bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grade 2 Spondylolisthesis at L4-5 Treated by XLIF: Safety and Midterm Results in the “Worst Case Scenario”
Authors: Rodgers W. B. , Lehmen Jeffrey A. , Gerber Edward J. , Rodgers Jody A.
Published: October 2012

Spondylolisthesis is one of the most common indications for spinal surgery. However, no one approach has been proven to be more effective in treating spondylolisthesis. Recent advances in minimally invasive spine technology have allowed for different approaches to be applied to this indication, notably extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). The risk, however, of using XLIF in treating grade II spondylolisthesis is the ventral position of the lumbar plexus, particularly at L4-5.Objective. This study reports the safety and midterm clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with grade II lumbar spondylolisthesis treated with XLIF.Methods. 63 patients with grade II spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis were treated with XLIF and were available for 12-month followup. Of those, 61 (97%) were treated at L4-5. Clinical (VAS, complications, and reoperation rate) and radiographic (anterolisthesis, disk height, and fusion) parameters were assessed.Study Design. Data were collected via a prospective registry and analyzed retrospectively.Results. Sixty-three patients were available for evaluations at least one year postoperatively. Average pain (visual analog scale) decreased from a score of 8.7 at baseline to 2.2 at 12 months postoperatively. Average anterior slippage was reduced by 73% and was well maintained. Average disk height (4.6 mm pre-op and 9.0 mm post-op) nearly doubled after surgery. Slight settling (average 1.3 mm) occurred over the twelve-month follow-up period. There were no neural injuries and no nonunions noted.Conclusions. XLIF is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment alternative for grade II spondylolisthesis. Real-time neurological monitoring and attention to technique are mandatory.
Conversion of short-term potentiation to long-term potentiation in mouse CA1 by coactivation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors
Authors: Connor Steven A. , Maity Sabyasachi , Roy Birbickram , Ali Declan W. , Nguyen Peter V.
Published: October 2012

Encoding new information requires dynamic changes in synaptic strength. The brain can boost synaptic plasticity through the secretion of neuromodulatory substances, including acetylcholine and noradrenaline. Considerable effort has focused on elucidating how neuromodulatory substances alter synaptic properties. However, determination of the potential synergistic interactions between different neuromodulatory systems remains incomplete. Previous results indicate that coactivation of β-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors facilitated the conversion of STP to LTP through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent mechanism. ERK signaling has been linked to synaptically localized translation regulation. Thus, we hypothesized that costimulation of noradrenergic and cholinergic receptors could initiate the transformation of STP to LTP through up-regulation of protein synthesis. Our results indicate that a protocol which yields STP (5 Hz, 5 sec) when paired with coapplication of the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (ISO), and the cholinergic agonist, carbachol (CCh), induces translation-dependent LTP in mouse CA1. This form of LTP requires both β1-adrenergic and M1 muscarinic receptor activation, as blocking either receptor subtype prevented LTP induction. Blocking ERK, mTOR, or translation reduced the expression of LTP induced with ISO + CCh. Taken together, our data demonstrate that coactivation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors facilitates the conversion of STP to LTP through a mechanism requiring translation initiation.
Supramolecular association in proton-transfer adducts containing benzamidinium cations. II. Concomitant polymorphs of the molecular salt of 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid with benzamidine
Authors: Irrera Simona , Ortaggi Giancarlo , Portalone Gustavo
Published: October 2012

Two concomitant polymorphs of the molecular salt formed by 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid, C9H10O4(Dmb), with benzamidine, C7H8N2(benzenecarboximidamide, Benzam) from water solution have been identified. Benzamidinidium 2,6-dimethoxybenzoate, C7H9N2+·C9H9O4−(BenzamH+·Dmb−), was obtained through protonation at the imino N atom of Benzam as a result of proton transfer from the acidic hydroxy group of Dmb. In the monoclinic polymorph, (I) (space groupP21/n), the asymmetric unit consists of two Dmb−anions and two monoprotonated BenzamH+cations. In the orthorhombic polymorph, (II) (space groupP212121), one Dmb−anion and one BenzamH+cation constitute the asymmetric unit. In both polymorphic salts, the amidinium fragments and carboxylate groups are completely delocalized. This delocalization favours the aggregation of the molecular components of these acid–base complexes into nonplanar dimers with anR22(8) graph-set motifviaN+—H...O−charge-assisted hydrogen bonding. Both the monoclinic and orthorhombic forms exhibit one-dimensional isostructurality, as the crystal structures feature identical hydrogen-bonding motifs consisting of dimers and catemers.
Perindoprilat monohydrate
Authors: Bojarska Joanna , Maniukiewicz Waldemar , Sieroń Lesław , Kopczacki Piotr , Walczyński Krzysztof , Remko Milan
Published: October 2012

