bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The development of a free and user-friendly health education website targeting Egyptians with cardiovascular diseases
Authors: El-Khatib Mohamed , Eltayyeb Mahmoud , Mohamed Nevin , Mostafa Saber
Published: September 2023

Background

Health care provider’s patient education promotes patients’ comprehension and adherence to medical instructions, hence improving patient health. Various obstacles exist in providing successful patient education to patients with multiple chronic diseases, such as providing the appropriate time, variety, and types of learning materials, as well as assessing the level of comprehension. To assist in overcoming these obstacles, it is essential to investigate new electronic tools for patient education, such as mobile devices, interactive media, and multimedia educational content in healthcare facilities.

Aim

Determine the steps that need to be taken to develop a user-friendly, cost-free website for health education.

Process and Steps

Create a specialized team to manage the process of creating educational resources and a website; in MYF, the team comprised of nurses who moderate the website, create the leaflets and films, and an external supporter who edited and directed the videos.

Choose the appropriate website and design templates. The MYF nurses use (Google Site), which is a free, easy-to-use website design tool, and for leaflets, the team uses (Ai illustrator), which is an easy-to-use software application for writing, sketching, and adding attractive images.

Identify the patient education needs based on patient-centeredness and the most prevalent cardiac diseases, procedures, and preventative measures via the educational council.

The offered leaflets are written in Arabic and English. The videos presented have Arabic voiceovers and subtitles. Using the most up-to-date evidence-based resources, identify the appropriate evidence-based resources. Determine the appropriate presenting techniques using electronic leaflets and educational videos. Materials design, including leaflet and video design, script, and voiceover development.

Revision of instructional materials through the educational council. Following admission to the hospital, the nurses in charge conduct a health awareness session about the health education website and provide the link/QR code for accessing the website after discharge.

Challenges

Patients have barriers to using the free website due to economic circumstances and tocology illiteracy, such as a lack of access to a cellphone or internet, or an inability to utilise the associated technology. Additionally, MYF provide printed materials or invent other family members who can access the website for.

Conclusion

Clinicians can reduce patient apprehension and confusion and enhance the related knowledge by directing them to credible, up-to-date, and comprehensible sources of knowledge provided on a user-friendly health education website on a variety of internet platforms is regarded as a valuable cost-effective and expense-reduction strategy.

Recommendation

Health care facilities should develop free and user-friendly educational websites which will enhance patient knowledge and awareness.
Utility of residual SYNTAX score to predict clinical outcome after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Samir Ahmad , Elshinawi Mai , Yehia Hesham , Mahjouri Mohamed , Elhafy Mohamed , Shehata Ahmed , Zarif Bassem , Farrag Azza
Published: September 2023

Aims

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a huge health burden and a growing economical challenge, particularly with recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Large attention is critically mandated to identify population at higher risk for recurrent MACE to maximize secondary preventive measures. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of residual SYNTAX Score (RSS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to the culprit vessel(s) in patients with AMI (STEMI or NSTEMI) to predict 6-months clinical outcomes.

Methods and results

A total of 492 eligible AMI patients were recruited through a period of 12 months. The RSS was systematically calculated after the PCI procedures. Median RSS was 4 (minimum 0–maximum 47.5). RSS showed excellent association to mid-term clinical outcomes. At cut-off value of RSS 3 had robust prediction for subsequent heart failure (HF), recurrent AMI, unplanned revascularization and the composite of MACE (P < 0.001). A significantly higher RSS was found in those who developed heart failure through the 6-months follow up period compared to those who did not (10 vs. 3, P < 0.001). Similar significant difference was found for recurrent ACS (11.5 vs. 3, P < 0.001), unplanned revascularization (15 vs. 3, P < 0.001) and occurrence of MACE (12 vs. 3, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

RSS is a sensitive predictor for 6-months adverse clinical outcomes after AMI. Calculating RSS at the end of PCI can guide intensification of secondary preventive measures. Ability of RSS- tailored management to impact clinical outcomes in high-risk patients is to be evaluated.Improvement, with subsequent amelioration of LV diastolic function. The Dapa group had a significantly greater improvement in LVEF at four months and six months compared to the Empa group. While the Empa group showed a significant improvement in HbA1C at six months compared to the Dapa group.

