bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variable portfolio proposal for banking efficiency assessment
Authors: Macoris Lucas Serrao , Salgado Jr Alexandre Pereira , Branco Adriel Martins de Freitas , Ciribelli Fábio Neves
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The importance of banking efficiency has been shown to have become increasingly relevant, not only for researchers but also for decision makers. However, the large number of combinations between the variables used and the different approaches considered to measure efficiency caused a divergence between authors regarding the inputs and outputs used. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of a critical analysis of the main variables used in literature, this paper proposes a set of inputs and outputs to be used with consideration of the main approaches to banking efficiency.

Findings

Filling a gap in the literature, this study contributes to the development of future studies by suggesting variables which, in accordance with the theory related to banking efficiency, are highly suitable for creating relevant information for decision-making.

Originality/value

Frontier techniques are largely applied for assessing efficiency not only in large financial institutions, but also in bank branches and other regional units. Although a wide variation of articles follows a set of inputs and outputs without arguing for its suitability, this paper differs from the vast majority of applications by discussing the most reliable set of variables to represent efficiency levels.
Food security in Cambodia: trends and policy objectives
Authors: Culas Richard J. , Tek Kimsong
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The paper presents food and nutritional status and relevant policy objectives that can sustain food security in Cambodia. This paper aims to review Cambodia’s food security situation over a period.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an approach for selecting food security indicators in relation to both inputs and outcomes by drawing on a conceptual framework. National level data for the food security indicators are analysed over a period to provide trends in food and nutritional status.

Findings

Cambodia has not experienced drastic food insecurity yet, as most people are farmers and their livelihoods dependent on agriculture. Agriculture has maintained food availability in the country; however, there is a proportion of the population living in remote areas unable to obtain sufficient, safe, nutritious food. Landlessness, internal migration, rapid population growth, lack of education and skills, limited access to natural resources and agricultural land, poor health and infrastructure leave the people with inadequate employment opportunities, low capabilities and low productivity which in turn bring deeper poverty. Therefore, people are insecure, excluded and vulnerable to food deprivation.

Practical implications

To tackle the food security challenges, the Government of Cambodia focuses on food-based social safety nets in the sectors of education, nutrition and productive assets/livelihoods support, to enable longer-term, nationally owned food security solutions.

Originality/value

The paper draws conclusions using a range of recently proposed food security indicators and offers a perspective for policy formulation which may be of interest to development scholars and practitioners.
Framework for measuring performance of the sales and operations planning process
Authors: Hulthén Hana , Näslund Dag , Norrman Andreas
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for measuring the S&OP process performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used is a multiple case study of five companies from different industries based on data from 12 structured interviews.

Findings

The main result is a framework to measure the S&OP process. It includes concrete suggestions for organizations when developing measures to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the process. It will also help organizations to standardize measures and to enhance organizational transparency. Our results include measures for every step of the process as well as for the outcome of the process. The authors highlight the importance of cross-functional measures along with measures that focus on how to conduct the process. The framework is founded on a set of criteria on appropriate measures such as comprehensiveness, internal process efficiency, horizontal and vertical integration, internal comparability, and usefulness. The study contributes to performance measurement literature and the S&OP literature.

Research limitations/ implications

Validation of the framework is desirable in similar as well as other contexts. Implementation challenges should also be investigated.

Practical implications

The framework provides guidelines in order to measure, analyze and improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of the process.

Originality/values

This is the first framework for measuring the S&OP process that includes detailed measures for each step of the process, for the outcome of the process as well as how to conduct the process itself.
A hybrid data analytic approach to predict college graduation status and its determinative factors
Authors: Oztekin Asil
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The prediction of graduation rates of college students has become increasingly important to colleges and universities across the USA and the world. Graduation rates, also referred to as completion rates, directly impact university rankings and represent a measurement of institutional performance and student success. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort by federal and state governments to increase the transparency and accountability of institutions, making “graduation rates” an important and challenging university goal. In line with this, the main purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid data analytic approach which can be flexibly implemented not only in the USA but also at various colleges across the world which would help predict the graduation status of undergraduate students due to its generic nature. It is also aimed at providing a means of determining and ranking the critical factors of graduation status.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on developing a novel hybrid data analytic approach to predict the degree completion of undergraduate students at a four-year public university in the USA. Via the deployment of the proposed methodology, the data were analyzed using three popular data mining classifications methods (i.e. decision trees, artificial neural networks, and support vector machines) to develop predictive degree completion models. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the relative importance of each predictor factor driving the graduation.

