bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinase activity of the dgk gene product is involved in the virulence of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Shibata Yukie , van der Ploeg Jan R. , Kozuki Takeshi , Shirai Yasuhito , Saito Naoaki , Kawada-Matsuo Miki , Takeshita Toru , Yamashita Yoshihisa
Published: February 2009

C-terminal deletion of the diacylglycerol kinase (Dgk) homologue of the cariogenic oral bacteriumStreptococcus mutansresulted in loss of aciduricity. To confirm the role of the C terminus of the Dgk homologue in aciduricity, various mutants ofS. mutansUA159 with a C-terminally truncated Dgk homologue were constructed. The deletion of one or two amino acid residues at the C terminus had no effect on the acid-tolerance properties of mutants. When further amino acid residues at the C terminus were removed, mutants became more acid-sensitive. The mutant with deletion of eight amino acid residues at the C terminus did not grow at pH 5.5, suggesting that the C-terminal tail of the Dgk homologue was indispensable for tolerance to acid stress inS. mutans. Kinase activity assays revealed that deletion of the C-terminal amino acids of Dgk led to a reduction of kinase activity for undecaprenol. A truncated mutant that had completely lost kinase activity was unable to grow at pH 5.5. These results suggest that the acid tolerance ofS. mutansis closely related to kinase activity of the Dgk homologue. Additionally, thedgkdeletion mutant exhibited markedly reduced levels of smooth-surface carious lesions in pathogen-free rats, despite there being no difference between the mutant and the parental organism in the extent of total smooth surface plaque. The results suggest that Dgk activity may play a direct role in the virulence ofS. mutans.
Production of a unique pneumococcal capsule serotype belonging to serogroup 6
Authors: Bratcher Preston E. , Park In H. , Hollingshead Susan K. , Nahm Moon H.
Published: February 2009

Serogroup 6 of Streptococcus pneumoniae contains three serotypes, named 6A, 6B and 6C, with highly homologous capsule gene loci. The 6A and 6B capsule gene loci consistently differ from each other by only one nucleotide in the wciP gene. The 6A capsule gene locus has a galactosyltransferase, which has been replaced with a glucosyltransferase in the 6C capsule gene locus. We considered that a new serotype named ‘6X1’ would be possible if the galactosyltransferase of the 6B capsule gene locus is replaced with the glucosyltransferase of 6C. We demonstrate that this gene transfer yields a viable pneumococcal strain and that the capsular polysaccharide (PS) from this strain has the predicted chemical structure and serological similarity to the capsular PS of the 6B serotype. The new strain (i.e. serotype 6X1) is typed as 6B by the quellung reaction, but it can be distinguished from 6B strains with mAbs to 6B PS. Reexamination of 264 pneumococcal isolates that had been previously typed as 6B with classical typing methods revealed no isolates expressing serotype 6X1. Nevertheless, this study shows that this capsular PS is biochemically possible and could exist/emerge in nature.
Regulation of streptokinase expression by CovR/S in Streptococcus pyogenes: CovR acts through a single high-affinity binding site
Authors: Churchward Gordon , Bates Christopher , Gusa Asiya A. , Stringer Virginia , Scott June R.
Published: February 2009

The important human pathogenStreptococcus pyogenes(the group A streptococcus or GAS) produces many virulence factors that are regulated by the two-component signal transduction system CovRS (CsrRS). Dissemination of GAS infection originating at the skin has been shown to require production of streptokinase, whose transcription is repressed by CovR. In this work we have studied the interaction of CovR and phosphorylated CovR (CovR-P) with the promoter for streptokinase, Pska. We found that, in contrast to the other CovR-repressed promoters, Pskaregulation by CovR occurs through binding at a single ATTARA consensus binding sequence (CB) that overlaps the −10 region of the promoter. Binding of CovR to other nearby consensus sequences occurs upon phosphorylation of the protein, but these other CBs do not contribute to the regulation of Pskaby CovR. Thus, binding at a specific site does not necessarily indicate that the site is involved in regulation by CovR. In addition, at Pska, CovR binding to the different sites does not appear to involve cooperative interactions, which simplifies the analysis of CovR binding and gives us insight into the modes of interaction that occur between CovR and its specific DNA-binding sites. Finally, the observation that regulation of transcription from Pskaoccurs at a very low concentration of phosphorylated CovR may have important implications for the regulation of virulence gene expression during GAS infection.
Glycosylation and biogenesis of a family of serine-rich bacterial adhesins
Authors: Zhou Meixian , Wu Hui
Published: February 2009

