bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving productivity of a financial firm: business model evolution in the Caribbean
Authors: Parker David W. , Lawrence William W.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study explores the role of business model as a state variable during transformation of a financial institution to become a multinational enterprise. Prior studies of the Uppsala model overlooked business model evolution for cross-border productivity and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design employs the resource-based view for an in-depth case study of JMMB, a family-managed Jamaica-based financial firm, using data from primary and secondary sources, covering the period 1992 to 2014.

Findings

JMMB's business model was the channel through which resources and capabilities gave rise to an innovative product for successful positioning in an international network. This was augmented by strong family orientation toward customer service, a distinctive asset that shaped the nature and trajectory of the business model. Cross-border alliancing and risk management were crucial dynamic capabilities for replicating the business model in foreign markets.

Research limitations/implications

While the observations are not generalizable to other firms, they indicate that a business model is a key unit of analysis for understanding how the firm makes the transition to become a multinational enterprise.

Practical implications

Financial institutions may internationalize in a small island, developing stages through a strategy of focused product differentiation based on disruptive innovation with cross-border partnerships for ease of market entry and experiential learning.

Social implications

The research has identified opportunities for effective and efficient work methods in pursuit of productivity gains.

Originality/value

The study is the first to illustrate business model as a state variable in the Uppsala model of multinational enterprise evolution for a financial firm.
Performance reporting delay in local government: a global south view
Authors: Kaye-Essien Charles Wharton
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The object of this paper is to understand how central–local relations and internal technical characteristics contribute to performance reporting delays at the local level in a Global South context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops and tests four propositions using a combination of secondary data analyses and semistructured interviews with 30 local government officials.

Findings

The findings indicate that delays in performance reporting are generally high in pre-election years because leadership commitments at the local level largely shift toward national politics (campaigning for re-election of the president). Additional reporting delays were found to be the result of low financial capacity to maintain appropriate data collection and management systems, lack of highly trained monitoring and evaluation experts at the local level and lack of sanctions for noncompliance.

Research limitations/implications

The fact that some types of Districts (large municipalities and metro areas with access to large financial resources) were excluded from the analysis induces some bias to the findings. The choice of 30 out of a total 260 local governments limits the analyses to only 12% of views and perceptions of local government reporting delay. Additionally sourcing responses from a few monitoring and evaluation (M&E) personnel out of hundreds of mid- to upper-level employees limited the breath of discussions that could have resulted from a broader study.

Practical implications

The results of this paper suggest that any attempt at imposing sanctions on late reporting may not be very successful since national party politics, which lie outside the control of municipalities, is one of the main factors that drive reporting delay. Rather than imposing sanctions, government should consider incentivizing the reporting process. On the other hand, since internally generated funds (IGF) and the M&E team are factors that lie within the control of the municipality, any attempt to decrease reporting delay should first focus on improving local revenues and strengthening municipal M&E capacity building.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the existing literature by offering directions for approaching performance reporting delay in two ways. First, it emphasizes central–local relations as an important political determinant of performance reporting delay. Second, it explores reporting delay in Ghana's local governments and therefore provides useful insights from a Global South perspective.
Quality and lean practices synergies
Authors: Onofrei George , Fynes Brian , Nguyen Hung , Azadnia Amir Hossein
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between investments in quality and lean practices, and their impact on factory fitness. Using concepts originating in the theory of swift even flow, this study asserts that manufacturers, in order to improve their production swiftness and evenness, must leverage the potential synergetic effects between quality and lean practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses data from the Global Manufacturing Research Group (GMRG) survey project (with data collected from 922 manufacturing plants, across 18 countries). The constructs and measurement model were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the hypotheses were tested using ordinary least square (OLS) models.

Findings

This study highlights that both investments in quality and lean practices have direct impact factory fitness. The results provide insights into the efficacy of the investments in manufacturing practices and their role in augmenting the operational performance. The investments in quality practices were found to enhance the efficacy of investments in lean practices, which in turn impact the factory fitness.