Findings

The sensitivity analysis of the most critical factors in predicting graduation rates is determined to be fall-term grade-point average, housing status (on campus or commuter), and which high school the student attended. The least influential factors of graduation status are ethnicity, whether or not a student had work study, and whether or not a student applied for financial aid. All three data analytic models yielded high accuracies ranging from 71.56 to 77.61 percent, which validates the proposed model.

Originality/value

This study presents uniqueness in that it presents an unbiased means of determining the driving factors of college graduation status with a flexible and powerful hybrid methodology to be implemented at other similar decision-making settings.
Relating open innovation, innovation and management systems integration
Authors: Hernandez-Vivanco Alfonso , Bernardo Merce , Cruz-Cázares Claudio
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the level of integration of management systems (IMS) over product and process innovation capabilities (IC), by considering the role of open innovation (OI) activities as a moderating effect of those relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal empirical study was performed on an existing Spanish panel database that contains information related to innovation, where 9,765 companies were selected for the panel analysis. A logit approach with random effects was considered.

Findings

The level of IMS positively influences process and product IC. Moreover, external cooperation, and using it to a high extent not only positively moderates the effects of the level of IMS over process IC, but also of process over product IC, where it becomes indispensable for its effect to be positive. Finally, investing in external knowledge is a positive moderator of the effects of the level of IMS over both: process and product IC.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies on empirically finding evidence of the impact of the level of IMS on process and product IC, and of the moderating effect of performing OI activities in order to achieve higher process and product IC through the IMS.
Modeling of product sales promotion and price discounting strategy using fuzzy logic in a retail organization
Authors: Kumar Anup , Adlakha Amit , Mukherjee Kampan
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to capture the dynamic variations in sales of a product based upon the dynamic estimation of the time series data and propose a model that imitates the price discounting and promotion strategy for a product category in a retail organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Time series data relating to sales has been used to model the sales estimates using moving average and proportional and derivative control; thereafter a sales forecast is generated to estimate the sales of a particular product category. This provides valuable inputs for taking lot sizing decisions regarding procurement of the products and selection of suppliers. A hybrid model has been proposed and explained with a hypothetical case, which considerably impacts the sales promotion and intelligent pricing decisions.

Findings

A conceptual framework is developed for modeling the dynamic price discounting strategy in retail using fuzzy logic. The model imitates sales promotion and price discounting strategy. This has helped minimize the inventory cost thereby keeping the profitability of the retail organization intact.

Research limitations/implications

There is no appropriate empirical data to verify the models. In light of the research approach (modeling based upon historical time series data of a particular product category) that was undertaken, there is a possibility that the research results may be valid for the product category that was selected. Therefore, the researchers are advised to test the proposed propositions further for other product categories.

Originality/value

The study provides valuable insight on how to use the real-time sales data for designing a dynamic automated model for product sales promotion and price discounting strategy using fuzzy logic for a retail organization.
Customer involvement and new product performance
Authors: Feng Taiwen , Cai Di , Zhang Zhenglin , Liu Bing
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the joint influence of technological newness (TN) and market newness (MN) on the relationship between customer involvement (CI) and new product performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed hierarchical moderated regression analysis to test the hypothesized relationships using survey data collected from 214 Chinese manufacturing firms.

Findings

The authors found that the impact of CI on new product performance varies across the different configurations of TN and MN. Specifically, the performance effect of CI is most positive under low TN and high MN, while the performance effect is least positive under low TN and low MN.

Originality/value

This study enriches CI research by identifying different configurations of product innovativeness that augment or limit the value of CI.
The triad value function – theorizing the value potential of connected relationships
Authors: Vedel Mette
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explicate how connectedness of relationships results in varying value potentials of triads.

Design/methodology/approach

First connectedness is re-described as an actor-perceived and actor-interpreted phenomenon. The re-description is used to theorize the triad value function. Next, the applicability and validity of the concept is examined in a case study of four closed vertical supply chain triads.

Findings

The case study demonstrates that the triad value function facilitates the analysis and understanding of an apparent paradox; that distributors are not dis-intermediated in spite of their limited contribution to activities in the triads. The results indicate practical adequacy of the triad value function.