Glycosylation of bacterial proteins is an important process for bacterial physiology and pathophysiology. BothO- andN-linked glycan moieties have been identified in bacterial glycoproteins. TheN-linked glycosylation pathways are well established in Gram-negative bacteria. However, theO-linked glycosylation pathways are not well defined due to the complex nature of knownO-linked glycoproteins in bacteria. In this review, we examine a new family of serine-richO-linked glycoproteins which are represented by fimbriae-associated adhesin Fap1 ofStreptococcus parasanguinisand human platelet-binding protein GspB ofStreptococcus gordonii. This family of glycoproteins is conserved in streptococcal and staphylococcal species. A gene cluster coding for glycosyltransferases and accessory Sec proteins has been implicated in the protein glycosylation. A two-step glycosylation model is proposed. Two glycosyltransferases interact with each other and catalyse the first step of the protein glycosylation in the cytoplasm; the cross-talk between glycosylation-associated proteins and accessory Sec components mediates the second step of the protein glycosylation, an emerging mechanism for bacterialO-linked protein glycosylation. Dissecting the molecular mechanism of this conserved biosynthetic pathway offers opportunities to develop new therapeutic strategies targeting this previously unrecognized pathway, as serine-rich glycoproteins have been shown to play a role in bacterial pathogenesis.
GFP plasmid-induced defects in Salmonella invasion depend on plasmid architecture, not protein expression
Authors: Clark Leann , Martinez-Argudo Isabel , Humphrey Tom J. , Jepson Mark A.
Published: February 2009

We have investigated the impact of plasmids and GFP expression on invasion of cultured epithelial cells by Salmonella enterica Typhimurium strain SL1344. The invasiveness of SL1344 carrying plasmids derived from pBR322, encoding promoterless GFP or constitutively expressed rpsM-GFP, was compared under optimal growth conditions with that of SL1344(pBR322), unmodified SL1344 and a strain with chromosome-integrated rpsM-GFP. The strain carrying pBR322 exhibited normal invasion, but the presence of modified plasmids impaired invasiveness, and impairment was exacerbated by plasmid-encoded chloramphenicol resistance (CmR). Using a different antibiotic resistance marker, kanamycin (KmR), did not impair invasiveness. Despite the effect of plasmid-encoded CmR, the strain containing chromosomally encoded GFP, also carrying a CmR gene, was as invasive as the wild-type. To investigate the mechanism by which plasmid carriage decreases invasion, we monitored SPI-1 gene expression using prgH promoter activity as an index of SPI-1 activity. An SL1344 strain with a chromosome-integrated prgH : : gfp reporter construct exhibited lower GFP expression during exponential phase when carrying plasmids incorporating CmR or gfp, mirroring invasion data. These data provide evidence that suppression of SPI-1 gene expression is a major factor in the loss of invasiveness associated with plasmid carriage. Our findings also indicate that some plasmids, especially those carrying CmR
, should be used with caution, as virulence traits and gene expression may be affected by their presence. Integration of reporter proteins into the bacterial chromosome, however, appears to circumvent the adverse effects observed with plasmids.
Insights from a novel p53 isoform in zebrafish want to reel us in, but will we take the bait?: Figure 1.
Authors: Manfredi James J.
Published: February 2009

The p53 tumor suppressor has been reported to be expressed as multiple isoforms. In this issue of Genes & Development, Chen and colleagues (pp. 278–290) use a zebrafish model to show that one such isoform, Δ113p53, is a target for transcriptional activation by p53 and can, in turn, inhibit the activity of the full-length p53 protein, establishing a novel negative feedback loop centered on the p53 locus itself. The challenge will be to determine whether these intriguing results in zebrafish will pave the way for new insights into several perplexing issues in p53 biology that will impact human disease.
The Short-Rooted Phenotype of thebrevis radixMutant Partly Reflects Root Abscisic Acid Hypersensitivity
Authors: Rodrigues Americo , Santiago Julia , Rubio Silvia , Saez Angela , Osmont Karen S. , Gadea Jose , Hardtke Christian S. , Rodriguez Pedro L.
Published: February 2009