Additional Content

An author video to accompany this abstract is available on https://academic.oup.com/eurheartjsupp. Please click on the arrow next to ‘More Content’ and then click on ‘Author videos’.
Deferred Stenting for Side Branch in STEMI Patients Presented by Bifurcation Culprit Lesion
Authors: Tantawy Mahmoud , Hussien Sherif , Mosaad Sameh
Published: September 2023

Background

True bifurcation lesions are challenging in some special populations like patients with heavily calcified vessels, unprotected left main, and thrombus-containing lesions. Multiple inflations are known to increase the incidence of no-reflow/slow-flow (NR/SL) during primary PCI. The ideal bifurcation stenting strategy during primary PCI is still obscure. Some studies have shown some benefits for deferred stenting in primary PCI but still this area needs more evidence.

In our study, we compared deferred stenting for the side branch during primary PCI versus the complete bifurcation stenting strategy during primary PCI.

Methods

This is prospective observational study included patients who presented with STEMI due to true bifurcation culprit lesion amenable for two stents technique. Group one included patients with provisional stenting and deferred side branch stenting before hospital discharge. Group two included patients with complete two stents bifurcation technique during primary PCI. The technique used was according to operator discretion while patients with immediate indications for two stents strategy during the primary setting were excluded from our study.

The primary outcome was MACE till hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included angiographic outcomes by the end of the bifurcation technique.

Results

A total of 60 patients met our inclusion criteria, mean age (58.69±9.61), 31.2% women. Twenty-six patients received deferred stenting for side branch, and 34 received complete two stents bifurcation strategy at the primary PCI setting. MACE to hospital discharge was lower in the deferred stenting group without significant difference (21.62% vs 23.64%, P>0.01] compared with the two-stenting approach during primary PCI.

Group I (deferred stenting) had significantly superior angiographic outcomes than group II. As regards TIMI II-III flow, 86.2% of patients achieved it in both main vessel and side branch versus 51.1% in group II, CTFC was 8.1 versus 9.6, and in group I, 78% of patients achieved TMPG II-III, compared to 56.7% in group II.

Conclusion

Deferred stenting for side branch in primary PCI achieved superior angiographic outcomes in the treatment of true bifurcation lesions. However, there was no significant difference in MACE between both strategies.
Patients’ perspective of quality-of-care and its correlation to quality-of-life following spontaneous coronary artery dissection
Authors: Dang Quan , Murphy Barbara , Graham Robert M , Puri Aniket , Ford Sarah , Marschner Simone , Chong James J H , Zaman Sarah
Published: September 2023

Aims

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an under-recognized cause of myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate SCAD survivors’ perceptions of their quality-of-care and its relationship to quality-of-life.

Methods and results

An anonymous survey was distributed online to SCAD survivors involved in Australian SCAD support groups, with 172 (95.3% female, mean age 52.6 ± 9.2 years) participants in the study. The survey involved assessment of quality-of-life using a standardized questionnaire (EQ-5DTM-3L). Respondents rated the quality-of-care received during their hospital admission for SCAD with a median of 8/10 [interquartile range (IQR) 7–10]. Respondents ≤ 50 years vs. >50 years were more likely to perceive that their symptoms were not treated seriously as a myocardial infarction (χ2 = 4.127, df = 1, P < 0.05). Participants rated clinician’s knowledge of SCAD with a median of 4/10 (IQR 2–8) and 7/10 (IQR 3–9) for Emergency and Cardiology clinicians, respectively (P < 0.05). The internet was the most selected source (45.4%) of useful SCAD information. The mean EQ-5DTM summary index was 0.79 (population norm 0.87). A total of 47.2% of respondents reported a mental health condition diagnosis, with 36% of these diagnosed after their admission with SCAD. Quality-of-life was significantly associated with perceived quality-of-care: EQ-5DTM index/(1-EQ-5DTM index) increased by 13% for each unit increase in quality-of-care after adjusting for age and comorbidities (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

While SCAD survivors rated their overall hospital care highly, healthcare providers’ knowledge of SCAD was perceived to be poor, and the most common source of SCAD information was the internet. Mental health conditions were common, and a significant association was observed between perceived quality-of-care and SCAD survivors’ quality-of-life.
Naringin, neohesperidin and their corresponding dihydrochalcones as bioactive substances: a symphony of bitter–sweet
Authors: Wang Ruoqi , You Wenwen , Lin Heng , Cao Yunlin , Xu Changjie , Chen Kunsong , Liu Yilong , Li Xian
Published: September 2023

