bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supply chain agility: a systematic review of definitions, enablers and performance implications
Authors: Al Humdan Eias , Shi Yangyan , Behnia Masud , Najmaei Arash
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Supply chain agility (SCA) has recently received considerable attention in the literature and in practice. Despite its popularity, the concept of SCA seems to be vaguely defined and loosely structured. More specifically, definitional ambiguity and conceptual fragmentation have prevented the concept of SCA from reaching its full potential. The time is ripe to address these issues through a systematic literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

A review and synthesis of the literature on SCA was undertaken. The authors selected 56 top-tier related articles for further analysis after applying rigorous filtering procedures.

Findings

The results of the review confirm that several key themes surround SCA's definition and enablers. In addition, consensus needs to be reached in terms of its performance dimensions and measures. Accordingly, this study constructed an encompassing definition, scrutinized SCA enablers and outcomes and thus developed an original framework for SCA, providing a unique conceptual contribution. Several research directions were also addressed accordingly.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research lies in the selection of highly recognized publications. It also provides an encompassing definition of SCA, consolidates its enablers for better communication and synthesizes its performance implications.
The mechanism behind employee agreeableness and group performance ratings: a Pakistani study
Authors: Altaf Sara , Iqbal Muhammad Zahid , Prooijen Jan-Willem van , Ikramullah Malik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the links between employee agreeableness, group performance, and peers' perceptions of threat of retaliation, through relationship conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

In a laboratory setting, 42 groups of undergraduate students (N = 182) from a Pakistani university were assigned to group projects to be completed within four months. Data collected from three different questionnaires at four different times and actual scores awarded by the course instructor to each group were used for the analyses. Based on rWG(J)and ICC(1), level 1 (182 students') data were aggregated to level 2 (groups), and then analysed using regression analysis followed by Preacher and Hayes' bootstrapping procedure.

Findings

Results suggest that high agreeableness predicts group performance positively and peers' perceptions of threat of retaliation negatively. Moreover, relationship conflict among group members significantly mediates the agreeableness-group performance relationship. The above relationships may be sensitive to national culture.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, groups were formed for a few months, whereas in real organizational life, workgroups are formed for different durations. Therefore, the range of situations to which these findings generalize remains an open question.

Practical implications

Agreeableness of group members can be constructive for performance of the group. Managers may utilize this insight while forming groups, and rating performance.

Originality/value

There is dearth of research illuminating how employee's personality traits affect group performance and appraisal ratings. The study tests the effects of employee agreeableness on: (1) group performance, as rated by supervisors; (2) the threat of retaliation, as perceived by peer raters; and (3) the mediating effect of relationship conflict.
Salient cultural transformations in the age of globalization: implications for business and management
Authors: Yeganeh Hamid
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims at analyzing salient cultural transformations and their implications for business and management.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the interpretative approach is explained, and its adoption is justified. Then, seven major cultural transformations associated with globalization are identified and analyzed. Finally, business and management implications are discussed.

Findings

The cultural trends/transformations caused by or associated with globalization include convergence, divergence, hybridization, the clash of cultures/civilizations, diversity, multiculturalism, time-space compression, temporal acceleration, short-termism, risk, insecurity and uncertainty.

Research limitations/implications

This study, like any other interpretative study, is limited in its internal validity. Furthermore, some scholars may have different perspectives on cultural transformations, such as clash of cultures, diversity, multiculturalism and risk society.

Originality/value

At the methodological level, this paper adopts an interpretative research design and takes into consideration historical, contextual and social components of culture. While the culture in management is often conceptualized as bipolar and mutually exclusive dimensions, this study offers a more versatile conceptualization of culture.
A systematic review of drivers and interventions against sex work migration in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Agwu Prince , Okoye Uzoma , Ekoh Prince , Chukwu Ngozi , Onalu Chinyere , Igwe Ijeoma , Onuh Paul , Amadi Gift , Nche George
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Sex work migration involves a huge number of females from Nigeria, and has attracted concerns within and across the country. To add to ongoing conversations about responsible migration, our review underscores the prevalence of sex work migration in Edo State, Nigeria, the drivers and interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

The review adopted exhaustive search terms coined with the aid of “Boolean Operators”. Search terms were entered into several search engines and databases to elicit peer-reviewed and grey literature within sex work migration and human trafficking for commercial sex. An output of 578 studies was recorded with 76 (43 academic papers and 33 grey literature) meeting the inclusion criteria.

