bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triggering the expression of a silent gene cluster from genetically intractable bacteria results in scleric acid discovery
Authors: Alberti Fabrizio , Leng Daniel J. , Wilkening Ina , Song Lijiang , Tosin Manuela , Corre Christophe
Published: February 2018

Herein we report a strategy for the rapid and rational characterisation of novel microbial natural products from silent gene clusters. A conserved set of five regulatory genes was used as a query to search genomic databases and identify atypical biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). A 20-kb BGC from the genetically intractable Streptomyces sclerotialus bacterial strain was captured using yeast-based homologous recombination and introduced into validated heterologous hosts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing was then employed to rationally inactivate the key transcriptional repressor and trigger production of an unprecedented class of hybrid natural products exemplified by (2-(benzoyloxy)acetyl)-L-proline, named scleric acid. Subsequent rounds of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletions afforded a selection of biosynthetic gene mutant strains which led to a plausible biosynthetic pathway for scleric acid assembly. Scleric acid and a key biosynthetic intermediate were also synthesised and used as authentic standards. The assembly of scleric acid involves two unique enzymatic condensation reactions that respectively link a proline and a benzoyl residue to each end of a rare hydroxyethyl-ACP intermediate. Scleric acid was then shown to exhibit moderate activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as modest inhibition of the cancer-associated metabolic enzyme Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT).
Dental erosion caused by a gastrointestinal disorder in a child from the Late Holocene of Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Oliveira Rodrigo E. , Solari Ana , Silva Sergio Francisco S. M. , Martin Gabriela
Published: February 2018

A skeleton of an approximately 3-years-old sub-adult, in an excellent state of conservation, was found at the Pedra do Cachorro rock shelter - Buique, Pernambuco – Brazil, an archaeological site used as funerary place between 3875 and 575 cal years B.P. The skeleton has no signs of pathological bone changes, but its maxillary teeth show strong evidence of enamel and dentin wear caused by acid erosion, suggesting vomiting or gastroesophageal reflux episodes. The aim of this study was to describe the lesions and discuss the aetiology of these dental defects with the emphasis on the cause of the death of this individual.
Persistent cell motility requires transcriptional feedback of cytoskeletal — focal adhesion equilibrium by YAP/TAZ
Authors: Mason Devon E. , Dawahare James H. , Nguyen Trung Dung , Lin Yang , Voytik-Harbin Sherry L. , Zorlutuna Pinar , Yoder Mervin C. , Boerckel Joel D.
Published: February 2018

Cell migration initiates by traction generation through reciprocal actomyosin tension and focal adhesion reinforcement, but continued motility requires adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling and adhesion release. Here, we asked whetherde novogene expression contributes to this cytoskeletal feedback. We found that global inhibition of transcription or translation does not impair initial cell polarization or migration initiation, but causes eventual migratory arrest through excessive cytoskeletal tension and over-maturation of focal adhesions, tethering cells to their matrix. The transcriptional co-activators YAP and TAZ mediate this feedback response, modulating cell mechanics by limiting cytoskeletal and focal adhesion maturation to enable persistent cell motility and 3D vasculogenesis. Motile arrest after YAP/TAZ ablation was partially rescued by depletion of the YAP/TAZ-dependent myosin phosphatase regulator, NUAK2, or by inhibition of Rho-ROCK-myosin II. Together, these data establish a transcriptional feedback axis necessary to maintain a responsive cytoskeletal equilibrium and persistent migration.
From categories to dimensions: spatio-temporal dynamics of the cerebral representations of emotion in voice
Authors: Giordano Bruno L. , Whiting Whiting , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Kotz Sonja A. , Belin Pascal , Gross Joachim
Published: February 2018

Whether the human brain represents emotional stimuli as discrete categories or continuous dimensions is still widely debated. Here we directly contrasted the power of categorical and dimensional models at explaining behavior and cerebral activity in the context of perceived emotion in the voice. We combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto-encephalography (MEG) to measure with high spatiotemporal precision the dynamics of cerebral activity in participants who listened to voice stimuli expressing a range of emotions. The participants also provided a detailed perceptual assessment of the stimuli. By using representational similarity analysis (RSA), we show that the participants’ perceptual representation of the stimuli was initially dominated by discrete categories and an early (<200ms) cerebral response. These responses showed significant associations between brain activity and the categorical model in the auditory cortex starting as early as 77ms. Furthermore, we observed strong associations between the arousal and valence dimensions and activity in several cortical and subcortical areas at later latencies (>500ms). Our results thus show that both categorical and dimensional models account for patterns of cerebral responses to emotions in voices but with a different timeline and detail as to how these patterns evolve from discrete categories to progressively refined continuous dimensions.