Bitter is generally undesirable, although it is an important part of flavor. Bitter substances exhibit diverse health-promoting activities, which is in line with the famous Chinese saying ‘a good medicine tastes bitter’. Naringin (NAG) and neohesperidin (NHP), two important flavanones that give bitterness to citrus fruits, show various pharmacological activities. Interestingly, their hydrogenation products, i.e. naringin dihydrochalcone (NDC) and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC), undergo a dramatic taste shift from bitter to intensely sweet, which can be 300 and 1000 times sweeter than sucrose, respectively. Such sweeteners not only provide a sweet taste without the burden of increased calorie intake and glycemia, but also may exert multiple bioactivities. This review summarizes common dietary bitter and sweet compounds with sensory scores. Taste conversions induced by structural changes from bitter NAG and NHP to sweet NDC and NHDC are particularly discussed. In addition, the taste-sensing mechanisms, pharmacological characteristics, dietary distribution, synthesis, and food industry applications of these bitter–sweet interchangeable compounds are outlined. In conclusion, the bitter NAG and NHP are promising therapeutic candidates for management of diverse etiologically complex diseases while their corresponding dihydrochalcones NDC and NHDC are promising sweeteners, which might be a blessing for those who need to control sugar intake.
Hedgehog signaling guides migration of primordial germ cells to the Drosophila somatic gonad
Authors: Deshpande Girish , Ng Chris , Jourjine Nicholas , Chiew Joy Wan , Dasilva Juliana , Schedl Paul
Published: September 2023

In addition to inducing nonautonomous specification of cell fate in both Drosophila and vertebrates, the Hedgehog pathway guides cell migration in a variety of different tissues. Although its role in axon guidance in the vertebrate nervous system is widely recognized, its role in guiding the migratory path of primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the outside surface of the Drosophila embryo through the midgut and mesoderm to the SGPs (somatic gonadal precursors) has been controversial. Here we present new experiments demonstrating (1) that Hh produced by mesodermal cells guides PGC migration, (2) that HMG CoenzymeA reductase (Hmgcr) potentiates guidance signals emanating from the SGPs, functioning upstream of hh and of 2 Hh pathway genes important for Hh-containing cytonemes, and (3) that factors required in Hh receiving cells in other contexts function in PGCs to help direct migration toward the SGPs. We also compare the data reported by 4 different laboratories that have studied the role of the Hh pathway in guiding PGC migration.
Strategic Decision-Making in Organizations
Authors: Mackay Dave , Arevuo Mikko , Meadows Maureen
Published: September 2023

This chapter focusses on strategic decision-making. Firstly, the chapter
establishes what a strategic decision is, and how these are different to ‘routine’
decisions. The chapter then moves on analyse the differences between rational and
cognitive approaches to decision-making, comparing how decisions should be made with
how they are made in practice. The work of D. Kahneman is referenced, specifically
the notion of ‘system one’ and ‘system two’ thinking, before the chapter moves into
an analysis of bias in decision making. The chapter concludes with a discussion on
collective decision-making. There is an emphasis throughout on tools and techniques
that managers can use to improve the quality of their decision-making.
Innovation, Disruption, and Digitalization
Authors: Mackay Dave , Arevuo Mikko , Meadows Maureen
Published: September 2023

This chapter talks about innovation, which is the successful exploitation of new
ideas, and refers to the process and outcomes of how new ideas are realized in
practice. It considers how innovation might feature in organizational strategy. The
strategic intent of innovation activity may be to improve operating efficiency, find
new sources of value creation for stakeholders, or both. The chapter explains that
innovation within an industry changes the competitive landscape for rivals,
customers, and suppliers. The chapter outlines the different types of innovation
that can happen in an organization, such as technological innovation, organizational
innovation, open innovation, platform innovation or strategic innovation. It also
considers disruption: an event or trend which unsettles stable competitive or
operating conditions. Disruptive innovation might arise from the activities of
start-ups, existing firms, or new players entering a market from adjacent
industries.” Innovation provides a means for organizations to cope with the
‘creative destruction’ of the cumulative effects of innovation occurring in its
context, and to find new ways to increase the performance of its resource base.
Introducing organizational behaviour
Authors: King Daniel , Lawley Scott
Published: September 2023

