bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Up-Regulation of α4 Integrin-mediated Leukocyte Adhesion by Transforming Growth Factor-β1
Authors: Bartolomé Rubén A. , Sanz-Rodrı́guez Francisco , Robledo Mar M. , Hidalgo Andrés , Teixidó Joaquin
Published: January 2003

The α4 integrins (α4β1 and α4β7) are cell surface heterodimers expressed mostly on leukocytes that mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. A characteristic feature of α4 integrins is that their adhesive activity can be subjected to rapid modulation during the process of cell migration. Herein, we show that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) rapidly (0.5–5 min) and transiently up-regulated α4 integrin-dependent adhesion of different human leukocyte cell lines and human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to their ligands vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and connecting segment-1/fibronectin. In addition, TGF-β1 enhanced the α4 integrin-mediated adhesion of PBLs to tumor necrosis factor-α–treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, indicating the stimulation of α4β1/VCAM-1 interaction. Although TGF-β1 rapidly activated the small GTPase RhoA and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, enhanced adhesion did not require activation of both signaling molecules. Instead, polymerization of actin cytoskeleton triggered by TGF-β1 was necessary for α4 integrin-dependent up-regulated adhesion, and elevation of intracellular cAMP opposed this up-regulation. Moreover, TGF-β1 further increased cell adhesion mediated by α4 integrins in response to the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1α. These data suggest that TGF-β1 can potentially contribute to cell migration by dynamically regulating cell adhesion mediated by α4 integrins.
Deregulation of the Egfr/Ras Signaling Pathway Induces Age-related Brain Degeneration in theDrosophilaMutantvap
Authors: Botella José A. , Kretzschmar Doris , Kiermayer Claudia , Feldmann Pascale , Hughes David A. , Schneuwly Stephan
Published: January 2003

Ras signaling has been shown to play an important role in promoting cell survival in many different tissues. Here we show that upregulation of Ras activity in adult Drosophila neurons induces neuronal cell death, as evident from the phenotype of vacuolar peduncle (vap) mutants defective in theDrosophila RasGAP gene, which encodes a Ras GTPase-activating protein. These mutants show age-related brain degeneration that is dependent on activation of the EGF receptor signaling pathway in adult neurons, leading to autophagic cell death (cell death type 2). These results provide the first evidence for a requirement of Egf receptor activity in differentiated adultDrosophila neurons and show that a delicate balance of Ras activity is essential for the survival of adult neurons.
Cloning, Localization, and Axonemal Function ofTetrahymenaCentrin
Authors: Guerra Charles , Wada Yuuko , Leick Vagn , Bell Aaron , Satir Peter
Published: January 2003

Centrin, an EF hand Ca2+binding protein, has been cloned in Tetrahymena thermophila. It is a 167 amino acid protein of 19.4 kDa with a unique N-terminal region, coded by a single gene containing an 85-base pair intron. It has > 80% homology to other centrins and high homology toTetrahymena EF hand proteins calmodulin, TCBP23, and TCBP25. Specific cellular localizations of the closely relatedTetrahymena EF hand proteins are different from centrin. Centrin is localized to basal bodies, cortical fibers in oral apparatus and ciliary rootlets, the apical filament ring and to inner arm (14S) dynein (IAD) along the ciliary axoneme. The function of centrin in Ca2+control of IAD activity was explored using in vitro microtubule (MT) motility assays. Ca2+or the Ca2+-mimicking peptide CALP1, which binds EF hand proteins in the absence of Ca2+, increased MT sliding velocity. Antibodies to centrin abrogated this increase. This is the first demonstration of a specific centrin function associated with axonemal dynein. It suggests that centrin is a key regulatory protein forTetrahymena axonemal Ca2+responses, including ciliary reversal or chemotaxis.
A Balance of Capping Protein and Profilin Functions Is Required to Regulate Actin Polymerization inDrosophilaBristle
Authors: Hopmann Roberta , Miller Kathryn G.
Published: January 2003

Profilin is a well-characterized protein known to be important for regulating actin filament assembly. Relatively few studies have addressed how profilin interacts with other actin-binding proteins in vivo to regulate assembly of complex actin structures. To investigate the function of profilin in the context of a differentiating cell, we have studied an instructive genetic interaction between mutations in profilin (chickadee) and capping protein (cpb). Capping protein is the principal protein in cells that caps actin filament barbed ends. When its function is reduced in the Drosophila bristle, F-actin levels increase and the actin cytoskeleton becomes disorganized, causing abnormal bristle morphology. chickadee mutations suppress the abnormal bristle phenotype and associated abnormalities of the actin cytoskeleton seen in cpb mutants. Furthermore, overexpression of profilin in the bristle mimics many features of thecpb loss-of-function phenotype. The interaction betweencpb and chickadee suggests that profilin promotes actin assembly in the bristle and that a balance between capping protein and profilin activities is important for the proper regulation of F-actin levels. Furthermore, this balance of activities affects the association of actin structures with the membrane, suggesting a link between actin filament dynamics and localization of actin structures within the cell.
CRM1/Ran-Mediated Nuclear Export of p27Kip1Involves a Nuclear Export Signal and Links p27 Export and Proteolysis
Authors: Connor Michael K. , Kotchetkov Rouslan , Cariou Sandrine , Resch Ansgar , Lupetti Rafaella , Beniston Richard G. , Melchior Frauke , Hengst Ludger , Slingerland Joyce M.
Published: January 2003