One Sentence Summary: Emotions expressed in the voice are instantly categorized in cortical processing and their distinct qualities are refined dimensionally only later on.
Age distributions of rare lineages reveal recent demographic history and selection
Authors: Platt Alexander , Hey Jody
Published: February 2018

The age of an allele of a given frequency offers insight into both its function and origin, and the distribution of ages of alleles in a population conveys significant information about its history. The rarer the allele the more likely it is to reveal functional biological insight and the more recent the historical revelation. By measuring the length of the haplotype shared between an individual carrying a rare variant and its closest relative not carrying the variant we are able to approximate the age of the variant and can apply this method even when only a single copy of a variant has been sampled in a population. Applying this technique to rare variants in a large population sample from the United Kingdom, we identify historical migration from West Africa approximately 400 years ago, evidence of direct selection against novel protein-altering rare variants in individual biological pathways, continued negative frequency dependent selection on protein-altering variants in olfactory transducers and the innate immune system, and map the impact of background selection on the most recent portions of the sample genealogy.
Downgrading disease transmission risk estimates using terminal importations
Authors: Fox Spencer J , Bellan Steven E , Perkins T Alex , Johansson Michael A , Meyers Lauren Ancel
Published: February 2018

As emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases like dengue, Ebola, chikungunya, and Zika threaten new populations worldwide, officials scramble to assess local severity and transmissibility, with little to no epidemiological history to draw upon. Standard methods for assessing autochthonous (local) transmission risk make either indirect estimates based on ecological suitability or direct estimates only after local cases accumulate. However, an overlooked source of epidemiological data that can meaningfully inform risk assessments prior to outbreak emergence is the absence of transmission by imported cases. Here, we present a method for updatinga prioriecological estimates of transmission risk using real-time importation data. We demonstrate our method using Zika importation and transmission data from Texas in 2016, a high-risk region in the southern United States. Our updated risk estimates are lower than previously reported, with only six counties in Texas likely to sustain a Zika epidemic, and consistent with the number of autochthonous cases detected in 2017. Importation events can thereby provide critical, early insight into local transmission risks as infectious diseases expand their global reach.
The Limits to Parapatric Speciation II: Strengthening a Preexisting Genetic Barrier to Gene Flow in Parapatry
Authors: Blanckaert Alexandre , Hermisson Joachim
Published: February 2018

Parapatric speciation has recently received a lot of attention. By encompassing the whole continuum between allopatric and sympatric scenarios, it includes many potential scenarios for the evolution of new species. Building upon previous work, we investigate how a genetic barrier to gene flow, that relies on a single postzygotic genetic incompatibility, may further evolve. We consider a continent island model with three loci involved in pairwise Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities (DMIs). Using a deterministic and analytic approach, we derive the conditions for invasion of a new mutation and its consequences on an already existing genetic barrier to gene flow. We focus on quantifying the impact of the epistasis generated by the new mutation on the genetic barrier. We show that the accumulation of genetic incompatibilities in the presence of gene flow is a complex process, where new mutations can either strengthen or destroy a preexisting barrier. In particular, preexisting polymorphism and incompatibilities do not always facilitate the growth of the genetic barrier by accumulation of further barrier genes. Migration may disrupt the snowball effect (the accelerating rate of DMI accumulation in allopatry) because incompatibilities are directly tested by selection. Our results also show an ambiguous role of gene flow, which can either impede or facilitate the strengthening of the genetic barrier. Overall, our results illustrate how the inclusion of gene flow renders the building of a genetic barrier difficult to analyze.
Feeling the force: how pollen tubes deal with obstacles
Authors: Burri Jan T. , Vogler Hannes , Läubli Nino F. , Hu Chengzhi , Grossniklaus Ueli , Nelson Bradley J.
Published: February 2018

Highlight

Pollen tubes literally feel their way through their environment to avoid obstacles as they deliver male gametes to the ovule. We measured their force sensitivity to understand this remarkable behavior.