Findings

The study acknowledged wide-spread prevalence of sex work migration involving Nigerian females who are largely from Edo State. It achieved a prioritization of the factors that drive sex work migration based on how frequent they were mentioned in reviewed literature: economic (64.4%), cultural (46%), educational (20%), globalization (14.5%) and political factors (13.2%). Several interventions were highlighted together with their several limitations which include funding, absence of grass-roots engagement, dearth of appropriate professionals, corruption, weak political will, among others. A combination of domestic and international interventions was encouraged, and social workers were found to be needful.

Originality/value

Our systematic review is the first on this subject, as none was found throughout our search. It seeks to inform policy measures and programmes, as well as horizontal efforts poised to tackle the rising figures of sex work migrants and attendant consequences in Nigeria.
Scale development and validation for measuring business-to-business Wasta relationships
Authors: Berger Ron , Barnes Bradley R. , Silbiger Avi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Managers of multinational enterprises (MNEs) from developed economies are often cautious to understand the cultural environment where they do business. This is predominantly true in developing economies, and even more so in certain Arab countries where MNEs have limited knowledge and experience. The purpose of this study is to report on the development of a research instrument that is applicable to Arab business culture, following the 2011 Arab Spring. The investigation draws on data from three different groups of people, i.e. leaders (business professors and leading politicians), business people and postgraduate business students, all of Palestinian nationality. The article examines the Arabic culturally based business structure called Wasta, a system that relies on social networks and the reciprocal exchange of favors. A research instrument is developed to measure three dimensions of Wasta across these three different groups of people and examines their influence on relationship satisfaction and organizational performance. The findings reveal that the groups are affected differently by these dimensions and see different utility in Wasta. Such insights may be useful for MNE practitioners when entering Arab countries, when seeking to employ younger Arabs and when partnering with Arab businesses or dealing with government officials.

Design/methodology/approach

Research paper

Findings

This study has focused on the impact of Wasta on relationship satisfaction and on relationship performance for three different groups of individuals: business people, students and leaders. It was hypothesized that higher levels of each component of Wasta would contribute positively to relationship satisfaction, and that the latter would in turn lead to higher relationship performance. Findings generally supported these hypotheses with some variations among groups. Furthermore, it was predicted that the model would be relevant to all three groups, but would be structured differently reflecting their different views of business. The findings of this study help answer our research question about the socio-economic, cultural and political factors that influence the business process involving Arab and non-Arab business managers.

Originality/value

Original paper
Regional small businesses’ personal and inter-firm networks
Authors: Sharafizad Jalleh , Brown Kerry
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of personal and inter-firm networks and the elements that contribute to the formation and management of these networks for regional small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 small business owners located in regional areas.

Findings

The findings highlight key characteristics of regional small business owners’ networks. Findings indicated that participants relied strongly on their personal networks for business purposes. This study shows that while personal networks adapted and changed into informal inter-firm networks, weak-tie relations within inter-firm networks were unlikely to develop into close personal networks. Novel findings also include a preference for “regional interactions” and included regular collaboration with local business competitors. Although the participants used social media to manage their business through personal networks, results confirmed there was a lack of awareness of the benefits of inter-firm networks with businesses outside the local region.

Originality/value

While it is acknowledged small business owners use personal and inter-firm connections to maintain and grow their business, there is a lack of research examining both of these networks in the same study. This research addresses this gap and presents five propositions as a useful direction for future research. This paper adds to the evolution of existing knowledge by expanding understanding of the formation of business networks and conditions of business trust relations within a regional context.
Bakhtin to the future
Authors: Lowe Sid , Tapachai Nirundon
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to look into changing future landscapes of business interaction, relationships and networks using the lens of the work of Mikhail Bakhtin and his key notions of polyphony, heteroglossia and dialogism.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper exploring the complex dualities of Bakhtin’s approach involving eternally competing, paradoxical forces of unity and fragmentation; continuity and change; and coherence and incongruity.

Findings

Bakhtin’s approach suggests that all phenomena at all levels involve a complex struggle between organizational unity and dis-organizational fragmentation. Bakhtin provides theoretical support for David Boje’s notion of “antenarratives” as key in the making of socially constructed futures. Antenarratives are bridging “tropes” between unifying narratives and fragmented stories.