We show that p27 localization is cell cycle regulated and we suggest that active CRM1/RanGTP-mediated nuclear export of p27 may be linked to cytoplasmic p27 proteolysis in early G1. p27 is nuclear in G0 and early G1 and appears transiently in the cytoplasm at the G1/S transition. Association of p27 with the exportin CRM1 was minimal in G0 and increased markedly during G1-to-S phase progression. Proteasome inhibition in mid-G1 did not impair nuclear import of p27, but led to accumulation of p27 in the cytoplasm, suggesting that export precedes degradation for at least part of the cellular p27 pool. p27-CRM1 binding and nuclear export were inhibited by S10A mutation but not by T187A mutation. A putative nuclear export sequence in p27 is identified whose mutation reduced p27-CRM1 interaction, nuclear export, and p27 degradation. Leptomycin B (LMB) did not inhibit p27-CRM1 binding, nor did it prevent p27 export in vitro or in heterokaryon assays. Prebinding of CRM1 to the HIV-1 Rev nuclear export sequence did not inhibit p27-CRM1 interaction, suggesting that p27 binds CRM1 at a non-LMB-sensitive motif. LMB increased total cellular p27 and may do so indirectly, through effects on other p27 regulatory proteins. These data suggest a model in which p27 undergoes active, CRM1-dependent nuclear export and cytoplasmic degradation in early G1. This would permit the incremental activation of cyclin E-Cdk2 leading to cyclin E-Cdk2-mediated T187 phosphorylation and p27 proteolysis in late G1 and S phase.
N-terminal Domain of Yeast Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase: Recruitment of Est3p to the Telomerase Complex
Authors: Friedman Katherine L. , Heit Jeremy J. , Long David M. , Cech Thomas R.
Published: January 2003

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that maintains chromosome ends. The N-terminal half of the catalytic protein subunit (TERT) contains three functional domains (I, II, and III) that are conserved among TERTs but not found in other reverse transcriptases. Guided by an amino acid sequence alignment of nine TERT proteins, mutations were introduced into yeast TERT (Est2p). In support of the proposed alignment, mutation of virtually all conserved residues resulted in loss-of-function or temperature sensitivity, accompanied by telomere shortening. Overexpression of telomerase component Est3p led to allele-specific suppression of the temperature-sensitive mutations in region I, suggesting that Est3p interacts with this protein domain. As predicted by the genetic results, a lethal mutation in region I resulted in loss of Est3p from the telomerase complex. We conclude that Est2p region I is required for the recruitment of Est3p to yeast telomerase. Given the phylogenetic conservation of region I of TERT, this protein domain may provide the equivalent function in all telomerases.
Visualization of TGN to Endosome Trafficking through Fluorescently Labeled MPR and AP-1 in Living Cells
Authors: Waguri Satoshi , Dewitte Frédérique , Le Borgne Roland , Rouillé Yves , Uchiyama Yasuo , Dubremetz Jean-François , Hoflack Bernard
Published: January 2003

We have stably expressed in HeLa cells a chimeric protein made of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin like growth factor II receptor in order to study its dynamics in living cells. At steady state, the bulk of this chimeric protein (GFP-CI-MPR) localizes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), but significant amounts are also detected in peripheral, tubulo-vesicular structures and early endosomes as well as at the plasma membrane. Time-lapse videomicroscopy shows that the GFP-CI-MPR is ubiquitously detected in tubular elements that detach from the TGN and move toward the cell periphery, sometimes breaking into smaller tubular fragments. The formation of the TGN-derived tubules is temperature dependent, requires the presence of intact microtubule and actin networks, and is regulated by the ARF-1 GTPase. The TGN-derived tubules fuse with peripheral, tubulo-vesicular structures also containing the GFP-CI-MPR. These structures are highly dynamic, fusing with each other as well as with early endosomes. Time-lapse videomicroscopy performed on HeLa cells coexpressing the CFP-CI-MPR and the AP-1 complex whose γ-subunit was fused to YFP shows that AP-1 is present not only on the TGN and peripheral CFP-CI-MPR containing structures but also on TGN-derived tubules containing the CFP-CI-MPR. The data support the notion that tubular elements can mediate MPR transport from the TGN to a peripheral, tubulo-vesicular network dynamically connected with the endocytic pathway and that the AP-1 coat may facilitate MPR sorting in the TGN and endosomes.
TheDrosophila Cog5Homologue Is Required for Cytokinesis, Cell Elongation, and Assembly of Specialized Golgi Architecture during Spermatogenesis
Authors: Farkas Rebecca M. , Giansanti Maria Grazia , Gatti Maurizio , Fuller Margaret T.
Published: January 2003