This chapter presents an overview of organizational behaviour. Organizational behaviour is fundamentally interested in people: how they are managed, motivated, and shaped by the world around them, and how they behave. To study organizational behaviour, therefore, is to study how and why things happen in workplaces and organizations. The chapter introduces the case study of the fictional Junction Hotel, which provides a more rounded picture of organizational life rather than just looking at organizational behaviour from the manager's viewpoint. It then identifies key underlying principles in examining issues of organizational behaviour: psychology, social psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science. Finally, the chapter considers the importance of critical thinking and multiple perspectives in understanding organizational behaviour.
Organizational structure, design, and bureaucracy
Authors: King Daniel , Lawley Scott
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses organizational structure, design, and bureaucracy. It begins by examining how bureaucracy helps to control and coordinate an organization as it grows, with management moving from direct, face-to-face control to impersonal control at a distance. The chapter then looks at some of the features of bureaucracy: structure and hierarchy; rules, policies, and procedures; and paperwork and record-keeping. It evaluates bureaucracy, comparing its advantages in controlling large-scale organizations on a large, even global, scale with Max Weber's critique of the negative effects of bureaucracy on people and on society. Finally, the chapter considers post-bureaucracy, as well as bureaucratic control and coordination in digitized organizations.
Discovering the social organization
Authors: King Daniel , Lawley Scott
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks at the Hawthorne studies, one of the most influential pieces of research in organizational behaviour. It begins by recounting the perspective that the Hawthorne studies grew out of Taylorist assumptions about the importance of the physical conditions of work and the emergence of interest in the informal side of the organization. The chapter then challenges this typical account, arguing that it is not all it appears. While Elton Mayo and his colleagues stated that they ‘discovered’ the social side of the organization and that workers are naturally cooperative, several critics have argued that the way Mayo interpreted his data was highly ideological, claiming that the research methodology and interpretation of findings were flawed. Moreover, they argue that the results of the Hawthorne studies have been used by management as a better way of controlling workers, rather than empowering the workers as Mayo and his colleagues claimed.
Perception and communication
Authors: King Daniel , Lawley Scott
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins by introducing perception as the way in which people interpret and make sense of the world around them. It shows how people develop mindsets and how these can develop into stereotypes. The chapter then examines theories of communication in organizations—the ways in which information and meaning are transferred between people. Communication is an important managerial activity, but one which is prone to miscommunication. Finally, the chapter discusses how technology, such as videoconferencing and email, facilitates communication. While technology can make communication more efficient, these communications media do not always convey the rich meaning and sense of human interaction that comes from face-to-face communication. This can leave communication through technology open to more instances of miscommunication, where a message can be perceived differently from its original intention.
Managing Employee Relations
Authors: Banfield Paul , Kay Rebecca , Royles Dean
Published: September 2023

This chapter examines the management of employee relations. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining good relations with employees, which can be achieved through involvement, engagement, and effective communication and consultation. It considers the importance of the psychological contract at work and how to manage this to support organizational objectives. The chapter also evaluates the contemporary role of trade unions and discusses how to manage effective union relationships through partnership. It also presents the difference between consultation and collective bargaining, and explains how to avoid disruption due to collective disputes. Lastly, it encourages the application of key theoretical and conceptual contributions to the analysis of individual and collective behaviour.
Global business environment:
Authors: Frynas Jędrzej George , Mellahi Kamel
Published: September 2023

This chapter studies the external macro environment. It explains the significance of the external business environment for the strategies of multinational firms. It presents the influence of the political, social, economic, and technological business environment on global and international strategy. It also introduces PEST analysis, a broad framework to help managers understand the macro environment: political, economic, social, and technological. In addition, it also presents the CAGE framework, which considers four dimensions that can explain differences (or distance) between two countries: cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic. Finally, the application of Michael Porter's Diamond Model, which assumes that the national home base of a firm plays a key role in shaping that firm's competitive advantage in global markets is discussed.
Global management of innovation and knowledge
Authors: Bakhru Anjali
Published: September 2023

This chapter examines the management of innovation and knowledge. It begins with a look at different types of innovation and at how the innovation process itself has changed. It shows that changes in technology and demand have created new opportunities and have required new approaches to innovation. Innovation is increasingly important for gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage and, hence, the role of capabilities and knowledge is inextricably linked to any discussion of innovation, as is the key issue of value capture. The chapter further explores the concept of innovation within a global context, especially within the context of global R&D networks. In particular, it demonstrates how innovation at the global level requires an understanding of how knowledge is both developed and transferred across international centres.
Organizational culture
Authors: Hatch Mary Jo
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins with definitions of organization theory that come from cultural anthropology. It then applies them to culture at the societal level and focuses on organizational culture. The chapter reflects issues that provoke debate on cultural sharing, subcultures, levels of analysis, and culture clashes. It also provides a brief history of the tensions that arose between modern and symbolic organization theorists, covering the main theories produced by each side in what the chapter terms, ‘a war of ideas’. The chapter analyzes theories that address questions of culture change which are important to practitioners. It explores the split within symbolic culture theory that occurred over the concept of institutional logics and neo-institutional preferences for theorizing at the level of institutional fields.
Managing the Service Encounter
Authors: Jones Peter , Robinson Peter
Published: September 2023