To gain further insight into abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and its role in growth regulation, we have screened for Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants hypersensitive to ABA-mediated root growth inhibition. As a result, we have identified a loss-of-function allele of BREVIS RADIX (BRX) in the Columbia background, named brx-2, which shows enhanced response to ABA-mediated inhibition of root growth. BRX encodes a key regulator of cell proliferation and elongation in the root, which has been implicated in the brassinosteroid (BR) pathway as well as in the regulation of auxin-responsive gene expression. Mutants affected in BR signaling that are not impaired in root growth, such as bes1-D, bzr1-D, and bsu1-D, also showed enhanced sensitivity to ABA-mediated inhibition of root growth. Triple loss-of-function mutants affected in PP2Cs, which act as negative regulators of ABA signaling, showed impaired root growth in the absence of exogenous ABA, indicating that disturbed regulation of ABA sensitivity impairs root growth. In agreement with this result, diminishing ABA sensitivity of brx-2 by crossing it with a 35S:HAB1 ABA-insensitive line allowed significantly higher recovery of root growth after brassinolide treatment. Finally, transcriptomic analysis revealed that ABA treatment negatively affects auxin signaling in wild-type and brx-2 roots and that ABA response is globally altered in brx-2. Taken together, our results reveal an interaction between BRs, auxin, and ABA in the control of root growth and indicate that altered sensitivity to ABA is partly responsible for the brx short-root phenotype.
Combining solution wide-angle X-ray scattering and crystallography: determination of molecular envelope and heavy-atom sites
Authors: Hong Xinguo , Hao Quan
Published: February 2009

Solving the phase problem remains central to crystallographic structure determination. A six-dimensional search method of molecular replacement (FSEARCH) can be used to locate a low-resolution molecular envelope determined from small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) within the crystallographic unit cell. This method has now been applied using the higher-resolution envelope provided by combining SAXS and WAXS (wide-angle X-ray scattering) data. The method was tested on horse hemoglobin, using the most probable model selected from a set of a dozen bead models constructed from SAXS/WAXS data using the programGASBORat 5 Å resolution (qmax= 1.25 Å−1) to phase a set of single-crystal diffraction data. It was found that inclusion of WAXS data is essential for correctly locating the molecular envelope in the crystal unit cell, as well as for locating heavy-atom sites. An anomalous difference map was calculated using phases out to 8 Å resolution from the correctly positioned envelope; four distinct peaks at the 3.2σ level were identified, which agree well with the four iron sites of the known structure (Protein Data Bank code 1ns9). In contrast, no peaks could be found close to the iron sites if the molecular envelope was constructed using the data from SAXS alone (qmax= 0.25 Å−1). The initial phases can be used as a starting point for a variety of phase-extension techniques, successful application of which will result in complete phasing of a crystallographic data set and determination of the internal structure of a macromolecule to atomic resolution. It is anticipated that the combination ofFSEARCHand WAXS techniques will facilitate the initial structure determination of proteins and provide a good foundation for further structure refinement.
Full‐text articles: faculty perceptions, student use, and citation abuse
Authors: Imler Bonnie , Hall Russell A.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek to explore faculty perceptions versus actual student usage of print and online, full‐text articles.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were given to faculty and their students at four Penn State campuses. Both the six‐question instructor survey and the 11‐question student survey related to article retrieval for one particular class assignment.

Findings

Data gathered from the surveys surprisingly indicated that faculty are overestimating student use of online articles and underestimating their use of print. This study also showed that a majority of students will reject an article that is not available online in full‐text.

Research limitations/implications

In this study there was a discrepancy between students stating that they knew to cite online sources differently from print sources, and faculty stating that they could tell the percentage of online articles used from their students' bibliographies. In future studies, more of an emphasis would be placed on measuring faculty knowledge of citing online resources.

Practical implications

This paper could be used to support the continued purchase of print resources. It could also be used to support the need for faculty to keep current on citing new technological formats and instructing their students on the same.

Originality/value

This study was conceived in an attempt to statistically verify not only faculty perceptions of full‐text use, but also librarians' perceptions of faculty and student article practices. While a literature search produced several studies on faculty perceptions of internet usage, few were found that touched specifically on full‐text articles.
Optimizing PCB assembly for family setup strategy
Authors: Wu Yongzhong , Ji P. , Ho William
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimization for a placement machine in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly when family setup strategy is adopted.

Design/methodology/approach

A complete mathematical model is developed for the integrated problem to optimize feeder arrangement and component placement sequences so as to minimize the makespan for a set of PCB batches. Owing to the complexity of the problem, a specific genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed.

