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Tata has been successfully trading in Africa for over 35 years in diverse industries and countries. This case study focuses specifically on Tata Africa’s strategies and operational innovations.In African countries, institutional voids exist — the absence of conventional mechanisms that make business work — which present a significant challenge for businesses operating on the continent. The objective of this case study is to understand how Tata has had to adapt its strategies in Africa to overcome these institutional voids in a way that has allowed it to operate successfully in multiple countries and industries.The case study format has been used because it enables a deep analysis of the strategies adopted by Tata. It also provides a means for classroom teaching methods that will enable students to better understand the challenges of doing business in Africa and how to overcome them.Two central questions posed to students of Africa are: 1.) Why has Tata developed activities that are so different from its core businesses? 2.) Instead of allowing the challenges it found to prevent Tata from trading in Africa, the company has devised strategies to ensure long-term success. What are they?Based on the findings, the answers to these questions lie firstly in the “five context framework” proposed by Khanna, Palepu and Sinha (2005) to identify the existence of institutional voids, and secondly in a model derived from the research into the strategy of Tata in Africa that offers solutions to overcome the institutional voids.Other issues for class debate and discussion are also offered. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Abstract Title: Closing the gap between frugal and reverse innovation – Lessons learned from the case of the Tata Nano Authors: Martin Aschmoneit (martin.aschmoneit@gmail.com) Dijana Janevska (dijana.janevska@gmail.com) Supervisor: Malin Tillmar Date: May 27, 2013 Background: Emerging markets are growing and have become increasingly important for the global economy, while the growth of developed markets has slowed down. Emerging economies are the home of a new type of innovation that can help multinationals (both Western and local) to achieve further growth. Reverse innovation is a new approach that entails developing frugal products in emerging markets that are later introduced in advanced economies. Aim: To develop a framework of reverse innovation, and to use this framework to find critical issues necessary for the Tata Nano to enter developed economies. Hence, we develop our own definition and a model of reverse innovation that will be used in the analysis of the Nano, with a specific focus on: the search for reverse innovation features present in the case and the problems/obstacles in the reverse innovation process. Methodology: Qualitative approach using a single-case study based on predominantly secondary data. The case study of the Tata Nano was chosen due to its compatibility with our research aims. Completion and results: The case of the Tata Nano fulfills all but one of the requirements for a reverse innovation: the last step of the process or the transition of the innovation to a developed market. Several critical issues regarding the reversal process were identified and discussed. Keywords: reverse innovation, frugal innovation, emerging markets, multinational companies, Tata Nano.

This study investigates the drivers and forms of business model innovation. It is built on the business model innovation typology proposed by Koen et al. (2011), we have developed its dimensions into Hurdle rate, technology, partners value network and customer value network. The study used these dimensions as a base to differentiate between the two approaches of the business model innovation which were identified as innovating the existing business model approach and multiple business model approach. The study used qualitative analysis, through a dual case study approach in the automotive industry, consequently Fiat and Tata Motors were selected as case studies. Furthermore, the study foundation is secondary data supported by primary data (i.e. interviews) to investigate how each of these two organizations has implemented business model innovation in each case study, by highlighting and contrasting their different approaches of business model innovation. The results of the study showed that each of the two approaches of business model innovation implies open innovation and expands the organization’s value network. However, innovating the existing business model focuses on improving the organizations’ performance, and sustaining innovation. On the other hand, the multiple business model approach aims to disrupt the industry or a competitor (i.e. New entrant), through disruptive innovation. Moreover, the study proposed a process based framework and a checklist on business model innovation, to assist the decision makers in organizations while choosing between innovating their existing business model or designing a new one.

Recently, the prediction of promoters has attracted many researchers' attention. Unfortunately, most previous prediction algorithms did not provide high enough sensitivity and specificity. The goal of this thesis is to develop an efficient prediction algorithm that can increase the detection power (power = 1 - false negative). We do not try to find more distinct features in promoters one by one, such as transcriptional elements. Our main idea is to use the computer power to calculate all possible patterns which are the possible features of promoters. Accordingly, we shall define some scoring methods for training a given set of sequences, which involve promoter sequences and non-promoter sequences. Then, we can obtain a threshold value for determining whether a testing sequence is a promoter or not. By the experimental results, our prediction has higher correct rate than other previous methods.

In the eukaryotic nucleus, an immense length of DNA is compactly packaged to generate an ordered three-dimensional hierarchical structure called chromatin (van Holde, 1988; Wolffe, A.P, 1998). This organization forms a template for various DNA transaction processes like replication, transcription, recombination etc. The different stages of organization of the chromatin finally results in the 10,000-fold compaction observed in the metaphase chromosome. The problem of how the fibres of chromatin are folded has interested biologists and biochemists for decades. It has long been recognized that the Histones play a major part in this folding. However, the distinctly different roles of the Histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 on one hand and the lysine rich Histones such as Histone H1 and its cognates on the other, were not understood until after the discovery of the nucleosomes in the early 1970s. Some of the early insights into the structure of chromatin came through the digestion of nuclear chromatin with calcium-dependent endonucleases like micrococcal nuclease. A repeating kinetic intermediate of about 200 bp of DNA with Histones was obtained (Simpson, 1978). Based on repeating pattern of micrococcal nuclease digested chromatin and structural studies, Kornberg (1974) proposed that chromatin is composed of a flexible chain of repeating units of 100 A0 diameter. These units were termed as "nucleosomes" (Oudet et al, 1975). It then became clear that the Histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 were constituents of the nucleosome core particle whereas the lysine rich Histone H1 was somehow associated with the linker DNA between core particles. Hence, the formers are called core Histones and the latter as linker Histones. On further digestion of nucleosome, a nucleosome core was obtained in which wrapping of 146 bp of DNA about the Histone octamer to form the core particle provided the first level of folding. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques suggested that this particle is a disk, 57 A0 thick and 110 A0 in diameter, and that the DNA is wound around the Histone core (Finch et al, 1977), But this cannot account for the many thousand-fold condensation of the DNA in the eukaryotic nucleus. The "string of beads" structure observed obviously could not satisfy the compaction requirement. It soon became evident that there exists some level of higher order folding of the chromatin fiber. In a classical paper, Finch and Klug (1976), showed that the extended nucleosomal filaments condense into irregular fibers of about 30 nm diameter in the presence of low concentrations of Mg 2+. Based on the data from earlier structural studies, these authors proposed a solenoid model in which nucleosomes were wrapped into a regular helix with a pitch of about 11nm. Later, it was observed that the formation of well defined fibers requires the presence of lysine rich Histones such as Histone H1.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-77).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-124).

The last decades of the 19th Century and the first decades of the 20th Century encompass a revolutionary movement worldwide. The growth and advances throughout all disciplines of study and especially the collaboration across Literature, Music, Performing Arts, Culture and Politics became stronger and more evident than ever before. As the Mexican Revolution (1910) developed in frightening fights, the country became increasingly insecure and violent. It was the duty of the living artist to create pathways to escape reality, embellishing the surroundings with its music, paintings and poetry. This climate is what paved the way to the bohemian living-style that developed in the main cities gaining power and acceptance, especially in Mexico City. Maria Grever, Tata Nacho and Agustín Lara represent a handful of composers/performers who wrote in the style of canciones contributing to the ideal of stability, hope and love in all forms and fashions. They represent the complexity of an era thru an outpouring of songs, depicting the romanticism of Mexico's ever changing times. They are also key figures for the growth and expansion of Mexican music throughout the world, aided by the technological advances such as the first recordings and radio broadcasting.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68]-77).