Research limitations/implications

Antenarratives need to be a focal interest in researching Bakhtinian dualities because they are a catalyst and chiasmus traveling between and inter-animating relations between narratives and stories.

Practical implications

The Bakhtinian schema suggests that practitioners need to maintain a reliance upon “phronesis” or practical wisdom and dexterity that allows them to adapt and improvise in fast-changing and multiple situations and contexts. To enable them to do this, such practical capabilities need the combined cultivation of appropriate embodied skills, capabilities in communicative and symbolic persuasion, as well as analytical reasoning.

Originality/value

Bakhtin’s concepts provide a unique and operationalizable approach to encompassing duality, which addresses the increasing need in business marketing to understand and adapt within increasingly complex and changing landscapes of business interaction, relationships and networks.
Inclusive school leaders – their role in raising the achievement of all learners
Authors: Óskarsdóttir Edda , Donnelly Verity , Turner-Cmuchal Marcella , Florian Lani
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This article presents a model based on a review of international and European policy and current European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education work on school leadership for inclusive education. The model aims to support analysis of the policy context and interactions between the structures and processes at different levels to ensure effective support for inclusive school leadership and development of appropriate competences. Key issues addressing competences for inclusive school leadership, support and professional development opportunities for inclusive school leaders and policy frameworks that support inclusive leadership across the whole education system are explored.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on a current Agency project, Supporting Inclusive School Leadership (SISL), a cross-national project that considers how best to ensure that school leaders meet the needs of all learners in their school communities. The SISL project examines current theories of school leadership together with the core functions of school leaders in participating countries in order to develop a model specifically focused on inclusive school leadership.

Findings

Agency projects such as SISL focus on research findings and policy developments that support countries to chart their own course toward a common goal. This process of cross-national working permits member countries with their distinctive national, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversities to work together on common goals. In this project an ecosystem model of inclusive education was adapted to reflect on the policy context needed to enable school leaders to fulfill the complex responsibilities associated with inclusive school development.

Originality/value

Although the Agency is strongly associated with the education of children with special educational needs and disabilities, all member countries have the shared vision to support inclusive education systems so that all learners of any age are provided with meaningful, high-quality educational opportunities in their local community. While its projects are firmly rooted in the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, its work is also influenced by the concept of inclusion as promoted in the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4) “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
Leading through a critical lens: The application of DisCrit in framing, implementing and improving equity driven, educational systems for all students
Authors: Kozleski Elizabeth B. , Stepaniuk Inna , Proffitt William
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This article focuses on the strategic importance of framing cultural changes in special education through a critical lens. The article explores why cultural responsivity must be understood from a critical perspective that accounts for the historical sedimentation of racism that exists within special education organizational policies and practices. This sedimentation affects current and future organizational features that sustain historical, persistent and pernicious racial and ableist structures, relationships and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

By examining the role of power within organizational systems, the authors trace its contribution to reproduction of these systems through special education leadership. Special education leaders along with their peers in general education can frame transformative change through a systemic lens designed to address structural, regulatory and cultural practices that perpetuate raced and ableist outcomes. The pernicious and sustaining structures and practices that have created unequal outcomes in our educational systems need strategic intervention, prevention and re-creation to create equitable supports and services programs.

Findings

By examining the role of power within organizational systems, the authors trace its contribution to reproduction of these systems through special education leadership. Special education leaders along with their peers in general education can frame transformative change through a systemic lens designed to address structural, regulatory and cultural practices that perpetuate raced and ableist outcomes.

Practical implications

With clear outcomes that are responsive to all students, including those identified with dis/abilities, education leaders can make consequential shifts in access, opportunity and the distribution of social and intellectual capital throughout education.

Social implications

The pernicious and sustaining structures and practices that have created unequal outcomes in our educational systems need strategic intervention, prevention and re-creation to create equitable supports and services programs.

Originality/value

The application of DisCrit to educational leadership practices offers an opportunity to frame leadership through a powerful equity lens.
The continuance usage of compliance support system: does surveillance concern matter?
Authors: Kim Sang Soo
Published: April 2020

Purpose

A compliance support system (CSS) aims to support employees' voluntary compliance activities, however, it requires a different approach from the continuous usage of other general information systems. This study first set up a research model based on information system (IS) continuance model to investigate the mechanism of continuance intention to use CSS. Then, this study aims to propose that the surveillance concern will undermine the process of forming beliefs and attitudes toward using CSS, consequently hindering continuance intention to use the system.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted for the employees of a major Korean energy company that has run their own CSS for about three years. A total of 720 valid responses were analyzed by using partial least squares-based structural model technique. The respondents are classified into two groups: a high level and a low level of surveillance concern group.