Practical implications

From a practical perspective, the study informs managers on how to leverage investment in quality practices to enhance the impact of lean practice on performance. The results provide empirical evidence to support management decision-making concerning the development of competences in quality and lean practices, which may create competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the quality and lean literature and provides empirical evidence of the synergetic effects between investments in quality and lean practices. The analysis offers a greater understanding of the mechanisms that can be used to maximise the impact of investments in lean practices, from a global perspective. The findings are important to the advancement of theory in operations management, as it integrates three research streams: quality practices, lean practices and swift even flow research.
Using asset index to reassess poverty in the Northern States of Malaysia: do the poor stay poor?
Authors: Mohamad Azhar Nur Azirah Zahida , Mohd Saidatulakmal
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Currently, Malaysia uses the Poverty Line Income (PLI) to measure poverty. This is because income measurement is the easiest way to collect data, but in its simplicity, it fails to capture the broader meaning and implications of poverty. Asset index is one of the non-monetary poverty measurements which have been established by researchers but not used in measuring poverty in Malaysia. A household might be poor in income, but assets may prevent them from being trapped in poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

This study will reassess the poverty of 302 households in the Northern States of Malaysia using the asset index and also the current state of poverty incidence with change under asset index.

Findings

The results show that households in the Northern States of Malaysia are interpreted as being ‘poorer’ when poverty is measured using assets as opposed to income alone. Besides that, poverty incidence of Malay households, households living in urban area and households with middle-aged heads have high poverty incidence, while households with a head of households that is single and highly educated have low poverty incidence. The logistic regression analysis shows that the determinants of poverty incidence based on the asset index are Indian, Penang and Perak State, the age of the head of household, distance to the education centre from home.

Originality/value

This study shows the asset index measurement which have not been done in Malaysia. This will contribute to the improvement of poverty measurement of the country.
Resale pricing as part of franchisor know-how
Authors: Perrigot Rozenn , López-Fernández Begoña , Basset Guy , Herrbach Olivier
Published: March 2020

Purpose

As franchisees are independent entrepreneurs, one important part of the business format that franchisors are not allowed to impose on their franchisees is resale prices. They are only allowed to indicate a recommended or a maximum price. This study aims to look further into the capabilities underlying the calculation of resale prices and suggests that price-setting is part of both the “business know-how” transferred to franchisees and the “organizational know-how,” that is, capabilities developed and kept at the franchisor level.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative methodology with a total of 65 interviews, 19 with franchisors and 46 with franchisees, all operating in the French market.

Findings

The findings show that resale pricing is a process that involves know-how. The complexity of pricing leads to develop specialized and broad capabilities. The first type of know-how, i.e., business know-how transferred to franchisees, deals with operational implementation of recommended resale prices in the stores. The second type, i.e., organizational know-how, not transferred as a safeguard against opportunism, connects across other functions of the franchise chain such as R&D and communication.

Originality/value

This study confirms the existence and relevance of another kind of know-how apart from the business know-how that is transferred to the franchisees. Organizational know-how at the chain level, though often neglected, is a necessary determinant of sustaining a competitive advantage. This know-how is not transferred to the franchisees but contributes to the success and sustainability of the franchisor/franchisee relationship. Franchisors should thus work on improving their capabilities to better support their franchisees. Moreover, this study highlight the complexity and extreme importance of setting the right resale price.
Utilization and effectiveness of social media message strategy: how B2B brands differ from B2C brands
Authors: Zhang Jing , Du Mingfei
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how business-to-business (B2B) companies use message strategies on social media platform and how these strategies are effective in improving customer perceived value and encouraging customer engagement, as well as how B2B companies differ from business-to-customer (B2C) counterparts in terms of utilization and effectiveness of social media message strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on content analysis of Sina Weibo brand pages and survey of website visitors, this paper examines the differences of social media message strategies and their impacts upon customer perceived value and customer engagement between B2B and B2C companies.

Findings

B2B companies use more rational appeals and less emotional appeals, have lower degree of informativeness and perform better in interactivity and variety than B2C companies. These five dimensions of message strategy have different roles in engaging customers via perceived value across B2B and B2C settings.

Originality/value

The research makes significant contributions to B2B social media marketing literature by answering two interrelated questions, namely, “What companies are doing?” and “What companies should do?” on social media websites. Besides, it provides insightful implications for B2B companies on how to implement appropriate message strategies in their social media marketing efforts by conducting Importance-Performance Analysis.
Market entry strategies in a high-tech successive generations market: a case study of three semiconductor firms with different entry modes
Authors: Park Changhyun
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore market entry strategies in a high-tech successive generations (HTSGs) market, by investigating entry mode via entry timing and path differentiation and the performance outcomes of entry mode.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of building a theory from a longitudinal case study is adopted by using useful cases in a HTSGs market after constructing an integrated research framework to explore market entry mode. Different entry modes were investigated by studying entry timing and migration path of three firms’ case in logic semiconductor market. In addition, performance outcomes of different entry modes were measured and correlated with each other.

