bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment Strategies for Genu Recurvatum in Adult Patients With Hemiparesis: A Case Series
Authors: Appasamy Malathy , De Witt Michelle E. , Patel Nisha , Yeh Nancy , Bloom Ona , Oreste Anthony
Published: November 2014

Objective

To report our clinical experience and propose a biomechanical factor–based treatment strategy for improvement of genu recurvatum (GR) to reduce the need for knee‐ankle‐foot orthosis (KAFO) or surgical treatment.

Design

Case series.

Setting

Outpatient clinic of a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in an academic medical center.

Subjects and Interventions

Adult subjects (n = 22) with hemiparesis and GR who received botulinum injections alone or in combination with multiple types of orthotic interventions that included solid ankle‐foot orthosis (AFO) ± heel lift, hinged AFO with an adjustable posterior stop ± heel lift, AFO with dual‐channel ankle joint ± heel lift, or KAFO with offset knee joint. Biomechanical factors reviewed included muscle strength, modified Ashworth score for spasticity, presence of clonus, posterior capsule laxity, sensory deficits, and proprioception.

Outcome Measurements

Outcome factors were improvement or elimination of GR based on subjective assessment before and after the interventions by the same experienced clinician.

Results

More than one biomechanical factor contributed to GR in all patients. Botulinum toxin A injection was used in patients who had significant plantar flexor spasticity and/or clonus. Four types of orthotic interventions were used based on the biomechanical factor: solid AFO in patients with severe ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion weakness or clonus; hinged ankle joint with adjustable posterior stop in patients with less severe ankle dorsiflexion weakness in the absence of clonus; AFO with a dual‐channel ankle joint for quadriceps weakness or severe proprioceptive deficits; and KAFO with offset knee joints in patients with Achilles tendon contracture or severe proprioceptive deficits. Adjunctive options included the addition of heel lifts and toeplate modifications. Combinatorial interventions of botulinum injection, modified AFOs, and heel lifts improved or eliminated GR and avoided the need for cumbersome orthotics or surgical interventions.

Conclusions

GR in hemiparesis is multifactorial and can be successfully controlled by using a conservative biomechanical factor–based approach and combined medical and orthotic interventions. An algorithmic approach and a prospective study design is proposed to determine a combination of effective interventions to correct GR.
Genome-wide scan demonstrates significant linkage for male sexual orientation
Authors: Sanders A. R. , Martin E. R. , Beecham G. W. , Guo S. , Dawood K. , Rieger G. , Badner J. A. , Gershon E. S. , Krishnappa R. S. , Kolundzija A. B. , Duan J. , Gejman P. V. , Bailey J. M.
Published: November 2014

Background

Findings from family and twin studies support a genetic contribution to the development of sexual orientation in men. However, previous studies have yielded conflicting evidence for linkage to chromosome Xq28.

Method

We conducted a genome-wide linkage scan on 409 independent pairs of homosexual brothers (908 analyzed individuals in 384 families), by far the largest study of its kind to date.

Results

We identified two regions of linkage: the pericentromeric region on chromosome 8 (maximum two-point LOD = 4.08, maximum multipoint LOD = 2.59), which overlaps with the second strongest region from a previous separate linkage scan of 155 brother pairs; and Xq28 (maximum two-point LOD = 2.99, maximum multipoint LOD = 2.76), which was also implicated in prior research.

Conclusions

Results, especially in the context of past studies, support the existence of genes on pericentromeric chromosome 8 and chromosome Xq28 influencing development of male sexual orientation.
Circumstantial Evidence? Comparison of Statistical Learning Methods using Functional Annotations for Prioritizing Risk Variants
Authors: Gagliano Sarah A , Ravji Reena , Barnes Michael R , Weale Michael E , Knight Jo
Published: November 2014