The title compound [systematic name: (1S)-2-((S)-{1-[(2S,3aS,7aS)-2-carboxyoctahydro-1H-indol-1-yl]-1-oxopropan-2-yl}azaniumyl)pentanoate monohydrate], C17H28N2O5·H2O, (I)·H2O, the active metabolite of the antihypertensive and cardiovascular drug perindopril, was obtained during polymorphism screening of perindoprilat. It crystallizes in the chiral orthorhombic space groupP212121, the same as the previously reported ethanol disolvate [Pascard, Guilhem, Vincent, Remond, Portevin & Laubie (1991).J. Med. Chem.34, 663–669] and dimethyl sulfoxide hemisolvate [Bojarska, Maniukiewicz, Sieroń, Fruziński, Kopczacki, Walczyński & Remko (2012).Acta Cryst.C68, o341–o343]. The asymmetric unit of (I)·H2O contains one independent perindoprilat zwitterion and one water molecule. These interactviastrong hydrogen bonds to give a cyclicR22(7) synthon, which provides a rigid molecular conformation. The geometric parameters of all three forms are similar. The conformations of the perhydroindole group are almost identical, but then-alkyl chain has conformational freedom. A three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network of O—H...O and N—H...O interactions is observed in the crystal structure of (I)·H2O, similar to the other two solvates, but because of the presence of different solvents the three crystal structures have diverse packing motifs. All three solvatomorphs are additionally stabilized by nonclassical weak C—H...O contacts.
Archiving electroacoustic and mixed music
Authors: Boutard Guillaume , Guastavino Catherine
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, operationalise, and test a knowledge management model in the context of electroacoustic and mixed music preservation. This operationalisation intends to provide an interdisciplinary framework for the specification of meaningful usability for idiosyncratic technological artefacts build up during the creative process of these works.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the questionnaire was based on semi‐structured interviews with seven composers. The resulting questionnaire was used for an online survey targeting composers registered at electroacoustic and mixed music online associations. Data were collected from 33 composers.

Findings

This article demonstrates the relevance of Boisot's knowledge management model in order to categorize the knowledge involved during the creative process of electroacoustic and mixed music with spatialisation.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of Boisot's model operationalisation, the authors identified limitations with regards to composers' ability to discriminate between different levels of abstraction and diffusion. Since multiple agents, both human and non‐human, are involved in the creative process of electroacoustic and mixed music, further studies should address their interaction throughout the creative process.

Originality/value

Based on the findings of the survey, the authors propose the concept of significant knowledge as an extension of significant properties in order to provide a meaningful usability of digital objects. Since similar technologies are used in theatre, dance, and fine arts, the authors expect this research to benefit the artistic community at large in terms of preservation.
Modelling nonlinear information behaviour: transferability and progression
Authors: Foster Allen , Urquhart Christine
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to report on a project aimed at moving Foster's nonlinear model of information seeking behaviour forwards from an empirically based model focused on one setting and towards one that is robustly transferable and enables testing of the model in other information‐seeking situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The method utilised recoding of the original dataset, comparison of code decisions, and testing of the code book on a second dataset.

Findings

The results of the coding confirm the structure and interactions in version one of the model. The dynamic and nonlinear nature of information seeking is confirmed, as are the core processes and contextual dimensions of the original model with some extension and refinement of coding.

Practical implications

Changes to the model include new scales of extent and intensity, refinement of code descriptions, and extension of some elements to include multidisciplinary theories. Collectively these changes enable testing of the model in other information situations and opportunities for further research.