Physical forces are involved in the regulation of plant development and morphogenesis by translating mechanical stress into the modification of physiological processes, which, in turn, can affect cellular growth. Pollen tubes are tip-growing cells that provide an ideal system to study processes induced by exposure to mechanical stress. We combined a lab-on-a-chip device with cellular force microscopy to mimic and quantify the forces that are involved in pollen tube navigation upon confronting mechanical obstacles. Several stages of obstacle avoidance were identified, including force perception, growth adjustment, and penetration. We have experimentally determined the perceptive force, which is the force threshold at which the pollen tube senses the obstacle, forLilium longiflorumandArabidopsis thaliana. In addition, we provide evidence that pollen tubes are capable of penetrating narrow gaps by increasing turgor pressure. Taken together, our data indicate that pollen tubes sense physical barriers and actively adjust their growth behavior to overcome them.
Somatic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors control the activity of dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors
Authors: Cuttoli Romain Durand-de , Mondoloni Sarah , Marti Fabio , Lemoine Damien , Naudé Jérémie , d’Izarny-Gargas Thibaut , Pons Stéphanie , Maskos Uwe , Trauner Dirk , Kramer Richard H. , Faure Philippe , Mourot Alexandre
Published: February 2018

Dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in vivo. We provide direct evidence that the ACh tone fine-tunes the firing properties of VTA DA neurons through somatic β2-containing (β2*) nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Furthermore, locally photo-antagonizing these receptors in the VTA was sufficient to reversibly switch nicotine reinforcement on and off. By enabling control of nicotinic transmission in targeted brain circuits, this technology will help unravel the various physiological functions of nAChRs and may assist in the design of novel therapies relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Genetic variants associated with Alzheimer's disease confer different cerebral cortex cell-type population structure
Authors: Li Zeran , Del-Aguila Jorge L , Dube Umber , Budde John , Martinez Rita , Black Kathleen , Xiao Qingli , Cairns Nigel J. ,   the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN), Dougherty Joseph D. , Lee Jin-Moo , Morris John C , Bateman Randall J. , Karch Celeste M. , Cruchaga Carlos , Harari Oscar
Published: February 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and astrocytosis in the cerebral cortex. However, the effects of brain cellular composition are often ignored in high-throughput molecular studies. We developed and optimized a cell-type specific expression reference panel and employed digital deconvolution methods to determine brain cellular distribution in three independent transcriptomic studies. We found that neuronal and astrocyte proportions differ between healthy and diseased brains and also among AD cases that carry specific genetic risk variants. Brain carriers of pathogenic mutations in APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2 presented lower neurons and higher astrocytes proportions compared to sporadic AD. Similarly, the APOE ε4 allele also showed decreased neurons and increased astrocytes compared to AD non-carriers. On the contrary, carriers of variants in TREM2 risk showed a lower degree of neuronal loss than matched AD cases in multiple independent studies. These findings suggest that genetic risk factors associated with AD etiology have a specific imprinting in the cellular composition of AD brains. Our digital deconvolution reference panel provides an enhanced understanding of the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, enabling the analysis of large bulk RNA-seq studies for cell composition, and suggests that correcting for the cellular structure when performing transcriptomic analysis will lead to novel insights of AD.
Reversion of the photoperiod dependence of flowering in rice with synthetic Hd1-microProteins
Authors: Eguen Tenai , Ariza Jorge Gomez , Bhati Kaushal Kumar , Sun Bin , Fornara Fabio , Wenkel Stephan
Published: February 2018

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a facultative short-day plant that flowers very late when grown in non-inductive long day conditions. Photoperiod-dependent flowering in rice is regulated by heading date (Hd1) which acts as both an activator and repressor of flowering in a day length-dependent manner. In order to regulate flowering of rice in long days (LD), overexpression of a synthetic Hd1miP, which is capable of interacting with Hd1, was employed. Transgenic Hd1miP rice plants flowered significantly earlier when grown in LD compared to SD, showing that synthetic microProteins can be used to revert short-day plants to long-day plants. Yield analysis revealed that although the OX-Hd1miP grains are comparable to WT in terms of the size of the grains produced, OX-Hd1miP plants like hd1 knockout plants, are compromised in the number of grains produced and the grain maturity rate, suggesting an additional unrecognized role of Hd1 in grain maturity.
10-[1,1-Dichloro-4-(trimethylsilyl)but-1-en-3-yn-2-yl]-10H-phenothiazine
Authors: Umezono Satoru , Okuno Tsunehisa
Published: February 2018