Although technology has triumphed in facilitating routine genome re-sequencing, new challenges have been created for the data analyst. Genome scale surveys of human disease variation generate volumes of data that far exceed capabilities for laboratory characterization, and importantly also create a substantial burden of type I error. By incorporating a variety of functional annotations as predictors, such as regulatory and protein coding elements, statistical learning has been widely investigated as a mechanism for the prioritization of genetic variants that are more likely to be associated with complex disease. These methods offer a hope of identification of sufficiently large numbers of truly associated variants, to make cost-effective the large-scale functional characterization necessary to progress genome scale experiments. We compared the results from three published prioritization procedures which use different statistical learning algorithms and different predictors with regard to the quantity, type and coding of the functional annotations. In this paper we also explore different combinations of algorithm and annotation set. We train the models in 60% of the data and reserve the remainder for testing the accuracy. As an application, we tested which methodology performed the best for prioritizing sub-genome-wide-significant variants using data from the first and second rounds of a large schizophrenia meta-analysis by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Results suggest that all methods have considerable (and similar) predictive accuracies (AUCs 0.64-0.71). However, predictive accuracy results obtained from the test set do not always reflect results obtained from the application to the schizophrenia meta-analysis. In conclusion, a variety of algorithms and annotations seem to have a similar potential to effectively enrich true risk variants in genome scale datasets, however none offer more than incremental improvement in prediction. We discuss how methods might be evolved towards the step change in the risk variant prediction required to address the impending bottleneck of the new generation of genome re-sequencing studies.
How Well Can We Detect Shifts in Rates of Lineage Diversification? A Simulation Study of Sequential AIC Methods
Authors: May Michael R. , Moore Brian R.
Published: November 2014

Evolutionary biologists have long been fascinated by the extreme differences in species numbers across branches of the Tree of Life. This has motivated the development of statistical phylogenetic methods for detecting shifts in the rate of lineage diversification (speciation – extinction). One of the most frequently used methods—implemented in the programMEDUSA—explores a set of diversification-rate models, where each model uniquely assigns branches of the phylogeny to a set of one or more diversification-rate categories. Each candidate model is first fit to the data, and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) is then used to identify the optimal diversification model. Surprisingly, the statistical behavior of this popular method is completely unknown, which is a concern in light of the poor performance of the AIC as a means of choosing among models in other phylogenetic comparative contexts, and also because of thead hocalgorithm used to visit models. Here, we perform an extensive simulation study demonstrating that, as implemented,MEDUSA(1) has an extremely high Type I error rate (on average, spurious diversification-rate shifts are identified 42% of the time), and (2) provides severely biased parameter estimates (on average, estimated net-diversification and relative-extinction rates are 183% and 20% of their true values, respectively). We performed simulation experiments to reveal the source(s) of these pathologies, which include (1) the use of incorrect critical thresholds for model selection, and (2) errors in the likelihood function. Understanding the statistical behavior ofMEDUSAis critical both to empirical researchers—in order to clarify whether these methods can reliably be applied to empirical datasets—and to theoretical biologists—in order to clarify whether new methods are required, and to reveal the specific problems that need to be solved in order to develop more reliable approaches for detecting shifts in the rate of lineage diversification.
A robust statistical framework for reconstructing genomes from metagenomic data
Authors: Kang Dongwan D. , Froula Jeff , Egan Rob , Wang Zhong
Published: November 2014

We present software that reconstructs genomes from shotgun metagenomic sequences using a reference-independent approach. This method permits the identification of OTUs in large complex communities where many species are unknown. Binning reduces the complexity of a metagenomic dataset enabling many downstream analyses previously unavailable. In this study we developed MetaBAT, a robust statistical framework that integrates probabilistic distances of genome abundance with sequence composition for automatic binning. Applying MetaBAT to a human gut microbiome dataset identified 173 highly specific genomes bins including many representing previously unidentified species.
How small can a dwelling be? A revision of Portuguese building regulations
Authors: António Costa Branco de Oliveira Pedro João
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the minimum necessary net internal area of dwellings that should be established by Portuguese building regulations.

Design/methodology/approach

The following tasks are carried out: selecting the furniture and equipment necessary for each dwelling; determining the size of furniture and equipment and its typical arrangement; conceiving models of functional spaces; determining the net area of functional spaces and dwellings; comparing results with statistics on housing construction in Portugal and with mandatory area standards used in Portugal and ten other European countries.

Findings

The paper finds that the net internal area presently set by Portuguese building regulations should be increased by 5 to 15 percent. The net internal area figure obtained by the study is similar to mandatory regulations established by some other European countries.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on the net internal area of dwellings, although other space standards are also important to assuring the practicability of dwelling spaces; area standards were set on the basis of the current Portuguese situation and required adaptation when used in different social, cultural and economic contexts; area standards constitute a safety‐net against unacceptable dwellings rather than good practice guidelines.

