Matthias Meier – författare

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,3 (A), Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Business School), course: International Business, language: English, abstract: From 1980 to 2002 Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have grown by 12% per year (Unctad, 2004, p. 33). This indicates that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) increasingly operate abroad through fully owned subsidiaries which have to be managed, controlled and coordinated by domestic headquarters. Therefore, it becomes more and more important for MNEs to choose an adequate control strategy combined with the most suitable organisational structure. Due to a changing global environment, some of our competitors seem to change their organisational strategies and structures in order to achieve a competitive advantage. This report presents an overview of the determinants of strategies and structures adopted by MNE s, the location of decision making and the types of mechanisms used to control foreign subsidiaries. The second chapter of this paper deals with the organisational environment and describes tools which can be used to assess the internal and external environment. The third chapter examines four control strategies. Organisational structures and control mechanisms are described in Chapter four. The fifth chapter examines the strategies and structures of our main competitors Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Law, grade: 2,0, Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Business School), course: EC Business Law, language: English, abstract: Today's highly competitive environment is characterised by an internationalisation of business activities. More and more small and medium enterprises take the first step and operate globally beyond national boundaries. Huge companies aim to concentrate activities due to high cost pressures etc. Mergers and Acquisition of "e;Global Players"e; become more and more important. In such an environment, a sophisticated competition law is indispensable. Competition law ensures that economic operators do not prevent, distort or restrict competition by running their businesses. Moreover, it inhibits monopolists in abusing their dominant market position in order to protect potential competitors and / or customers. According to Craig / de Burca, competition law has three objectives. It should (1) increase the efficiency, (2) protect consumers and smaller companies and (3) continue the creation of a single European market. Chapter 2 of this assignment addresses Question 1 and deals with Treaty Articles which are used to stop undertakings hindering parallel trade. Moreover, examples of the application and interpretation of the provisions by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) are given. Chapter 3 answers Question 2 and deals with a case of two companies which are investigated for infringements by the European Commission. At the end, a possible decision of the Commission is anticipated.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Business School), course: Multinational Enterprises, language: English, abstract: Strategically positioned in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is one of the world's most attractive locations for FDI. Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has moved from an agriculturally based economy to a more diversified and export orientated one. In 1963 the federation was enlarged by the accession of Singapore, which left in 1965. Since then, Malaysia has enjoyed a climate of political stability which was conducive to high economic growth based on industrialisation and stimulated by foreign investment. (China-Asean Business Net 2006)The National Development Policy provides a framework towards the new vision 2020 plan of the Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir, which symbolises "e;the way forward"e; policy towards a "e;developed"e; nation in 2020. (ibid) This can only be achieved by enduring high FDI which contributes positively to national wealth. This report provides a descriptive base of FDI in Malaysia in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 analyses the impacts of FDI in theoretical terms, whereas Chapter 4 deals with empirical impacts on Malaysia. Chapter 5 suggests policy implications based on the findings of the previous chapters.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,7, Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Business School), course: Managing International Partnerships, language: English, abstract: As a result of the merger between Infineon Technologies AG and Philips Semiconductors, Infineon Philips Semiconductors AG (IPS) would rank third amongst the world's largest manufacturers of semiconductors, with 5.9% of total sales. Infineon would gain access to Philips' customer base which demands profitable chips for consumer electronics and mobile solutions. Its presence in the growing markets of Asia will be strengthened. By merging the two companies, a strategic fit would be achieved in terms of geographic market penetration and market sectors. Furthermore, the size of IPS would streamline efficiency and secure the long-term survival in a highly-competitive market with intensifying pressures from Asian manufacturers. Another objective is to combine both companies' competencies in order to develop smaller wafers and to conduct research on nanotechnology. The strengthened capital basis enables IPS to enlarge investments in R&D and production facilities. Major shareholders of IPS would be Siemens AG and the Philips Group.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,0, Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Business School), course: International Financial Management, language: English, abstract: According to our market forecast study in 2003, demand for office supplies in the UK is declining which forces IFM Supplies plc (IFM) to penetrate new markets in order to achieve its growth and profit objectives. Another reason for exploring overseas markets is the aim to diversify risk across national boundaries making IFM less dependant upon single markets. According to the decision 63/2006, the board of directors is planning to establish foreign subsidiaries during the next few years in Europe, Asia and Africa. This report written by the finance department and directed to the CFO Mr Kamara, gives an overview of financial and non-financial factors (Chapter 2) that have to be considered before finalising the proposal. Potential risks and a brief description of possible external strategies to manage such risks are described in Chapter 3. The impact of export trade will be explored in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 highlights three remedies for IFM's high foreign debtors.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Leadership and Human Resources - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, University of Westminster (University of Westminster), course: Human Resource Management in the Global Environment, language: English, abstract: In general, most of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) with worldwide operations face the same problem of standardisation vs. customisation. On the one hand, MNCs have to meet the need for reaping scale economies and cost reductions and on the other hand they have to be close to the customer and locally responsive to different cultures and tastes which usually raise costs. When it comes to human resource management (HRM), the question arises whether to transfer and apply centrally developed HRM policies and practices in all its operations or to delegate decision making authority to the subsidiaries enabling them to develop entirely decentralised approaches. A hybrid approach can be chosen by implementing central HRM policies that can be applied consistently worldwide and to give responsibility to its subsidiaries in e.g. culture sensitive areas which have to be adjusted to local circumstances. This assignment focuses on training and development issues of a multinational manufacturing company with subsidiaries in 12 countries worldwide and 3,600 employees. It proposes areas where policies should be developed centrally and explains why it should be the central management s responsibility (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 recommends a way to introduce and to manage adherence to the principles of a centrally developed training policy.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, grade: 1,7, University of Westminster (University of Westminster), course: Modern Business Cultures in the Age of Globalisation, language: English, abstract: Today everybody talks about globalisation and while some people are looking forward to a globalised and fully integrated world some critics argue that this process leads to a world where the rich become richer and the poor even become poorer. But does globalisation really take place? More and more nations engage in a process called regionalisation. Regional agreements have never been so popular as today and the number of trade blocs increases. Today approximately 170 regional agreements exist and half of them have been established since 1990 (Moore, 2000). Most of the WTO members are at least part in one of them and 50% of worldwide trade occurs between countries belonging to regional agreements (Ruggiero, 2003). Even the WTO as an institution with the objective to foster world trade and to abolish measures that inhibit trade, is increasingly concerned about regionalisation and the growing number of trade blocs which have the potential to circumvent and undermine the aim of the WTO by offering privileges to its members and discriminating non-members (Au and Chan, n.d.). Mike Moore (2000), former WTO Director General puts it as follows: "e;Is there a risk that regionalism is becoming a stumbling-block, more than a building block, for the new WTO? Draining energy from multilateral negotiations? Fragmenting international trade? And creating a new international disorder characterized by growing rivalries and marginalization and the possibility of hostile blocs?"e; (Moore, 2000). Hirst and Thompson (1996) argue that globalisation is an overblown term for a process which in reality will mean the formation of trade blocs, rather than the whole world as one single market place. This essay critically evaluates this argument by considering the pros and cons of the question whether trade blocs replace the concept of globalisation and the world as one single market place. This question will be answered with the help of bifocal perspectives. The second Chapter considers a micro-perspective by evaluating whether companies become increasingly footloose and transnational or whether companies retain a home base with significant sales in their home region or trade bloc. The third Chapter has a more general perspective and assesses the importance of trade blocs and its impact on inter- and intra-trade.