Research limitations/implications

The triad value function is difficult to apply in the study of expanded networks as the number of connections expands exponentially with the number of ties in the network. Moreover, it must be applied in the study of service triads and open vertical supply chain triads to further verify the practical adequacy of the concept.

Practical implications

The triad value function cannot be used normatively or prescriptively. It is a descriptive tool which indirectly supports managerial decision-making through the analysis of how the structural context of a triad influences the value of relationships.

Originality/value

The paper offers an additional aspect for the study of value in and of triads. It illustrates that perceived connectedness of relationships operates as a triad value function, which captures the structural value potential of the triad for a focal actor.
Clarifying the influence of emotional intelligence on salesperson performance
Authors: Kadic-Maglajlic Selma , Vida Irena , Obadia Claude , Plank Richard
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the linkages among emotional intelligence, relational selling behavior and salesperson performance. Although existing research acknowledges the importance of emotional facets in business relationships, the role of emotional intelligence is poorly understood in the literature on salesperson performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Two data sets from business-to-business salespeople in various industrial and service sectors were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Mediation hypotheses were cross validated through a bootstrapping approach with bias-corrected confidence estimates.

Findings

The results suggest that two focal types of selling behaviors – namely, adaptive selling and customer-oriented selling – fully mediate the positive relationship between emotional intelligence and salesperson performance.

Practical implications

The study offers new insights to sales and marketing managers on how individual capabilities (such as emotional intelligence) can be transformed into high sales performance.

Originality/value

Drawing on the ability view of emotional intelligence and highlighting its conative facet, the current research posits that emotional intelligence affects salesperson performance through relational selling behaviors.
Performance of shariah-compliant firms and non-shariah-compliant firms in the MENA region
Authors: Farooq Omar , Alahkam Amal
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to document the relative performance of non-financial shariah-compliant firms and non-financial non-shariah-compliant firms in the MENA (Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain) region during the period between 2005 and 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses pooled ordinary least squares regression analysis to document the effect of shariah compliance on stock price performance in the MENA region on a sample of non-financial firms that consists of shariah- and non-shariah-compliant firms.

Findings

Using market-adjusted returns as a proxy for performance, this paper shows that shariah-compliant firms underperform non-shariah-compliant firms. The results also show that underperformance of shariah-compliant firms holds in the civil law and in the common law countries. Interestingly, this paper also shows that difference between the performance of shariah-and non-shariah-compliant firms disappears during the crisis period.

Research limitations/implications

This paper argues that the characteristics of shariah-compliant firms are such that these firms are at a disadvantage relative to their non-shariah-compliant counterparts. For example, high leverage of their counterpart firms can act as a disciplining mechanism and positively affect performance of these firms. Similarly, high account receivables and high cash allow non-shariah-compliant firms to make more effective business networks than shariah-compliant firms and fund large capital expenditures. Consequently, shariah-compliant firms underperform non-shariah-compliant firms. This study’s results, however, should be read with caution, as they are mainly based upon the performance of large volume, statistical significance, sampling errors and possible labeling miss-specification. Further research on this topic with different research methodology is essential.

Originality/value

This paper takes a financial view rather than religious view while highlighting the impact of shariah characteristics on firm performance.
Exploring behavioural branding, brand love and brand co-creation
Authors: Kaufmann Hans Ruediger , Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia , Manarioti Agapi
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the complex consumer brand relationships by holistically exploring the dynamics between brand love and co-creation, how they are impacted by behavioural branding and their combined impact to brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper, based on extensive and thorough literature review on the fields of brand love, behavioural branding, brand communities and co-creation, that leads to the formulation of a proposed synthesized framework.

