Internal Organizational Structure Research Articles

Research on Collaborative Strategy of Supply Chain Management under the Background of NIKE Mass Customization

Abstract: With the continuous advancement of technology and the popularization of the Internet, consumers' demand for personalized products is increasingly high. Traditional production modes have been unable to meet consumers' demands for product uniqueness and personalized experiences, which requires manufacturing enterprises to shift towards mass customization modes with unique advantages in production efficiency and cost control. Taking Nike as an example, this paper analyzes its supply chain problems based on its financial report. It then explores Nike's mass customization process using C2M and 3D printing, as well as information collaboration methods in the supply chain. Additionally, the paper analyzes AR-based virtual fitting technology and evaluates Nike's internal matrix organizational structure for customization and collaboration. From the perspectives of Nike's technology level and internal organizational structure, this paper analyzes the supply chain management and information collaboration process in its mass customization process, aiming to provide references for related manufacturing industries in enterprise operation and technology application during the mass customization process.

Enhancing Reusability Practices in Massive Online Open Courses

Over the past decade, the emergence of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) has profoundly transformed the distance learning landscape, capturing the attention of both higher education and professional institutions. This surge of interest has not only spurred the development of innovative teaching and learning methods but has also led to a re-evaluation of content production and reuse strategies. In fact, when producing MOOCs, multiple resources and efforts are dedicated to creating a considerable amount of learning material. This is often housed within the learning environment, which serves as a sort of repository and it is accessible by learners throughout the course. However, due to a lack of management support or internal organisational structure, the use of this material sometimes remains limited to the existence of the MOOC, causing it not to be actively employed and exploited after the course has ended. Lately, issues regarding MOOCs’ content management have raised critical questions about the long-term sustainability, reusability and management of the created online learning material even after the end of the online course. By using as a case study the three interlinked MOOCs on European History, Law and Governance developed in the framework of the KU Leuven programme in European Studies and the effort invested in both the planning and afterlife of the MOOC, this paper provides an overview of the formulas adopted to enhance learning content reusability. Drawing from KU Leuven’s extensive experience in creating humanities-focused MOOCs, this collection of interconnected online courses represents a novel attempt at offering a series of educational courses that are designed to complement each other not only in terms of content but also in terms of content management. Also, by contributing to the discussion on MOOCs' reusability this paper intends to emphasise the importance of establishing clear guidelines to enhance educational content reuse, ultimately contributing to the long-term educational value of MOOCs.

3D Cryo-Electron Microscopy Reveals the Structure of a 3-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl Zipper Motif Ensuring the Self-Assembly of Tripeptide Nanofibers.

Short peptide-based supramolecular hydrogels appeared as highly interesting materials for applications in many fields. The optimization of their properties relies mainly on the design of a suitable hydrogelator through an empirical trial-and-error strategy based on the synthesis of various types of peptides. This approach is in part due to the lack of prior structural knowledge of the molecular architecture of the various families of nanofibers. The 3D structure of the nanofibers determines their ability to interact with entities present in their surrounding environment. Thus, it is important to resolve the internal structural organization of the material. Herein, using Fmoc-FFY tripeptide as a model amphiphilic hydrogelator and cryo-EM reconstruction approach, we succeeded to obtain a 3.8 Å resolution 3D structure of a self-assembled nanofiber with a diameter of approximately 4.1 nm and with apparently "infinite" length. The elucidation of the spatial organization of such nano-objects addresses fundamental questions about the way short amphiphilic N-Fmoc peptides lacking secondary structure can self-assemble and ensure the cohesion of such a lengthy nanostructure. This nanofiber is organized into a triple-stranded helix with an asymmetric unit composed of two Fmoc-FFY peptides per strand. The three identical amphiphilic strands are maintained together by strong lateral interactions coming from a 3-Fmoc zipper motif. This hydrophobic core of the nanofiber is surrounded by 12 phenyl groups from phenylalanine residues, nonplanar with the six Fmoc groups. Polar tyrosine residues at the C-term position constitute the hydrophilic shell and are exposed all around the external part of the assembly. This fiber has a highly hydrophobic central core with an internal diameter of only 2.4 Å. Molecular dynamics simulations highlight van der Waals and hydrogen bonds between peptides placed on top of each other. We demonstrate that the self-assembly of Fmoc-FFY, whether induced by annealing or by the action of a phosphatase on the phosphorylated precursor Fmoc-FFpY, results in two nanostructures with minor differences that we are unable to distinguish.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Innovations of Chinese Contractors in the Belt and Road Initiative: A Social Network and Supply Chain Integration Perspective