Findings

The findings showed that continuance intention of using CSS is basically consistent with the IS continuance model. However, the relationship between satisfaction and continuance intention was found to be insignificant in a high surveillance concern group. In addition, multigroup analysis showed that surveillance concern negatively moderates certain relationships among variables, especially weakening the beliefs and attitudes toward using CSS.

Originality/value

This study has academic significance of broadening the domain of factors affecting continuance intention of using CSS by deeply delving into factors discouraging continuous use of a system. Furthermore, the findings of this study may serve as a practical guideline of alleviating surveillance concern, thereby encouraging employees to use CSS more actively and voluntarily.
Migration of labor: differential of income between rural and urban trade union workers in Brazil
Authors: De Lima Cicero Francisco , Costa Edward Martins , Mariano Francisca Zilania , Justo Wellington Ribeiro , Castelar Pablo Urano de Carvalho
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The objective of this work was to analyze the income differential of the rural–urban worker in relation to the rural–rural worker and in relation to the urban–urban worker in the Brazilian labor market. Two databases were used, the 2005 and 2015 PNADs (Pesquisa Nacional Por Amostra de Domicílios).

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is the decomposition approach proposed by Firpo et al. (2007, 2009). This method adopts estimates of unconditional quantile regressions, based on the concepts of influence function and recentered influence function (RIF).

Findings

Among the main results, income differentials were shown to benefit the urban–urban worker when compared to the rural–urban worker, and income differences to the benefit of the rural–urban workers, when these were compared to the rural–rural workers. The educational variable was relevant in explaining the income disparity and expressing increasing effects in the higher quantiles.

Originality/value

The methodology used in this work is considered recent in the literature as it is based on the RIF regression (Firpo et al., 2007, 2009). The main advantage of this method is the possibility of assigning a “composition effect” and a “wage structure effect” for each variable that determines the level of income at different points of the income distribution.
Microfinance governance: a systematic review and future research directions
Authors: Rasel Md. Ali , Win Sandar
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to systematically review extant research on the corporate governance (CG) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) from a global perspective. In the process, it discusses scholarly contributions and highlights key issues from the findings of past studies on several governance attributes, in particular, their interconnections and influence on different institutional outcomes of the sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Although academic work on microfinance governance is substantial, prior studies lack a comprehensive approach to reviewing the literature on this topic. We adopted a systematic method to review past studies on microfinance CG by applying particular inclusion and exclusion criteria. In this regard, the study developed specific questions and sought to find their answers from the existing literature.

Findings

The findings from our research indicate that microfinance governance-performance relationship is the central focus of the majority of our reviewed papers, although a few attempts have been made to explain the interconnection between CG mechanisms at the firm and institutional level. Our findings also show that existing studies have used a variety of techniques to measure MFI performance vis-à-vis their hybrid mission, such as profitability and outreach. Moreover, the study found that common topics discussed in the mainstream literature include board structure, CEO characteristics, audit quality, external governance, disclosure and MFI ownership type.

Research limitations/implications

This review has some limitations that warrant further research. First, we considered only peer-reviewed scientific publications for our systematic review. Second, we omitted non-English journal papers from our sample. In light of these limitations, we provide some future research directions that may shed further light on our current inquiry.

Originality/value

This paper evaluates past relevant studies using a systematic approach (in preference to the commonly used narrative approach) for a span of over eighteen years; thereby contributing significantly to the sectoral governance literature. This study is novel in that it offers new incentives and opportunities for further research in order to meet the shortcomings of reviewed papers from various theoretical, empirical, methodological and geographical standpoints.
Evaluating the forecasting power of foreign Country's income growth: a global analysis
Authors: Marfatia Hardik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The objective of the paper is to explore the out-of-sample forecasting connections in income growth across the globe.

Design/methodology/approach

An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework is employed and the forecasting performance is analyzed across several horizons using different forecast combination techniques.