Findings

The authors propose that consumers experiencing brand love are more willing to engage in an active co-creating behaviour in the context of a brand community, especially when brand representatives vividly communicate the brand values and motivate consumers to engage. This process is moderated by the product/service category and level of customer involvement with it, and it produces a combined positive impact on brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed conceptual framework needs to be validated through empirical research. However, even at this initial stage, it may have a significant impact, especially as it highlights the role of brand representatives and how they could drastically moderate the relationship between the brand and the consumer.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to incorporate the constructs that are significant to the consumer–brand relationship research stream in one conceptual framework. The synthesis of these concepts will contribute to the improved understanding of the consumer–brand relationship, and its dynamics and will equip managers with a novel approach to the central role of behavioural branding.
The impact of brand evangelism on oppositional referrals towards a rival brand
Authors: Marticotte Francois , Arcand Manon , Baudry Damien
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This study aims to build on the notion of brand evangelism developed by Becerra and Badrinarayanan (2013) by examining how brand relationship variables regarding one brand (i.e. brand loyalty, brand community identification and self-brand connection) influence oppositional referrals to a rival brand (i.e. desire to harm and trash-talking) in the high definition (HD) videogame console industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of online communities devoted to video gaming was conducted using a sample of 809 respondents, all owners of either a PlayStation or an Xbox.

Findings

The results show that the desire to harm the rival brand is strongly and positively associated to participation in trash-talking. Brand loyalty is connected to both dimensions of oppositional brand referrals. Consumers’ connection with the brand affects trash-talking only indirectly through the desire to harm. No association is found between identification with the brand community and oppositional brand referrals.

Originality/value

This study is the first to demonstrate the mechanism linking brand relationship variables regarding a focal brand with consumers’ disparagement of a rival brand, showing that a desire to harm plays a central role. Just as the desire for retaliation drives negative word-of-mouth in the context of an unsatisfactory experience with a brand (Grégoire and Fisher, 2006), the desire to harm drives trash-talking against a rival brand by brand evangelists. This study improves our understanding of the relationships consumers build with their preferred brands and how this relationship may influence their rejection of competing brands with which they do not have direct experience.
Market brand equity: lost in terminology and techniques?
Authors: Schultz Don
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review, update and suggest new approaches to estimate/determine market brand equity (MBE) impact based on additional brand investments in existing brands. The approach can be used by senior managers, replacing traditional return-on-investment (ROI) historical approaches. The paper focuses on the brand owner’s values/returns rather than those of the customer/consumer.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach using a theoretical methodology based on a literature review and informed analysis of how a new type of MBE estimation/calculation methodology might be developed.

Findings

This paper proposes a radically different, forward-looking calculation/estimation of MBE determination based on estimations of additional cash flows which might return to the firm as a result of additional investments made in the brand. The approach moves away from traditional cost/managerial accounting approaches to a more actuarial-based estimation of future income flows should additional investments be made in the brand. A Markov chain or other probability-based methodology of estimating future returns is suggested.

Originality/value

Presently, most brand investment models are based on historical backward-looking estimations/calculations of snapshots of point-in-time ROI models. These, the author argues, are outdated and irrelevant for forward-looking managers and firms. This recommended approach provides senior management with estimates of the value that might be created in the future.
What drives consumer’s responses to brand crisis? The moderating roles of brand associations and brand-customer relationship strength
Authors: Jeon Jung Ok , Baeck Sunmee
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate consumers’ attitudinal and behavioral responses to brand crisis and examine an empirical model to explain consumer’s internal process in the context of negative information about a brand, analyzing the relationships between the brand association types, brand-customer relationship strength and consumers’ responses depending on the types of brand crises.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an integrative approach based on qualitative and quantitative methods: a focus-group interview and an experiment.

Findings

The results indicated that consumers’ responses were more favorable in the corporate ability (CA) crisis than in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) crisis. In addition, consumers with high brand-customer relationship strength and brand associations for CA (CSR) showed more favorable responses to a brand crisis related to CA (CSR) than to that related to CSR (CA).

Practical implications

Managerially, firms should improve their marketing activity to reinforce particular brand association type that strongly related customers mainly have. In addition, firms should carefully find the best timing and channel that strongly related customers usually access, to present corporate corresponding statements in brand crisis and information of their corporate crisis-coping process.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this study will contribute to the literature on brand crises by providing critical insights into the mechanism underlying consumers’ responses to brand crises.
Audit quality indicators: perceptions of junior-level auditors
Authors: Brown Veena L. , Gissel Jodi L. , Gordon Neely Daniel
Published: September 2016

Purpose

In an effort to develop an audit quality (AQ) framework specific to the US audit market, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) recently issued a concept release proposing 28 audit quality indicators (AQIs) along three dimensions: audit professionals, audit process and audit results. Using AQIs initially proposed by the PCAOB, as well as AQIs suggested by prior literature, the authors solicit perceptions from junior-level (senior and staff) auditors to investigate the current state of practice along many of the AQIs relating to audit professionals and audit process.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, 78 junior-level auditors responded to the survey.