Originality/value

The results incorporate a number of enhancements that have been developed since the original Foster model was created; cognitive dimensions relating to personality and learning are enhanced and the codes essential to the revised Foster model are described along with a code book. The paper concludes by highlighting areas for further research.
Discourse structure differences in lay and professional health communication
Authors: Abrahamson Jennie A. , Rubin Victoria L.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

In this paper the authors seek to compare lay (consumer) and professional (physician) discourse structures in answers to diabetes‐related questions in a public consumer health information website.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten consumer and ten physician question threads were aligned. They generated 26 consumer and ten physician answers, constituting a total dataset of 717 discourse units (in sentences or sentence fragments). The authors depart from previous LIS health information behaviour research by utilizing a computational linguistics‐based theoretical framework of rhetorical structure theory, which enables research at the pragmatics level of linguistics in terms of the goals and effects of human communication.

Findings

The authors reveal differences in discourse organization by identifying prevalent rhetorical relations in each type of discourse. Consumer answers included predominately (66 per cent) presentational rhetorical structure relations, those intended to motivate or otherwise help a user do something (e.g. motivation, concession, and enablement). Physician answers included mainly subject matter relations (64 per cent), intended to inform, or simply transfer information to a user (e.g. elaboration, condition, and interpretation).

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest different communicative goals expressed in lay and professional health information sharing. Consumers appear to be more motivating, or activating, and more polite (linguistically) than physicians in how they share information with consumers online in similar topics in diabetes management. The authors consider whether one source of information encourages adherence to healthy behaviour more effectively than another.

Originality/value

Analysing discourse structure – using rhetorical structure theory – is a novel and promising approach in information behaviour research, and one that traverses the lexico‐semantic level of linguistic analysis towards pragmatics of language use.
Oral documents in concept and in situ, part I
Authors: Turner Deborah
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Although research indicates the importance of oral information, our understanding of it remains limited. This paper accordingly aims to suggest that some utterances are oral documents and explore how to identify them.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes certain oral artifacts through: exploring how research in social constructionism, information behavior, document studies and allied literatures facilitate the articulation of the concept of an oral document; and reporting on an investigation that operationalizes the properties of documents to facilitate empirically observing an oral document.

Findings

The results reveal an oral document observed in situ, which further validates the concept. Additionally, the results indicate that the method used, however systematic, prevents a full understanding of data gathered and that subsequent study of that data would generate further understanding of the oral document concept (presented in Part II).

Research limitations/implications

The method utilized limits the research results to identifying a single oral document identified within a small sample of face‐to‐face oral data.

Practical implications

The reification of oral documents broadens the scope of information science and implies a need to understand them better, in order for practitioners to carry out their professional responsibilities to collect, describe, organize and preserve them.

Originality/value

This paper conceptualizes a major new object of study for the field – an oral document. This paper also presents recommendations for research that expands on the method used herein, and suggestions for continued analysis. Some of these techniques will likely also prove valuable in analyzing some informal online communication, which shares some characteristics with oral documents.
Celebrating excellence in practice: an interview with Jan Ginneberge and Martine Plompen
Authors: by Gareth Bell Interview
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide an interview with Jan Ginneberge and Martine Plompen.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an interview with Jan Ginneberge and Martine Plompen of the EFMD.

Findings

The paper outlines the purpose of the EFMD's Excellence in Practice Award, discusses how the Award has developed since its foundation, and gives further detail on the 2012 awards.

Originality/value

The interview discusses the EFMD's Excellence in Practice Awards 2012.
A survey of reward management practices in the Swedish real estate sector
Authors: Azasu Samuel
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain and explain the prevalence of financial and non‐financial rewards in Swedish real estate firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon insights provided by agency theory, social exchange theory and resource dependence theory to explain the results of a questionnaire survey of reward practices of Swedish real estate firms.

Findings

Differences in the types of financial rewards are exacerbated by differences in the benefits used at various levels of the firm. The adverse impact of that is limited by government provided social welfare protections. Learning and development programs, coupled with flexible work hours are social exchanges that could drive reciprocal discretionary effort by employees.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first comprehensive description of reward management in the Swedish real estate sector.
Improving building safety in property maintenance
Authors: Chan KH
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Property defects and building safety have been major concerns for many years in Hong Kong. The local government intends to launch a Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) for owners of aged buildings; and instigate necessary defect rectification to enhance building and public safety (HKSAR BD, 2010). This study aims to examine the effects of the proposed enforcement actions, attain major stakeholders’ views, and to establish any unidentified problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation will be comprised of three stages, i.e. first, a thorough review of some target buildings having received repair orders from government; second, dispatch a structured questionnaire to major stakeholders to solicit their respective views for such potential building; and third, analyze such collected data with statistical tools with proposed solutions and conclusion.