Findings

The established model is able to find the minimal makespan for a set of PCB batches through determining the feeder arrangement and placement sequences. However, exact solutions to the problem are not practical due to the complexity. Experimental tests show that the proposed GA can solve the problem both effectively and efficiently.

Research limitations/implications

When a placement machine is set up for production of a set of PCB batches, the feeder arrangement of the machine together with the component placement sequencing for each PCB type should be solved simultaneously so as to minimize the overall makespan.

Practical implications

The paper investigates the optimization for PCB assembly with family setup strategy, which is adopted by many PCB manufacturers for reducing both setup costs and human errors.

Originality/value

The paper investigates the feeder arrangement and placement sequencing problems when family setup strategy is adopted, which has not been studied in the literature.
Gender differences in US performance measures for personnel selection
Authors: McKinney Arlise P. , Miles Angela
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine academic performance measures commonly used in personnel selection contexts and associated gender‐based differences in these measures. This work specifically examines the extent to which gender‐based group differences exist in these data that may influence employment outcomes differentially for men and women.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data available from academic institutions with a sample of nearly 4,000 prospective applicants, gender‐based group differences were evaluated in academic performance measures commonly used in personnel selection. Group differences were evaluated with a commonly used metric of a d‐value to reflect the magnitude of these differences.

Findings

Women and men yield differential scores on standardized vs non‐standardized assessments. Women consistently scored lower on standardized assessments yet scored highest on academic performance outcomes. Women are more likely to experience adverse impact when standardized assessments are used in selection decisions; however men are more likely to have adverse impact when academic performance is used.

Practical implications

Organizations may inadvertently create entry barriers depending on the assessment and the format used and whether or not group differences exist in measures.

Originality/value

Academic performance measures are frequently used in personnel selection, yet have received little attention in selection research and this study seeks to address this gap.
Being a successful and valuable peer reviewer
Authors: Lee Nick , Greenley Gordon
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to announce the winners of the EJM Reviewer of the Year awards, and also to make some observations about successful and effective practice in reviewing scholarly work.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw from their own experience as reviewers, authors, and editors to provide a set of considerations for those involved in the review process.

Findings

The authors propose a set of guidelines for reviewers who wish to make the most of their role in the scientific method.

Research limitations/implications

These thoughts are preliminary, and are drawn from personal experiences rather than a wide‐ranging survey of stakeholders.

Practical implications

Marketing researchers should ensure that they understand their role in the scholarly reviewing process, and that they provide timely and constructive comments on their areas of expertise.

Originality/value

This piece should offer marketing researchers considerable value in the context of their own efforts, both as authors and reviewer.
Effects of size, market and strategic orientation on innovation in non‐high‐tech manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Laforet Sylvie
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of size, strategic orientation and market orientation on innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A mail survey was conducted on a random sample of 60 South Yorkshire non‐high‐tech small, medium‐sized manufacturing enterprises. A hypothesised model, stating company size, strategic and market orientation affect innovation was tested using multiple linear regression analysis.

Findings

The results confirm customer orientation has a positive effect on innovation at product, process and organisational level. While it was found size and strategic orientation have an effect on process innovation. Size also has an impact on strategic orientation and strategic orientation on market orientation. Overall, medium‐sized firms are prospectors and small firms, defenders. Prospectors are customer focused while defenders are competitors and environmental/technology‐led. Process innovation is important to defenders. The findings reiterate that customers are the drivers for organisational innovation; while firms' strategic orientation determines their market orientation.

Originality/value

This paper addresses a gap in the literature by that showing size, strategic orientation and market orientation are interrelated and, that customer orientation has a direct impact on innovation the most.
Children's impact on innovation decision making
Authors: Götze Elisabeth , Prange Christiane , Uhrovska Iveta
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyse children's impact on innovation decision making empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a diary study with 14 parents depicting their experiences with regard to the topic of interest over a period of two weeks.

Findings

Children's influence is stronger in earlier stages of the innovation buying process, based on different communication strategies with differing effects on their parents' purchasing behaviour.

Practical implications

This paper helps marketers tailor appropriate marketing and innovation strategies. Special attention is given to the familial dynamics in the innovation decision‐making process. This is to prevent inter‐family conflicts fuelled by the children's requests.