Findings

The results identified three major entry modes suitable for a HTSGs market. The three firms differentiated their entry modes by exploiting different entry timings from the earliest to the last and different migration paths including switching, leapfrogging and new entrance path to enter a market. First mover advantage also exists in a HTSGs market, and it was found uniquely that the financial performance denoted by entry mode outcomes was correlated with technological knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the theory of extant entry strategy from general consumer or industrial market to HTSGs market, in which intense competition exits and technological innovation is important. Moreover, this study verified that the causality between early entry and positive performance was also effective in HTSGs market with a shorter duration of early entry advantage.

Practical implications

This study has managerial implications for firms to establish market entry strategy in HTSGs market and other markets. To become a product leader, a fast follower or a late follower, firms can differentiate their entry mode by adjusting the entry timing and migration path in the context of market and technology.

Originality/value

This study examined market entry strategies suitable for HTSGs market based on its unique characteristics and extended relevant theory into HTSGs market. Further, an integrated research framework, which explores the market entry mode, was constructed to facilitate further exploration of entry mode into other markets.
Assessment of healthcare workers' behavior in implementing a newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in Perak, Malaysia
Authors: Hamzah Hamenudin , Sutan Rosnah , Mohd Tamil Azmi , Mohd Kassim Aminah Bee , Mohamed Soid Adliah , HSS Amar Singh
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to assess healthcare workers' behavior on the congenital hypothyroidism screening program implementation based on a framework protocol and its associated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the multistage random sampling method in recruiting health clinic workers and purposive sampling techniques for hospital workers. The demographics, providers' characteristic, occupational profile, attitude, perceived behavior control (PBC), knowledge, behavioral intention and adherence to protocol were gathered using validated and reliable self-administered questionnaires.

Findings

Partial intention to adhere to protocol was 25.7%. Weak attitude (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 5.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.32–9.06), low PBC score (AOR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95) and low knowledge score (AOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75–0.96) were associated with partial intention to adhere to protocol. In the self-rated adherence assessment, 92.6% of participants from health clinics, 79.1% from pediatric and 61.1% from pathology were found not adhering to protocol. There was a significant association between intention and adherence to protocol.

Research limitations/implications

Documentations and observations in assessing program implementation were limited to perform in the present study. Using self-rated instruments and focusing on healthcare workers alone did not provide a comprehensive assessment.

Practical implications

Availability of a training module at site and regular refreshing course training should be made available to harness knowledge, attitude and behavioral perception in implementing the program activities.

Originality/value

Integrating the Logical Framework Approach in assessing program implementation and application of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Attitude, Subjective Norms, Self-Efficacy Model in this study were beneficial.
Exploring influential factors affecting guest satisfaction
Authors: Lee Minwoo , Cai Yanjun (Maggie) , DeFranco Agnes , Lee Jongseo
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Electronic word of mouth in the form of user-generated content (UGC) in social media plays an important role in influencing customer decision-making and enhancing service providers’ brand images, sales and service innovations. While few research studies have explored real content generated by hotel guests in social media, business analytics techniques are still not widely seen in the literature and how such techniques can be deployed to benefit hoteliers has not been fully explored. Thus, this study aims to explore the significant factors that affect hotel guest satisfaction via UGC and business analytics and also to showcase the use of business analytics tools for both the hospitality industry and the academic world.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses big data and business analytics techniques. Big data and business analytics enable hoteliers to develop effective and efficient strategies improving products and services for guest satisfaction. Therefore, this study analyzes 200,431 hotel reviews on Tripadvisor.com through business analytics to explore and assess the significant factors affecting guest satisfaction.

Findings

The findings show that service, room and value evaluations are the top-three factors affecting overall guests’ satisfaction. While brand type and negative emotions are negatively associated with guests’ satisfaction, all other factors considered were positively associated with guests’ satisfaction.

Originality/value

The current study serves as a great starting point to further explore the relationship between specific evaluation factors and guests’ overall satisfaction by analyzing user-generated online reviews through business analytics so as to assist hoteliers to resolve performance-related problems by analyzing service gaps that exist in these influential factors.
New theories and organization research: from the eyes of change
Authors: Shadnam Masoud
Published: March 2020

Purpose

In recent years, organization scholars have engaged in several conversations about the process of theory development, and offered many proposals for building new theories of organization. The purpose of this paper is to highlight a fundamental, fruitful and often neglected method for developing new theories of organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on Peirce's typology of reasoning: deduction, induction and abduction. This typology helps in analyzing and categorizing the extant proposals for developing new theories of organization, and also makes it visible what approach has been most often missing.