As global economic integration and rapid technological advancements transform international business, international engineering contracting has become essential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper investigates the significant impact of China’s strategic initiatives, notably the “Going Global” strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on the operational practices of Chinese enterprises involved in overseas investments. Central to this transformation is the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, which emphasizes the integration of supply chain management and stakeholder collaboration to enhance performance in international EPC projects and underscores the crucial role of these elements in promoting sustainability. Incorporating insights from social network data analysis, this study reveals that contractors collaborating with various stakeholders—such as owners/consulting engineers, domestic and foreign customs departments, and group headquarters/design parties—exhibit a high degree of similarity in personnel profiles. This suggests that the internal organizational structure and personnel allocation of contractors could be optimized to enhance operational efficiency, aligning with the collaborative patterns identified. This study addresses a critical research gap by exploring how effective supply chain management and collaborative stakeholder engagement within multinational EPC projects contribute to sustainable outcomes. Employing advanced social network analysis software, the research examines the complex interactions among stakeholders and their influence on procurement dynamics. Findings indicate that strong relational networks and strategic collaborations significantly enhance procurement efficiency and project success, underscoring the importance of supply chain integration. Ultimately, integrating supply chain management principles into the EPC model not only offers innovative perspectives for advancing sustainability in international projects but also provides actionable insights for improving project outcomes within the BRI framework. This research underscores the pivotal role of supply chain organization and stakeholder cooperation in achieving sustainability objectives, thereby enriching the discourse on sustainable enterprise operation and supply chain management in the context of global initiatives.

3D reconstruction and morphological characterisation of single wheat grains by X‐ray μCT

SummaryThe intricate task of achieving three‐dimensional (3D) visual reconstruction of wheat kernels represents a notable challenge within the domain of digital grain analysis, playing a pivotal role in the realms of grain storage, processing, and breeding. However, existing investigations focused on individual kernels predominantly encompass dimensions such as length, width, height, and epidermal texture features, with a tendency to be invasive to the internal organisational structure of the kernel. Non‐local mean filtering algorithm is proposed to segment various tissues, and the 2D grey scale images are extracted from X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (μCT) to reconstruct a meticulous 3D visualisation model of individual wheat grains. Furthermore, building upon this foundation, an exhaustive assessment of morphological and structural parameters pertaining to each facet of the internal organisation of the wheat seed grain is conducted. Notably, these calculated parameters align with data generated by prior researchers，with 80% of the volume of the endosperm, 12% of the pericarp, about 2% of the endosperm and scutellum, and 4% of the pores. The established parameters and resultant 3D visual models serve as foundational components for subsequent in‐depth examinations into various physicochemical properties, including quality characteristics, heat, and mass transfer attributes, as well as variations in its morphological structure during breeding, which are pertinent to individual grains. This research contributes valuable insights and methodologies that can propel the advancement of studies in wheat kernel analysis.

Internal organization structure and cooperation with external organizations in Kagai throughout Japan

Internal organization structure and cooperation with external organizations in Kagai throughout Japan

Determinants and impact of production planning and control accounting techniques on competitiveness of manufacturing companies: a structural equation modelling approach

PurposeThis study aims to investigate four internal (organisational structure, quality of information technology, business strategy and market orientation) and two external (competition intensity and perceived environmental uncertainty) contextual factors affecting the use of production planning and control accounting techniques (PPC), as well as the impact of PPC usage on organisational competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachSeven major PPC techniques were investigated, namely: attribute costing, lifecycle costing, quality costing, target costing, value-chain costing, activity-based costing and activity-based management. By deploying a multi-informant strategy, a structured questionnaire was used to gather survey data from 129 senior accounting, finance and production personnel of publicly quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria.FindingsThe results, using structural equation modelling, show that market orientation is the strongest determinant of PPC usage. The inability of competition intensity and perceived environmental uncertainty to notably affect PPC usage suggests that external environmental pressure to use PPC is weak. Although PPC can engender organisational competitiveness, their interactive usage yields optimal results.Originality/valueThe study contributes to knowledge by: (i) presenting evidence that although PPC techniques can engender organisational competitiveness, it is their interactive usage that yields optimal results; (ii) empirically demonstrating that contextual factors influence PPC usage in line with the contingency theory; and (iii) validating the diffusion of innovation theory that organisations will typically deploy PPC techniques because of their relative advantage of improving organisational competitiveness.