Originality/value

This is one of the first attempts to test Rogers' innovation‐decision process. Moreover, despite its many bonuses, the diary method has rarely been applied in the context of familial purchase decision making.
Path dependence and path creation
Authors: Caron Marie‐Andrée , Turcotte Marie‐France B.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze so‐called sustainability, corporate social responsibility or citizenship reports, as artefacts of a compromise between an institutional entrepreneur (IE), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and companies. Some companies take on this invitation but to which extent the information they produce as a result corresponds to the ideal promoted by the IE?

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of ten reports from Canadian companies were analyzed using a combination of deductive and inductive coding techniques. The discourse and pictures were analyzed to identify whether they represent path creation (adherence to the sustainability ideal) or path dependence (the expression of traditional business interests and practices).

Findings

The study findings show that companies adopt the sustainability reporting guideline and ideal promoted by IE, but only partially. Path dependence and path creation are in tension, a condition typical of innovative processes according to the actor network theory (ANT) framework. It suggests that the market for sustainability information is under construction.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is that it examines voluntary disclosure of social and environmental performance by companies, using the notion of IE from the neo‐institutionalist theory, as well as the innovation model from the ANT. The originality of the paper also lies in its methodology – particularly the use of a mixed method—including the composition of “poems” with “verses” extracted from the corporate reports.
The advent of twenty‐first century library services
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: February 2009

Purpose

This column aims to examine the issue of modular library technology infrastructure, and how it can help libraries to offer more flexible services to patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

This column is exploratory, and looks at the pros and cons of various technology approaches to digital library services.

Findings

In order to remain flexible with regard to the evolving needs of patrons, libraries should seriously consider a technology model which would allow the digital library to offer more responsive services to patrons. It is suggested that a deeper look at service‐oriented architecture (SOA) design principles as opposed to the standard model of large monolithic systems be examined and adopted.

Originality/value

This column offers alternatives in the area of digital library services, and focuses primarily on the possibilities rendered by service‐oriented architectures and robust web services.
The GNU/Linux desktop: an open access primer for libraries
Authors: Delozier Eric P.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the GNU/Linux operating system, with special attention to its use as a desktop computing platform in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the connection between libraries and the open source communities. It provides a model for an open source desktop computer that incorporates the needs of libraries. Specific topics covered include the graphical desktop, office productivity, electronic mail, web browsing and viewers, and public access computing.

Findings

It is possible to model a desktop computer around open source software, however the ultimate decision on whether to proceed must be measured against potential costs, governing policies, and organizational cultures.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the improvement, growth, and development of the library and open source communities.
Establishing a central open access fund
Authors: Cockerill Matthew
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide detailed information on how the University of Nottingham established a central fund to pay for open access publication of research coming out of the university in direct response to mandates from research funders.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study looks into the steps taken by the University of Nottingham to establish a central, institutional fund for the payment of article processing charges (APC) for open access publications. It also examines the initialisation of processes to support investigators at the university in disseminating their research to a global community. The materials included in the case study were the result of interviews with key stakeholders and the review of policy documents from the university.

Findings

The case study demonstrates that a great deal of cooperation among departments is needed in order to establish a central fund for open access publishing.

Research limitations/implications

The University of Nottingham Central Fund is one of the earliest such funds. While this case study provides an excellent road map for establishing future funds, some challenges will be peculiar to individual institutions.

Originality/value

The paper provides detailed information on how a central fund to pay for open access publication of research coming out of a university in direct response to mandates from research funders can be established.
Measuring and mapping team interaction
Authors: Lingham Tony , Richley Bonnie A. , Serlavos Ricard S.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is four‐fold: to highlight the emerging stream of team interaction in research; to present a methodology to measure and map out team interaction; to compare team interaction between US and Spanish MBA teams so as to identify any differences between the two cultures; and to propose team interaction focused programs in educational institutions and organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a quantitative research design and administered a survey that captures ten aspects of team interaction in four major dimensions to 32 US MBA teams (n  =   176) and 31 Spanish MBA teams (n  =   152) engaged in the same group exercise and used ANOVA analysis to compare the two groups.

Findings

The findings show that the US and Spanish teams differ only in the diverging dimension of their actual team interaction (F  =   26.42,p  <  0.000). A comparative analysis of the ideal team interaction show that both MBA samples desire increased levels of the diverging (F  =   37.7,p <  0.000) and recursiveness (F  =   23.65,p  <   0.000) dimensions.