Findings

It is anticipated that this research will explore the fundamental concerns, threshold, constraints and actions to be implemented to enhance for better building safety for a potential long‐outstanding problem in Hong Kong.

Originality/value

The research is based on quantitative studies with originality and value attributed to major stakeholders.
Innovation in small business: comparing face‐to‐face with virtual networking
Authors: Hardwick Jialin , Cruickshank Doug , Anderson Alistair R.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to better understand the process of networking by small business with their customers to achieve innovations. In particular the relative roles of face‐to‐face and virtual interaction are to be investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially a week of participant observation was undertaken then 17 in‐depth interviews were conducted and analyzed. The biotechnology sector was used for the sample.

Findings

Networking interaction could be categorized into stages. A deepening of the relationship developed on two fronts: increasing exchanges of technical information but necessarily supplemented by increased sharing of social information to facilitate tacit knowledge exchanges. As the relationship continued to develop, virtual modes could be used in an increasing capacity. The paper developed a stage model and identified the role of face‐to‐face and virtual exchanges at each stage.

Research limitations/implications

Generalizability is unproven. However the issues appeared typical of any technology or science‐based sector and suggest broader applicability.

Practical implications

Business people cannot assume that all steps in the process of generating an innovation with a customer can be achieved virtually. The stage model provides guidance to practitioners on the appropriate interaction modes to avoid wasteful face‐to‐face meetings and ineffective virtual exchanges.

Originality/value

While the usefulness of networking by small business is well recognized, little is known about the process of networking and in particular the potential role of virtual communication and what can and cannot be achieved. The paper sheds light on these issues and develops an explanatory framework.
Service excellence models: a critical discussion and comparison
Authors: Gouthier Matthias , Giese Andreas , Bartl Christopher
Published: October 2012

Purpose

As customer expectations expand and as product offerings hardly differ from each other, service excellence has gained in importance as a means of enhancing customer loyalty. The aim of this paper is to focus on expanding and extending what companies can do to achieve service excellence by comparing and evaluating three popular approaches to excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors compare three of the most commonly used excellence models, Johnston's conceptualisation of service excellence, the EFQM Model as a representative of national quality award models and the Kano model, and their respective applicability and specific perspective on service excellence. The evaluation is based on theoretical arguments, criteria and on a qualitative expert study.

Findings

Combining the selected models provides a comprehensive approach to service excellence. Since all models are compatible and complementary with each other, the analysis provides an enhanced understanding of service excellence and also explains in which context it is most feasible to apply any of the respective approaches. Furthermore, the requirement for a genuine service excellence model becomes evident.

Research limitations/implications

By focusing on three specific excellence models, others such as the Canadian Quality Award and the Australian Quality Award are not considered. Furthermore, a study across industries could reveal how service excellence is achieved in each industry to then transfer this knowledge into other sectors.

Practical implications

By comparing the selected models, benefits of merging the individual approaches are identified. The resulting combined perspectives offered by the individual models present a more detailed insight into what management can undertake to ensure service excellence.

Originality/value

As no prior research has examined the relationship between the selected excellence models and their implications for providing service excellence, this present research offers an innovative approach and thus yields new insights into the conceptualisation of service excellence.
Supply chain conflict detection with coloured petri nets
Authors: John Franklin R. , Prasad P.S.S.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and test a methodology, extending the concept of hierarchical Petri nets, to discover conflicts in a distribution channel.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach involves linking different levels of the supply chain and detecting conflicts occurring when the single entities, each optimized for its own operations, are combined together in a supply chain. Specifically, a methodology is proposed for synthesizing individual Petri Net models combined with matrix equations in order to detect and manage conflicts in a supply chain. These conflicts may stem from differing goals, planning and resources.

Findings

The methodology offers the user the ability to investigate the potential for conflicts in the system and manage the system to avoid such conflicts before they occur. The proposed approach holds promise for both the short term and long term for effective supply chain management and design. This would enable the supply chain to put sufficient protection (e.g. buffers) in strategic locations relative to the potential conflict or contingency plans in place to handle the conflict when it occurs.