This chapter explains the concept of service encounter which is the period of time the customer and the service organization interact. It shares how to manage service encounters with customers. Next, the chapter explores queueing theory alongside the psychology of waiting lines. It lists the reasons for service failures such as untrained employees, technological breakdown and first-time customers, and alternative ways to recover from failure. The chapter then includes the concept of prosumption and the roles of customers amidst service operations. Moreover, it cites how to manage online service encounters such as managing traffic and converting visitors into paying customers.
Does business have too much power?
Authors: Wetherly Paul
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks into the issue of businesses having too much power. It defines various aspects of power before differentiating political power against corporate power. Next, the chapter explores shareholder relationships under the play of power concept. It also argues that bargaining power depends largely on the number of buyers and sellers. The chapter references consumer sovereignty and industrial relations to highlight this point. The chapter then outlines various methods used by businesses to influence government decisions. It discusses the political process as a play of interests and power involving interactions of business, government, labour, and civil society organizations. Additionally, the chapter presents case studies to look into the political influence of business.
Creating effective trading blocs: what lessons does the European Union provide?
Authors: Koutsoukos Stratis , Otter Dorron
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the issue of creating effective trading blocs in line with the European Union. It looks into the advantages and disadvantages of the different levels of economic and political integration at the regional level. The chapter explores various forms of integration and trade in theory. It highlights the role of the World Trade Organization in creating trading blocs in relation to the European Union's institutional and policymaking framework. Next, the chapter differentiates the forms of economic integration relevant to the European Union's development and issues arising from successive enlargements. It also includes a study on the performance of the euro on the global stage.
Conclusion: Looking ahead—managing in a dynamic environment
Authors: Otter Dorron , Wetherly Paul
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks into future trends in the business environment. It discusses challenges for the future global political and economic environments while referencing global and national economic governance, global climate change, global inequality, and political instability. Additionally, the chapter forecasts some social environment trends like migration, social inequality and relative affluence. It includes the predicted trends in the technological environment and global political environment as well. The chapter then explores how analysing underlying political, economic, social, and technological factors could help navigate through the dynamic nature of business environments. Finally, it highlights the complexity of business environments.
The Symbolic Meaning of Brands
Authors: Rosenbaum-Elliott Richard , Percy Larry , Pervan Simon
Published: September 2023

This chapter considers how in postmodernity, brands can become symbolic resources for the construction, communication, and maintenance of identity. It presents a variety of ways brands can acquire symbolic meaning. It shows how advertising can be a potent source of meaning, particularly through narrative and the construction of socially shared meanings. The chapter demonstrates that the symbolic consumption of brands can help establish and communicate some basic cultural categories, such as social status, gender, and age. Brands can acquire deep meaning through the socialization process and such brands can restore a sense of security. Mass-market brands can acquire individual meanings through ritual and personal interpretations of meaning.
Brand Equity
Authors: Rosenbaum-Elliott Richard , Percy Larry , Pervan Simon
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the idea of brand equity. It starts by analysing how a name has the ability to provide value beyond the objective characteristics of an object. It demonstrates that there are many definitions of brand equity, all of which address this notion of ‘added value’, some in terms of financial considerations, but most from a consumer’s perspective. The chapter theorizes that these consumer-oriented definitions all seem to have in common the idea that brand equity is the result of positive experience with a brand. Many aspects of brands and their links to brand equity are introduced, illustrating the centrality of brand equity to effective strategic brand management, along with the idea of companies and corporations as ‘brands’.
Brand Communication
Authors: Rosenbaum-Elliott Richard , Percy Larry , Pervan Simon
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks at brand communication, emphasizing the importance of understanding involvement and motivation to the development of an effective brand message. It addresses how a brand should be positioned and explores how to develop an effective positioning for a brand within marketing communication. The chapter then surveys the strategies needed in executing effective marketing communication, specifically advertising. The roles of brand awareness and brand attitude strategies, and how they must reflect how consumers go about making product and brand decisions in the category are all discussed. Finally, the chapter looks at options for delivering the brand's message, with a particular emphasis on digital media.
Brand Strategies 2—Low-Involvement Brands
Authors: Rosenbaum-Elliott Richard , Percy Larry , Pervan Simon
Published: September 2023