Findings

This paper shows that the offered proposals can be categorized into the following two models: (1) armchair theorizing; (2) present capturing. This categorization also highlights a third model – change sensitizing – that is based on shifting organization theories by sensitizing ourselves to macro shifts of organizational reality.

Originality/value

Although the change sensitizing model is an unusual, marginal practice in today's organization research, it has historically been used to develop many of the renowned theories in social sciences. If taken as a serious agenda, it has the potential to generate a host of new, valuable theories of organization.
The influence of a mortgage interest and capital deduction policy on house prices
Authors: Vangeel Wouter , Defau Laurens , De Moor Lieven
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Since 2005, Belgian housing prices have strongly increased. As the timing coincides with the implementation of a new fiscal package in order to stimulate homeownership, our study attempts to provide an understanding whether the mortgage interest and capital deduction (MICPD) policy has had the side-effect of increasing housing prices while, at the same time, controlling for key housing price determinants.

Design/methodology/approach

A fixed-effects regression model is used on a panel dataset of the three Belgian regions over the period 1995–2015.

Findings

Estimations are carried out separately for different house types, being useful as our empirical analysis ascertains a significant price-increasing effect for ordinary houses and apartments but a significant price-reducing effect for villas. In addition, we find, among other things, that interest rates' influence has been less substantial than commonly thought.

Originality/value

These results are relevant for all governments willing to stimulate homeownership through fiscal stimuli.
Shared landscapes
Authors: Rodriguez Gillian Anne
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper argues for the recognition of regional-consumers’ perceptions of growing food in the landscape. This paper aims to explore the hidden value of observed landscapes and lived “lifescapes” as unformulated brand experiences, particularly those relevant to regional meat. These inform the brand identity construct following Kapferer’s (1997) brand identity framework. It is the local consumers’ gaze, which is of interest, as this lives and digests the place. As an often unconscious experience, it must be recognised, articulated and formalised into a brand to enable authentic communications of place meaning to visitors.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 20 soft-laddering interviews and hierarchical value maps identified the most frequent connections made by local residents for the Cumbrian fells. The cognitions and rationalisations used by residents in considering their lamb choices are revealed using this method and understanding of these linkages feeds into the development of brand identity (Kapferer, 1997). Gengler et al. (1995) offer a guide on means-end chain (MEC) data analysis, which was used in processing the data.

Findings

MEC findings showed that people experience places populated with flocks of sheep/local meat in production and perceive its qualities and characteristics as influenced by terroir conditions, by season and their own relationship with the landscape and with the local community. In essence, they experience the brand of these “products” prior to their status as products (Kapferer, 2007; Jacobsen, 2012). The revealed limitations of both servicescape and of attribute-related literature are discussed relative to the timing of the visual impact experienced by local consumers.

Practical implications

The paper provides a summary of the brand identity for Herdwick lamb (HL), which has emerged from the research process (Figure 2). This example may be useful in discussions with practitioners involved in HL brand development.

Originality/value

The opportunity to reveal local residents’ experiences of “pre-products” in the landscape is discussed as a source of latent and authentic brand relationships.
Introduction of a new method for retailing and marketing research: the case of shopping malls
Authors: Sozen Cenk , Korkmaz Devrani Tülay
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to suggest an unusual method that may help researchers to examine from the real-time movements of consumers among stores located on any kind of shopping location. We assumed shopping behavior of individuals as a complicated network representing their interactions with multiple types of stores – brands. Shopping malls were chosen to test this alternative method. Closely located stores in these organizations give researchers a chance to investigate patterns of interactions of customers in relation to brands. Therefore, we decided to develop an unusual method to examine customers' behavior in these organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study suggests that circulation patterns of customers in a shopping location may provide valuable information to decision makers. The applicability of this technique was tested on 700 consumers visiting stores of a supper-regional shopping mall, located in Ankara, Turkey. Paths of the customers in a specific type of mall were determined, and their interactions with the stores were analyzed by using social network analysis techniques. The brands having key positions in the network were compared with the brand configuration of high- and low-performer malls serving to similar markets.