The multisubunit conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex has been shown previously to be involved in Golgi function in yeast and mammalian tissue culture cells. Despite this broad conservation, several subunits, including Cog5, were not essential for growth and showed only mild effects on secretion when mutated in yeast, raising questions about what functions these COG complex subunits play in the life of the cell. Here, we show that function of the gene four way stop (fws), which encodes theDrosophila Cog5 homologue, is necessary for dramatic changes in cellular and subcellular morphology during spermatogenesis. Loss-of-function mutations in fws caused failure of cleavage furrow ingression in dividing spermatocytes and failure of cell elongation in differentiating spermatids and disrupted the formation and/or stability of the Golgi-based spermatid acroblast. Consistent with the lack of a growth defect in yeast lacking Cog5, animals lacking fws function were viable, although males were sterile. Fws protein localized to Golgi structures throughout spermatogenesis. We propose that Fws may directly or indirectly facilitate efficient vesicle traffic through the Golgi to support rapid and extensive increases in cell surface area during spermatocyte cytokinesis and polarized elongation of differentiating spermatids. Our study suggests that Drosophila spermatogenesis can be an effective sensitized genetic system to uncover in vivo functions for proteins involved in Golgi architecture and/or vesicle transport.
A Bni4-Glc7 Phosphatase Complex That Recruits Chitin Synthase to the Site of Bud Emergence
Authors: Kozubowski Lukasz , Panek Heather , Rosenthal Ashley , Bloecher Andrew , DeMarini Douglas J. , Tatchell Kelly
Published: January 2003

Bni4 is a scaffold protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that tethers chitin synthase III to the bud neck by interacting with septin neck filaments and with Chs4, a regulatory subunit of chitin synthase III. We show herein that Bni4 is also a limiting determinant for the targeting of the type 1 serine/threonine phosphatase (Glc7) to the bud neck. Yeast cells containing a Bni4 variant that fails to associate with Glc7 fail to tether Chs4 to the neck, due in part to the failure of Bni4V831A/F833Ato localize properly. Conversely, the Glc7-129 mutant protein fails to bind Bni4 properly and glc7-129 mutants exhibit reduced levels of Bni4 at the bud neck. Bni4 is phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner and Bni4V831A/F833Ais both hyperphosphorylated and mislocalized in vivo. Yeast cells lacking the protein kinase Hsl1 exhibit increased levels of Bni4-GFP at the bud neck. GFP-Chs4 does not accumulate at the incipient bud site in either a bni4::TRP1 or abni4V831A/F833Amutant but does mobilize to the neck at cytokinesis. Together, these results indicate that the formation of the Bni4-Glc7 complex is required for localization to the site of bud emergence and for subsequent targeting of chitin synthase.
Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Activity by Caveolin-1 and Plasma Membrane Cholesterol
Authors: Labrecque Lyne , Royal Isabelle , Surprenant David S. , Patterson Cam , Gingras Denis , Béliveau Richard
Published: January 2003

The stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) by tumor-derived VEGF represents a key event in the initiation of angiogenesis. In this work, we report that VEGFR-2 is localized in endothelial caveolae, associated with caveolin-1, and that this complex is rapidly dissociated upon stimulation with VEGF. The kinetics of caveolin-1 dissociation correlated with those of VEGF-dependent VEGFR-2 tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that caveolin-1 acts as a negative regulator of VEGF R-2 activity. Interestingly, we observed that in an overexpression system in which VEGFR-2 is constitutively active, caveolin-1 overexpression inhibits VEGFR-2 activity but allows VEGFR-2 to undergo VEGF-dependent activation, suggesting that caveolin-1 can confer ligand dependency to a receptor system. Removal of caveolin and VEGFR-2 from caveolae by cholesterol depletion resulted in an increase in both basal and VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR-2, but led to the inhibition of VEGF-induced ERK activation and endothelial cell migration, suggesting that localization of VEGFR-2 to these domains is crucial for VEGF-mediated signaling. Dissociation of the VEGFR-2/caveolin-1 complex by VEGF or cyclodextrin led to a PP2-sensitive phosphorylation of caveolin-1 on tyrosine 14, suggesting the participation of Src family kinases in this process. Overall, these results suggest that caveolin-1 plays multiple roles in the VEGF-induced signaling cascade.
Gef1p, a New Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for Cdc42p, Regulates Polarity inSchizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Coll Pedro M. , Trillo Yadira , Ametzazurra Amagoia , Perez Pilar
Published: January 2003