The title compound, C19H17Cl2NSSi, is an enamine derivative, in which the N atom adopts a shallow trigonal–pyramidal geometry [displacement from the plane of its attached C atoms = 0.1383 (18) Å]. The dihedral angle between the plane through the three amino carbon atoms and the vinyl group is 89.47 (7)°. The phenothiazine unit has a butterfly structure and the central six-membered ring adopts a boat conformation. The fold angle between the benzene rings is 28.52 (7)°. The crystal structure features weak Csp3—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, H...S contacts and π–π stacking interactions between phenothiazine units.
6′-(3-Bromophenyl)-7′-nitro-1′,6′,7′,7a'-tetrahydro-3′H-spiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,5′-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole]
Authors: Muthuselvi C. , Muthu M. , Athimoolam S. , Ravikumar B. , Pandiarajan S. , Krishnakumar R. V.
Published: February 2018

The title compound, C26H19BrN4O2S, crystallizes in a monoclinicC-centred lattice with eight molecules in the unit cell. The five-membered thiazole and pyrrolidine rings adopt envelope conformations and the bromophenyl and indenoquinoxaline planes are oriented at a dihedral angle of 61.6 (1)° to each other. The molecular structure features an intramolecular C—H...N interaction leading to anS(6) ring motif.C(9) andC(10) chains along thec- andb-axis directions form through C—H...Br and C—H...S contacts, respectively. In addition, C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers withR22(10) andR22(14) motifs, respectively. One O atom is disordered over two positions (occupancy ratio 0.63:0.37).
Supply chain performance measures and metrics: a bibliometric study
Authors: Mishra Deepa , Gunasekaran Angappa , Papadopoulos Thanos , Dubey Rameshwar
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on supply chain performance measures and metrics (PMMs). It provides a critical evaluation of 234 articles published in past 24 years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the studies published from 1991 to 2014 by adopting the bibliometric technique of citation and co-citation analysis.

Findings

The analysis of the results indicate that the number of articles on supply chain PMMs is increasing at its fastest pace in the past few years. Furthermore, the study identifies some of the most influential articles on performance measurement and metrics. Finally, it concludes that there has been a transition from traditional to more sophisticated performance measurement system.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses only on supply chain performance measurement and metrics and excludes research on performance management and control. Thus, researchers may explore and extend this area of research.

Originality/value

To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to review the literature on supply chain PMMs by using citation and co-citation analysis. The study includes 234 articles over the time of 24 years (1991-2014).
Differential impact of short-term and long-term group incentives
Authors: Han Kyongji , Kim Andrea
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the additive and differential effects of short-term-oriented group incentives (STOGIs) and long-term-oriented group incentives (LTOGIs) on psychological ownership and organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed data from 17,255 US employees in the 2005 data set of the National Bureau of Economic Research Shared Capitalism Research.

Findings

Both additive indices of group incentives have direct positive relationships with psychological ownership and organizational commitment, as well as indirect positive relationships with organizational commitment through psychological ownership. STOGIs have a stronger relationship with organizational commitment and LTOGIs have a stronger relationship with psychological ownership.

Originality/value

The value of this research lies in exploring the differential effects of short-and long-term group incentives, which provides new insight into the theory of group incentives and practical implications for their effective utilization.
The use of management control and performance measurement systems in SMEs
Authors: Pešalj Biljana , Pavlov Andrey , Micheli Pietro
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to respond to recent calls for understanding how multiple management control (MC) and performance measurement (PM) systems are used simultaneously for managing performance, particularly in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected during an in-depth case study of MC and PM and management practices in a Dutch SME using multiple data sources and elicitation methods, including interviews and participant observations.

Findings

This study identifies managerial practices that enable the interplay of the four control systems – beliefs, boundaries, diagnostic and interactive – helping the organization manage organizational tensions in relation to short- and long-term focus, predictable goal achievement and search for new opportunities, internal and external focus, and control and creativity.

Research limitations/implications

This paper advances the research on integrating multiple aspects of performance management, particularly technical and social. This research is based on a single case study; future qualitative and quantitative studies could explore the interplay between the four control systems in other settings and explore the relationship between control systems and leadership style.

Practical implications

Managing performance requires active and continuous use of all four control systems. This is particularly salient in SMEs where less formal controls play a key role and where balance needs to be ensured despite the lack of managerial processes and capabilities.