Findings

The results of the network analyses were used to understand whether this method could be beneficial for the ideal tenant mix problem of shopping malls. Findings suggest that the performance of malls depends on fitness to customer paths, and the malls, which didn't have the key brands at the initial stage, could not adapt themselves later. Findings of the case study verified that this technique might offer a solution to this well-known dilemma of the retailing sector and may have several implications.

Originality/value

These types of data are very valuable, especially for retailing research and the industry, because very critical knowledge such as traffic among retail stores, key central brands, ideal location of stores, consumption tendencies of different customer groups and symbiotic or competitive relations among retailers can be obtained. This method may also have broad implications in other fields of research such as location analysis, decision support systems and property management as well as marketing and retailing.
The behavioral model logic: a micro-level examination of competitive strategies, HR practices and employee outcomes
Authors: Edgar Fiona
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The behavioral framework presents a logic for understanding the relationships between characteristics of the organization and the HRM system. Drawing on this logic to connect the broader management oriented area of strategy with HRM, a micro-level lens is used to examine how competitive strategies and human resource (HR) practice subsystems cohere to influence employees' role behaviors and performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Online survey data were collected from 301 employees working in the retail trade and hospitality segments of New Zealand's service industry.

Findings

Relationships represented in the behavioral model are supported. Specifically, this study finds identifiable differences between the types of HR practices employed and the competitive strategy followed by an organization. Distinguishable sets of HR practices could also be connected to discernible employee role behaviors, which in turn, were related to strategically-aligned performance outcomes. Some commonality in these relationships were evident however.

Practical implications

HR practitioners need to be cognizant of their organization's competitive strategy and ensure the design and messages sent by their HRM system supports the realization of desirable employee role behaviors that promote organizational success. This alignment is supported with job descriptions that clearly articulate to prospective employees the role behaviors required, along with screening processes that support this assessment.

Originality/value

This descriptive, exploratory study presenting data about the alignment between competitive strategies, HR practices, behavioral and performance outcomes contributes to our understanding of contingency arguments and employees' experiences and reactions to HRM. Moreover, by adopting a particularistic focus, this research is able to highlight the salient role of context in SHRM research.
Rapid manufacturing of copper-graphene composites using a novel rapid tooling technique
Authors: Singh Gurminder , Pandey Pulak Mohan
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to study the mechanical, tribological and electrical properties of the copper-graphene (Cu-Gn) composites fabricated by a novel rapid tooling technique consist of three-dimensional printing and ultrasonic-assisted pressureless sintering (UAPS).

Design/methodology/approach

Four different Cu-Gn compositions with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 per cent of graphene were fabricated using an amalgamation of three-dimensional printing and UAPS. The polymer 3d printed parts were used to prepare mould cavity and later the UAPS process was used to sinter Cu-Gn powder to acquire free-form shape. The density, hardness, wear rate, coefficient of friction and electrical conductivity were evaluated for the different compositions of graphene and compared with the pure copper. Besides, the comparison was performed with the conventional method.

Findings

Cu-Gn composites revealed excellent wear properties due to higher hardness, and the lubrication provided by the graphene. The electrical conductivity of the fabricated Cu-Gn composites started increasing initially but decreased afterwards with increasing the content of graphene. The UAPS fabricated composites outperformed the conventional method manufactured samples with better properties such as density, hardness, wear rate, coefficient of friction and electrical conductivity due to homogeneous mixing of metal particles and graphene.

Originality/value

The fabrication of Cu-Gn composite freeform shapes was found to be difficult using conventional methods. The novel technique using a combination of polymer three-dimensional printing and UAPS as rapid tooling was introduced for the fabrication of freeform shapes of Cu-Gn composites and mechanical, tribological and electrical properties were studied. The method can be used to fabricate optimized complex Cu-Gn structures with improved wear and electrical applications.
Ambivalent entrepreneurs: arts-based social enterprise in a neoliberal world
Authors: McQuilten Grace , Warr Deborah , Humphery Kim , Spiers Amy
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the social turn in contemporary capitalism and contemporary art through the lens of art-based social enterprises (ASEs) that aim to create positive social benefits for young people experiencing forms of marginalisation, and which trade creative products or services to help fulfil that mission. A growth in ASEs demonstrates a growing interest in how the arts can support social and economic development, and the ways new economic models can generate employment for individuals excluded from the labour market; extend opportunities for more people to participate in art markets; and challenge dominant market models of cultural production and consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers a number of challenges and complexities faced by ASEs that embrace a co-dependence of three goals, which are often in tension and competition – artistic practice, social purpose and economic activity. It does so by analysing interviews from staff working with 12 ASE organisation’s across Australia.