Practical implications

The study provides a methodology and highlights the significance of employing a team interaction perspective for team learning and development programs in educational and organizational settings.

Originality/value

The paper presents team interaction along four major dimensions – divergent, convergent, status and recursiveness – and provides a brief overview of the theory of Conversational Learning. The approach used in this study contributes to this emerging stream of team research and presents the significance of focusing on the social‐emotional aspects of team interaction in educational and organizational team development programs.
The interactive effect of collectivism and organizational rewards on affective organizational commitment
Authors: Williamson Ian O. , Burnett Meredith F. , Bartol Kathryn M.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an interactionist framework for examining how the cultural dimension of collectivism interacts with workplace attributes to influence organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

These issues are studied by using a longitudinal survey to examine the development of affective organizational commitment by a racially diverse set of young professionals in the USA.

Findings

Consistent with predictions, results showed a significant two‐way interaction between the cultural dimension of collectivism and organizational rewards on employees’ commitment.

Research limitations/implications

These results suggest that research may benefit from the development of theory that simultaneously considers the role that workplace attributes and cultural values play in shaping organizational commitment.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggest that organizations may increase existing employees’ commitment by strategically managing the types of rewards they provide to employees with different cultural values.

Originality/value

While an extensive amount of research has been conducted on affective organizational commitment, the question of whether employees’ cultural values influence commitment formation is still largely unanswered. Thus, this study provides initial evidence on the interactive effect of culture and rewards on the formation of employee commitment.
Managerial perspectives on HRM in Nigeria: evolving hybridization?
Authors: Azolukwam Veronica A. , Perkins Stephen J.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine managerial opinion regarding human resource management (HRM) practices in eastern Nigeria (western Africa).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is informed by a survey administered to a small sample of Nigerian HR practitioners (n = 50 usable responses, 25 per cent response rate), replicating earlier work in different regions of the same country.

Findings

Nigerian HR practitioners appear open to people management practices under the HRM rubric. But rather than predicting convergence with western‐inspired approaches, evidence suggests that cultural and institutional influences on how normative HRM may be interpreted and acted on may result in a blend of transplanted and indigenous managerial behaviour.

Practical implications

Sensitivity to individuals’ socialization as well as economic, historical, political, and social contexts may enable multinational organizations to capitalize on the potential to transplant forms of HRM from parent country cultures to developing countries such as Nigeria, at least among managerial employees.

Originality/value

The paper augments and builds on limited empirically informed research to date on people management issues in African country contexts, helping to ground consideration of abstract debates in the literature around convergence and divergence in culturally and institutionally embedded managerial practice.
Extent to which financial services compensation scheme can pursue claims assigned to it by investors whom it has compensated
Authors: Gray Joanna
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The paper's aim is to report and comment on two preliminary issues that arose from claims being pursued by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) against Abbey National Treasury Services (ANTS) and NDF Administration Ltd (NDF).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines the facts and explains the decision.

Findings

The FSCS commenced action against ANTS as assignee of the assigned claims and alleged that ANTS had collaborated with NDF in product development and promotion of the Structured Capital at Risk Products and was liable in negligence and misrepresentation to the investors whose claims it held as assignee. Having considered the arguments, the Judge concluded that FSA did have power to make rules enabling FSCS to take assignment of investor claims.

Originality/value

The issues in this case go to the heart of the funding mechanism of the FSCS. The financing of such compensation schemes is a perennially controversial issue in every jurisdiction that has them.
Benchmarking of thesis research: a case study
Authors: Shahalizadeh Mohammad , Amirjamshidi Grannaz , Shahalizadeh Solmaz
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process of the thesis research in the industrial engineering related master's programmes in Chalmers University of Technology for benchmarking implementation in Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch (IAU‐STB), taking into consideration the different conditions of two universities and respective countries of Sweden and Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, case study strategy was employed. In total, 17 thesis reports from 2003 to 2006 and other related published/web‐based documents were studied to explore the theses' execution procedure, research method and report organization. To gain primary data, some interviews were carried out. Qualitative research method, along with descriptive statistical method was used to illustrate structural points.

Findings

The results of the study help to develop group work in thesis execution, to identify the role of qualitative strategy in industrial engineering research, and to adopt a flexible approach in organization of thesis report provided that some mandatory regulations are followed. In addition, it helps to build research‐oriented inter disciplinary departments vs traditional education‐oriented departments on the basis of the requirements of ongoing socio‐economic processes in national economy.