Originality/value

The findings advance PM and management theory and practice in the context of SMEs.
Improving university teaching: a professional service operation perspective
Authors: Finne Max
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to take a professional service operation (PSO) perspective to reconceptualise a persistent pedagogical dilemma of teaching large classes into a process design challenge. This enables developing a solution that reduces labour intensity and improves the customisation of teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

This work is based on a single-case analysis of an undergraduate operations management course taught at a UK-based global top-50 business school. The research process follows the design science approach where a prior course design is analysed and a redesign is presented, refined and tested using data on student satisfaction.

Findings

The course redesign is based on the flipped learning pedagogy, and uses a combination of process analysis and educational science perspectives. The redesign seems to provide the benefits to students without increasing labour intensity. The developed six-step systematic approach should reduce the labour intensity of university-level teaching operations, while providing additional possibilities for customisable in-class active learning.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical findings from the single-case design cannot be directly generalised to other contexts. However, the developed six-step systematic approach for redesigning the university-level teaching process should be applicable to other teaching operations to drive value creation and improve processes.

Originality/value

This study shows how the resource-constrained value creation of teaching operations can be improved systematically using process analysis perspectives. The work also scrutinises the flipped learning pedagogy from a PSO perspective and shows its benefits for improving teaching operations compared to traditional lecturing.
Are customers ready to accept revenue management practices in the restaurant industry?
Authors: Etemad-Sajadi Reza
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of revenue management practices to the restaurant industry. The author wants to observe customers’ readiness to accept revenue management practices based on price variation, booking policy, table management, and control duration. The author also wants to measure the impact of these four practices on customer patronage intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 251 respondents. As the author had several latent variables, partial least squares, a variance-based structural equation modeling method, was used.

Findings

The author found that the majority of these practices are perceived unfair. The only two practices that are considered as fair are price variation between lunch/dinner, and cancellation in case of late. The most unfairly felt practice is the policy-related time spent at the table. The results also showed that the perceived fairness of these practices influences customer patronage intention. The author observed that price variation according to the lunch/dinner period, weekday/weekend period, and time of the day will influence the desire to frequent the restaurant. Booking policy will also impact customer patronage intention. The table management and control duration policies do not impact customer patronage intention, even if these practices are perceived unfair.

Practical implications

Restaurant managers, desiring to apply revenue management practices, should be aware of the fact that practices linked to price variation will have a stronger influence on the customer intention to revisit the company than control duration practices. Moreover, restaurant managers must “educate” their clients by clearly communicating the advantages of these practices for the customers.

Originality/value

Even if several studies focused on the fairness perceived of revenue management practices in hospitality industry, there is a lack of research about the impact of price variation and control duration on patronage intention, especially for the restaurant industry. This is the first time the author measured the concrete impact of price variation, booking policy, table management, and control duration on patronage intention. Moreover, the author integrated several new practices that have never been studied in the past such as the date of booking (e.g. 5 percent reduction if the booking was done four days in advance) or the fact of changing tables for dessert and coffee.
Economic crisis and business excellence: a comparative multi case study assessment
Authors: Metaxas Ioannis N. , Koulouriotis Dimitrios E. , Emiris Dimitrios
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact that crisis had on quality management and basic business processes using INSEAD’s industrial excellence framework (IEF) towards large Greek industrial units. This study proposes a modified version of the IEF which can help firms to operate through a turbulent environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data that were collected during the current financial crisis were compared with a matched sample of business units surveyed a decade earlier. The variables that were used to measure performance were grouped into two categories, quality management and process improvement.

Findings

Through the examination of these cases, the authors identify the characteristics that empowered those BUs so as to remain alive during the turbulence. According to the results, the survivors train their staff systematically, have closer relationships with their suppliers, assess their processes and follow up with action plans. Findings also suggest cultural differences between survivors vs non-survivors. Survivors display a cultural profile typical to adhocracy since they describe themselves as more flexible and externally focused instead of being stable and internally focused. These findings are discussed and avenues for future research are presented.

Practical implications

The results of the study can be applied by quality managers of industrial organizations to achieve higher performance and overcome a turbulence of the external environment.

