The process of developing dynamic capabilities: The conceptualization attempt and the results of empirical studies.

While most researchers interested in the concept of dynamic capabilities focus their attention on analyzing how companies transform their resources to compete in their environment, the process of developing dynamic capabilities is treated as a marginal issue. Although the literature suggests various approaches to developing dynamic capabilities, they are formulated in general terms, and doubts can be raised about the links between actions. There is also a lack of empirical research indicating the links between activities in the process of developing dynamic capabilities and their influence on the effectiveness of an organization. The aim of the study is to formulate a proposal for a model of the process of developing dynamic capabilities aimed at increasing the economic effectiveness of a company and to determine the links between the activities in the model. The theoretical contribution of the paper consists in presenting a model of the process of developing dynamic capabilities aimed at increasing the economic effectiveness of the company. The results presented in the paper refer to an empirical examination of the model of developing dynamic capabilities, covering five activities: searching for opportunities; knowledge management and learning; coordination; configuration and reconfiguration; and organizational adaptation. The study also includes an examination of the possible impact the components of the dynamic capabilities building process have on a company's performance. The study uses the survey method and data was obtained from top managers. The conclusion, based on data from 471 Polish companies, was made using structural equation modelling. The results of the empirical research suggest that the individual activities in the process of developing dynamic capabilities are interconnected, and through mutual interactions and couplings, they positively affect the economic effectiveness of an enterprise. The results indicate that searching for opportunities is the precursor, and the main factor influencing the other activities in the process, which suggests that managers should focus on improving activities in this area.

The Finite Pore Volume GAB Adsorption Isotherm Model as a Simple Tool to Estimate a Diameter of Cylindrical Nanopores.

The finite pore volume Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (fpv-GAB) adsorption isotherm model has been considered as a simple tool which not only enables us to analyze the shape of isotherms theoretically, but also provides information about pore diameter. The proposed methodology is based on the geometrical considerations and the division of the adsorption space into two parts: the monolayer and the multilayer space. The ratio of the volumes of these two spaces is unambiguously related to the pore diameter. This ratio can be simply determined from the N2 adsorption isotherm by its fitting with the use of fpv-GAB model. The volume ratio is equal to the ratio of the adsorption capacities in the monolayer and the multilayer-two of the best-fit parameters. The suggested approach has been verified using a series of isotherms simulated inside ideal carbon nanotubes. The adsorption data for some real adsorbents has also been used during tests. The studies performed have proven that diameters estimated with the use of the proposed method are comparable with the geometrical sizes or diameters published by others and based on the application of more sophisticated methods. For pores wider than 3 nm, the relative error does not exceed a few percent. The approach based on the fpv-GAB model reflects well the differences in pore sizes for the series of materials. Therefore, it can be treated as a convenient tool to compare various samples.

The effects of confinement in pores built of folded graphene sheets on the equilibrium of nitrogen monoxide dimerisation reaction.

In the current work we have used reactive Monte Carlo simulations to systematically study the effects of graphene folding on equilibria of NO dimerisation occurring at isolated surfaces and in porous networks built of corrugated graphene sheets. It has been demonstrated that the folding of isolated graphene sheets significantly improves the yield of reactions occurring on their surface. Then, it has also been shown that in slit-like pores formed by the folded graphene sheets the reaction yield depends on the corrugation and arrangement of the pore walls. It has been found that the reaction yield increases when the walls' corrugation is high because of the appearance of narrow regions and/or wedge-like regions in the pores. The condensation of reacting fluid in such places, where the bulges at both walls are close one to another, leads to much higher reaction yield than on the surface of isolated sheets. Thus, we recommended the highly corrugated graphene to control the chemical reactions.

Carbon Nanohorns as Reaction Nanochambers - a Systematic Monte Carlo Study.

Carbon nanohorns (CNHs, one of the newest carbon allotropes) have been subjected to intensive experimental and theoretical studies due to their potential applications. One of such applications can be their use as reaction nanochambers. However, experimental studies on the reaction equilibria under confinement are extremely challenging since accurate measurements of the concentrations of reacting species in pores are a very hard task. So, the main ways to examine such phenomena are theoretical methods (e.g. the reactive Monte Carlo, RxMC). We have presented the first systematic RxMC study on the influence of the CNH's geometric parameters (the apex angle, the diameter, and the length) on reaction equilibria, taking the nitrogen monoxide dimerisation as an example. All the investigated parameters significantly affect the reaction yield at low and moderate coverages. Short and narrow CNHs have been found to be preferred. However, the key factor influencing the reaction equilibria is the presence of a conical part. Energetics of interactions between the reacting molecules in this fragment of a nanohorn maximises the effects of confinement. In consequence, CNHs have the advantage over their nanotube counterparts of the same diameter. The obtained results have confirmed that CNHs can be considered as potential reaction nanochambers.