Findings

Results show that the foreign country's income provides superior forecasts beyond what is provided by the country's own past income movements. Superior forecasting power is particularly held by Belgium, Korea, New Zealand, the UK and the US, while these countries' income is rather difficult to predict by global counterparts. Contrary to conventional wisdom, improved forecasts of income can be obtained even for longer horizons using our approach. Results also show that the forecast combination techniques yield higher forecasting gains relative to individual model forecasts, both in magnitude and the number of countries.

Research limitations/implications

The forecasting paths of income movement across the globe reveal that predictive power greatly differs across countries, regions and forecast horizons. The countries that are difficult to predict in the short run are often seen to be predictable by global income movements in the long run.

Practical implications

Even while it is difficult to predict the income movements at an individual country level, combining information from the income growth of several countries is likely to provide superior forecasting gains. And these gains are higher for long-horizon forecasts as compared to the short-horizon forecast.

Social implications

In evaluating the forward-looking social implications of economic policy changes, the policymakers should also consider the possible global forecasting connections revealed in the study.

Originality/value

Employing an ARDL model to explore global income forecasting connections across several forecast horizons using different forecast combination techniques.
Australian household debt and the macroeconomic environment
Authors: Kolios Bill
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of labour market conditions and monetary policy on households' attitude towards debt in the Australian context.

Design/methodology/approach

In doing so, household debt is categorised into housing, and consumer debt and the relationship is empirically tested through the use of a vector error correction model.

Findings

Consumer debt is found to be highly dependent on consumption with employment income and unemployment having a statistically insignificant effect, whilst monetary policy showing an inverse relation to consumer debt. The findings suggest that household consumption appears to be the primary determinant for consumer debt, which then behaves as a wage substitute. In terms of housing debt, income and monetary policy positively affect households' decisions with consumption and unemployment having a negative impact on the level of housing debt. The empirical results suggest that housing debt behaves as a proxy for household investment.

Originality/value

This paper empirically investigates the impact of selected macroeconomic variables on housing and personal debt separately. The findings suggest that monetary policy and labour market conditions have different impacts on the two separate debt types.
Medicine and interest politics a study of decision-making processes in the area of vascular surgery in Norway
Authors: Wendt Kjersti , Mørk Bjørn Erik , Berg Ole Trond , Fosse Erik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of organizational challenges when decision-makers try to comply with technological developments and increasing demands for a more rational distribution of health care services. This paper explores two decision-making processes from 2007–2019 in the area of vascular surgery at a regional and a local level in Norway.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws upon extensive document analyses, semi-structured interviews and field conversations. The empirical material was analyzed in several steps through an inductive approach and described and explained through a theoretical framework based on rational choice (i.e. bounded rationality), political behavior and institutionalism. These perspectives were used in a complementary way.

Findings

Both decision-making processes were resource-intensive, long-lasting and produced few organizational changes for the provision of vascular services. Stakeholders at both levels outmaneuvered the health care planners, though by different means. Regionally, the decision-making ended up in a political process, while locally the decision-making proceeded as a strategic game between different departments and professional fields.

Practical implications

Decision-makers need to prepare thoroughly for convincing others of the benefits of new ways of organizing clinical care. By providing meaningful opportunities for public involvement, by identifying and anticipating political agendas and by building alliances between stakeholders with divergent values and aims decision-makers may extend the realm of feasible solutions.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of why decision-making processes can be particularly challenging in a field characterized by rapid technological development, new treatment options and increasing demands for more rational distribution of services.
Fundamentals for automating due diligence processes in property transactions
Authors: Müller Philipp Maximilian , Päuser Philipp , Kurzrock Björn-Martin
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This research provides fundamentals for generating (partially) automated standardized due diligence reports. Based on original digital building documents from (institutional) investors, the potential for automated information extraction through machine learning algorithms is demonstrated. Preferred sources for key information of technical due diligence reports are presented. The paper concludes with challenges towards an automated information extraction in due diligence processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The comprehensive building documentation including n = 8,339 digital documents of 14 properties and 21 technical due diligence reports serve as a basis for identifying key information. To structure documents for due diligence, 410 document classes are derived and documents principally checked for machine readability. General rules are developed for prioritized document classes according to relevance and machine readability of documents.

Findings

The analysis reveals that a substantial part of all relevant digital building documents is poorly suited for automated information extraction. The availability and content of documents vary greatly from owner to owner and between document classes. The prioritization of document classes according to machine readability reveals potentials for using artificial intelligence in due diligence processes.