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc42+regulates cell morphology and polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. Scd1p/Ral1p is the only described guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Cdc42p in S. pombe. We have identified a new GEF, named Gef1p, specifically regulating Cdc42p. Gef1p binds to inactive Cdc42p but not to other Rho GTPases in two-hybrid assays. Overexpression of gef1+increases specifically the GTP-bound Cdc42p, and Gef1p is capable of stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange of Cdc42p in vitro. Overexpression ofgef1+causes changes in cell morphology similar to those caused by overexpression of the constitutively active cdc42G12V allele. Gef1p localizes to the septum. gef1+deletion is viable but causes a mild cell elongation and defects in bipolar growth and septum formation, suggesting a role for Gef1p in the control of cell polarity and cytokinesis. The double mutant gef1Δ scd1Δ is not viable, indicating that they share an essential function as Cdc42p activators. However, both deletion and overexpression of either gef1+orscd1+causes different morphological phenotypes, which suggest different functions. Genetic evidence revealed a link between Gef1p and the signaling pathway of Shk1/Orb2p and Orb6p. In contrast, no genetic interaction between Gef1p and Shk2p-Mkh1p pathway was observed.
STAT5a Activation Mediates the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Induced by Oncogenic RhoA.
Authors: Benitah Salvador Aznar , Valerón Pilar F. , Rui Hallgeir , Lacal Juan Carlos
Published: January 2003

The involvement of Rho GTPases in signal transduction pathways leading to transcription activation is one of the major roles of this family of GTPases. Thus, the identification of transcription factors regulated by Rho GTPases and the understanding of the mechanisms of their activation and its biological outcome are of great interest. Here, we provide evidence that Rho GTPases modulate Stat5a, a transcription factor of the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription. RhoA triggers tyrosine phosphorylation (Y696) of Stat5a via a JAK2-dependent mechanism and promotes DNA-binding activity of Stat5a. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5a is also stimulated physiologically by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in a Rho-dependent manner. Simultaneously, RhoA reduces serine phosphorylation of Stat5a at both serine residues S726 and S780, resulting in a further increase of activity as defined by mutagenesis experiments. Furthermore, serine dephosphorylation of Stat5a by RhoA does not take place by down-modulation of either JNK1, MEK1, or p38 MAP kinases, as determined by transfection experiments or chemical inhibition of both MEK1, p38, and JNK serine kinases. Thus, RhoA regulates Stat5a via tyrosine phosphorylation and via a yet to be determined novel down-modulating pathway that involves serine dephosphorylation. Finally, we provide evidence for a role of Stat5a in RhoA-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with concomitant increase in vimentin expression, E-cadherin down-regulation, and cell motility.
Piecemeal Microautophagy of Nucleus inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Roberts Paul , Moshitch-Moshkovitz Sharon , Kvam Erik , O'Toole Eileen , Winey Mark , Goldfarb David S.
Published: January 2003

Nucleus-vacuole (NV) junctions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are formed through specific interactions between Vac8p on the vacuole membrane and Nvj1p in the nuclear envelope. Herein, we report that NV junctions in yeast promotepiecemeal microautophagy of thenucleus (PMN). During PMN, teardrop-like blebs are pinched from the nucleus, released into the vacuole lumen, and degraded by soluble hydrolases. PMN occurs in rapidly dividing cells but is induced to higher levels by carbon and nitrogen starvation and is under the control of the Tor kinase nutrient-sensing pathway. Confocal and biochemical assays demonstrate that Nvj1p is degraded in a PMN-dependent manner. PMN occurs normally in apg7-Δcells and is, therefore, not dependent on macroautophagy. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that portions of the granular nucleolus are often sequestered into PMN structures. These results introduce a novel mode of selective microautophagy that targets nonessential components of the yeast nucleus for degradation and recycling in the vacuole.
Sam68 RNA Binding Protein Is an In Vivo Substrate for Protein ArginineN-Methyltransferase 1
Authors: Côté Jocelyn , Boisvert Franc˛ois-Michel , Boulanger Marie-Chloé , Bedford Mark T. , Richard Stéphane
Published: January 2003

RNA binding proteins often contain multiple arginine glycine repeats, a sequence that is frequently methylated by protein arginine methyltransferases. The role of this posttranslational modification in the life cycle of RNA binding proteins is not well understood. Herein, we report that Sam68, a heteronuclear ribonucleoprotein K homology domain containing RNA binding protein, associates with and is methylated in vivo by the protein arginineN-methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1). Sam68 contains asymmetrical dimethylarginines near its proline motif P3 as assessed by using a novel asymmetrical dimethylarginine-specific antibody and mass spectrometry. Deletion of the methylation sites and the use of methylase inhibitors resulted in Sam68 accumulation in the cytoplasm. Sam68 was also detected in the cytoplasm of PRMT1-deficient embryonic stem cells. Although the cellular function of Sam68 is unknown, it has been shown to export unspliced human immunodeficiency virus RNAs. Cells treated with methylase inhibitors prevented the ability of Sam68 to export unspliced human immunodeficiency virus RNAs. Other K homology domain RNA binding proteins, including SLM-1, SLM-2, QKI-5, GRP33, and heteronuclear ribonucleoprotein K were also methylated in vivo. These findings demonstrate that RNA binding proteins are in vivo substrates for PRMT1, and their methylation is essential for their proper localization and function.
Interactions amongCOX1,COX2, andCOX3mRNA-specific Translational Activator Proteins on the Inner Surface of the Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Naithani Sushma , Saracco Scott A. , Butler Christine A. , Fox Thomas D.
Published: January 2003