Findings

While the external forces that shape ASEs – including government policy, markets, investors and philanthropy – are interested in the “self-sufficient” economic potential of ASEs, those working in ASEs tend to prioritise social values and ethical business over large financial returns and are often ambivalent about their roles as entrepreneurs. This ambivalence is symptomatic of a position that is simultaneously critical and affirmative, of the conditions of contemporary capitalism and neoliberalism.

Originality/value

This paper addresses a gap in social enterprise literature presenting empirical research focussing on the lived experience of those managing and leading ASEs in Australia.
Multilateralism and international governmental organizations: principles and instruments
Authors: Surdej Aleksander
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a conceptual framework helping to understand the relationship between the principle of multilateralism in global policy relations and the role of international governmental organizations (IGOs). The paper develops conceptual building blocks to design adequate for international organizations for result-oriented effective multilateralism.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review and in-depth theoretical analysis served to construct a framework that helps to see the variety of IGOs against global policy problems they serve to solve.

Findings

The analysis highlighted several lessons that can be learned, including the need for an efficient match between the nature of the global policy problem and the mandate and the size of IGO. The paper indicated the importance of efficient mechanisms to make international organizations accountable to member states while allowing for effective leadership.

Research limitations/implications

The heterogeneity of IGOs makes a generalization difficult, hence, the proposed framework necessarily remains relatively generic. Still, this paper provides a first analytical basis for the comparison of IGO with regard to global policy problems they have been set to solve.

Practical implications

The author pointed to the way how to improve the fit between global policy problems and IGOs to make multilateralism more effective. The framework can be used to learn what can be expected from a given IGO and to see IGOs in their proper roles.

Social implications

The paper might of interest to decision-makers and international public opinion eager to either criticize or praise international organizations based on a simplistic, if not ideological approaches. The paper develops arguments that help influence the evolution of international organizations.

Originality/value

IGO are increasing in number and forms leading to confusion to their role and impact. This framework can be used to realistically assess the role of IGOs in global public policies.
Contrasting patterns in biomass allocation, root morphology and mycorrhizal symbiosis for phosphorus acquisition among 20 chickpea genotypes with different amounts of rhizosheath carboxylates
Authors: Wen Zhihui , Pang Jiayin , Tueux Guillaume , Liu Yifei , Shen Jianbo , Ryan Megan H. , Lambers Hans , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: March 2020

Adjustments in root biomass allocation, root morphology, carboxylate exudation and mycorrhizal symbiosis are well‐known strategies for plants to cope with phosphorus (P) deficiency. Large genotypic variation in these functional traits has been demonstrated within numerous species. Yet, whether these functional traits are coordinated differently among genotypes of a species to enhance P acquisition remains unknown.

We characterized 11 root functional traits associated with P acquisition in 20 chickpea genotypes with contrasting amounts of rhizosheath carboxylates, grown in a glasshouse with severely limiting insoluble (10 mg/kg FePO4), moderately limiting soluble (10 mg/kg KH2PO4) and adequate (50 mg/kg KH2PO4) P supply.

Substantial variation was found among genotypes in root functional traits associated with P acquisition. Genotypes with a large amount of carboxylates (HRC) had thinner roots, and a lower root mass fraction and root mass density (RMD), but higher specific root length (SRL) and colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) than genotypes with a small amount of rhizosheath carboxylates.

In response to soil P availability, chickpea genotypes showed large plasticity in root biomass allocation, rhizosheath pH, carboxylate amount and colonization by AMF, but a limited response in most root morphological traits (i.e. mean root diameter, RMD and SRL). Shoot P content was strongly correlated with different root functional traits in the three P treatments.

Our findings suggest a range of predictable relationships between root functional traits among chickpea genotypes; those with HRC tended to have relatively thinner roots with lower cost of root construction, while allocating more resources to carboxylate exudation and colonization by AMF. The shift in the relationships between shoot P content and root functional traits indicates that root traits and/or trait combinations in chickpea vary in a manner that enhances P acquisition under specific soil P conditions (i.e. P sources/levels). Such knowledge provides valuable information for chickpea genotype breeding and our understanding of evolution of traits with improved root/rhizosphere functioning.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Non‐consumptive effects between predators depend on the foraging mode of intraguild prey
Authors: Mestre Laia , Narimanov Nijat , Menzel Florian , Entling Martin H.
Published: March 2020

Predator non‐consumptive effects (NCE) are a suite of phenotypic responses of prey to avoid predation that cascade down food webs and can have a stronger impact than predation itself. However, the role of NCE in intraguild interactions remains understudied. Thus, multi‐species experiments based on species traits are needed to improve our understanding of the impact of NCE on community structure.