This chapter surveys brand strategies for low-involvement brands. It illustrates the vital importance of top-of-mind awareness and brand salience to a functional brand. A range of ways in which brand associations can be built up through pre-conscious and minimal cognitive processes using all elements of communication is presented. The chapter also considers behavioural processes to increase penetration and/or frequency of purchase, and then discusses ways of managing consumer perceptions. It ends with a discussion on how choice situation can be managed. It also looks at approaches to building brand loyalty.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Hamilton Leslie , Webster Philip
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks at the firms’ economic, social, and environmental obligations which come under the term ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR). It highlights the idea that firms’ alleged only obligation is to maximize profit in line with CSR. The chapter explains how the international business environment is also battling cultural imperialism alongside different economic and legal contexts. It highlights concerns about child labour and corruption. Then, the chapter looks at the standard company guide provided by Global Compact. It includes a discussion on the UN’s efforts to alleviate poverty called Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.
The Technological Framework
Authors: Hamilton Leslie , Webster Philip
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the impact of technology on businesses. It traces the history of industrial capitalism and notes the disruptive waves of technological innovation through the years. The chapter highlights how the internet, research and development (R&D), and information and communications technology (ICT) have become increasingly significant in the business world. It notes the importance of the intensity of competition, the customer relationship, suppliers, and government policies as reasons for businesses to invest in R&D and innovation. Moreover, it looks at the reasons, risks, and methods associated with protecting technology in the business industry. The chapter also examines how a competitive advantage in terms of productivity, costs, and products will impact new ideas and innovations.
The Legal Environment
Authors: Hamilton Leslie , Webster Philip
Published: September 2023

This chapter explains the impact of the legal environment on businesses. It explains how the legal environment can influence the whole process of production and sales in terms of production techniques, product characteristics, packaging and labels, contents, placement of advertising, sales promotions, and worker treatment. Moreover, the chapter notes the systems and sources of law that firms will be likely to encounter. It highlights the important aspects of the law for businesses like contract law, tort law, criminal law, and international law while emphasizing the importance of the protection of intellectual property rights. The chapter looks at the EU’s laws, which all of its member states are bound to follow. Additionally, it considers the Single Market Programme which ensures the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital across EU countries. The chapter also warns against the massive growth of cybercrime driven by the recent trend of e-commerce.
The Ecological Environment
Authors: Hamilton Leslie , Webster Philip
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on ecological impacts on businesses. It highlights the need for concerted action on a global level, which can then be translated into national and local environmental action. The chapter points out that firms have large roles to play in the environment as they convert resources into products. It notes a growing interest in being sustainable and discusses the global impact of climate change. The chapter looks at the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 to show how they have established a comprehensive set of principles that the UN Global Compact translated into prescriptions for responsible business behaviour. The chapter notes that businesses have to balance the risk of incurring costs for environmental compliance and the risk of doing nothing in relation to climate change. It suggests that if businesses do not redouble their efforts to reduce their ecological impact, there will be calls for tougher environmental regulation.
What is economics?
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces fundamental issues in economics. These issues focus on the ideas of scarcity and choice. At any moment, there are limited resources available in an economy and so choices have to be made about how to use them most efficiently. The chapter considers how these choices might be made, as well as introducing a number of key economic concepts. It examines the fundamental economic problems and the different ways in which these problems may be solved.
The elasticity of demand
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: September 2023

This chapter considers the extent to which changes in a number of variables can affect demand. It explores demand in more detail before going on to supply and the interaction of supply and demand. It explains the concept of elasticity of demand. The chapter also considers the meaning of price, income, and cross-price elasticity of demand. Finally, it tackles the significance of the concept of elasticity for a firm's planning as well as its limitations.
Perfect competition
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the features of a perfectly competitive market, and the consequences of this form of market structure in terms of price, output, and efficiency. Perfect competition may or may not exist in reality as a market structure, but it provides a benchmark against which to judge other forms of market. The chapter highlights the benefits of competition, and this may well influence government policy regarding helping start-up firms and limiting the power of firms to dominate an industry. The chapter demonstrates how to analyse the price and output decisions in the short run and the long run in a perfectly competitive market. Finally, it explains why the supply curve is the marginal cost curve in perfectly competitive markets.
Oligopoly
Authors: Gillespie Andrew
Published: September 2023