Originality/value

Previous research on the business excellence frameworks neglects the essential issue of sustainability and how an organization can survive a crisis. The study provides new insights into the long-term benefits of applying an excellence framework.
Analysing fourteen graphical representations of corporate real estate alignment models
Authors: Heywood Christopher , Arkesteijn Monique
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to report an analysis of the graphical representations of 14 corporate real estate (CRE) models. It does this to establish the systematic, metatheoretical requirements for modelling CRE alignment which to date have been disguised in a multitude of models.

Design/methodology/approach

This meta study of CRE alignment models used a qualitative hermeneutic method to inductively develop understanding of the models’ constituent parts. Several iterations of graphical and textual analysis were required to do this. Further deductive analysis sought to understand the individual models relative to this new understanding.

Findings

The analysis showed that a total of 12 components have been used to model CRE alignment. These are divided into four Building Blocks: understanding corporate strategy; understanding real estate performance; making real estate strategy; and implementing real estate strategy. While every model’s representation contained the four Building Blocks, few models contained all 12 components, though all contained at least seven. Completeness of representation in this study should not be inferred as equating to effectiveness as an alignment process. Various feedback mechanisms were also evident between the components.

Originality/value

The analysis provides the most complete map of the modelling requirements for CRE alignment. It differs from previous theoretical work on alignment by synthesising a metatheory of alignment representation. By providing a more coherent theory by which to model CRE alignment the metatheory provides a consistent basis on which to investigate and theorise aspects of CRE alignment.
The “organizing” paradigm in public administration: learning by focusing on customer orientation
Authors: Bruno Andreina
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Public Administration complexity derives from the dual character of the public sector, that is to be a means of delivery and an element of societal self-governance. The bureaucratic framework is a way to address this tension, while simultaneously public administration needs to focus on a more processual view of the organization to improve service quality. Training could be a key point to sustain such a transition, by focusing on customer orientation. The purpose of the study is to explore whether a training device focused on customer orientation could develop employees’ theory on organization as being process-oriented, i.e. “organizing”.

Design/methodology/approach

The longitudinal study is on a training case study in Italy. Participating in the training course were 34 employees belonging to 16 Public Administrations. Data on participants’ organization representations were collected at the beginning and at the end of the course through the SWOT matrix. Data analysis used a quali-quantitative approach.

Findings

Findings show a shift to viewing the service organization as a process implicated in uncertainties and unpredictable events rather than the realization of an ideal model.

Originality/value

The study contributes to highlight the need for a practical focus on the conceptualization of organization in training, as the term “organization” is often under described or treated as an end in itself.
Coaching as intervention to increase leaders’ contingent reward behavior
Authors: Pratama Adi , Mustika Martina Dwi , Sjabadhyni Bertina
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This study focuses on the relationship between contingent reward behavior and subordinate employees’ performance in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The instruments used in this study were the leader–member exchange questionnaire and the contingent reward behavior questionnaire, which was completed by salespeople.

Findings

The results of the study (which assessed 37 respondents) indicate a meaningful relationship between contingent reward behavior and leader–member exchange. Based on these results, researchers focused on one division in the sales department that has a low leader–member exchange by providing intervention in the form of leadership coaching. The sigficant results between pre- and post-test differences, using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, indicate that the coaching intervention improved contingent reward behavior and increased leader–member exchange.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study was that it involved only 44 salespeople from one company. Therefore, the results may not be generalizable.

Practical implications

Coaching could be an effective approach to improve leaders’ contingent reward behavior.

Originality/value

This study provides more evidence that coaching can help leaders improving their behavior, particularly in relation to leader–member exchange.
Concerns about change and employee wellbeing: the moderating role of social support
Authors: Guidetti Gloria , Converso Daniela , Loera Barbara , Viotti Sara
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Concerns about change, a measure of the perception about future losses owing to organizational change, have received scarce attention within the organizational change literature. This study aims to address some relevant questions still unexplored regarding, the relationship between concerns about change and employees’ burnout and work engagement. Moreover, it evaluates the buffering role of social support namely, that of colleagues and superiors, during the anticipation stage of an organizational change process.

Design/methodology/approach

Six hundred and thirty-two employees of an administrative public sector filled out a self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using hierarchical moderated regression to show direct and moderating effects.

Findings

Results suggest that concerns about change, measured during the anticipation stage of an organizational change process, relate to higher burnout and lower work engagement. Social support significantly affects the relationship between concerns and outcomes.