Practical implications

The paper includes recommendations for improving the machine readability of documents and indicates the potential for (partially) automating due diligence processes. Therefore, document classes are derived, reviewed and prioritized. Transaction risks can be countered by an automated check for completeness of relevant documents.

Originality/value

This paper is the first published (empirical) research to specifically assess the automated digital processing of due diligence reports. The findings are helpful for improving due diligence processes and, more generally, promoting the use of machine learning in the property sector.
Collapse comparison of offshore platforms before and after fire using plastic analysis and genetic algorithm
Authors: Pouria Mohammad Mehdi , Akbarpour Abbas , Ahmadi Hassan , Tavassoli Mohammad Reza , Saedi Daryan Amir
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Offshore structures are among the structures exposed to fire more often. Most of these structures are likely to be associated with flammable materials. In this research, some of the structures constructed on top of marine decks have been studied.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the upper-bound theory of plastic analysis has been used to investigate its collapse behavior. In this way, genetic algorithm has been used for application of the combination of elementary mechanisms in the classic plastic analysis problem.

Findings

The studied structures are optimized by plastic analysis theory before and after the fire and their failure modes are compared with each other. The comparison of the results indicates significant changes in the load factor value, as well as the critical collapse mode of the structure before and after the fire.

Originality/value

Results indicate that the combination of plastic analysis and a genetic algorithm can predict the collapse mode of the structure before and after the fire accurately.
SERVBID: the development of a B2C service brand identity scale
Authors: Pareek Vandana , Harrison Tina
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper re-conceptualizes and measures brand identity (BI) from a services perspective. This paper aims to develop and test a psychometrically valid and reliable scale to measure service brand identity (SERVBID).

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-stage research design was adopted drawing on qualitative and quantitative studies consistent with extant scale development procedures. Qualitative studies comprised a comprehensive literature review, expert panel review and interviews to develop a theoretical framework and generate items. Quantitative studies comprised pilot testing (n = 106), online survey for scale development (n = 246) and scale validation (n = 245) on UK-based consumers using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The study finds support for a five-dimensional SERVBID scale comprising: process identity; organization identity; symbolic identity; servicescape identity; and communication identity.

Practical implications

The SERVBID scale provides practitioners with a practical tool to understand, benchmark and assess SERVBID. The scale will assist marketers in assessing the strength of BI overall as well as the strength of individual facets of BI.

Originality/value

This study provides a deeper and complete understanding of the theoretical construct of BI through a service-dominant lens, in particular recognizing the defining role of the service process and servicescape in SERVBID construction.
The direct and spillover effects of liner shipping connectivity on merchandise trade
Authors: Lin Pei-Chun , Kuo Szu-Yu , Chang Jui-Hung
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to address the following questions: is good liner shipping connectivity a requisite for merchandise imports plus exports? What is the average of merchandise imports plus exports of the countries neighboring China? Do the merchandise imports plus exports of these countries correspond to each country’s own merchandise imports plus exports or liner shipping connectivity index (LSCI)?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors spatially analyze liner shipping connectivity and merchandise imports plus exports using 2016 data and a common framework for linear regression to establish the relationship amongst a country’s LSCI and its merchandise imports plus exports and between its merchandise imports plus exports and those of its neighbors. Merchandise imports plus exports of countries are not necessarily independent of each other, and countries that are contiguous may produce similar observations.

Findings

North America and Western Europe comprised clusters of countries that participated more actively in the international trading system, while Africa’s countries had less international trade than average. The study identifies and quantifies the geographical ripple of transport infrastructure on merchandise trade from a national perspective. Notably, a spatially lagged term improved the model’s ability to account for variations in merchandise imports plus exports across countries.

Originality/value

The spatial lag of merchandise imports plus exports can contribute to specifying the spread of merchandise imports plus exports beyond what the authors would anticipate from a country’s network of liner shipping.
The impact of collaborative decision-making on logistics service performance for container shipping services
Authors: Lai Po-Lin , Su Dong-Taur , Tai Hui-Huang , Yang Ching-Chiao
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The increasing demand for high-quality logistics services has forced container shipping firms to decrease logistics service failure to retain the customers. This study thus aims to apply organizational information processing theory (OIPT) to construct a maritime supply chain collaborative decision-making model and examine its impact on logistics service performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 142 usable questionnaires were collected from questionnaire survey. A two-step structural equation modeling approach including confirmatory factor analysis was subsequently performed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that internal information integration positively impacts external information integration, that external information integration positively impacts collaborative decision-making, and that collaborative decision-making positively impacts logistics service performance for container shipping firms. However, a relationship between internal information integration and collaborative decision-making was not found in this study.