Findings

An analysis of the responses suggests auditors engage in activities and audit firms promote conditions that at times improve, and at other times, reduce audit quality. The authors find that individual auditors’ perceptions differ across experience level, gender and audit firm size for certain AQIs.

Practical implications

The study is useful to the PCAOB because it provides insights to help assess the value of potential AQIs in differentiating AQ. The study is also useful to other regulators because it describes audit staff and seniors’ perceptions of apparent firm and auditor compliance with accounting and auditing standards. Practitioners should find this information useful in helping to identify possible root causes of audit deficiencies, a challenge put forth to firms by the PCAOB.

Originality/value

This study provides academia with evidence on AQ from practicing auditors, which informs existing and future research along. The study complements existing work by showing how individual auditor characteristics (experience and gender) at the junior levels may impact AQ in practice
Audit committee and integrated reporting practice: does internal assurance matter?
Authors: Ahmed Haji Abdifatah , Anifowose Mutalib
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of the audit committee function as an internal assurance provider in the emerging integrated reporting (IR) practice. In particular, the authors examine the role of the overall effectiveness, as well as specific aspects, of the audit committee function in IR practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the integrated reports of 246 firm-year observations of large South African companies over a three-year period (2011-2013), following the introduction of an “apply or explain” IR requirement and an embedded “combined assurance” model in South Africa. Drawing from conflicting theoretical perspectives of economics-based (e.g. agency theory) and socio-political theories (e.g. legitimacy theory), the authors develop competing hypotheses to predict the role of the overall, as well as specific aspects, of the audit committee function in IR practice.

Findings

Consistent with the predictions of economics-related theories, the authors find that the overall effectiveness of the audit committee function has a strong positive association with the extent and quality of IR practice. In particular, audit committee authority and meetings are shown to have a significant positive impact on IR practice. However, as implied by socio-political theories, the authors do not find a significant association between key aspects of the audit committee function such as audit committee independence and financial expertise and IR practice.

Practical implications

This study informs local and international regulatory authorities, as well as the business community, about the potential significance of internal assurance mechanisms such as the audit committee function in the emerging IR practice. Given the practical challenges associated with independent external assurance provisions, the findings of this study suggest that internal assurance mechanisms – such as the audit committee function – can be genuine and cost-effective alternative assurance mechanisms in enhancing the credibility and reliability of non-financial reporting practices, particularly the emerging IR practice. The results also inform academic researchers to take cognisance from the expanding roles and responsibilities of audit committees and conduct in-depth investigation on “how” the audit committee function is handling the increasing responsibilities.

Originality/value

The study provides initial empirical account towards the role of the audit committee function in the emerging IR practice. The study is novel because it shows the significance of internal assurance mechanisms in wider organisational reporting practice.
Crédit Agricole and Emporiki. Buying a Greek bank in 2006. What could go wrong?
Authors: Zambelis Eva , Thomas Mark
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to see how NOT to manage an acquisition through the case study of one of the worst M&As in recent years: Emporiki Bank’s by Crédit Agricole. Although the role of the banks is to manage risk, the acquisition of Emporiki by Crédit Agricole shows how easy it is, when ill prepared, to make one mistake after another and get trapped without a way out. It can even cause to take such desperate decisions as in this case sell an entire bank for one single euro.

Design/methodology/approach

General review.

Findings

The paper shows that being a very successful bank does not guarantee in any way good M&As, especially in an unknown market. Preparation, understanding of the whole situation and reactivity is key for a successful M&A. Without it, the consequences can be disastrous.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Designing future enterprises: aligning enterprise design with business strategy
Authors: Toor Tajinder
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to review the misalignment between enterprise design and its business strategy and suggests three principles to eliminate the misalignment.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Three principles – Common Identification and Consolidation, Collaboration and Standardization – are suggested to align enterprise design with its business strategy.

Practical implications

This paper provides strategic insights that can have influence some of the world’s leading enterprises. Irrespective of the technology, the suggested three principles can be applied to any enterprise to gain interconnectedness, resiliency and efficiency.