Matthias Meier geht der Frage nach, ob das Versprechen der Moderne, die ja auch als soziale Bühne für individuelle Selbstentfaltung gelesen werden kann, gesellschaftsstrukturell einer realistischen Beobachtung entspringt. Er legt dar, dass sich die Uneinlösbarkeit dieses Versprechens auch aus der Struktur einer in toto nichtadressierbaren Gesellschaft selbst ergibt - ein Umstand, der bislang durch gesellschaftliche Semantiken kollektiver Identitätsformen invisibilisiert werden konnte. Zudem untersucht der Autor, welche Funktionen diese Formen in einem soziologischen Sinne erfüllen und in welchen Kontexten sie sich als besonders anschlussfähig generieren. Dabei gewinnen im Zuge der Auflösung bislang als voraussetzbar angesehener Ordnungsmuster Figuren kollektiver Identitäten als Kontingenzlimitierungsformen auch neue Aktualität.

Matthias Meier geht der Frage nach, ob das Versprechen der Moderne, die ja auch als soziale Bühne für individuelle Selbstentfaltung gelesen werden kann, gesellschaftsstrukturell einer realistischen Beobachtung entspringt. Er legt dar, dass sich die Uneinlösbarkeit dieses Versprechens auch aus der Struktur einer in toto nichtadressierbaren Gesellschaft selbst ergibt - ein Umstand, der bislang durch gesellschaftliche Semantiken kollektiver Identitätsformen invisibilisiert werden konnte. Zudem untersucht der Autor, welche Funktionen diese Formen in einem soziologischen Sinne erfüllen und in welchen Kontexten sie sich als besonders anschlussfähig generieren. Dabei gewinnen im Zuge der Auflösung bislang als voraussetzbar angesehener Ordnungsmuster Figuren kollektiver Identitäten als Kontingenzlimitierungsformen auch neue Aktualität.

Die Kündigungsfrist ist ohne Zweifel die konfliktanfälligste Etappe des Arbeitsverhältnisses. Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht eine Reihe von besonders praxisrelevanten Fragestellungen zwischen Vertragskündigung und Austritt der Arbeitnehmerin. Einlässlich besprochen werden namentlich die Themenbereiche Kündigungsbegründung und -einsprache, Ferien, Über- und Minusstunden, Treuepflicht und deren Verletzung durch Konkurrenzierung und einzelne Streitpunkte rund um den Stellenwechsel, insbesondere der vorzeitige Stellenantritt bei einem Dritten. Ein Augenmerk wird auch auf mögliche Problemfelder rund um die Beanspruchung von Arbeitslosengeldern und mögliche Einstelltage aufgrund mangelhafter Stellensuche während der Kündigungsfrist geworfen. Der Hauptteil der Arbeit wird von zwei kurzen Teilen über Beginn und Ende der Kündigungsfrist umrandet. Eine Checkliste über To-dos während der Kündigungsfrist bildet den Abschluss der Dissertation.

Durch den Nudge-Ansatz wurde die Frage nach dem Einfluss verhaltenswissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse auf staatliche Maßnahmen in den Fokus gerückt. Die Arbeit untersucht die Herausforderungen und Grenzen bei der Umsetzung staatlichen Nudgings. Aus dem Blickwinkel der Verwaltung wird dabei insbesondere auf die grundrechtliche Dimension von Nudges, deren Kontrolle und die Einordnung verhaltenswissenschaftlich inspirierter Maßnahmen in die Maßstabslehre des Verwaltungshandelns eingegangen.