This article examines the role of ambiguity in processes of institutional change. One challenge for understanding institutional change is to overcome the rather "oversocialized" view of action within Institutional theory. Drawing upon recent work in sociology, the paper introduces a...

This case provides background material about the takeover attempt of one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers, Volkswagen, by the small sports car manufacturer, Porsche. It covers the period from spring 2005 through August 2009. This drama ends in a complete reversal, the acquisition...

Social capital is an unspecific resource that can improve the market opportunities of individuals and the chances of survival for organizations. In this historical study it will be shown that social capital was divided up among companies and managers during the early twentieth century very...

Der "St. Tönis Tack’scher Spar- und Darlehnskassenverein eingetragene Genossenschaft mit unbeschränkter Haftung" war 1895 Teil einer Gründungswelle kleiner Spar- und Darlehnskassen. Die genossenschaftliche Bank ist mitterweile in der Volksbank Krefeld aufgegangen. 1932 war sie...

Current theories of financial regulation suggest expanding rules-based formal state intervention to promote international banking stability. Such policy solutions should then be global in scope. This article instead argues that principles-based informal co- and self-regulation through domestic...

Product innovation, a decisive factor in modern economies, is usually analyzed from one point of view - that of the producers. A more realistic approach to the subject would add at least four dimensions to a consideration of the topic: the perspective of consumers and the cultural context within...

This case provides background material about the takeover attempt of one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers, Volkswagen, by the small sports car manufacturer, Porsche. It covers the period from spring 2005 through August 2009. This drama ends in a complete reversal, the acquisition...

This clinical paper analyzes which fraction of Deutsche Bank's market value of equity during the decade of 1990 to 1999 can be attributed to its portfolio of industrial shareholdings. The residuum then serves as a proxy for the valuation of its universal banking business. A new method for this...

The automobile industry was a leader in Germany's economic recovery after World War II. In the 1950s and 1960s, carmakers found a ready market for their products as mass motorization created a manufacturing backlog. But, by the 1970s, rapid changes in sales and the arrival of new competitors in...

The introduction of comparative product testing in Germany reflected the rise of a mass consumer society within a rapidly changing market economy. The first proposal to establish a federally supported institute for product testing was made in 1957. Proponents wished to reduce the asymmetries of...