Originality/value

The paper provides valuable information in a very concise and easy-to-understand format thus saving executives hours of browsing and reading time.
Merging and diverging cultures in M&A
Authors: Mielly Michelle , Alain Rouault Frank , Richards O'Reilly Kevin
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this brief paper is to highlight the role of culture in cross-cultural M&A environments.

Findings

Empirical work as consultants and participant-observers within multiple international organizations in the process of pre or post M&A restructuring has revealed the need to develop three key “best practices” linked to behaviors which facilitate organizational actors’ role in such dynamic and complex organizational environments.

Practical implications

Managers and practitioners may be able to re think their own positioning within the merged or merging firm and question some of their own cultural allegiances and behaviors, whether linked to national culture or organizational (corporate) culture.

Originality/value

The authors have identified three key behavioral skills crucial to effective intercultural interactions, when interacting in cross-border M&A contexts.
Tata Motors’ successful cross-border acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover: key take-aways
Authors: Pathak Atul Arun
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on Tata Motors, an automobile company from an emerging market, and its successful acquisition of two global marquee car brands in Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR). It traces the evolution of JLR under the stewardship of Tata Motors over an eight-year long period and examines the strategic reasons for the success of the acquisition.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper approaches strategic issues in cross-border acquisitions using an illustration of a successful deal. It is based on statements of leaders and secondary data about the acquirer and acquired organizations. The paper explores the strategic challenges faced when emerging market firms carry out cross border acquisition deals. It recommends the short-term and long-term strategies that acquirers can follow to improve the chances of a successful acquisition.

Findings

Any acquisition is challenging. Cross-border acquisitions face greater challenges, especially if the acquirer is from an emerging market country while the target company is from a developed country. Success of the acquisition, especially over the long run, depends on both internal factors that are under the control of the acquirer’s management, as well as external environmental factors that it needs to address. Both patience and luck are required ingredients for success in such contexts.

Practical implications

While the general temptation in any acquisition is to extract synergies as quickly as possible, the Tata Motors’ acquisition of JLR is an exception. Tata Motors carefully handled short-term challenges and continued to invest in the core competencies of JLR and reaped benefits over the long run. It was also fortunate that a variety of factors in the external environment turned favorable for Tata Motors and JLR in the eight years since the deal took place.

Social implications

It concedes that during an M&A deal, the leaders of a seller organization may be nervous about their future. JLR trade union leaders were initially not sure whether jobs in UK would remain secure. To ensure success of the deal, the leaders of the acquirer firm need to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders, both in the short-term, as well as over a longer-term perspective.

Originality/value

The paper considers the Tata Motors’ acquisition of JLR. It is an example of a large, difficult cross-border acquisition by an emerging market based company. While the acquisition proved difficult in the short term, it has yielded excellent dividends to the parent company over the long term. This paper explores the reasons why this cross-border acquisition succeeded and recommends strategies that other companies considering cross-border acquisitions can consider to improve their chances of success.
Laugh it up: humor in inter-cultural management after international mergers
Authors: Rose Janna Leann
Published: September 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide some insights for the use of humor when addressing intercultural issues after an international merger.

Design/methodology/approach

The author focuses on a few key articles that deal with intercultural issues in international contexts, including an ethnographic case study of a merging firm.

Findings

Although humor in different cultures can be difficult to explicate and define, the author find that humor can be used both positively and negatively among employees, and also among consumers, after international mergers.

Originality/value

When considering international mergers, management literature often describes various approaches that firms may take toward bridging differences in employee relations and organizational cultures. However, information on the use of humor in post-merger workplaces, at a more micro level, is not easily found. This paper briefly summarizes how humor – as a collective tool – might be used by employees and managers in daily office encounters to ease post-merger office tensions, as well as by consumers who react to mergers online.
A case study of the HNA group cross-border M&A strategy
Authors: Xiao Ying , Thomas Mark
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to outline the reasons for the success of the Chinese HNA Group in the development of its international strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The article adopts a critical single case study method approach.