Practical implications

The results may be used to support a review of Portuguese building regulations and provide guidelines for the design of dwellings.

Originality/value

A methodology to determine area standards is presented and applied. Up‐to‐date information on furniture size and arrangements is collected. The comparison enables an understanding of how the results compare in a European context.
Innovation by harmonizing continuity and change
Authors: Bhat J.S.A. , Sushil  , Jain P.K.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to present a broad‐based tool primarily for the use of practitioners at the senior and middle management levels, to analyze the innovation management processes within their organizations and assess their impact on innovation and firm performance. It is contended that these processes are dichotomous because of the invariable tension between continuity and change‐related aspects to be coped with.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case (Moser Baer India Limited, an Indian firm and one of the world's large manufacturers of optical storage media) illustrating the use of a flowing stream strategy framework is presented. The theory that is the basis of the approach is not expounded at length in the interests of the basic target audience.

Findings

The paper is an attempt to present a structured approach to strategy making. Realizing the hazards of organizational impediments in the implementation of strategy, only an illustrative approach is been indicated, paving the way for further investigation.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations associated with a single case methodology may prevail to some extent. The data are context‐bound; however, no attempt to draw general implications has been made. The purpose is more to present the use of a practical tool rather than to advance theoretical knowledge.

Practical implications

The tool presented may be useful across a range of organizations, with minor adaptations.

Originality/value

The paper is original and adds value in terms of the above.
Dissemination of medical and science‐based information: the effectiveness of podcasting
Authors: Younger Paula
Published: November 2014

Purpose – – This paper aims to briefly examine podcasts, from the perspective of usefulness for medical education.Design/methodology/approach This article offers definitions of podcasting and examines a small number of podcasts in greater detail.Findings – From early, promising beginnings in 2005, podcasts appear to be have diminished in popularity. Quality of the broadcasts provided by major journals is variable. There is a lack of research into the effectiveness of podcasts, and student responses are mixed. Podcasts remain, however, a potentially cost‐effective way of disseminating information in a range of areas, from conference proceedings to allowing students to catch up on lecturesResearch limitations/implications – As with many Web 2.0 applications, podcasts for educational purposes appear to remain underutilised.Originality/value – This article offers a brief overview and analysis of the current state of podcasts, with a particular focus on medical and scientific information.
The campaign to end loneliness
Authors: Ferguson Laura
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper aims to give an overview of the issue of loneliness, an update of issues heard of from across the country, as well as some positive stories and projects being delivered to alleviate loneliness in older age.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the current research into loneliness in older age, including related health issues and anecdotal evidence from local groups linking reductions in services with increased levels of loneliness in older age.

Findings

Loneliness is a highly subjective emotion that is difficult and complex to measure. However, research has shown that men and women are affected differently. It has been shown to have strong links to health issues such as depression, Alzheimer's and heart disease as well as having been shown to be a bigger risk factor in early mortality than lifelong smoking and obesity.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the first steps being taken by organisations working, under the umbrella of a recently launched Campaign to End Loneliness, towards further reducing loneliness in older age.
Promoting involvement of older people in shaping policy and practice
Authors: Wood Christine , Wright Mel
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the social construction and barriers that older people face and through two case studies from the Northeast of England and London illustrate how older people can be effectively enabled to influence their communities and the services that impact on their lives.

Design/methodology/approach

Age Concern Durham County created a ten‐hour introductory level course called “The Confident Consumer”. This includes basic assertiveness skills, advice on how to challenge discrimination, and uses role play to improve communication skills for older people.

Findings

The case studies have demonstrated that older people do want to be involved and are enthusiastic participants when given the opportunity to use their voice.

Originality/value

By reaching out to older people and working actively in partnership with service providers, older people can help to shape their own world.
The Wellbeing Project: improving the psychological wellbeing of older adults
Authors: Clark Suzannah , Jackson Leila
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the Wellbeing Project that was developed by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, in partnership with Manchester City Council.

Design/methodology/approach

A group‐based cognitive behavioural therapy intervention (“Be Well, Age Well”) was written specifically to help improve the mood and wellbeing of older adults.