Originality/value

While the ability to discover and pre‐empt conflicts would be a valuable asset to the management and design of supply chains, there is little insight found, to date, in the research on effective methods to realize detection. The current paper provides a systematic approach through the development of a hierarchical Petri net extension to detect conflicts prior to occurrence in an integrated supply chain system.
Cross‐national outcomes of stress appraisal
Authors: Kożusznik Małgorzata , Rodríguez Isabel , Peiró José M.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The present study aims to analyze the role of the appraisal of stressors as harmful and threatening (distress) and/or as opportunities and challenges (eustress) in inducing negative (burnout) and positive (engagement) effects. It compares appraisal of occupational stressors in Poland and Spain and looks for differences between these countries in the associations between different types of appraisals and their positive and negative outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes the equivalence of relations across cultures by constraining structural equation models to be equivalent across the Spanish (n=603) and Polish (n=147) data sets of social care services employees. Multigroup analysis was used to test the invariance of the model for the two samples.

Findings

The results showed that the constrained model is robust, stable and invariant across the Spanish and Polish samples, which means that the structural properties of the model do not differ between the two countries. Also, Spanish and Polish workers obtain similar average results on the levels of the appraisals of distress and eustress. Polish social workers have a significantly higher level of burnout and a significantly lower level of work engagement than Spanish employees.

Practical implications

The confirmation that in both countries eustress has beneficial outcomes on psychological health in the form of work engagement suggests that employees should be taught to perceive work in a more positive way to increase work engagement. The roles that leadership and cultural factors play in this process need to be taken into consideration. Cross‐cultural comparisons of stress are especially relevant for expatriates and for managers in charge of multicultural teams.

Originality/value

The study goes beyond a mere comparison of general stress levels across countries or the relationship between the appraisal of distress and burnout, and it takes into account both negative and positive appraisals of stressors, as well as the strength of their relationships with their outcomes.
Board versus TMT international experience: a study of their joint effects
Authors: Rivas Jose Luis
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between board and top management team (TMT) members' international experience and CEO multinationality, with their firm's degree of internationalization. Through the lenses of upper echelon theory, on a sample of 108 European and US firms, the author tests the variables “international experience” and “CEO multinationality”, at the board and at the TMT levels.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal research design is used to examine director's individual attributes in 2001 and firm's degree of internationalization in 2003‐2008. The sample comprised directors of the 108 largest European and US service and industrial firms by market capitalization, as listed in the Financial Times (FT) Global index of 2007.

Findings

A positive effect is found on internationalization for international experience of both boards and TMTs; also a positive relationship is found between CEO multinationality of TMTs and internationalization.

Research limitations/implications

It is acknowledged that the use of a diversified set of large US and European public firms could add unnecessary variance due to the different contexts involved in a sample of just 108 firms. Most of the sampled firms are already international so the study does not argue for board and TMT composition as a triggering mechanism for firm internationalization but, instead, as a tool that can enhance an international expansion process. The fact that international experience is a binary variable also limits the validity of the results. Either a direct survey of directors or a continuous variable that measures the amount in years of international experience would have yielded richer data. Data availability constraints limited the scope of this variable. The chosen operationalization just measures the presence and not the depth of executive's international experience. Additionally, it is acknowledge that just eliminating supervisory board members that represent unions/workers does not completely homogenize boards from the different countries in the sample.

Practical implications

Practitioners could use these findings to improve their selection and training processes of both top managers and board members.

Originality/value

The paper extends upper echelons theory to the board of directors. The comparison of boards and TMTs will facilitate the differentiation of corporate elites. It also introduces a new study variable: CEO multinationality and finally, it uses a mixed geographical sample of large European and US firms.
Corporate communication and corporate marketing
Authors: Illia Laura , Balmer John M.T.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explicate the natures, histories, similarities and differences of, and between, corporate communication and corporate marketing.

Design//methodology/approach

The modus operandi of the article is to map these two territories and, by this means, afford assistance to scholars and practitioners within the communications and marketing domains who share the authors' intellectual and instrumental interests in these two territories. As such, the article seeks to provide a general introduction to the nature of these two fields along with their bases and rationales.