Bar self-government in Ukraine and its development

The article is devoted to the analysis of the historical development of legislation on advocacy, its organizational structure, in particular, advocacy self-governance, the requirements imposed on the advocate in the comparative aspect of Art. 2 of the Law of Ukraine «On Advocacy» and part 2 of Art. 6 of the Law «On Advocacy and Advocacy Activities». The issue of the role of the legal profession and the individual lawyer in society is analyzed. It is well-founded that the self-government of the bar should provide lawyers with a system of guarantees that will allow them to work competently and legally, to perform their functions properly and impartially. Therefore, the internal organizational structure of the bar must be perceived in the context of the functions performed by the bar self-government, and this is the business of the lawyers themselves. It is proposed to create a special arbitration court of advocates, with appropriate powers to consider appeals by persons and advocates for offenses that took place in the activities of the advocate, his powers and methods of their implementation. it is expedient to introduce the arbitration court of advocates instead of disciplinary chambers of qualification and disciplinary commissions of the bar and The Higher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar with the transfer of powers to such a court not only regarding the application of appropriate disciplinary sanctions to lawyers, but also the resolution of other disputed issues and compensation for the damage caused, which will require amendments to the Law. In another way of introducing an arbitration court of lawyers, it is proposed, along with the relevant commissions, to make changes to the Statute of the National Association of Lawyers of Ukraine (hereinafter – NAAU) also on the authority of the court to apply appropriate sanctions to lawyers and establish other duties of a lawyer, and the right to choose the body to which a specific person, leave for the complainant. The structure of NAAU was analyzed and an opinion was expressed about the expediency of the existence of certain committees in it. There is a well-founded opinion about the need to carry out relevant reforms in the bar in order to self-purify it, but it is better to initiate this process by the lawyers themselves.

Determination Methods and Influencing Factors of Grain Mechanical Properties

Grain is extremely vulnerable to external loads during production and processing, resulting in the deterioration of grain quality. Deteriorated grain not only affects the economic value of grain but also affects the safety of storage. This has a very important relationship with the biomechanical properties of grains. It is of great significance to explore the mechanical properties of grain under different conditions and analyze the relationship between its physical and chemical properties and mechanical properties for improving its processing and eating quality. In this paper, the research methods of the mechanical properties of grains are reviewed. Various factors influencing the mechanical properties of cereals were analyzed. The relationship between the internal organizational structure of grain and its mechanical properties was discussed. This paper puts forward the shortcomings in the current research on the mechanical properties of grains and puts forward the prospect and analysis of its importance in future development in order to provide a reference for reducing crushing in the grain processing process.

Study on the Mode and Strategy of Internal Organizational Structure Change in Primary and Secondary Schools

Study on the Mode and Strategy of Internal Organizational Structure Change in Primary and Secondary Schools

Liberal arts education in transnational higher education: a comparative study of New York University and its international campuses

ABSTRACT Recent decades have seen rapid increases in the number of international campuses and student enrolments at these campuses. While research has indicated that international campuses often struggle to resolve the tension between global integration and local responsiveness, there is currently only a limited understanding of how these campuses navigate and address this tension in their curriculum operations. Combining document and interview data, this study compared the liberal arts curricula of two international campuses of New York University and explored the factors associated with differences in the curricula. The curriculum design is similar in that it places liberal arts at the core, but there are slight variations in the proportion and implementation of the liberal arts curriculum. Our analysis showed that international learning, the quality assurance system of the host country, and local relevance combine to shape the curriculum design. We further highlighted the importance of governance structures and internal organisational structures in the running of international campuses.