Findings

A preliminary evaluation showed promising results and in response to a significant increase in demand for continued delivery of the intervention, there are now plans to examine the feasibility of non mental health qualified staff facilitating the course. Funding is currently being sought for a more definitive study.

Originality/value

The Wellbeing Project believes that if older adults are educated via the approach as adopted by the “Be Well, Age Well” course, the level of resilience will improve for those individuals who would otherwise have experienced compromised wellbeing.
Money laundering countermeasures with primary focus upon terrorism and the USA Patriot Act 2001
Authors: Baldwin Fletcher N.
Published: November 2014

Outlines the changing nature of terrorism, and details the contents of the Patriot Act as a response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, including the Act’s provisions for surveillance techniques like pen register and trap and trace, amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 1978, together with some protections from abuse of traditional constitutional rights. Moves on to the origins and nature of the assets funding terrorism, and then to Title III of the Act, which is specifically concerned with money laundering, and the nature of offshore banking. Finally, looks at the role of the courts, and whether judicial review will survive jurisdictional challenges in matters of national security; discusses two recent cases involving the State Department against Iranian organisations. Concludes that the Act has many flaws but is an important and probably essential tool against terrorism.
Understanding the underwriting criteria for the net lease investor
Authors: Jones Barclay G.
Published: November 2014

Corporations are attracted to leasing transactions with real property in order to secure occupancy of a property for a specified time frame without having to purchase. Investors in corporate real estate are also attracted to these
transactions, because of a combination of a stable cash flow and residual value. By understanding the investor’s underwriting criteria, the corporate real estate officer can decide how to achieve the lowest possible occupancy cost of a
building.
Hazardous immorality: strategic externalization of risk and credit pricing
Authors: Chapman Zaneta , Getzen Thomas
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the risks caused by “hazardously immoral” contracts which force external parties to bear significant losses without their consent.

Design/methodology/approach

The expectation of substantial future losses raises the question of how investors can become profitable by entering into such risky contracts. The authors investigate the use of such contracts, which obscure the expected cost of failure by not only concentrating risks but ultimately not taking routine charges for predictable, albeit uncertain, future losses. In their investigation, the authors look at a risk concentration strategy and discuss expected profits (losses) under conditions of limited and unlimited liability.

Findings

It is found that companies are more likely to minimize losses and maximize profits if they can obtain credit at a low enough interest rate and externalize the majority of the risk. Risks are more likely to be externalized when government and/or international agencies bail out the offending organizations to limit total damages and stabilize the economy.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is to show that a risk concentration strategy can be used to make the overall probability of winning arbitrarily large, even when individual trials have less than a 50 percent chance of obtaining positive profits. The corollary lesson is that credit is valuable, and having substantial credit obtainable at low rates is so valuable that significant gains are probable despite negative expected profits.
Trust in the team leader: operationalization of the construct in an R&D context
Authors: Freire Carla
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to suggest an instrument to measure trust in a team leader, within an R&D context.

Design/methodology/approach

The material was collated from available literature and semi‐structured interviews. A total of 192 valid answers were collected from scientists and professionals working in R&D teams in Portugal.

Findings

The factor analysis allowed for the extraction of four components: “integrity”, “benevolence”, “concern”, and “ability”.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests the need to test the validity of the measuring tool in other contexts.

Originality/value

A new measurement instrument for trust in the team leader is developed in the context of R&D teams.
Diversity and social capital of nascent entrepreneurial teams in business plan competitions
Authors: Weisz Natalia , Vassolo Roberto S. , Mesquita Luiz , Cooper Arnold C.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of team member diversity and internal social capital on project performance within the context of business plan competitions (BPCs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses survey data on 95 nascent entrepreneurial teams enrolled in an open‐to‐the‐public BPCs. It assumes that higher levels of functional diversity as well as higher levels of internal social capital enhance the performance of nascent entrepreneurial teams in the crafting of their business plans (BPs).