Research limitations/implications

This study primarily examines collaborative decision-making from the view of container shipping firms. Future research including other supply chain members is needed to generalize the results and could also incorporate other factors such as relationship quality and culture, into the model to address this issue.

Practical implications

To decrease the occurrence of logistics failures and improve service quality in the maritime logistics process, it is suggested that container shipping firms apply information technology for acquiring and assimilating logistics information internally and externally across the supply chain to facilitate decision-making.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the knowledge about the antecedents and impacts of collaborative decision-making for container shipping firms in Taiwan. Particularly, in line with OITP, the findings indicate that container shipping firms can facilitate logistics decision-making and strategy formulation through information integration, which in turn enhances logistics service performance.
Fixed combination of tazarotene and betamethasone dipropionate for treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: The result of a phase 3, multicenter, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Hao , Sun Jianfang , Yang Haizhen , Sun Qiuning , Zhang Jianzhong , Gu Jun , Wen Hai , Li Ming , Liu Xiaoming , Yang Huilan , Lou Donghua
Published: April 2020

Long‐term use of corticosteroids or local use of tazarotene (TAZ) alone for the treatment of psoriasis cause safety issues and low compliance rates. Combining these two may optimize their efficacy and minimize safety concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a fixed combination of TAZ 0.05% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% (BM) for psoriasis vulgaris. A multicenter, randomized, single‐blinded, controlled phase 3 clinical trial was conducted. A total of 600 Chinese subjects with psoriasis vulgaris were randomized (3:1:1) to TAZ/BM cream, TAZ gel or BM cream groups for 6 weeks with an 8‐week follow up. The primary efficacy assessment end‐point was 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI‐75) at 6 weeks. Secondary outcome assessments included PASI‐90, percentage of PASI decrease and so forth. Safety and treatment‐related adverse events were monitored throughout the study. Our results demonstrated that the TAZ/BM group exhibited statistically significant superiority in PASI‐75 over TAZ (6.74% vs 1.67%) within 2 weeks. After 6 weeks of treatment, PASI‐75 was 44.94% in the TAZ/BM group while 19.17% and 35.00% in the TAZ and BM group, respectively. At the 8‐week follow up, the relapse rate of the TAZ/BM group was significantly lower than the BM group (10.62% vs 29.63%, P = 0.0269) though comparable with the TAZ group (10.00%). The most frequently reported treatment‐related adverse event was mild to moderate level of skin irritation events. TAZ/BM combination has significant advantages over TAZ, including satisfying efficacy, rapid onset and reduced local stimulation. Meanwhile, compared with BM, it has the advantages of longer relief time and reduced clinical relapse rate. The TAZ/BM combination drug provides psoriatic patients an alternative drug with high efficacy and low relapse rate and safety concerns.
More ethical, more innovative? The effects of ethical culture and ethical leadership on realized innovation
Authors: Van der Wal Zeger , Demircioglu Mehmet Akif
Published: April 2020

Are ethical public organisations more likely to realize innovation? The public administration literature is ambiguous about this relationship, with evidence being largely anecdotal and focused mainly on the ethical implications of business‐like behaviour and positive deviance, rather than how ethical behaviour and culture may contribute to innovation. In this paper we examine the effects of ethical culture and ethical leadership on reported realized innovation, using 2017 survey data from the Australia Public Service Commission (n = 80,316). Our findings show that both ethical culture at the working group‐level and agency‐level as well as ethical leadership have significant positive associations with realized innovation in working groups. The findings are robust across agency, work location, job level, tenure, education, and gender and across different samples. We conclude our paper with theoretical and practical implications of our research findings.
Fentanyl Detection Using Eosin Y Paper Assays,
Authors: Canfield Jeremy R. , Agarwal Sandip , Fortener Samuel K. , Sprague Jon E.
Published: April 2020