Findings

Whilst there are significant differences between corporate communication and corporate marketing, the authors also found similarities in terms of the importance accorded to identities (an identity‐based view of the corporation can be significant here) and are mindful of the impact of ethics and note common grounds in their analytical focus. Both areas are also inextricably linked by virtue of their foci on corporate‐level concerns rather than product‐related concerns that have, for the main, predominated vis‐à‐vis traditional modes of communication/PR and marketing.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical point of view the paper invites to explore the synergies between these two disciplines. From a practical point of view practitioners are invited to rethink their communications under the lens of corporate marketing and corporate communication.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is to provide an extensive literature review of the two fields that uncovers the theoretical backgrounds of both disciplines, their nature and analytical focus. Also, the value is to compare these two fields one with the other.
Consistency in behavior of the CEO regarding corporate social responsibility
Authors: Elving Wim J.L. , Kartal Damla
Published: October 2012

Purpose

When corporations adopt a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program and use and name it in their external communications, their members should act in line with CSR. The purpose of this paper is to present an experiment in which the consistent or inconsistent behavior of a CEO was studied.

Design/methodology/approach

In this experiment the authors offered materials about an organization that has an extensive program on sustainability. In the consistent condition the authors presented a CEO who traded in his sports car for a hybrid car (which actually happened), whereas in the inconsistent condition the authors presented material in which the CEO kept his sports car.

Findings

The hypotheses were not supported. Inconsistent behavior did not lead to a significantly different attitude towards the company or lower purchase intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The sample consisted of students who were maybe not familiar with the particular company, the CEO of the company and/or with the sustainability programs of the company. The materials developed in the experiment might be too weak.

Originality/value

Although the expected results were not found, the authors certainly think that consistent behavior of the CEO and other organizational members might decrease skeptical responses of stakeholders when they are confronted with CSR communication.
Communicated identities of regional cluster firms
Authors: Zamparini Alessandra , Lurati Francesco
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper presents the results of exploratory research aimed at understanding how firms operating in regional clusters use the clusters' collective identity in their external communication and combine it with the communication of their individual identity. In particular, the paper aims to detect different behaviors among different types of firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative exploratory content analysis is performed on the websites of the wineries of the Franciacorta wine cluster (Italy). A two‐step cluster analysis is used to identify differences in identity communications.

Findings

The results suggest the existence of two groups manifesting different patterns of identity communication. Larger firms communicate their individual identity through symbols, but they consistently communicate collective values. The other group (on average smaller firms, but including some of the biggest) seems to exploit collective identity symbols, without giving prominence to collective values.

Practical implications

This study provides an understanding of how companies communicate collective symbols and values promoted by cooperative institutions; this understanding can be beneficial for future developments of collective branding projects.

Originality/value

This research contributes to broadening the debate on cluster identity as a strategic resource by adopting a communication perspective as well as providing empirical data on how different types of clusters' firms actually combine a collective cluster's identity and their firm's identity to shape their external image.
Strategic emotional display: an examination of its interpersonal and career outcomes
Authors: Liu Yongmei , Liu Jun , Wu Longzeng
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore an under‐researched, emotion‐focused influence tactic, strategic emotional display, and its interpersonal and career outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 258 matched supervisor‐subordinate dyads in a Chinese sample.

Findings

The results indicate that individuals who use positive emotions in social influence tend to enhance their access to network resources and career growth potential, and those who use negative emotions in social influence tend to erode their network resources and hinder career growth potential.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation of the research is that the authors collected data on both strategic emotional display and network resources from the same source at the same time. Supporting prior research, the results indicate that individuals do use emotional expression as a social influence tactic at work, and that different emotion‐focused influence tactics are associated with different outcomes. The study makes evident the need to integrate the emotion and the social influence literature.

Practical implications

The results of the study indicate that employees may need to develop greater awareness of their own emotions, and cultivate the ability to convey emotional cues to others effectively. It also appears that individuals need to be selective in their use of emotion‐focused influence tactics.

Originality/value

The paper integrates social influence and emotion research, and focuses on a ubiquitous yet overlooked influence tactic, strategic emotional display, and shows evidence that it is associated with interpersonal and career outcomes.
Alternatives to antagonism: a legal and a lay perspective on safeguarding for vulnerable adults
Authors: Searle Cate , Basset Thurstine
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the potential impact on families of a greater emphasis on safeguarding for vulnerable adults, from both a legal and a lay perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Case examples are used to illustrate some of the issues and problems that can arise in safeguarding situations.