We investigated NCE of ants on 17 spider species as intraguild prey (8 cursorial and 9 sedentary) to test the influence of spider hunting mode on the strength of NCE. Sedentary spiders select a habitat patch and wait for prey, whereas cursorial spiders roam around searching for prey. Because actively foraging organisms have higher encounter rates with predators, cursorial spiders should show stronger reactions to ant presence.

We collected cues (footprint hydrocarbons) of the black garden ant Lasius niger on filter papers. Then, we placed spiders individually on the papers and filmed their behaviour once on a paper with cues and once on a cue‐free one. We used the increase in walking activity in the presence of cues as an indicator of avoidance behaviour towards ants.

Cursorial spiders spent a longer time moving and being mobile, and had a higher overall mean mobility when exposed to ant cues compared with blank filter papers, whereas sedentary spider species did not react to ant cues at all.

The avoidance of ant cues by cursorial spiders corresponds to their higher risk of encountering ants compared with sedentary species, in accordance with the threat‐sensitivity hypothesis. Our multi‐species study shows the relevance of NCE for intraguild interactions and highlights the importance of experimental trait‐based approaches to improve predictability of species interactions and the role of NCE in ecological communities.
Camouflage accuracy in Sahara–Sahel desert rodents
Authors: Nokelainen Ossi , Brito José Carlos , Scott‐Samuel Nicholas E. , Valkonen Janne K. , Boratyński Zbyszek
Published: March 2020

Camouflage helps animals to hide from predators and is therefore key to survival. Although widespread convergence of animal phenotypes to their natural environment is well‐established, there is a lack of knowledge about how species compromise camouflage accuracy across different background types in their habitat.

Here we tested how background matching has responded to top–down selection by avian and mammalian predators using Sahara–Sahel desert rodents in North Africa.

We show that the fur colouration of several species has become an accurate match to different types of desert habitats. This is supported by a correlation analysis of colour and pattern metrics, investigation of animal‐to‐background similarities at different spatial scales and is confirmed by modelling of two predator vision systems.

The background match was closest across large (or global) spatial scales, suggesting a generalist camouflage tactic for many background types. Some species, may have a better match to the background over small (or focal) spatial scales, which could be the result of habitat choices or differential predation. Nevertheless, predicted discrimination distances of fur colouration were virtually indistinguishable for mammalian and low for avian vision model, which implies effective camouflage.

Our study provides one of the best documented cases of multilevel camouflage accuracy in geographically widespread taxa. We conclude that background matching has become an effective and common adaptation against predatory threat in Sahara–Sahelian desert rodents.
Seasonal succession of functional traits in phytoplankton communities and their interaction with trophic state
Authors: Wentzky Valerie Carolin , Tittel Jörg , Jäger Christoph Gerald , Bruggeman Jorn , Rinke Karsten
Published: March 2020

Understanding and explaining the structure of communities in response to environmental gradients is a central goal in ecology. Trait‐based approaches are promising but yet rarely applied to understand community dynamics in response to changing environmental conditions.

Here, we investigate seasonal succession patterns of functional traits in phytoplankton communities and how nutrient reductions (oligotrophication) alter these patterns. We used phytoplankton data from 40 years of observation from the Rappbode Reservoir (Germany), which underwent a strong shift in trophic conditions, and translated taxonomic composition into functional traits by assigning trait values compiled from the literature.

All studied traits (morphological, behavioural and physiological traits) responded to changing environmental conditions and showed consistent, reoccurring seasonal developments. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton communities was shaped by a trade‐off between small‐celled, fast‐growing species that are able to rapidly incorporate existing resources (r‐strategists) and large‐celled species with more complex and efficient mechanisms to exploit scarce mineral nutrients or acquire previously unexploited nutrient pools (k‐strategists). In summer, when nutrients were scarce, the k‐strategy was prevailing (important traits: phosphate affinity, nitrogen fixation, motility and mixotrophy). During the rest of the year, nutrients and turbulence were high and r‐strategists dominated (important traits: maximum growth rate and light affinity).