MODELS OF UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY IN EU COUNTRIES: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The article is devoted to justifying the classification of models of university autonomy based on their comparative analysis. It is emphasized that education functions as a systemic element in the social structure, which is embedded in connections and coordination with other social actors, in particular with state power and the market. It is noted that university autonomy is the authority of a higher education institution to determine its own goals and programs, as well as the means to achieve them; autonomy, independence and responsibility in making decisions regarding one's own development. It is emphasized that the degree of university autonomy is correlated with the country's political and administrative system, economic development and cultural traditions, historical and ideological context, axiological orientation of society, traditional role of higher education institutions. On the basis of a comparative analysis of common features and specifics of models of university autonomy, the author's classification is substantiated depending on three fundamental factors: relations between state authorities and universities; internal organizational and management structure of universities; as well as generalization of cases of certain national systems of higher education or groups of countries united by historical and regional features. It is emphasized that the most relevant is the classification of models of university autonomy, which takes into account not only the relationship between state control and university autonomy and the peculiarities of intra-university management, but also the administrative and financial system of the state, financial support of higher education, etc.

A SANS investigation of silk-stabilized aqueous poly(3-hexylthiophene): phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester nanoparticle dispersions

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) protein comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain segments offer great potential for interfacial interaction and stabilization of organic nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous medium. In this work, aqueous dispersion of poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) NPs of 1:1 weight ratio were prepared using RSF as surfactant for the first time via the mini-emulsion method. The size, morphology, internal structure, interface and hierarchical organization of RSF-stabilized P3HT:PCBM NPs was investigated using UV–visible spectroscopy, contrast-variation small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (CV-USANS). The P3HT:PCBM NPs were established to be stabilized in the matrix of RSF colloidal microparticles in water. Unlike the commonly used surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate which produces core–shell (PCBM–P3HT) NPs, the RSF molecules generated P3HT:PCBM NPs with internal structure that resemble phase-separated solvent-cast films. The as-prepared dispersion has good film-forming ability and has been demonstrated for fabrication of composite films comprising graphene oxide.

ІСТОРИЧНЕ ПІДҐРУНТЯ ТА СУСПІЛЬНО-ПОЛІТИЧНІ ПЕРЕДУМОВИ СТВОРЕННЯ ПАРТІЇ АЛЬТЕРНАТИВА ДЛЯ НІМЕЧЧИНИ

Based on the analysis of sources, such as programmatic and pre-election documents of the Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland –AfD) party, materials of civic-political initiatives and formations that preceded its establishment, processing a range of informational, feature and statistical materials, taking into account the works of German, British, Swiss, and American researchers, authors aim to illuminate the historical preconditions and direct socio-political and socio-economic reasons of the emergence, stages of formation, and achievements of the AfD’s first electoral successes on the German political arena. It is established that in Germany, after the Second World War, alongside liberal-conservative and social-reformist parties, several right-wing populist or right-radical parties emerged. Their development occurred in three waves and was marked by legislative restrictions from the state, stigmatization from society, weakness of internal organizational structure, and competition from ruling parties, leading only to temporary electoral successes at the local level. The formation of the new right-wing populist party AfD was primarily influenced by the European debt crisis of 2010 and the Eurozone rescue policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. The article extensively examines the main stages of the party’s genesis and development: the formation of the “Plenum der Ökonomen” in 2010, the “Bündnis Bürgerwille” in 2012, the political alliance “Wahlalternative 2013” and the actual establishment of the party in 2013. The main foundational and programmatic documents are analyzed, highlighting the idea of Germany’s exit from the Eurozone and return to a national currency as a recurring theme. Another important factor in the success of AfD in the early stages of its history was the party’s ability to unite those segments of German society that were skeptical of the integrationist European policies of the ruling parties. Undoubtedly, the refugee crisis that engulfed EU countries and Germany in particular in mid-2015 provided a powerful impetus for the party’s further development. By radicalizing its programmatic demands, AfD achieved sustained electoral success not only at the regional but also at the federal levels over several years.

Effect of partial substitution of wheat flour with kiwi starch on dough rheology, microstructure, the quality attributes and shelf life of Chinese steamed bread

Chinese steamed bread (CSB), a conventional high-GI staple food, with a short shelf life and a single flavor. In this work, 10–20 % kiwi starch (KS) was used to substitute wheat flour for the production of CSB and the effects of different substitution ratios on the quality and shelf life of mixed flour, dough, and CSB were explored. The results showed that the substitution of KS could improve the water binding capacity of mixed flour and lead to easier pasting in the system, lower the cooking power consumption, increase and improve the viscoelasticity and gas holding capacity of the dough, and make the microstructure more compact and uniform. As the substitution ratio increased, the reduction in protein content within the system further affected the formation of the gluten network, leading to a significant decrease in the CSB's specific volume and cohesiveness, whereas the chewiness and hardness were significantly improved. Meanwhile, KS substitution significantly reduced the starch hydrolysis rate and estimated glycemic index of CSB. 10 % KS substitution enriched the aroma and color of CSB, improved its internal organizational structure, and became more popular among consumers. A substitution ratio of 15–20 % was beneficial for extending the shelf life of CSB.