Findings

The HNA Group has been highly successful using cross-border merger and acquisitions (M&As) as a platform for growth. However, Chinese companies are facing more difficulties compared to their international competitors in cross border M&A deals and are paying a higher premium for that. Even HNA Group, a veteran player in the international capital market, may not be exempted from the skeptics toward China money.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Exploring factors influencing occupational therapists’ perception of patients’ rehabilitation potential after acquired brain injury
Authors: Lam Wai Shun Priscilla , Bottari Carolina , Ogourtsova Tatiana , Swaine Bonnie
Published: September 2016

Background/aim

Clinical practice guidelines advocate for early involvement of rehabilitation professionals in screening acquired brain injury patients’ rehabilitation needs and determining the required rehabilitation services. Little is yet known about the nature of occupational therapists’ role in this context. This exploratory study sought to identify factors influencing occupational therapists’ perception of acquired brain injury patients’ rehabilitation potential for inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods

A qualitative approach was used to analyse data from a focus group involving 12 occupational therapists working in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation. A consensus‐seeking technique was used to identify patient‐related factors participants perceived as most important to consider when assessing rehabilitation potential. The transcription of the group discussion was analysed using an interpretive description approach to identify additional factors influencing occupational therapists’ perception.

Results

Participants agreed on 11 patient‐related factors most important to consider: age, behaviour, cognitive abilities, endurance, home environment, medical status, observed improvement in acute care post‐injury, physical abilities, post‐injury functional status, pre‐injury functional status, patient and family expectations. Additional factors included the influence of the organisational context (i.e. acute care and broader health care context) as well as occupational therapists’ professional expertise, knowledge of scientific evidence, concerns for ethical decisions and interpretive activities (i.e. clinician's interpretation of patients’ characteristics in light of all other factors).

Conclusions

Findings suggest that assessing rehabilitation potential is a complex process that goes beyond strictly appraising patients’ characteristics. Additional factors influence clinicians’ perception of patients’ rehabilitation potential. Clinicians should pay more attention to these factors when making evidence‐based decisions regarding patients’ potential to benefit from rehabilitation.
REVISITING THE CRIMINOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXPOSURE TO FETAL TESTOSTERONE: A META‐ANALYSIS OF THE 2D:4D DIGIT RATIO*
Authors: PRATT TRAVIS C. , TURANOVIC JILLIAN J. , CULLEN FRANCIS T.
Published: September 2016

As criminology has become more interdisciplinary in recent years, biosocial criminology has earned a place at the table. Although this perspective comes in many forms, one important proposition has gained increasing attention: that the 2D:4D finger digit ratio—a purported physical biomarker for exposure to fetal testosterone—is related to criminal, aggressive, and risky/impulsive behavior. Strong claims in the literature have been made for this link even though the findings seem to be inconsistent. To establish the empirical status of this relationship, we subjected this body of work to a meta‐analysis. Our multilevel analyses of 660 effect size estimates drawn from 47 studies (14,244 individual cases) indicate a small overall effect size (mean r = .047). Moderator analyses indicate that this effect is rather “general” across methodological specifications—findings that are at odds with theoretical propositions that specify the importance of exposure to fetal testosterone in predicting criminal and analogous behavior later in life. We conclude with a call for exercising caution over embracing the findings from one or two studies and instead highlight the importance of systematically organizing the full body of literature on a topic before making decisions about what does, and what does not, predict criminal and analogous behavior.
High‐resolution melt analysis without DNA extraction affords rapid genotype resolution and species identification
Authors: Rugman‐Jones Paul F. , Stouthamer Richard
Published: September 2016

Extracting and sequencing DNA from specimens can impose major time and monetary costs to studies requiring genotyping, or identification to species, of large numbers of individuals. As such, so‐called direct PCR methods have been developed enabling significant savings at the DNA extraction step. Similarly, real‐time quantitative PCR techniques (qPCR) offer very cost‐effective alternatives to sequencing. High‐resolution melt analysis (HRM) is a qPCR method that incorporates an intercalating dye into a double‐stranded PCR amplicon. The dye fluoresces brightly, but only when it is bound. Thus, after PCR, raising the temperature of the amplicon while measuring the fluorescence of the reaction results in the generation of a sequence‐specific melt curve, allowing discrimination of genotypes. Methods combining HRM (or other qPCR methods) and direct PCR have not previously been reported, most likely due to concerns that any tissue in the reaction tube would interfere with detection of the fluorescent signal. Here, we couple direct PCR with HRM and, by way of three examples, demonstrate a very quick and cost‐effective method for genotyping large numbers of specimens, using Rotor‐Gene HRM instruments (QIAGEN). In contrast to the heated‐block design of most qPCR/HRM instruments, the Rotor‐Gene's centrifugal rotor and air‐based temperature‐regulation system facilitate our method by depositing tissues away from the pathway of the machine's fluorescence detection optics.
Identification of growing bacteria during litter decomposition in freshwater through quantitative stable isotope probing
Authors: Hayer Michaela , Schwartz Egbert , Marks Jane C. , Koch Benjamin J. , Morrissey Ember M. , Schuettenberg Alexa A. , Hungate Bruce A.
Published: September 2016