Findings

Under this particular context, where the needs for information processing and decision‐making requirements are so high, teams having higher levels of functional diversity attained better performance. Inversely, teams with higher levels of internal social capital did not show a significant advantage in the development of the BP.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are associated with the exclusion of external social capital measures and not considering demographic faultlines, which might have some impact on the results. Besides, this paper has the limitation of basing its analysis upon teams within a BP contest. Theoretical implications stress that under contexts maximizing the difference between potential upside gains and downside losses, team diversity is expected to play a larger role for BP effectiveness and success than team members' internal social capital.

Practical implications

Recognizing team prevalence and the impact of social dynamics amongst team members within entrepreneurial settings.

Originality/value

The paper contributes with the impact of social dynamic processes on nascent entrepreneurial teams.
Organizational improvisation: change or stability?
Authors: Vieira da Cunha João , Pina e Cunha Miguel
Published: November 2014

Purpose

Some studies show that improvisation is a source of change, whereas others show that it is a source of stability. The purpose of this paper is to specify the factors which set the boundary between improvised change and improvised stability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on two published studies and contrasts their findings to analyze the extent to which improvisation leads to organizational change or organizational stability.

Findings

The paper suggests that the most innovative instances of improvisation reproduce some features of everyday experience. The extent to which an improvisation is a source of stability or a source of change depends on the dynamics of variation, selection and retention therein.

Research limitations/implications

Future research needs to add empirical flesh to this theoretical skeleton to push research on organizational improvisation beyond the study of its causes and into further research on its consequences.

Originality/value

The paper deals with the paradox of making sense about two apparently opposing streams of research on improvisation.
Corporate social responsibility: mapping its social meaning
Authors: Patrícia Duarte Ana , Mouro Carla , Gonçalves das Neves José
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the social meaning of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and improve understanding of this concept.

Design/methodology/approach

A free association task was completed by a sample of 275 individuals, mostly employees from different industries, who were given “socially responsible corporation” as the stimulus.

Findings

The results elicit three distinct views of a socially responsible corporation. Some individuals consider a socially responsible corporation to be one that undertakes its business operations in an efficient and ethical manner. Others see it as an organisation that takes an active role in contributing to the well being of society and behaves in an ecologically friendly way and acts in the field of social solidarity. For yet another set of participants a socially responsible corporation is one that adopts human resources practices that demonstrate respect and concern for the well being of employees and their families.

Research limitations/implications

The social meaning of CSR includes ideas that to some extent mirror the conceptualisation introduced by previous theoretical models. However, this paper suggests that the translation of the theoretical models into instruments addressing stakeholders' perceptions of CSR requires closer scrutiny and validation through contextual (e.g. national) adaptations.

Originality/value

The paper contributes by providing additional knowledge on the social meaning of CSR in a European country, Portugal, and not only on Anglo‐Saxon countries, therefore, introducing specific situational challenges.
Internet interacted: 1991‐2003
Authors: Andonova Veneta , Ladrón de Guevara Antonio , Brousseau Eric
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the market potential for internet services interacted historically with the diffusion process of fixed line and mobile telephony.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors evaluate the historical interactions between internet, fixed line and mobile telephony using the International Telecommunications Union data set from 1991 until 2003 for 214 countries.

Findings

It was found that between 1991 and 2003 mobile and internet services were fully complementary; fixed line facilitated the diffusion of internet service, but internet diffusion did not affect fixed line telephony. The authors discuss the implications of these results in the light of current developments of the telecommunications industry.

Research limitations/implications

Internet adoption should be analysed in close relation to the adoption of other telecommunication services, such as fixed line and mobile telephony.

Originality/value

The paper shows the interconnectivity of the internet with other telecommunication services and emphasizes the asymmetric nature of these interactions. Telecommunication services interactions are discussed in the light of recent industry developments.
Why do some companies adopt advanced management systems? The Spanish case
Authors: Garcia‐Olaverri Carmen , Huerta Emilio
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the organisational innovation effort that is being carried out by Spanish industrial companies through the implementation of advanced management systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking into account the results of two surveys conducted with Spanish companies (in 1996 and 2007), the authors study the implementation of innovative practices in the organisation of work and describe different typologies of companies, in agreement with how widespread these practices are. In addition, the authors study the determining factors that drive companies to use well‐developed management systems. In order to carry out these analyses use is made of two statistical techniques: cluster analysis and estimation of discrete choice models.