The Role of Digitalization in the Development of Marketing and its Impact on the Organizational Structure of Enterprises

Rapid technological change, constant development of digital tools and the proliferation of internet technologies have transformed marketing strategies and the way we interact with customers. In this context, understanding and exploiting the opportunities offered by digitalisation is becoming a critical element of success for businesses in any industry. Therefore, the study of the impact of digital technologies on marketing strategies and internal organisational structure is becoming an important issue in the context of modern business. Purpose: This study is aimed to analyze the role of digitalisation in the development of marketing and its impact on the organisational structure of enterprises. Design / Methodology / Approach: The research methods used are system analysis, synthesis, comparative analysis, grouping, abstraction and generalisation. Findings: The article deals with the impact of digitalisation on the development of the enterprise’s marketing strategy. The essence of the concepts of “digitalisation”, “Internet marketing”, “digital marketing” has been clarified. The most popular and effective marketing tools that can be used by industrial enterprises in the formation of their marketing strategy, taking into account the processes of digitalisation, are offered. Data on the significant impact of digitalisation on business operations in the context of forming a properly selected marketing policy of enterprise in order to promote the company’s competitiveness and increase its income are provided. It is found that digitalisation changes the internal and external environment of enterprises, affects the organisational structure of enterprises. Originality / Value: It is proved that digitalisation has a significant impact on the functioning of an enterprise and influences various changes in the internal structure depending on the level of its implementation. Practical Meaning: Research in the field of marketing on the use of various digital tools in business is an object of interest to scientists who analyse the positive or negative impact of digitalisation on marketing and the activities of enterprises in various fields. Further Research: The role of SMART technology in setting fundraising goals.

Reflections on Required Competencies For Health Systems Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning In India

The movement towards systems thinking and complexity-informed monitoring and evaluation has been ongoing for some time. Covid-19 has accelerated this shift and increased the salience of contextually aware, adaptive forms of evaluation. Drawing from our experience over three years of providing monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) to a large international philanthropic organization’s health systems portfolio of work in India, we identify three types of evaluator capacities and associated set of competencies that derive from complexity-driven practice in a developing country.
 The first type of capacity relates to deriving evidence in contexts where there are very few traditional forms of data. The MERL portfolio related to health systems outcomes of access, financial protection, and equity even as the health programs themselves were evolving in a period of rapid transformation and dynamism of policy priorities and implementation mechanisms. This required an integration of traditional performance indicators drawn from government datasets with qualitative ‘signals’ focused on drivers of change within the system. Assessment of signals in turn required synthesizing different sources of information, including informal channels of obtaining evidence such as partner meetings or government-sponsored events. The evaluating team thus consciously empowered different kinds of researchers with differential expertise with the goal of building a much more pixelated picture. The goal was not to identify a single source of truth but rather a patchwork of validated information where the relevance of different pieces of data were dependent on evolving outcomes of interest. 
 The second set of competencies related to the skills required to play a convening role for donors and implementing partners, supporting better understanding of the changing operating context and help inform decision-making by program officers and partners. This involved building and sustaining relationships across different stakeholders at different stages of the project – from proposal development to review. Competencies relating to effective dialogue and developing an understanding of the core interests of international, national and sub-national partners as well as international donors and experts could only be developed iteratively and over time, but this was crucial in a distributed health decision-making ecosystem like India.
 The third and final set of competencies relate to operational adaptiveness, while evaluating an ecosystem with few constants. This can be the hardest competency to acquire because it is the farthest from the traditional notions embedded in the training of evaluation scientists and MERL practitioners. We found that the degree of buy-in and commitment to previously agreed upon frames of reference for evaluation can be shifted by changes in personnel or internal organizational structures. These shifts can lead to chain reactions of mismatched expectations that needed to be understood and managed in real time by MERL partners. The pandemic further created a natural experiment that on the one hand required a reexamination of program priorities and on the other depended on reliability of donor support.
 Each of these three types of capacities – synthesizing nuanced evidence for adaptive action, relationship building and communication, and managing operational discontinuities are in fact inter-dependent. Building evaluator competencies isn’t simply about capacity-building but rather a recognition of the diversity of skills and worldviews that need to be encompassed within our monitoring and evaluation functions for today’s complex, discontinuous health systems.