The core of the cytochrome c oxidase complex is composed of its three largest subunits, Cox1p, Cox2p, and Cox3p, which are encoded in mitochondrial DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and inserted into the inner membrane from the inside. Mitochondrial translation of the COX1,COX2, and COX3 mRNAs is activated mRNA specifically by the nuclearly coded proteins Pet309p, Pet111p, and the concerted action of Pet54p, Pet122p, and Pet494p, respectively. Because the translational activators recognize sites in the 5′-untranslated leaders of these mRNAs and because untranslated mRNA sequences contain information for targeting their protein products, the activators are likely to play a role in localizing translation. Herein, we report physical associations among the mRNA-specific translational activator proteins, located on the matrix side of the inner membrane. These interactions, detected by coimmune precipitation and by two-hybrid experiments, suggest that the translational activator proteins could be organized on the surface of the inner membrane such that synthesis of Cox1p, Cox2p, and Cox3p would be colocalized in a way that facilitates assembly of the core of the cytochrome c oxidase complex. In addition, we found interactions between Nam1p/Mtf2p and the translational activators, suggesting an organized delivery of mitochondrial mRNAs to the translation system.
Provision and adequacy of corporate support to male expatriate spouses
Authors: Selmer Jan , Leung Alicia S.M.
Published: January 2003

Male expatriate spouses represent a surprisingly under‐researched area, especially given the crucial importance of spousal support to ensure successful expatriate assignments and the increasing trends of both dual‐career couples and female business expatriates. To somewhat alleviate this deficiency, 46 Western female business expatriates assigned to Hong Kong responded to a mail survey. Almost half of them were married and accompanied by their husbands. The tentative results of this highly exploratory study seem to indicate that, although moderated somewhat by respondents’ perceived adequacy of the extent of corporate support, companies generally failed to support male expatriate spouses. Unfortunately, this main finding does not contradict results of what little previous research there is on the subject. This can be regarded as an early warning sign to international firms trying to globalize, since there is no reason to believe that the escalating trend of women assigned abroad will not continue, given the rising demand for business expatriates. Internationalizing firms need to introduce more corporate support for male expatriate spouses, before reluctance to act in this respect may block their global expansion.
Evidence of differences in applicant pool quality
Authors: Connerley Mary L. , Carlson Kevin D. , Mecham Ross L.
Published: January 2003

Despite general assumptions that recruitment is important to organizational success, little empiric evidence exists to confirm that different recruitment approaches lead to meaningful differences in attraction outcomes. This study begins to address this research need by examining the attraction outcomes of firms competing head‐to‐head for recruits for similar positions. Results of an analysis of 391 applicant pools representing 18 different job families suggest that applicant pool quality can vary substantially within and across job families. Utility estimates, based on the hiring of a single employee and using Grade Point Average (GPA) as a measure of applicant quality, produced differences within applicant pools for hiring a single individual valued as high as $15,000. The average difference between the highest and lowest quality applicant pools across 18 job families was $6,394.45 (SD = $3,533.20).
Managing HRM risk in a merger
Authors: Bryson Jane
Published: January 2003

Mergers are big, risky business and they frequently fail. This article reviews the literature around managing human resource management (HRM) risk in a merger. It finds that poor merger results are often attributed to HRM and organisational problems, and that several factors related to maintaining workforce stability are identified as important in managing HRM risk. Gaps are exposed in the extensive merger focused literature, particularly its lack of consideration of the role of unions and different employment relations policy approaches. The New Zealand‐based banking merger of Westpac and TrustBank is used to illustrate and explore the impact of union involvement alongside HRM initiatives, and to extend Guest's employment relations policy choices taxonomy. This article contributes an important additional dimension to a theory of managing HRM risk in a merger.
Control and autonomy among knowledge workers in sales: an employee perspective
Authors: Darr Asaf
Published: January 2003

This study focuses on control and autonomy among an emerging class of knowledge workers in sales, from the employees’ perspective. The sales engineers studied were not only technical experts, they also worked on their own in client's plants over extended periods of time, where they customised the emergent technology offered by their company. How did management control the work of the sales engineers? This paper will attempt to answer this question using ethnographic and interview material collected at a small engineering boutique. Market control emerges in this study as a central control mechanism. The sales engineers became a part of a quasi‐firm arrangement, composed of them and the client's engineers and managers, who supervised their work. Management effort to ensure detailed documentation emerges as a second control mechanism. The necessity to document created a dilemma for the sales engineers. They perceived documentation as a managerial tool designed to enhance control and limit their autonomy, but also as a professional norm.
New China – old ways?
Authors: Lewis Philip
Published: January 2003

