg end-tooth. This study was carried out based on evidence that this special outer contour curve has the potential of reducing soil penetration resistance and could enhance soil-burrowing efficiency. A toothed wheel is a typical agricultural implement for soil imprinting, to increase its working...

Purchasers are interested in quality of care and performance information for a number of reasons including helping purchasers to make value-based purchasing decisions, holding health plans and providers accountable, and monitoring the care received by enrollees. Interviews with purchasers were conducted in several geographic areas. Purchasers included in the study were large employers, business...

High-volume Web and transactional applications are putting intense pressure on today’s data centers. Explosive growth and unpredictable peak loads combine with high user expectations to place extreme demands on traditional server and storage systems. More compute capacity alone is not the answer. IT organizations also need to provide faster access to multi-terabyte data sets, and they need to p...