The niche of think tanks in a consensus – seeking and neo-corporatist policy advisory system

While think tanks are no longer solely a feature of Anglo-Saxon countries, they still appear less prevalent in consensus-oriented and neo-corporatist political regimes. To what extent do central characteristics of these countries shape the organizational characteristics and political activities of think tanks? We theoretically contribute to the existing literature on policy advice by drawing inspiration from niche theory, and empirically complement previous work by focusing on think tanks in Belgium, a country with a crowded and closed advisory landscape. Relying on a combination of data sources, our analysis highlights three central features of think tanks: (1) the long-term and anticipatory character of their policy advice, (2) the evidence-based nature of their policy work, and (3) their consensus-oriented mode of operating. The first two features echo what earlier studies in pluralist setting identified as key distinguishing characteristics. The third feature, their consensus-oriented mode of operating, represents a new element that turns out critical for understanding the niche of think tanks in Belgium. Its consensus-style tradition shows not only in how think tanks position themselves externally, but also in their internal organizational structure. Points for practitioners - Think tanks have potential to be key providers of policy advice, also in relatively closed systems with neo-corporatist traits. - In such settings, think tanks especially benefit from a consensual mode of operating, both internally and externally. - The long-term orientation of think tanks can set them apart from other providers of policy advice, such as interest groups and political party think tanks.

The company premises as passport

In several academic disciplines that focus on (historical) building practice there is growing interest in building contractors and their employees. Their contribution and influence are increasingly the subject of research. After the Second World War the contractor’s field of work was defined by productivity, specialization and industrialization, which profoundly altered the professional character of this branch of industry. Social developments and the prevailing idea of an all-encompassing welfare state triggered top-down and bottom-up changes in this traditionally highly cyclical sector. This fostered diversity in the contracting world, yet those diverse profiles and identities often remain unrecognized today. This is compounded by the fact that, unlike architects for example, the source material left behind by contractors and their employees is usually less informative and often fragmented.
 This article seeks to demonstrate the potential of alternative source material by analysing company photos in order to better understand the profile and identity of two post-war Belgian contractors. During their existence, Van Coillie of Oostende (1919-1976) and Van Laere of Kruibeke (1938-1989) amassed extensive collections of photographs, which were recently made accessible by the Flanders Architecture Institute (VAi). The focus of this article is on a series of photos from the 1960s and ’70s depicting the headquarters of both companies. These company premises and buildings were the very heart of the businesses, which adopted a pragmatic or strategic design to reflect their profile and identity. The selected photos are compared with information gleaned from a series of in-depth interviews with ex-employees in order to place the companies in their particular historical context.
 The analysis is in two parts, the first of which focuses on the site, the company architecture and the implanting. This reveals information about the size and organization of the contractors, as well as about their company strategy and professional profile. For example, they used these elements to create a strong position in the building sector and in so doing cement their reputation. The second part analyses a few interiors of the 1961 Van Laere headquarters. A detailed visual examination reveals how these spaces reflected the internal organization and hierarchical structure and how Van Laere projected its company image both internally and externally. The pictures also chart the development of an organizational culture and a body of values and norms that in turn shaped the company identity. The company management, the internal organization and the social and local network in which the firms were embedded, consequently had a considerable effect on the position they occupied as individual players in building practice. The main finding from these two analyses is that these post-war construction players were highly diverse. A critical and biographical sketch in terms of activities, profile and identity is consequently a necessary starting point for a detailed analysis of their position and role within national and international post-war building practice. This article shows what a rich source photographic material can be in developing such a sketch.

On the sociology of cartels

We analyze 15 German cartels, focusing on the personal characteristics of the individual participants, the methods and frequency of communication as well as the internal organizational structures within the cartels and their eventual breakup. Our results indicate that cartel members are highly homogeneous and often rely on existing networks within the industry, such as trade associations. Most impressively, only two of the 158 individuals involved in these 15 cartels were female, suggesting that gender plays a role for cartel formation. We further identify various forms of communication and divisions of responsibilities and show that leniency programs are a powerful tool in breaking up cartels. Based on these results we discuss implications for competition policy and further research.