A Study on Succession Planning, Prospective Successor Selection, Transfer of Idiosyncratic Firm Knowledge in Family Owned Businesses of Hyderabad

This study seeks to gain a better understanding of how the succession planning is undertaken in family owned businesses, most preferred qualities in the prospective successor and the transfer of tacit idiosyncratic firm knowledge from one generation to the next generation. The fact that family businesses contribution to the Indian economy is highly significant as well as the fact that most of the family businesses do not survive beyond three generations makes the study important. This study was conducted by distributing a quantitative survey containing numerous close ended questions to the family business owners, potential successors and successors. The survey asked respondents to explain how succession planning takes place in their firm, the most preferred qualities in the prospective successor and the mode of transfer of tacit idiosyncratic firm knowledge from one generation to another. The survey results provided insight into many important factors of succession planning such as the prospective successor being chosen with consensus of the all the family members, the process of succession being well communicated in the business and possessing leadership values is the most preferred quality sought in a successor. Learning by observing is the most preferred mode of transfer of tacit knowledge from one generation to another.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF DRAWING

Drawing is a peculiar phenomenon of human civilization. This inexhaustible engine of progress usually seems to us as a kind of study, as a preparation for a painting or a sculptural work. This essay proposes to look at drawing as a graphic reflection of fantasy, project and intention, a reflection of firm knowledge or doubt and skepticism, and, finally, offers to look at drawing as a method of studying life. The article provides a brief overview of the stylistic metamorphoses of European drawing, which occurred naturally or by chance. A person who always draws consciously composes, and his composition involuntarily reflects the scheme of the universe, drawn up in the artist's head based on his or her life experience. Every person has this experience, this worldview, this self-professed philosophy, but only a draftsman can show it. Collecting drawings is the most difficult and most impressive of all types of collecting. A drawing-lover discovers the whole world, the most accurate description of the given period of civilization. Since prehistoric times, civilization has been indebted to drawing. The rock drawing of primitive people reflects their vital desires and beliefs. Afterward, the wheel was designed; the steam engine, electricity, aeronautics were invented, space exploration began... and drawing and drafting accompanied all this. Teaching drawing in schools and universities is teaching the methodology of studying nature. From an early age, a person is taught to draw from life, and this is a visual study of an object. The teacher’s task is to show not only to sketch the visible outlines of an object but also to penetrate its structure, in other words, to prepare to fantasize and invent. Meanwhile, in schools and universities, it has become a custom to draw imitating photography as much as possible. Photography is the most democratic way of depicting; however, it is only a one-time, random image of an event. Drawing, on the other hand, accumulates several things. A metaphor, conclusion, knowledge, or ignorance, the struggle against victories and defeats, doubts, and confidence appear involuntarily in a drawing. Drawing is action, movement of thought, and religious beliefs, whereas photography is stagnant. However, it is precisely this stagnation, rigidity that is cultivated by fashionable modern artists. Moreover, adherents of photorealism develop the ridiculous coincidences so often found in photographs. Sculptors, architects, and jewelers make the most exciting drawings. Sculptors seem to see through an object, like an X-ray. They want to show volume on a plane. Architects imagine the organization of space and the interaction of volumes. All these aspirations, all these fantasies make drawing uniquely expressive and intelligent.

Anatomic Variations of the Dural Venous Sinuses: A Primer for the Practicing Neuroradiologist

The dural venous sinuses exhibit considerable anatomic variation. Firm knowledge of dural venous sinus anatomy and common anatomic variants is of importance for the practicing neuroradiologist to recognize normal variants from pathologic conditions. In this article, we review dural venous sinus anatomy and present common variants through an image-based approach.Learning Objective: Review normal intracranial dural venous system anatomy and common variants.

Redesigning the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships

Purpose Starting from the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships developed by Faems et al. (2007), the purpose of this paper is to refine and improve this model, assessing its reliability in a different and wider context and extending it according to the outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case-study approach was implemented, examining 34 dyadic inter-firm R&D relationships. This methodology suited the research goal of exploring the validity of a model in an area where little data or theory exists. Findings The theoretical model proposed by Faems et al. (2007) was improved, confirming the adequacy of the overall structure of their intuition and highlighting several differences in terms of factors that lead to the dissolution of R&D relationships. These differences mainly refer to partners’ similarities before starting R&D relationships, co-opetition situations, knowledge leakage/opportunistic behavior and reputation issues. Originality/value This work is the first to investigate two open research gaps related to the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships: the need for additional case studies in other contexts to develop a more general theory and the lack of research incorporating issues such as relational capital between partners, governance form and alliance scope in an integrated analysis.