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If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The paper uses a relational view of strategy framework to measure and assess the sustainable success of base of the pyramid (BoP) projects. The authors posit that the relational view is a powerful way to determine if a firm's project might lead to sustainable competitive advantage, because if partner resources combine to create relation-specific capabilities and competences, they may provide sustainable value, and the paper applies this method of strategic analysis to selected BoP projects. Design/methodology/approach -The paper separates the secondary data analysis from the primary data analysis and offers four propositions, based on the combined relational view and BoP criteria. The authors apply the relational view framework to two BoP projects from Michigan-based organizations. Each case is analysed using the framework, and the authors discuss how the resources of each of the BoP project partners create value, how tailored and scalable the projects are, how BoP end user needs are addressed, what resources partners contribute, and if the relation-specific combination of resources create project level capabilities that are sustainable. Findings -The sustainable success of BoP projects may be best achieved when the BoP project partners contribute valuable resources and when those resources combine to create relation-specific capabilities that create sustainable success. It reinforces the importance of scale, BoP user needs, and engaging BoP customers as partners. Originality/value -This paper tries to help explain why some BoP projects successfully create a sustainable competitive advantage, by building on strategic themes and using a variation of the relational view framework to examine resources and capabilities of the organizations that partner to serve people at the BoP.

The volatility in today's financial markets creates great challenges. But it also creates great opportunities for mergers and acquisitions (M&As). In uncertain times, there is a need to play it safe. But for some, it is also the ideal time to seize opportunities to make great deals. As companies find distinctive strategies to navigate in these turbulent times, many continue to use a twofold strategy: cut costs and stimulate growth through diversification, which includes M&Amp;As. So despite the recession, it looks like global M&A activity increased in 2010 and 2011. The authors take a close look at global M&A activity in 2010 and the first half of 2011 (the latest period for which they have solid data). They also examine US M&A activity with regard to private equity. And they discuss key best practices to successfully manage M&A integration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The authors give an update on the current M&A climate, with a special focus on cross‐border M&A considerations for middle‐market firms. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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