Eosin Y is a potential new color test for use in detecting illicit drugs that has not been extensively studied. In the present study, a variety of drugs of abuse and fentanyl analogues were tested to determine which drugs will bind to eosin Y, which functional groups are capable of binding and eliciting a color change, and a mechanism for eosin Y binding to fentanyl. Further, these agents were combined with common cutting agents and other drugs of abuse in order to determine the fentanyl detection limit in a drug mixture using an eosin Y test strip. Additionally, cobalt thiocyanate was used to determine whether the combination of cobalt thiocyanate and eosin Y has the potential to identify fentanyl. Through the testing performed, we concluded that (i) Eosin Y is capable of detecting low amounts of fentanyl down to 1%, (ii) Eosin Y binds to select tertiary amines to produce an orange to pink color change, and (iii) Eosin Y binds to the nonpiperidine ring nitrogen of fentanyl as a primary binding site and the piperidine ring nitrogen as a secondary binding site. While the cobalt thiocyanate assay detected 1% fentanyl in some of the mixtures, eosin Y detected 1% fentanyl in all mixtures. Finally, eosin Y was able to detect fentanyl in forensic case samples containing heroin and various cutting agents. Based on our results, eosin Y has the potential to screen for fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and can detect fentanyl in low amounts when mixed with common cutting agents.
Utility of Postmortem Vitreous Beta‐Hydroxybutyrate Testing for Distinguishing Sudden from Prolonged Deaths and for Diagnosing Ketoacidosis
Authors: Klaric Kristina‐Ana , Milroy Christopher M. , Parai Jacqueline L.
Published: April 2020

A retrospective, cross‐sectional analysis of vitreous beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on 967 forensic cases over a two‐year period was conducted. Cases were sorted into six categories of death: (i) sudden traumatic/non‐natural (ST), (ii) sudden natural (SN), (iii) prolonged traumatic/non‐natural (PT), (iv) prolonged natural (PN), (v) diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and (vi) alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA). The mean BHB for all cases was 1.67 mmol/L (17.4 mg/dL; range: 0.11–18.02 mmol/L). The numbers of DKA, AKA, PN, PT, SN, and ST deaths were 21, 5, 155, 258, 275, and 253, respectively. Their mean vitreous BHBs were as follows: 11.04 mmol/L (DKA), 8.88 mmol/L (AKA), 1.56 mmol/L (PN), 1.55 mmol/L (PT), 1.26 mmol/L (SN), and 1.38 mmol/L (ST). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean BHBs of the PN and SN death groups (p < 0.001), as well as between those of the PT and ST death groups (p = 0.004). Given the overlapping ranges seen between the prolonged and sudden death groups, the identified differences did not hold clinical significance. In addition, we sought to determine a threshold value for vitreous BHB to definitely diagnose cases of ketoacidosis. BHB threshold concentrations between 2.5 and 5 mmol/L produced sensitivities >92% and specificities >96%. A receiver operator characteristic curve found 3.43 mmol/L to be the optimal cutoff value, demonstrating a specificity of 98.3% and a sensitivity of 96.2%.
Children and adolescents with severe acute behavioural disturbance in the emergency department
Authors: Carison Anna , Babl Franz E , Hill Ashley , O'Donnell Sinead M
Published: April 2020

Objective

Mental health (MH) presentations to ED are increasing in children and adolescents. Little is known about patients with severe acute behavioural disturbance (ABD). We set out to describe patients with ABD severe enough to trigger an acute crisis team response in ED (termed ‘Code Grey’) and how they differ from other MH patients.

Methods

Retrospective electronic medical record review of all ED patients with MH discharge codes at a tertiary children's hospital. We assessed the epidemiology and management of patients who triggered acute crisis team interventions (Code Grey) as proxy for severe ABD. We calculated the odds ratios (ORs with 95% confidence intervals) of key demographic factors compared to other MH patients.

Results

During 2018, there were 85 347 ED presentations of which 1695 (2.0%) were related to MH diagnoses; 84 MH patients had 141 MH presentations triggering 204 Code Greys (26 patients triggered 59% of Code Greys). These patients had higher triage acuity (OR 12.6 [8.3–19.0]), stayed longer in ED (>12 h OR 8.2 [5.1–13.1]) and were more likely to be admitted (OR 2.0 [1.4–3.0]) compared with non‐Code Grey MH presentations. Patients were physically (19.2%), mechanically (31.9%) or chemically restrained (37.6%). Eight different medication approaches were used as either a single agent or a combination of oral and/or intramuscular agents.

Conclusions

Children and adolescents with severe ABD differ from other MH presentations and often require physical or chemical restraint. Anticipatory management plans may be valuable for repeat presenters.