This chapter examines oligopoly, another type of market structure which has elements of monopoly power. The oligopoly also involves some degree of competition. An oligopoly is a relatively common form of market structure, and therefore an important one to study and understand. In particular, governments are interested in the impact of an oligopoly on prices and output. The chapter expounds on the significance of interdependence in an oligopoly. It distinguishes the different models of behaviour in an oligopoly. It also introduces the concept of a cartel. Lastly, the meaning and significance of game theory is discussed.
Corporate Governance: A Frontier Subject
Authors: Tricker Bob
Published: September 2023

This chapter acknowledges that all corporate entities need governing and recounts how corporate governance has evolved. It discusses the significance of the invention of the limited-liability company and cultural components of corporate governance, including recent developments and current frontiers of the subject. It also explains that corporate governance is about the way power is exercised over corporate entities. The chapter details how corporate governance covers the activities of the board and its relationships with those managing the enterprise, shareholders or members, and external auditors, regulators, and other legitimate stakeholders. It distinguishes corporate governance from management, noting that executive management is responsible for running the enterprise, but the governing body ensures that it is running in the right direction.
Writing Essentials: Preparation, Layout, and Structure
Authors: Gallagher Kevin
Published: September 2023

This chapter describes the writing skills relevant to business and management students. It begins with a practitioner’s ‘insider’ view and then looks to apply this to the context of writing assignments. The chapter then looks at the essentials of correctly interpreting the assignment question and then setting about answering it in a manner that is powerful, direct, and convincing in academic terms, supported with appropriate references and examples. It highlights the importance of ensuring that the student keeps thinking about who they are writing for and the purpose of their writing. The chapter also considers various writing formats used for academic purposes, such as essays and short and long reports.
Measurement and Management: Quantitative Data and Its Presentation
Authors: Gallagher Kevin
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins by studying the terms ‘information’ and ‘data’. It then outlines some basic differences between data which a student collects on their own (primary data) and data that the student accesses which someone else has already compiled (secondary data). The chapter also highlights the comparative advantages of information which is essentially number-based (quantitative data) and information which is essentially word-based (qualitative data). Managers need information and data to make informed decisions; much of this is based on quantitative data. To collect and analyse quantitative data requires a certain level of numeracy. The chapter looks at various types of charts and tables to present quantitative information, including scatter diagrams.
Well-Being: Looking After Yourself and Others
Authors: Gallagher Kevin
Published: September 2023

The chapter begins with a discussion of stress and its effects upon mind and body, and establishing them as a natural human reaction. The chapter continues with advice on resilience and how to cope with stressful situations. It then turns to the ‘Five Ways to Well-being’ model, thus providing more strategies for you to consider for your own well-being and that of others, including connecting with others and overcoming shyness.
Fundamentals of Marketing
Authors: Baines Paul , Whitehouse Sophie , Antonetti Paolo , Rosengren Sara
Published: September 2023

Fundamentals of Marketing introduces the most essential theories in marketing using a global range of case studies. Its first part focuses on customers and includes an examination of the principles of marketing, customer behaviour, and marketing research and customer insight. The second part is about designing and delivering a marketing strategy. It looks at the marketing environment and strategy, market segmentation, and market positioning. The third part is about implementing the marketing mix. It covers proposition and branding decisions, pricing and value creation, marketing communication, managing channels and distribution, and digital and social media marketing. The final part is about managing the marketing relationship and covers customer experience management and the relationship between marketing and ethics and sustainability.
Marketing Environment and Strategy
Authors: Baines Paul , Whitehouse Sophie , Antonetti Paolo , Rosengren Sara
Published: September 2023

This chapter considers how companies keep up with the many changes that occur in politics, markets, and economics. It explores the processes they use to try to anticipate changes in technologies and set their competitive positions and strategic marketing objectives. The external environment, for example, comprises political, social, and technological factors, and organizations often have very limited, if any, control of these. The performance environment consists of competitors, suppliers, and indirect service providers, who shape the way and extent to which organizations achieve their objectives. Here, organizations have a much stronger level of influence. The internal environment concerns the resources, processes, and policies with which an organization achieves its goals—factors which it can influence directly. The chapter also discusses how companies assess their competitive positions using strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis, and how they set their intended strategic goals and actions and write associated marketing plans.
Responsible leadership for a sustainable world
Authors: Iszatt-White Marian , Saunders Christopher
Published: September 2023

This chapter presents some of the responsibilities expected of leaders today and in the future. It focuses on the wider responsibilities of a leader, which have evolved from the traditional belief that leaders are just responsible for their company profits to a more nuanced understanding of responsibility. The chapter highlights a responsible approach to leading organizations (honeybee leadership). It explores the areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and sustainable development in the context of responsible leadership. The capabilities required by leaders to be able to address these complex and critical issues are also discussed.
Charisma and transformational leadership
Authors: Roe Kevin
Published: September 2023