Findings

The study of the company typology reveals that there are industrial companies in Spain competing with three different profiles which are described in the paper. There are differences in some human resource management aspects. The greatest differences are seen in the way the information is shared. The results obtained through the estimation of discrete choice models determine that the main factors that explain the implementation of developed management systems in Spanish companies are: market competition; the development of positioning strategies; the existence of a participatory attitude in management; and the participation in networks along the value chain.

Practical implications

After acknowledging the variety of business typologies, the management recommendations suggested in this paper insist on making coordinated progress in decision making on strategies, resources, internal organisation of companies and human resources management policies.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive survey about how widespread organisational innovative practices are in Spanish industrial companies.
Nike Davies-Okundaye: building a family social enterprise
Authors: Onwuegbuzie Henrietta N. , Adomdza Gordon N. , Ogola Fredrick O.
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Entrepreneurship.

Study level/applicability

This case is intended for teaching entrepreneurship in any tertiary institution including graduate business schools where the case study method is used. It can also add value to groups interested in creating social value such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It can be taught in a 60-90 minute class depending on the size of the class and type of audience.

Case overview

The case highlights features of indigenous entrepreneurship in a traditional African setting and showcases the merits of traditional training methods. An intriguing case of a social enterprise, inspired by the difficult experiences of an entrepreneur, who grew up in dire poverty. The polygamous family situation she was in led to establishing an enterprise that ensured her livelihood and a means to lift others from poverty. The case provides a unique model of a hybrid family business and social enterprise and illustrates that businesses can do good and still do well financially.

Expected learning outcomes

Learning points include: appreciation of the socio-cultural and economic context of indigenous entrepreneurs; entrepreneurial motivations and their impact on society; how traditional societies transmit entrepreneurial skills; illustration of how theoretical frameworks like network theory and effectuation impact on entrepreneurial ventures; and how challenges of family businesses such as leadership and succession may be overcome through timely planning.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available, consult your librarian for access.
Financial turnaround of Indian Railways (B)
Authors: Singhania Monica , Sharma Sanjeev
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Financial management, strategic management.

Study level/applicability

The study can be used by business schools, companies/organizations, individuals, students of business management, in the area of financial and strategic management to study and analyse management strategies by a Government organization that has to balance social objectives and commercial viability.

Case overview

Indian Railways (IR) has mixed operations – passenger and freight – that generate resources for its development expenditure, as well as fully covering its operational costs. This is in sharp contrast to most world railways that depend on a subsidy for operations and development expenditure. While IR would strive to increase earnings through higher throughput levels and generate more funds through its own resources, the constraints of fixed expenditure, largely comprising staff related expenses and fuel costs make it difficult to achieve the target. Operational and safety considerations dictate the need to ensure adequate provision for working expenses. Global developments significantly influenced the Indian economy after 2008-2009 and resulted in moderation in growth compared with the robust growth in preceding years. IR is presently passing through a difficult phase which began with the slowdown in the economy and implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations. While earnings continue to grow both in the passenger and goods segments, the expenditure on account of increases in salaries, allowances and pensions has been much higher than after previous Pay Commissions. This case explores this difficult period for IR when there was a major increase in operating expenditure largely due to the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission and because of the global economic slowdown.

Expected learning outcomes

These include: being able to analyse whether the turnaround phase of IR is over; and discussing the strategies to return IR to the path of growth.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.
Lubrax by Petrobras
Authors: Silva Javier Jorge O. , Zerboni Fernando , Prado Maricruz
Published: November 2014

Subject area

The case focuses on brief elaboration, importance, objectives and components. While there are many ways to elaborate a brief, the overriding goal is to outline the most relevant guidelines for campaign design, and the decisions required to launch an advertising campaign.

Study level/applicability

This case may be used for the first marketing course in MBA curricula, as well as in executive education programs addressing communications and advertising strategy issues.

