Characteristics of Start-Ups - Entrepreneurship in Germany Term Paper

Characteristics of Start-Ups - Entrepreneurship in Germany - Term Paper Example Diversity in teams is considered to be a positive force leading to the effective functioning of the team (Knight et al. 1999). The Top Management Team (TMT) comprises of individuals with power and authority to make strategic decisions (Camelo-Ordaz, Herna ´ndez-Lara, & Valle-Cabrera) and thus, diversity in TMT can impact the organizational outcome. Top Management Team (TMT) has been defined as the â€Å"the relatively small group of most influential executives at the apex of an organization†¦the top three to ten executives† (Finkelstein & Hambrick, 1996: 8, cited by Tacheva, 2007). An entrepreneurial team consists of two or more members who jointly invest in a business in which they have an equal financial interest (Cooney, 2009). They have shared commitment, shared accountability and shared independent tasks and outcomes for these tasks. In this report, the TMT team includes a team of four experienced entrepreneurial CEOs at Omnis Mundi AG, who have pooled in their talent and expertise to foster the creation of new businesses in Europe. This report would hence evaluate the TMT characteristics in startups. Diversity in TMT is desirable in different fields but this report would focus on functional or task-related diversity, background affiliation, tenure/turnover and demographic heterogeneity. Diversity and heterogeneity are synonymous and hence interchangeably used throughout the report. Diversity can be observable (demographic) or non-observable (cognitive) diversity attributes (Tacheva, 2007). The observable characteristics include age, tenure, functional and educational background, and these account for managerial psychological behaviour. These are also known as relations-oriented attributes. Knowledge, skills and expertise or functional background are observable task-related attributes. Non-observable attributes are difficult to assess and hence the TMT is selected based on their observable attributes. According to the upper echelon theory, the TMT behaviour influences firm performance.  

Molecular identity of nkcc cotransporter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Molecular identity of nkcc cotransporter - Essay Example This property is of special significance to the project as the emphasis of research is on the NKCC1 member, one that is known to have two isoforms – NKCC1a and NKCC1b. Of these NKCC1b is also known to be found in brain RNA (Gamba, 2005). It is noted here, though, that the two isoforms of the NKCC1 cotransporter is found only in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) as per research of Cutler and Cramb, 2002. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence that NKCC1, in human and other mammalian species, is functionally implicated in CNS cells. It is observed by Gamba, 2005, that the NKCC1 cotransporter is activated by receptors and assists in neurotransmission by driving anions into the cell. It is also observed by Strange et al, 2000, that the work of the NKCC1 cotransporter complements that of the KCC2 one. The choice of the culture medium, the neuronal-specific CAD cell line, and the somewhat CNS-specific NKCC1 dovetails perfectly for a research attempt that seeks to establish new fac ts on the molecular identity and other expression patterns of these unique electroneutral cotransporters in cells of the central nervous system (CNS). G. Gamba’s excellent 2005 review article on these cotransporters has been extensively used in this paper because it is the most comprehensive document prepared to date being inclusive of all aspects described so far. RT-PCR analysis was carried out on the murine neuronal cell line CAD on both differentiated and undifferentiated cells. Isolated RNA from both differentiated and undifferentiated cells was used. Annealing temperatures used were at C - C at 40 cycles for a maximum of one minute. Primers 10bp in length were used with a gc content above 50%, as recommended (Ribicki, 2001). Upon gel electrophoresis of all the products it was revealed that a ~286 bp bit, exactly as long as the PCR insert, was apparent in all the gels for both differentiated and undifferentiated cells at all PCR