Research limitations/implications

The acquired knowledge has been partly adapted and adopted by departments of industrial engineering in IAU‐STB. The main implication is the need to explore how the entire industrial engineering departments (IEDs) in Iranian universities can efficiently and effectively adapt and adopt such knowledge for thesis research.

Practical implications

This work provides effective assistance for IEDs in Iranian universities embarking on their benchmarking journey on thesis research.

Originality/value

This study represents a knowledge gap and offers practical help to IEDs in Iranian universities to leverage the skills and expertise of their faculty members together with the talents of their students and consequently to maintain and enhance their thesis research capability.
Benchmarking Six Sigma application in Brazil
Authors: Augusto Cauchick Miguel Paulo , Marcos Andrietta João
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present part of the results from a survey on Six Sigma, more specifically to identify the best practices in the use of the Six Sigma methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in an exploratory‐descriptive survey on Six Sigma adoption in companies operating in Brazil. Then, the paper presents and discusses best practices in Six Sigma application.

Findings

The results point out relevant aspects related to the professionals involved with the program, the number of projects developed per year, as well as the return on investments made by companies. It is concluded that a good proportion of respondents adopt best practices according to the literature, but the subject needs a more detailed investigation of the financial benefits achieved with its application.

Research limitations/implications

It is important to stress that the importance of some of these exemplary aspects vary with the type of company but, overall, they might be generalised within the sample.

Practical implications

The results show that there are relevant points when applying Six Sigma that should be considered by companies interested in adopting it.

Originality/value

As the application of Six Sigma is relatively recent and there is little data published about its utilisation in a developing country, it is important to expand knowledge on this subject. The best practices identified in this paper may be useful to Six Sigma users and academics.
Excellent patient environments within acute NHS trusts
Authors: Macdonald Rachel , Price Ilfryn , Askham Phil
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible common factors in 15 Acute Hospital Trusts in the UK that achieved excellent scores at all their sites in four years of national Patient Environment audits.

Design/methodology/approach

A desk‐based study tested for external factors, organisational commonalities or particular contractual arrangements which the sample might have in common. A second piece of work was then undertaken; an ethnographic study that examined the behaviours exhibited by 22 managers in six of the trusts. The second phase of research will be described in a separate paper.

Findings

The research found that no external, organisational or contractual commonalities could be identified as shared by the trusts that formed the Research Group. This led the researchers to ask further questions as to the management/leadership of the FM Managers who had achieved consistantly high standards of Patient Environment over the four year period.

Practical implications

The research reveals that the trusts which achieved high standards of Patient Environment had no shared advantage in terms of external, organisational or contract characteristics. Thus, it should be possible for all trusts to achieve consistently high standards.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the only study looking at influences and characteristics that are outside the FM Managers' control and impact on the FMs' ability to deliver consistantly high standards.
A process‐oriented analysis of facility management services in hospitals as a basis for strategic planning
Authors: Diez Karin , Lennerts Kunibert
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe research which investigated the interdependencies between facility management performance and costs, and primary processes in hospitals. Through the implementation of the German diagnosis related grouping (DRG) system and the resulting cost pressure, the need for optimized use and operation of the spatial resources in hospitals is growing. In the DRG system, the provision of ready to use infrastructure is treated as a fixed cost and is allocated to patient cases by a single cost driver. In reality, very different services are needed to provide ready to use functional space.

Design/methodology/approach

A primary activity based cost model for facility management (FM) services in relation to functional space units in the hospital is developed. Using process and cost data of an empiric research study from four German hospitals, a model is developed for a key functional space unit in the hospital, the operation unit. The relevant FM services structured by a product‐oriented approach are determined by real data. For these services, process figures are derived and implemented in a basic cost estimation model. The cost estimation model is compared to the cost approach of the DRG system.

Findings

In an explorative study, the model provides an approach for a patient focused cost allocation of FM services for the operation unit. Depending on the time spectrum of operations great differences between this approach and the legal cost allocation approached in Germany can be determined. One way for hospitals to face the consequences may be the determination and optimization of relevant FM services according to a primary process portfolio.

Research limitations/implications

The activity based cost model should be developed for further space units in the hospital. Thus, a holistic approach to FM and strategic planning of space and FM services could be achieved. Further, the explorative study should be enlarged to a greater database for the development of general key figures for FM in relation to the primary processes.