Case overview

On a cold July afternoon in 2005, Matías Ruiz faced a difficult challenge. After months of long presentations and detailed discussions, the budget for a new advertising campaign had been finally approved. Ever since its arrival in Argentina, the company had concentrated all its efforts on positioning its corporate brand. Now with a firm standing in the domestic market, the time had come to advertise Lubrax, Petrobras' lubricant brand. Bearing in mind that the goal was to build a unique and independent brand identity for Lubrax while preserving its links to Petrobras, Ruiz's team, along with Diálogo Publicidad, a local advertising agency, had prepared three TV advertisements. Ruiz had to choose the most suitable campaign with an approved budget of US$ 3 million – 40 percent below the sum he had hoped to raise. At least one of those ads had to be launched in late October 2005, in time for the category's seasonal consumer sales peak. To do that, Ruiz needed to make a decision and to present a complete proposal to Lubrax's Marketing Director. This case study describes the questions confronting Ruiz at that time – Which ad should we pick? What brand image do we want for Lubrax? What is it that we wish to communicate? What is our goal? What segment are we addressing?

Expected learning outcomes

The case provides an insight into the use of advertising campaigns as a marketing tool, describing the company's competition, consumers, distribution channels and organizational hurdles. As a result, it may be used to help students: understand communications complexities, delving into each step in the process and taking stock of relevant decisions involved; learn about the research studies and data analyses required to build a communications plan that fits in with a company's strategy; manage a specific marketing budget; gain experience on advertising campaign development and subsequent evaluation; and survey the mix of marketing drivers needed to boost business sustainability. It will enable students to realize both the significance of thorough brief preparation to pursue a company's strategic goals and the importance of ensuring the ad chosen matches that brief.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available; please contact your librarian for access.
Strategic change for sustainability in Thai Commercial Bank
Authors: Pinprayong Boriboon , Wongsurawat Winai
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Strategic change for business sustainability.

Study level/applicability

The case is targeted at the BA level and MBA level, and strategic management courses.

Case overview

The case study focuses on strategic change for business sustainability in the commercial bank sector in Thailand. It describes how Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) developed and implemented strategic change to achieve business sustainability in the economic fluctuations, and the competition in the banking market. SCB is a very long established bank which held the highest market capitalization among Thai Financial Institutions, and it was on the verge of bankruptcy in the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Expected learning outcomes

These include developing students' understanding of the context and practices of strategic change and the nature of theoretical traditions in the field of strategic change.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.
Automating attendance recording of contingent labours at a large construction site
Authors: Koul Saroj
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Operations and human resourcing.

Study level/applicability

This case study is intended for use in graduate, executive level management and doctoral programs. The case study illustrates a combined IT and HR driven participative management control system in a flexible organization structure. It is intended for a class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation.

Case overview

The case describes the situation of managing unskilled workforces (≥14,000 workers) during the construction phase of the 4 × 250MW power plants both for purposes of turnout as well as due compensation, in the event of an accident. The approved labour forces appointed for 45 × 8 h. Man-days after a rigorous fitness test and approvals of the safety officer are allocated housing and other necessary amenities and a commensurate compensation system.

Expected learning outcomes

These include: illustrating typical organizational responsibility structure at a construction site of a large power plant; illustrating the planning and administrative control mechanism in implementing strategy at a construction site of a large power plant; offering students the opportunity to understand and view a typical operational (project) structure; allowing students to speculate adaptations in the wake of an ever-changing business and company environment; and providing an opportunity to introduce a power scenario in India, Indian labour laws and radio frequency identification technology and to relate this to the case in context.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.
Fashioning corporate social responsibility
Authors: Jones Peter , Hillier David , Comfort Daphne
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Corporate social responsibility, sustainability and business ethics.

Study level/applicability

This case has been designed for undergraduate students, with two target audiences. The first is business and management students following modules in corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability and business ethics. Here the accent is on allowing the students to explore and debate how CSR agendas are emerging within a specific sector of the retail economy. The second is students pursuing fashion, clothing, textile, retailing and consumer studies degrees and here the focus is on how some of the leading fashion goods retailers are addressing CSR. More generally the case can also be used on “Contemporary Issues” modules within general business and management programmes.

Case overview

This small case offers an exploratory review of the emerging CSR issues currently being publicly addressed by the world's leading fashion goods retailers. It includes a brief introduction to CSR; a brief thumbnail sketch of the fashion goods industry; details of the method of enquiry; a description of the CSR issues currently being publicly addressed by the top ten fashion good retailers on their corporate web sites; and some critical reflections on the CSR agendas being pursued by these retailers. The case study is novel in two ways. First, it focuses upon what is an emerging market issue rather than on emerging markets per se though a number of the issues raised in the case have major implications for emerging economies. Second, it addresses the CSR issues being addressed by a number of the leading fashion goods retailers and as such it a not a case which relates to individual decision making. While the case is principally focussed upon the retail sector it ranges across the whole of the supply chain.