Identification of microorganisms that facilitate the cycling of nutrients in freshwater is paramount to understanding how these ecosystems function. Here, we identify growing aquatic bacteria usingquantitative stable isotope probing. During 8 day incubations in 97 atom %, 54% of the taxa grew. The most abundant phyla among growing taxa wereProteobacteria(45%),Bacteroidetes(30%) andFirmicutes(10%). Taxa differed in isotopic enrichment, reflecting variation in DNA replication of bacterial populations. At the class level, the highest atom fraction excess was observed for OPB41 and δ‐Proteobacteria. There was no linear relationship between18O incorporation and abundance of taxa. δ‐Proteobacteriaand OPB41 were not abundant, yet the DNA of both taxa was highly enriched in18O.Bacteriodetes, in contrast, were abundant but not highly enriched. Our study shows that a large proportion of the bacterial taxa found on decomposing leaf litter grew slowly, and several low abundance taxa were highly enriched. These findings indicating that rare organisms may be important for the decomposition of leaf litter in streams, and that quantitative stable isotope probing withcan be used to advance our understanding of microorganisms in freshwater by identifying species that are growing in complex communities.
Life history and population dynamics of a tree species in tropical semi‐arid climate: A case study with Cordia oncocalyx
Authors: Silveira Andréa P. , Martins Fernando R. , Araújo Francisca S.
Published: September 2016

In semi‐arid climates, plant population dynamics are strongly influenced by the amount and temporal distribution of rainfall. We monitored a population of the tree species Cordia oncocalyx (Boraginaceae) for 24 months in the dry thorny woodland of semi‐arid northeastern Brazil, to investigate which life‐history traits allow this tree to be locally dominant. We used horizontal life tables and a Lefkovitch matrix and tested for relationships among demographic parameters of seedling, infant, juvenile, immature, virginile and reproductive ontogenetic stages with rainfall and canopy openness. Germination and recruitment occurred in the rainy months, and dry‐season mortality occurred only in seedlings (76% and 100%, first and second years, respectively) and infants (3% and 6%). Juveniles showed greater height growth under more open canopies (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.24), suggesting that light availability influences growth. The population growth rate was λ = 1.0336, and the highest sensitivity occurred in the infant‐juvenile transition. Our results show light as a restrictive growth factor for plants in the juvenile stage and confirm the strong influence of rainfall on the dynamics of trees in a seasonally dry environment. The formation of a persistent seed bank with germination concentrated at the rainfall onset but spreading over the rainy season are strategies that hedge bets before establishment. The formation of a bank of infants, which can resume growth as soon as there is water, hedges bets after establishment. We attribute the positive population growth rate of Cordia oncocalyx to survival strategies allowing bet‐hedging both before and after establishment.
A Novel Model of P‐Glycoprotein Inhibitor Screening Using Human Small Intestinal Organoids
Authors: Zhao Junfang , Zeng Zhiyang , Sun Jialiang , Zhang Yuanjin , Li Dali , Zhang Xueli , Liu Mingyao , Wang Xin
Published: September 2016

P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp), an important efflux transporter in intestine, regulates the bioavailability of orally taken drugs. To develop an in vitro model that preferably mimics the physiological microenvironment of human intestine, we employed the three‐dimensionally (3D) cultured organoids from human normal small intestinal epithelium. It was observed that the intestinal crypts could efficiently form cystic organoid structure with the extension of culture time. Furthermore, the physiological expression of ABCB1 was detected at both mRNA and protein levels in cultured organoids. Rhodamine 123 (Rh123), a typical substrate of P‐gp, was actively transported across 3D organoids and accumulated in the luminal space. This transport process was also inhibited by verapamil and mitotane. In summary, the above‐mentioned model based on human small intestinal 3D organoids is suitable to imitate the small intestinal epithelium and could be used as a novel in vitro model especially for P‐gp inhibitor screening.