This paper attempts to evaluate the extent to which the introduction of human resource management (HRM) practices in Chinese state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) is likely to boost the organisations’ performance in the way in which the advocates of HRM bundles claim. It has examined the organisational context of one SOE in particular and analysed the literature on people management in Chinese organisations in general. The HRM practices covered are: recruitment, selection and staffing; compensation and benefits; employee training and development; and employee relations. The paper examines the problems raised in the literature and evaluates the extent to which these seem apparent in the organisation. The study concludes that considerable caution must be exercised in assuming that the introduction of coherent bundles of HRM practices would boost organisation performance. However, the picture that emerges is not wholly depressing for the Chinese economy. A high degree of interest in management education and remarkable industry and enthusiasm among young workers provided grounds for optimism.
The relationship between career mobility and occupational expertise
Authors: van der Heijden Beatrice
Published: January 2003

The present study investigates the relationship between two career‐related variables and occupational expertise of higher‐level employees from large working organisations in three different age groups. The factors in question are: total number of jobs that have been performed; and the average period spent in each job. Survey data from 420‐higher level employees and 224 direct supervisors have been utilised. We may conclude that it is not experience as such that counts for the development of occupational expertise. We assume that it is rather the allocation of different jobs that determines competence growth. Results are considered in relation to possible explanations of the outcomes.
Employment relations in India
Authors: Budhwar Pawan S.
Published: January 2003

This paper examines the employment relations (ERs) scenario in Indian organisations. The investigation is based on a questionnaire survey of 137 Indian firms in the manufacturing sector. The analysis of existing literature highlights the role of three key actors (management, unions, and the state) in the management of ERs in Indian organisations. It also shows the significant impact of the competitive pressures created by the liberalisation of the Indian economy in the changing nature of ERs in Indian firms. The study has key implications both for academicians and for practitioners.
“On the shopfloor” with clothing workers in the 1990s
Authors: Jenkins Boggis Jean
Published: January 2003

This paper undertakes a comparative study of two large UK clothing plants in the 1990s with earlier twentieth century studies of clothing workshops undertaken in the late 1950s by Cunnison and Lupton, and in the late 1970s by Edwards and Scullion. Traditionally the clothing industry is identified with a history of low wages and poor conditions of employment. Though increasingly subject to global market pressures, research findings from this study illuminate workplaces in the 1990s with much in common with the aforementioned historical studies, offering working conditions that leave the clothing worker isolated, individualised and struggling to survive.
Linking human resource management and knowledge management via commitment
Authors: Hislop Donald
Published: January 2003

This paper contributes to the development of the knowledge management and human resource management literatures through developing the linkages between them. Increasingly it is being acknowledged that the success of knowledge management initiatives is fundamentally predicated on having workers who are prepared to share their knowledge. It is suggested that HRM concepts and frameworks could be utilized to improve our understanding of what shapes the willingness (or reluctance) of workers to share their knowledge. Specifically the paper considers how the motivation of workers to share their knowledge may be shaped by their level of organizational commitment. Guest and Conway’s model of the psychological contract is modified to link commitment with knowledge‐sharing attitudes and behaviours. Finally, it is suggested that, if commitment is linked to knowledge‐sharing attitudes, then the apparently low commitment levels reported by a number of surveys may mean this represents a key problem for knowledge management initiatives.
A model of trust in online relationship banking
Authors: Mukherjee Avinandan , Nath Prithwiraj
Published: January 2003

The role of trust encompasses the exchanges and interactions of a retail bank with its customers on various dimensions of online banking. Specifically lays stress on the bank‐to‐customer exchanges taking place through the technological interface. Hypothesizes shared value, communication and opportunistic behaviour as antecedents to trust. Trust and commitment also have a causal relationship. Proposes and empirically tests five hypotheses with a sample of 510 Internet users of various profiles in India. Develops a structural equation model (Lisrel) and establishes all hypotheses. Observes that shared value is most critical to developing trust as well as relationship commitment. Communication has a moderate influence on trust, while opportunistic behaviour has significant negative effect. Also finds higher perceived trust to enhance significantly customers’ commitment in online banking transaction. An important contribution concerns how trust is developed and sustained over different levels of customer relationship in online banking. The future commitment of the customers to online banking depends on perceived trust.
The diffusion of Internet banking among Singapore consumers
Authors: Gerrard Philip , Barton Cunningham J.
Published: January 2003

Internet banking is a form of self‐service technology, costing millions of dollars, which leading retail banks have made available in the recent past. An understanding of why users are more accepting of Internet banking services should help bank managers implement this self‐service technology. This study identifies eight characteristics which influenced the rate of adoption. Two of these characteristics, namely accessibility and confidentiality, are new to the literature. The results show that adopters of Internet banking perceive the service to be more convenient, less complex, more compatible to them and more suited to those who are PC proficient. Adopters were also found to be more financially innovative. The perceptions that adopters had about social desirability, confidentiality, accessibility and economic benefits were viewed no differently when adopters were compared with non‐adopters.
Relationship quality, on‐line banking and the information technology gap
Authors: Lang Bodo , Colgate Mark
Published: January 2003