Expected learning outcomes

The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas currently being pursued by the leading fashion goods retailers and as such it will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners who are interested in both the fashion industry and corporate sustainability.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available, please consult your librarian for access.
McDonald's breakfast launch dilemma
Authors: Naz Baig Farah
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Marketing, retail management and new product launch.

Study level/applicability

BBA final year students, MBA first year students.

Case overview

The case is about the decision that needs to be taken for breakfast launch by McDonald's Pakistan. It was mid July 2011, when Jamil Husain, marketing manager, Atif Abbass and Ali Raza. Marketing executives were sitting in the meeting room of Lakson Square building, Karachi, in order to discuss the fate of breakfast menu. It was Jamil's idea to launch the breakfast menu in the Pakistani market. He, however, was unable to convince his team members who thought that the market was not ready to accept the breakfast option since there was a huge difference between Pakistani lifestyle and western lifestyle. Jamil presented his arguments before them but all in vain. Somehow he knew that the same arguments if presented in front of the top management would lead to a “No” situation. Just then the phone rang; it was Caroline, company secretary, confirming the meeting date and venue which was supposed to take place after two days.

Expected learning outcomes

The learning outcomes should be: organizations need to understand the cultural differences and decide about the product launches; based on the class discussion the instructor can conclude whether launching would be a good option or not – apart from culture what are the other important considerations; and preference of glocal vs global – in what situations might a glocal strategy be more suitable as compared with global.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available, please consult your librarian to access.
Delays in probing case irks workers, AMARA, Zimbabwe
Authors: Dandira Martin
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Business management, corporate ethics and management of change.

Study level/applicability

The case study is relevant for undergraduate and post-graduate management degrees. It includes courses such as Business Management, Corporate Ethics and Management of Change.

Case overview

AMARA, a leading parts dealer and a subsidiary company of MTD Holdings has been hit by allegations of corruption which involved a ring of senior employees who are said to have swindled the company out of spare parts worth millions of US dollars with the help of a few security guards who were authorising illegal movements at check points. The workers' committee who blew the whistle on the scandal were now impatient that the investigations ordered in December last year 2011 have not taken off as management appears not keen on them. Management was dragging its feet when it comes to dealing effectively with the allegations. There was no proper strategy on how the allegations were going to be dealt with. There was also victimisation of workers. Senior managers who have been tasked to investigate the issue were suspected to be involved in the scandal thus that is why they were dragging their feet in the investigation.

Expected learning outcomes

Students can focus on the importance of good corporate governance as a cornerstone of good business practice. The importance of an active board of directors is also vital for the smooth running of a business. Students will also appreciate the importance of making quality decisions by top management as an important ingredient for the success of an organisation. The issue of an effective control system in an organisation is also important to avoid leakages which will cost an organisation millions of dollars.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available, please contact your librarian to access.
The Indian television broadcasting industry 2012
Authors: Damodaran Suma , Damodaran Uday
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Business strategy and industrial economics.

Study level/applicability

This case may be used early on in a basic course on strategy in an MBA program or in a course in industrial economics. It can also be used in a session of an executive development program on strategy.

Case overview

The TV Broadcasting industry, worldwide, has been moulded by frequent changes in technology and by regulatory interventions. So has been the case of India. The case begins with a general introduction to the technology of TV broadcasting and distribution and then moves on to a discussion of the technological changes in the Indian context. The evolving structure of the industry in India over three distinct periods is then described. The Industry consists of content producers, broadcasters, aggregators, direct-to-home distributors, multi-system operators and local cable operators. Over the three periods of time, changes in technology and regulation constantly impacted on the structure, the conduct and the performance of players in each segment.

Expected learning outcomes

The analysis of the case is expected to demonstrate the use of theoretical frameworks like the structure-conduct-performance model and Porter's five-force model in arriving at a prognosis of the structure of an industry in general, and that of the Indian TV broadcasting industry in particular.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available, please consult your Librarian for access.