Practical implications

The model can be used by hospitals for strategic planning of the FM costs and services in relation to the capacity and utilization of the operation unit. The impact of changes of the primary performance portfolio on the utilization of corresponding infrastructure can be simulated. Thus, cost data can be made available to support strategic decisions.

Originality/value

There is no existing cost model for the hospital considering FM in a holistic way in relation to the primary processes.
Evaluation of a refurbishment scheme incorporating the King's Fund “Enhancing the Healing Environment” design principles
Authors: Payne Helen , May Daryl
Published: February 2009

Purpose

In 2000, a national initiative “Enhancing the Healing Environment” (EHE) was launched by the King's Fund to celebrate the millennium. This aimed to support nurse‐led teams to undertake an environment improvement programme in their National Health Service (NHS) hospital. Sheffield Care Trust (SCT) decided to carry out this project in its intensive treatment suite, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) providing care for up to six patients. There were no known examples of an EHE project being undertaken in a PICU elsewhere in the NHS. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of EHE design principles in improving the patient experience, from the perspectives of staff and patients.

Design/methodology/approach

A focus group and individual interviews were used as the primary method of data collection. Secondary data comprised sets of statistics related to pre‐ and post‐refurbishment periods.

Findings

It was found that staff and patients liked many aspects of the changed environment. Staff felt improved openness of space, natural light, fresh air, reduced noise levels and greater choice of spaces to provide care, were most important. Patients cited a high quality, comfortable and homely environment (not like a typical NHS ward) as important; they also valued high standards of cleanliness, tidiness, choice and being able to view the outside, open windows and let in fresh air. Experiencing high quality clinical care was equally important. Incidence of physical assaults decreased markedly in the new environment.

Practical implications

NHS mental health services trusts will understand the benefits of applying EHE principles in PICUs or similar environments. Some project management shortcomings are identified and improvements suggested.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to NHS mental health trusts which need to decide on the effectiveness of different design principles for PICUs or similar environments.
Incongruence in the value of employees: organizational actions speak louder than words
Authors: Schraeder Mike
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint is to highlight the importance of organizational actions toward employees matching the stated value of employees.

Design/methodological approach

This viewpoint highlights the importance of organizational actions toward employees matching the stated value of employees.

Findings

Organizations may benefit from consciously endeavoring to treat employees in a manner that is consistent with explicit and implicit statements made with regard to the value of employees to the organization.

Originality/value

The article reminds managers and leaders to consider their actions toward employees, noting that inconsistencies between their actions and their words may be detrimental to organizational effectiveness.
Knowledge transfer after retirement: the role of corporate alumni networks
Authors: Koc‐Menard Sergio
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The paper argues that organizations can use corporate alumni networks to capture and transfer the knowledge of baby boomers after the latter retire.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces the concept of corporate alumni network and explains how this tool can facilitate post‐retirement knowledge transfer.

Findings

Corporate alumni networks enable organizations to recover the know‐how and know‐who of their retired employees in two ways. On the one hand, they help employees to preserve their personal relations with retired baby boomers. As a result, employees can rely on their retired colleagues for information and referrals in the same way that they do with other members of their informal networks. On the other hand, corporate alumni networks allow organizations to create a portfolio of working retirees who can be called up when necessary.

Originality/value

Although most organizations are aware of the need to preserve the in‐depth knowledge of soon‐to‐retire baby boomers, they focus mostly on pre‐retirement knowledge transfer activities. The paper expands the horizon by discussing a post‐retirement strategy.
Outsourcing as a mode of organizational learning
Authors: Yakhlef Ali
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which outsourcing can be regarded as a mode of increasing organization learning through the internalization of new routines.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper features six case studies of firms that have outsourced parts, or all of their information technology (IT) activities.

Findings

When a firm outsources an IT activity (that has been performed in‐house), it needs to develop an ability to specify to its supplier(s), and articulate its IT requirements in explicit terms. Firm's effort to externalize knowledge that was internal to an external supplier implies that a great deal of relatively tacit knowledge has to be converted into explicit knowledge, so that suppliers are able to understand the firm's business specificity. In this very process of externalizing knowledge and interacting with suppliers and other market players, the firm develops new rules, routines and procedures relating to how to manage the outsourced IT activity, which over time will be internalized.

Originality/value

The paper is of value in linking outsourcing and organizational learning.