In a world of escalating competitiveness, information technology (IT), such as online banking, and relationship marketing are becoming increasingly important to marketers. This paper investigates the impact of IT in a relationship marketing context. In particular it focuses on how customers use a combination of IT channels to interact with their financial service provider and how this interaction affects the relationship quality between the customer and the financial service provider. This study provides empirical evidence that indicates that those customers who do not exhibit an “IT gap” have more positive perceptions of their relationship with their financial service provider. These findings suggest that firms that fail to provide channels that their customers seek and value will find it more difficult to forge strong relationships with their customers – a critical condition for success in many of today’s industries.
Media perceptions and their impact on Web site quality
Authors: Lassar Walfried M. , Dandapani Krishnan
Published: January 2003

The growth of the Internet has created an explosion of sites that seek to provide information and conduct business transactions. The service industry and especially online banking stand to gain from that development. This study, anchored in the marketing, social psychology, media, and information systems literature, investigates how users perceive the Internet’s abilities to conduct banking activities. Results show variation in media perceptions for the same online banking site across various task environments. The results indicate that user perceptions of the Internet medium depend on task complexity and that technology can serve as a mitigating factor to improve media and quality perception.
Misplaced marketing “It hurts. Fix It.” The patients’ lament and unhealthy medical care marketing
Authors: Rotfeld Herbert Jack
Published: January 2003

Focuses on the dilemma for health care professionals of providing customer satisfaction without being significantly influenced by the advertising claims of pharmaceutical manufacturers and other commercial concerns. Notes that marketing could be a tool for encouraging patients to be more involved in their own health care, resulting in a possible doctor‐patient therapeutic alliance of joint decision making toward a goal of long‐term improved health. Also notes that there are limits to the benefits of seeing medicine as a business in the strictest sense of the word. Warns that, in health care, the customer does not always know best.
Consumer preferences for commercial Web site design: an Asia‐Pacific perspective
Authors: Yang Xia , Ahmed Zafar U. , Ghingold Morry , Sock Boon Goh , Su Mei Tham , Lee Hwa Lim
Published: January 2003

Given that even modest increases in customer satisfaction and retention typically translate into significant gains in revenues and profits, many businesses are using the Internet to expand their reach, improve customer service and develop and maintain closer relationships with their customers. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) software enables marketers to offer online interactions that are customizable to the individual customer, allowing online marketers to better match their offerings and the online experience to consumers’ needs, wants and preferences, even in markets with millions of prospects and customers. Thus, a successful Web site can be instrumental in its impact on the marketing effectiveness of a firm and significantly add to the bottom line. Yet, in order to determine what constitutes a successful Web site, one must be able to understand how users perceive and utilize it. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted to assess consumer perceptions and preferences for commercial Web sites. To address the paucity of e‐commerce research undertaken in the Asia‐Pacific region, as compared to Western countries, the data were collected in Singapore. The attracting, informing, positioning, and delivering (AIPD) model provided the conceptual foundation for the research. Survey findings reveal that Singaporean consumers have distinct preferences when visiting commercial Web sites, ranking security and privacy as their most valued attributes, for example. In contrast, cross‐marketing, via banner advertising and affiliate programs, were least valued. Many other features of Web sites were evaluated. Managerial and research implications of the study are then discussed.
An empirical examination of automobile lease vs finance motivational processes
Authors: Trocchia Philip J. , Beatty Sharon E.
Published: January 2003

This research study explores the growing phenomenon of consumption without ownership by addressing individuals’ motivations for leasing, rather than financing, products. A two‐phase study was conducted in the retail automotive industry in order to ascertain motives for consumer leasing. It was found that while all hypothesized motives were predictors of the lease/finance decision (including desire for gratification and desire for social approval), two variables – desire for variety and desire for simplified maintenance – emerged as the best predictors of whether an individual chooses to lease or finance his/her motor vehicle. Implications for marketers and academicians are discussed.
Currency changeover effects on business management in the EU
Authors: Rickards Robert C.
Published: January 2003

The euro’s introduction initially confronts a firm with a currency changeover problem affecting its accounting and reporting systems. The company’s controller can solve this initial problem by means of an electronic data processing project. For the project’s duration, it is crucial to maintain reporting transparency by providing for successive transition of accounting subsystems from the national currency to the euro. Yet, with barely six months remaining until national currencies cease to be legal tender, few firms have prepared their accounting systems for conversion to the euro. Moreover, switching currencies constitutes just a small part of a far larger, complex set of related problems. That is because the common currency’s introduction also influences many business parameters of differing importance to management. Generalized checklists help managers little in dealing with the specific impacts such influences may have on an enterprise. Accordingly, the controller must identify the relative importance and sequence of changes necessary in each of the firm’s functional areas. The euro’s introduction furthermore represents an opportunity for management to modernize the company’s IT structures and to start using both the Internet and data warehouses.
Modeling the enterprising character of European firms
Authors: Ribeiro Soriano Domingo
Published: January 2003