Findings

In community settings there can be a tendency for Social Services to take an antagonistic rather than a conciliatory approach when communicating with families. In the setting of a care home, an example of the appropriate use of safeguarding is outlined.

Practical implications

The authors argue that Social Services should take a more conciliatory approach and be prepared to work in partnership with families.

Originality/value

The discursive format and narrative approach of this paper represents a useful and informative way of presenting important and topical insights.
Safeguarding: commissioning care homes
Authors: Cass Elaine
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The Report on the Consultation on the Review of No Secrets, published by the Department of Health in 2009 highlighted the need for commissioners to take more responsibility, in partnership with regulators, for safeguarding people who use services. This article aims to focus on resources that support the role of commissioners to maintain or improve the quality of services to reduce the likelihood of abuse, neglect or harm.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on the content of two SCIE resources. The first looks at all of the monitoring mechanisms a commissioner can draw upon to monitor good quality without overlap with inspectors or overburdening the provider. The second looks at common areas of practice that lead to safeguarding referrals in care homes. Working with a group of 30 practitioners, comprising largely commissioners and providers, a guide to preventing some of the problems that frequently lead to safeguarding referrals from care homes was developed.

Findings

The first SCIE product on which the article is based outlines the mechanisms available to care home commissioners that can be utilised to improve safeguarding. The second, based on work with practitioners, highlights some of the issues that frequently lead to safeguarding referrals from care homes. These are often the result of poor quality services and poor practice rather than malicious intent. The work demonstrates that commissioners could improve the quality of residential services through better partnership working and better use of available intelligence to reduce the risk to those in residential care.

Practical implications

There are numerous steps that both commissioners and providers can take to improve the prevention of abuse, neglect and harm towards people in residential care.

Social implications

The guides highlighted in this article have the potential to improve practice in commissioning and, as a consequence, to provide better quality and safer residential care services.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is to support commissioners to better safeguard people in residential care.
Commissioning for quality: experience in an English primary care trust
Authors: Strobl Judith , Madhok Rajan
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of Manchester Primary Care Trust (PCT) of driving improvement in quality and patient safety as commissioners in the English National Health Service (NHS). After the PCT's establishment in late 2006, considerable work was undertaken to develop and promote the role of Commissioner as the custodian of standards of services for its resident population. This required engagement with internal PCT stakeholders and a range of external stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally. The authors' experience should be of interest in the UK, and beyond given that many health systems have, or are moving towards, a commissioner: provider model.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study using self‐reported observational approach.

Findings

The authors' experience showed that commissioners can and should provide the leadership in driving quality improvements and patient safety, within their health systems. However, the challenges must not be underestimated, and the authors share some of the methods they used and lessons they learned.

Research limitations/implications

There is a considerable interest in promoting quality through better commissioning of health care services. However, there is limited research into the impact and effectiveness of using commissioning as a lever. Given that in the NHS, and elsewhere in the world, commissioning is seen as the organising principle for health systems, such research and evaluation should be a priority.

Practical implications

This case study has valuable lessons for the new NHS and the findings are relevant to other health systems. There is a danger that the new NHS will repeat some of the mistakes of the past, and hopefully this case study can help avoid, or limit, the risks.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge there is no comparable piece of work, and the data/findings have not been published or reported comprehensively before. The paper should be of value to not just the NHS but to health systems generally, since commissioning seems to be the prevailing model for organising them.
To report or not to report? Why some nurses are reluctant to whistleblow
Authors: Moore Linda , McAuliffe Eilish
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Why do some healthcare professionals report incidents while others fail to do so? In a previous paper, the authors explored the culture of hospitals in Ireland and the response to those who reported poor care. In this paper the authors aim to advance understanding of reporting behaviour by exploring differences between those who report incidents and those who choose not to report.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory quantitative research design was utilised for this study. Data from eight acute hospitals in the Health Services Executive (HSE) regions in Ireland – two hospitals from each of the four regions and nursing staff on three wards within each hospital – provided the sample. A total of 575 anonymous questionnaires were distributed.