A comparison between eutrophic and oligotrophic years revealed that the main features of functional trait succession were largely preserved, but intra‐annual fluctuations from spring to summer were stronger during eutrophic years. Nutrient reductions mainly affected functional traits and biomass in spring, while in summer the functional community composition changed little.

Synthesis. This study provides for the first time a quantitatively supported functional template for trait‐based succession patterns in lakes under different nutrient conditions. By translating taxonomic composition into trait information, we demonstrate that the quantification of functional characteristics enables ecological interpretation of observed community dynamics and provides not only a testable template but also a powerful tool towards a more mechanistic understanding. The quantification of functional traits further improves the predictability of community shifts in response to changing environmental conditions and thus opens new perspectives for predictive limnology using lake ecosystem models.
Initial richness, consumer pressure and soil resources jointly affect plant diversity and resource strategies during a successional field experiment
Authors: Wilfahrt Peter A. , Halliday Fletcher W. , Heckman Robert W.
Published: March 2020

Plant community succession is structured by initial richness, plant consumer pressure and soil resource supply. These drivers influence species' trait trade‐offs that underlie temporal changes in plant community diversity. Importantly, how these drivers interact with each other and through time and whether they act on different facets of plant community diversity by promoting different plant trade‐off strategies remains poorly understood.

We experimentally manipulated initial plant richness, consumer pressure via pesticide spraying and soil resource supply via fertilization across 4 years of old field succession. We then allowed natural colonization and extinction to occur and examined how the three drivers influenced succession. Specifically, we examined changes in temporal dynamics by conducting yearly taxonomic cover surveys and measuring light penetration to the ground. In the third year, we measured vegetative height and specific leaf area (SLA), and investigated seed mass using a trait database.

Higher initial richness, lower consumer pressure and increased soil resource supply all decreased colonizing species richness and light availability and variably altered species evenness. These effects generally acted additively rather than interactively in driving community diversity during succession. However, soil resource supply suppressed consumer pressure effects on species richness and light availability, while consumer pressure and soil resource supply modified initial richness effects on light availability. Treatments acted on different trait identities, revealing different mechanisms underlying taxonomic responses. Initial richness effects on seed mass of colonizing species were modified by soil resource supply. Decreased consumer pressure increased intraspecific community height and decreased interspecific SLA. Increased soil resource supply increased community height, SLA and seed mass.

Synthesis. Our results suggest species' resource strategies underlie plant diversity responses to consumer pressure and soil resource supply. Resource addition promoted resource‐acquisitive species; consumer pressure disadvantaged resource‐conservative species. Meanwhile, initial richness altered subsequent community composition primarily through persistence of early residents. We show that community responses to drivers of succession depend on underlying trait trade‐offs of resident species, and these trade‐offs influence community diversity across succession.
A core outcome set for future endometriosis research: an international consensus development study
Authors: Duffy JMN , Hirsch M , Vercoe M , Abbott J , Barker C , Collura B , Drake R , Evers JLH , Hickey M , Horne AW , Hull ML , Kolekar S , Lensen S , Johnson NP , Mahajan V , Mol BW , Otter A‐S , Puscasiu L , Rodriguez MB , Rombauts L , Vail A , Wang R , Farquhar CM ,   endo:outcomes – an International Collaboration Harmonising Outcomes and Outcome Measures for Endometriosis Research
Published: March 2020

Objective

To develop a core outcome set for endometriosis.

Design

Consensus development study.

Setting

International.

Population

One hundred and sixteen healthcare professionals, 31 researchers and 206 patient representatives.

Methods

Modified Delphi method and modified nominal group technique.

Results

The final core outcome set includes three core outcomes for trials evaluating potential treatments for pain and other symptoms associated with endometriosis: overall pain; improvement in the most troublesome symptom; and quality of life. In addition, eight core outcomes for trials evaluating potential treatments for infertility associated with endometriosis were identified: viable intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound; pregnancy loss, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and termination of pregnancy; live birth; time to pregnancy leading to live birth; gestational age at delivery; birthweight; neonatal mortality; and major congenital abnormalities. Two core outcomes applicable to all trials were also identified: adverse events and patient satisfaction with treatment.

Conclusions

Using robust consensus science methods, healthcare professionals, researchers and women with endometriosis have developed a core outcome set to standardise outcome selection, collection and reporting across future randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews evaluating potential treatments for endometriosis.

Tweetable abstract

@coreoutcomes for future #endometriosis research have been developed @jamesmnduffy.