This chapter evaluates charismatic leadership and transformational leadership, which are both subjects that have attracted a degree of attention recently. Most of the empirical research supports ‘the notion that transformational leadership has a favourable influence upon followers’ performance’. Indeed, there is a powerful anecdotal pull towards this notion of a heroic leader, with many historical examples available to support the idea of a singular person striding through the haze to lead a bedraggled and confused group towards safety. Hollywood and popular fiction also support this idealized image; however, there are some concerns that need to be considered. This heroic leadership focuses too much on the leader and how the leader manipulates followers towards a goal. Tied to this is the view that such a model is elitist, with the transformational leader creating change and directing effort regardless of the needs of the followers.
Authentic leadership
Authors: Roe Kevin
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on authentic leadership, which has been seen as the ‘magic bullet’ to solve the systemic issues in the socio-economic systems surrounding the lives of most individuals, organizations, and governments. Its simple message of ‘being yourself’ appears to be relatively easy to grasp and moves away from trait-based or charismatic models. It can be applied in different contexts and situations too, negating the need to consider a host of different elements and demands. It is also attractive, in that the model prescribes a set of behaviours for leaders. The link between the authentic ‘self’, the authentic leader, and authentic leadership has been made clear with the building blocks based around the need for the individual to act true to themselves before trying to become an authentic leader. Finally, as the process appears defined, so too is the implication that authentic leadership can be developed and learnt.
Strategic leadership
Authors: Roe Kevin
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on strategic leadership. Strategic leadership can be defined as being focused on the activities of those who have overall command of an organization and have to enact a strategic vision for the organization. The notion of ‘upper echelon theory’ sees organizations as a reflection of their leaders, while there is also the more deterministic view whereby leaders use analysis to decipher their environment objectively. The activities of a strategic leader can be placed into four main themes: strategic definition (linked to the creation of a vision), strategic thinking (systems thinking), strategic alignment (culture and control), and strategic enactment (ethics). It is clear that, despite the recent concern about the quality of strategic leaders and their ability to guide the world's organizations through a turbulent time, this activity will become increasingly important in a time of complexity, uncertainty, and conflict.
The nature of employment relations
Authors: Williams Steve
Published: September 2023

This introductory chapter considers the nature of employment relations. Employment relations is a field of study concerned with understanding work and employment relationships, specifically how these relationships are regulated, experienced, and contested. Employment relations affect the lives of most people in contemporary societies. As such, the chapter begins with a focus on the nature of work and employment relationships in market economies. Second, the main perspectives that have been applied to employment relations as a field of study are assessed. Third, the chapter introduces the main actors and processes in employment relations, highlights the principal outcomes of employment relations, and explores the dimensions of employment relations. To conclude, this chapter then emphasizes the value of studying employment relations.
Globalization and employment relations
Authors: Williams Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter offers an international focus on contemporary employment relations, which is delivered through an examination of globalization and its implications. Globalization can be understood both as a process involving greater internationalization of economic activity and international labour mobility and as a neo-liberal project designed to open up markets and promote free trade. The question of how far neo-liberal globalization has promoted greater uniformity—or ‘convergence’—in employment relations is a matter of serious debate. Multinational companies (MNCs) are often viewed as powerful agents of convergence. The chapter next examines the influences on employment relations in MNC subsidiaries and considers the part played by MNCs, and their use of global supply chains, in undermining employment conditions and workers' rights and protections. Concerns about a ‘race to the bottom’ in labour standards have prompted a growing interest in how regulation can be established on an international basis. Finally, the chapter examines international trade union responses to globalization. Although globalization has caused unions some major difficulties, their efforts to organize workers and improve labour standards, often by engaging in conflict, are integral features of employment relations in a globalized world.
Perspectives on Advertising
Authors: Percy Larry , Rosenbaum-Elliott Richard
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on perspectives on advertising. It discusses the conceptual framework of perspectives on advertising, which is divided between audience and level of explanation, by referencing passive individuals, passive social/cultural groups, active individuals, and active social/cultural groups. The chapter also explores the disciplines to consider for these advertising groups such as learning theories, propaganda, psycholinguistics, critical theory, gratifications theory, visual persuasion theory, and post-structuralism. It looks into the implications for advertising strategy as well. Additionally, the chapter explains the attention to the rich social and cultural environment which is vital in creating effective advertising.