Originality/value

Overall, the study shows the role exerted from concerns about change in affecting employees’ wellbeing as the early stage of the organizational change process, providing scholars and practitioners in human resources management with new insight regarding the importance of support from colleagues and supervisor to sustain successful change implementation and employees’ wellbeing.
Supervisor incivility and how it affects subordinates’ performance: a matter of trust
Authors: Jawahar I.M. , Schreurs Bert
Published: February 2018

Purpose

To enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of incivility on outcomes, the purpose of this paper is to propose and test work engagement as a mediator of the impact of supervisor-initiated incivility on subordinates’ task and citizenship performance. Further, the authors propose that this mediated relationship would be conditional on the influence of trust in supervisor, such that the relationship would be exacerbated for subordinates who have high levels of trust in the supervisor.

Design/methodology/approach

Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 350 professionals employed in diverse occupations and organization types.

Findings

The authors found support for the mediating role of work engagement for citizenship performance, but not for task performance. As predicted, this explanation only held for employees who reported at least average levels of trust in their supervisors, supporting the “mediation is moderated” explanation.

Originality/value

Understanding how and for whom supervisor incivility affects task and citizenship performance is vital to advancing theory as well as for designing interventions to mitigate the negative effects. This manuscript is one of very few to pursue this line of research and makes important contributions to theory and practice.
Job crafting and work-family enrichment: the role of positive intrinsic work engagement
Authors: Rastogi Mansi , Chaudhary Richa
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of job crafting behaviors in predicting work-family enrichment. It is hypothesized that employees who are able to adjust their work environment proactively by increasing structural and social job resources, increasing challenging job demands and decreasing hindering job demands would be more engaged and experience work-family enrichment.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample for the study consisted of 496 employees working in diverse nature of organizations in India. Structural equation modeling with the help of SPSS AMOS 20 was used for testing the study hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal a strong relationship between job crafting and work-family enrichment experiences among employees. The study also established the role of work engagement as a mediator of the relationship between job crafting and work-family enrichment.

Research limitations/implications

The study significantly advances the underdeveloped literature on work-family enrichment by establishing job crafting as a predictor and illuminating the underlying psychological processes in a non-western collectivist culture. The study also contributes to theory building around the construct of job crafting which is still in its infancy.

Practical implications

The practitioners are encouraged to provide opportunities, support and freedom for job crafting to their employees for better work and home outcomes.

Originality/value

The present study is one of the pioneer attempts to examine how employees themselves can influence work-family enrichment by enhancing their work engagement using job crafting.
Employee retention: the effects of internal branding and brand attitudes in sales organizations
Authors: Dechawatanapaisal Decha
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among internal branding, brand orientation, brand identification, brand commitment, and employees’ intention to stay. The paper also examines the mediating roles played by brand identification and brand commitment on the relationship between brand orientation and retention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 702 business-to-business salespeople working in 15 cement and building materials companies in Thailand. Hypotheses were tested and analyzed by means of a confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and a bootstrapping procedure.

Findings

The results revealed that establishing an internal brand has a positive effect on brand orientation, which has a positive impact on brand attitudes, namely brand commitment and brand identification. Such attitudes in turn are positively related to employee retention. The direct relationship between brand orientation and intention to stay was found to be partially mediated by brand identification.

Research limitations/implications

The current research took place among customer-facing staff (e.g. salespeople), which can be extended to back-end employees in order to better reflect the overall internal branding effort.

Practical implications

Organizations may improve employee retention through an internal branding process, and internalization of brand attitudes. Such efforts are not only the job of brand managers, but a shared responsibility of all employees at all levels. The collaboration between brand management and human resource (HR) interventions is crucial to successfully implement these efforts.

Originality/value

This study extends the existing knowledge by investigating the relationships that have rarely been discussed in the HR management and employee retention literatures. It shows the importance of a brand-building mechanism at the cultural level, and the influential effect of brand attitudes on the turnover of salespeople.
Entrepreneurial orientation and the job demands-resources model
Authors: Kattenbach Ralph , Fietze Simon
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) within the framework of the job demands-resources (JD-R) model.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of N=597 white-collars in the German media and IT industry is drawn via the professional network XING. Cross-sectional mediator models are used to test the hypothesis.