Findings

Eighty‐eight per cent of nurses working in acute hospitals have observed an incident of poor care in the past six months, but only 70 per cent of those reported it. Non‐reporters are significantly more likely than those who have reported incidents to cite “not wanting to cause trouble” and “not being sure if it is the right thing to do” as reasons for their reluctance to report. “Fear of retribution” was the most common reason given by non‐reporters for their reluctance to report.

Originality/value

The findings show that reluctance to report is mainly influenced by fears of retribution, not wanting to cause trouble and not being sure if reporting an incident is the right thing to do. Managers and policy makers within healthcare environments need to provide more reassurance for staff and put in place better measures to protect staff from negative repercussions that might arise from whistleblowing.
A conceptual framework for the measurement of innovation capability and its effects
Authors: Saunila Minna , Ukko Juhani
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of innovation capability and to show how the linkage between innovation capability and performance measurement can be formed.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on current literature of innovation capability and performance measurement and matching these two to find out how the measurement of innovation capability should be organized.

Findings

The paper describes the concept of innovation capability and presents a performance measurement framework for the measurement of innovation capability and its effects. As a result, a conceptual framework with five perspectives for measuring the relationship between innovation capability and business performance is presented. Also, the link between innovation capability and an organization's business performance is disclosed.

Originality/value

The paper shows a way forward of how to define measures of business performance in such a way that they are led from the development of innovation capability.
Influence of strategic approach to BPM on financial and non‐financial performance
Authors: Hernaus Tomislav , Pejić Bach Mirjana , Bosilj Vukšić Vesna
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the way strategic approach to business process management (BPM) impacts organizational performance, both its financial and non‐financial aspects, using empirical data from Croatian firms. The impact of strategic approach to BPM on process performance measurement (PPM) is examined as well.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample of 194 manufacturing and service firms in Croatia and propositions were tested using a structural equation model with SAS software.

Findings

The results suggest that PPM practice is positively related to strategic approach to BPM. The impact of PPM on non‐financial performance has been found, as well as the impact of non‐financial performance on financial performance, thus indicating an indirect influence of PPM on financial performance.

Originality/value

The paper extends the previous research that exclusively investigated impact of BPM to organizational performance. The authors extended results of previous research and found that strategic approach to BPM is an important push factor for implementation of PPM, and that PPM is an important link between BPM and improved organizational performance.
Uncertainty and budgets: an empirical investigation
Authors: Sandalgaard Niels
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to report the findings of a study of the relation between perceived environmental uncertainty and the abandonment of traditional annual budgets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the use of data from a survey among the largest Danish companies. The hypothesized relationships are tested by the use of logistic regression.

Findings

The results show no sign of a relationship between perceived environmental uncertainty and the abandonment of traditional annual budgets. Instead, the results show a positive relationship between competition in the environment and the adoption of rolling forecasts.

Research limitations/implications

Instead of focusing on the budgeting system in isolation, future research should, to a larger extent, focus on management control systems as a package.

Practical implications

The results indicate that a competitive environment could be handled by retaining budgets but supplementing them with rolling forecasts.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to investigate the relationship between environmental uncertainty and the abandonment of traditional annual budgets.
Should all capital goods of governments be recognised as assets in financial accounting?
Authors: Christiaens Johan , Rommel Jan , Barton Allan , Everaert Patricia
Published: October 2012

Purpose

In recent years, accrual accounting has become increasingly popular in many governments. Yet some questions remain unresolved. Previous literature questioned whether all governmental assets should be capitalized. Whereas those studies mostly focussed separately on a limited number of assets, such as infrastructure, military assets or heritage assets, the purpose of this paper is to expand these views by taking a holistic approach to their treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review combined with archival data, being the IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards).

Findings

The analysis distinguishes between the business and government sectors of the economy and argues that business accounting for assets cannot be applied to the public sector without significant modification. Secondly, within the public sector, it is argued that “businesslike assets” (such as normal buildings and equipment) should be distinguished from “specific governmental assets” (such as art galleries), where the latter should be reported off balance sheet as community assets held in trust by governments for community enjoyment.

Practical implications

The current paper presents a solution for recognizing capital assets in different situations.

Originality/value

The paper reveals some basic differences in points of view between the governmental dimension versus a businesslike dimension in considering capital assets.