In an increasingly globalized economy, innovation pursuing the speeding up of technological changes takes a renewed interest. In this study, we attempt to show those characteristics and variables that make businesses successful, especially innovative small and medium‐sized enterprises. The article focuses on this business sector because the contribution of it to employment generation, wealth distribution and economy appraisal is frequently set to the fore in current political and economic debate. A study of 408 businesses, according to data from the European Commission and the Spanish Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial – Center for Industrial and Technological Development – (year 1999), will enable the modeling of this success.
A comparison of the financial characteristics of group affiliated and independent firms in Turkey
Authors: Gunduz Lokman , Tatoglu Ekrem
Published: January 2003

This study delineates overall financial characteristics of the Turkish non‐financial firms listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange across a variety of ownership variables. It essentially compares the performance of affiliates of diversified Turkish business groups with that of unaffiliated firms. The article notes that firms affiliated with diversified Turkish business groups do not differ significantly from unaffiliated firms in terms of accounting and stock market measures of performance. The findings also indicate that the performance measures of family‐owned firms are not significantly different from those of non‐family‐owned firms. Results also suggest that foreign‐owned firms perform significantly better in terms of return on assets than domestic firms, but not in terms of other performance measures.
Constituent market orientation and ownership of virtual marketplaces
Authors: Love Terence , Tellefsen Bryn
Published: January 2003

This paper applies new empirically‐based knowledge in the area of constituent market orientation to a seven‐element taxonometric model of virtual organisation. The most effective distribution of resources and management attention in the development of combinations of real and virtual business solutions is identified for each of the seven alternative configurations. The paper concludes with a list of key concepts that offer owners and managers of virtual organisations analytically based heuristics founded on cross‐sectoral empirical research.
ICT‐enabled organisations: a model for change management
Authors: Gardner Scott , Ash Colin G.
Published: January 2003

Presents a preliminary framework for making sense of and managing change in organisations that have adopted information systems and e‐commerce as a core element of their business strategy. Argues that the relatively low level of organisational benefits realised by typical strategic information technology interventions over the past decade is often a product of poor adoption and implementation practices on the part of senior managers and IT practitioners, who have failed to understand the non‐linear and emergent nature of change in complex organisations. Argues that a clear understanding of the dynamics of change at the people/technology interface, and the symbiotic relationship between information systems and strategy, is a prerequisite for the successful business benefits realisation for major IT and e‐business projects. Distils lessons learned from reflections on theories‐in‐use and practice into a basic model for senior managers and IT practitioners.
A decision chart for small business Web site content
Authors: Sandy Geoffrey , Burgess Stephen
Published: January 2003

Describes some research that is designed to help businesses to maximise the application of Internet technology to add value to their product or service. Uses the type of consumer good as a basis to develop a decision chart to help organisations to identify ways of adding value to a consumer good using Internet technology. Provides a classification scheme that businesses can examine in relation to their goods. Follows a path which leads to the suggested Internet features that provide added value for the consumer. A study involving small business consultants found that the initial chart had its limitations, and needed to be simplified so that it could be understood by small businesses and would be versatile enough to be applicable to firms with a number of different goods. Their suggestions have been incorporated in the updated decision chart. Anticipates that the chart can be used to provide organisations with a structured approach to determining suitable Web site features.
How intimate are Australian e‐business retail supply chains?
Authors: Mackay David R. , Altmann Graeme L. , McMichael Hamish
Published: January 2003

The adoption of electronic commerce strategies is becoming an important means of assisting industries, and indeed whole economies, to gain significant net benefits. The extent to which e‐commerce‐based strategies, such as quick response and efficient consumer response, might have an effect on local economies depends in part on how readily they are being adopted. The dominant form of adoption of these strategies is to be found in the business‐to‐business forms of e‐commerce. To be successful, business partners must be in a position to develop customer intimacy through sharing of information, to improve their stock replenishment practices, and enhance their levels of online customer support. This paper presents the initial results of a national survey completed in the retail sector of the Australian economy, that assesses how well Australian industry is responding to these e‐commerce challenges.
The Internet, e‐commerce and older people: an actor‐network approach to researching reasons for adoption and use
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Lepa Jerzy
Published: January 2003

Many older people are discovering the Internet, and some are also making good use of electronic commerce and all that goes with it. Others, however, are not adopting these technologies. This paper questions why some older people adopt Internet technologies while others do not, and offers a research framework, based on actor‐network theory, for investigating adoption of Internet technologies by older people. In this paper, innovation translation is used to illustrate how specific cases of adoption have occurred. Innovation translation presents a different view of innovation than the better‐known theory of innovation diffusion, but one that the authors argue is better suited for research in socio‐technical situations like this.