Findings

The processes proposed by the JD-R model find empirical support. Job demands primarily cause exhaustion while job resources increase job satisfaction. Besides, job demands reduce job satisfaction and job resources lead to less exhaustion. An exception is found for cognitive workload which rather acts like a job resource. EO mediates these effects in a favorable way. High job resources foster EO, which in turn reduces exhaustion and enhances job satisfaction. For job demands, EO shows a negative mediation reducing the health-impairment process and increasing job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should broach the issue of adverse effects related to extreme employee entrepreneurship and potential negative effects.

Practical implications

Supporting and supervising an EO may help employees to cope with modern job profiles in agile organizations.

Originality/value

The findings provide support for a favorable mediating role of an entrepreneurial personal resource within the JD-R model. This knowledge may be used to consider individual work orientations and to organize work in a “healthy” way.
What seals the deal? How compensation and benefits affect women’s decisions to accept expatriation in the oil and gas industry
Authors: Shortland Susan
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how decisions to undertake organisationally assigned expatriation are influenced by employers’ international assignment (IA) compensation and benefits policies, seen through the lens of female expatriate breadwinners working in the male-dominated oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A triangulated qualitative research approach draws upon: policy analysis in two oil and gas firms; interviews with two IAs Managers in Human Resources; and in-depth interviews with 26 female expatriates with experience of a variety of assignment types.

Findings

The paper identifies premiums that uplift salary, housing quality, access to healthcare, travel and leave arrangements, dual careers and children’s education as women’s main deal makers.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal studies and comparisons of men’s and women’s views on policy aspects that support assignment acceptance and cause assignment rejection are needed across a range of industries.

Practical implications

Housing quality is a key factor in women’s assignment acceptance. Good communication prior to expatriation can help build confidence in healthcare provision. Employers should consider how travel and leave policy can be implemented flexibly. Assistance with seeking work visas for partners and coordinating dual career couples’ assignments can facilitate female expatriation.

Originality/value

This paper provides new knowledge on how the content of organisations’ international compensation and benefits policies influences female expatriate breadwinners’ assignment acceptance set within the theoretical framework of compensating differentials. It proposes a model to depict financial and non-financial deal makers to women’s assignment acceptance.
The facets, antecedents and consequences of coopetition
Authors: Crick James M.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the facets, antecedents and consequences of coopetition using three dimensions of entrepreneurial marketing. Coopetition is the interplay between competition and cooperation in which companies seek to collaborate with their rivals with the aim of enhancing performance compared to if they operated independently.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on 38 interviews across 25 firms competing in the New Zealand wine industry. Triangulation procedures were via primary and secondary methods. This data was analysed through a series of techniques to produce credible findings.

Findings

Coopetition is comprised of resource- and capability-sharing activities. These activities are driven by an industry-wide cooperative mind-set; also, firms having access to competitors’ resources and capabilities. Coopetition was found to increase performance in ways that would not be possible if firms did not collaborate with their rivals.

Originality/value

Previous studies have focused on the facets and consequences of coopetition rather than its antecedents. Whilst exploration of these facets was undertaken in this study to reinforce prior research, this paper also investigates the antecedents of coopetition underpinned by the resource-based theory to contribute to the entrepreneurial marketing literature.
Entrepreneurial marketing and born global internationalisation in China
Authors: Andersson Svante , Evers Natasha , Gliga Gabriela
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore the entrepreneurial marketing (EM) behaviour of Swedish born globals entering the Chinese market through their international networks. Drawing from the network theory of small firm internationalisation, this study is positioned in the domain of EM, and thus captures the relevance of EM behaviour to explain how born globals internationalise through their networks.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach of two Swedish born global companies active in the Chinese market is used. The network theory helps analyse the data in the three phases of firm internationalisation processes.

Findings

The study shows the importance of networks for the enactment of EM for born globals. The study traces the evolution of network development in the market entry process of born globals and highlights the importance of aligning network leverage with contextual factors for market performance.

Research limitations/implications

The generalisation of the findings is limited due to the exploratory nature of the study and the size of the research sample.

Practical implications

Management of different types of networks is essential in the entry process and further growth of born globals in the Chinese market. In addition, born globals operating in psychically distant and complex institutionally contexts can especially gain support from intermediary networks.

Originality/value

This study extends knowledge of international entrepreneurship by demonstrating that born global managers can enact EM behaviour by leveraging networks to gain rapid entry into the Chinese market. It further highlights the role of firms’ networks in the EM activities in their internationalisation. The conceptual underpinnings of EM and network theory provide greater understanding of how born globals enter and grow their psychically distant markets.