bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonenzymatic domains of Kalirin7 contribute to spine morphogenesis through interactions with phosphoinositides and Abl
Authors: Ma Xin-Ming , Miller Megan B. , Vishwanatha K. S. , Gross Maegan J. , Wang Yanping , Abbott Thomas , Lam TuKiet T. , Mains Richard E. , Eipper Betty A.
Published: March 2014

Like several Rho GDP/GTP exchange factors (GEFs), Kalirin7 (Kal7) contains an N-terminal Sec14 domain and multiple spectrin repeats. A natural splice variant of Kalrn lacking the Sec14 domain and four spectrin repeats is unable to increase spine formation; our goal was to understand the function of the Sec14 and spectrin repeat domains. Kal7 lacking its Sec14 domain still increased spine formation, but the spines were short. Strikingly, Kal7 truncation mutants containing only the Sec14 domain and several spectrin repeats increased spine formation. The Sec14 domain bound phosphoinositides, a minor but crucial component of cellular membranes, and binding was increased by a phosphomimetic mutation. Expression of KalSec14-GFP in nonneuronal cells impaired receptor-mediated endocytosis, linking Kal7 to membrane trafficking. Consistent with genetic studies placing Abl, a non–receptor tyrosine kinase, and the Drosophila orthologue of Kalrn into the same signaling pathway, Abl1 phosphorylated two sites in the fourth spectrin repeat of Kalirin, increasing its sensitivity to calpain-mediated degradation. Treating cortical neurons of the wild-type mouse, but not the Kal7KO mouse, with an Abl inhibitor caused an increase in linear spine density. Phosphorylation of multiple sites in the N-terminal Sec14/spectrin region of Kal7 may allow coordination of the many signaling pathways contributing to spine morphogenesis.
First Report of Fusarium Rot of Garlic Bulbs Caused by Fusarium proliferatum in North Carolina
Authors: Quesada-Ocampo L. M. , Butler S. , Withers S. , Ivors K.
Published: March 2014

In August of 2013, garlic bulbs (Allium sativum) of the variety Chesnok Red grown and stored under dry conditions by a commercial producer in Buncombe County showed water-soaked, tan to salmon-pink lesions. Lesions on cloves became soft over time, slightly sunken, and had mycelium near the center of the bulb, which is characteristic of Fusarium rots on garlic (1,2). Approximately 10 to 20% of the bulbs inspected in the drying storage room were affected. Surface-sterilized tissue was excised from the margin of lesions on eight bulbs, plated onto acid potato dextrose agar (APDA), and incubated in the dark at room temperature (21°C). White to light pink colonies with abundant aerial mycelium and a purple pigment were obtained from all samples after 2 to 3 days of incubation. Inspection of colony morphology and reproductive structures under a microscope revealed that isolate characteristics were consistent with Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg. Microscopic morphological characteristics of the isolate included hyaline, septate hyphae; slender, slightly curved macroconidia with three to five septae produced in sporodochia; curved apical cell; and club-shaped, aseptate microconidia (measuring 3.3 to 8.3 × 1.1 to 1.3 μm) produced in chains by mono and polyphyalides. To further define the identity of the isolate, the beta-tubulin (Btub), elongation factor 1a (EF1a), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified and sequenced (3). The resulting sequences were compared against the GenBank nucleotide database by using a BLAST alignment, which revealed that the isolate had 100% identity with F. proliferatum for the Btub, EF1a, and ITS regions (GenBank Accession Nos. AF291055.1, JX118976.1, and HF930594.1, respectively). Sequences for the isolate were deposited in GenBank under accessions KJ128963, KJ128964, and KJ128965. While there have been other reports of F. proliferatum causing bulb rot of garlic in the United States (1), to our knowledge, this is the first report in North Carolina. The finding is significant since F. proliferatum can produce a broad range of mycotoxins, including fumonisins, when infecting its host, which is a concern for food safety in Allium crops.

References: (1) F. M. Dugan et al. Plant Pathol. 52:426, 2003. (2) L. J. du Toit and F. M. Dugan. Page 15 in: Compendium of Onion and Garlic Diseases and Pests. H. F. Schwartz and S. K. Mohan, eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2008. (3) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.
Burkholderia aspalathi sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of the South African legume Aspalathus abietina Thunb
Authors: Mavengere Natasha R. , Ellis Allan G. , Le Roux Johannes J.
Published: March 2014

During a study to investigate the diversity of rhizobia associated with native legumes in South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region, a Gram-negative bacterium designated VG1CT was isolated from the root nodules of Aspalathus abietina Thunb. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and recA genes, VG1CT belongs to the genus

Burkholderia

, with the highest degree of sequence similarity to the type strain of

Burkholderia sediminicola

(98.5 % and 98 %, respectively). The DNA G+C content of strain VG1CT was 60.1 mol%, and DNA–DNA relatedness values to the type strain of closely related species were found to be substantially lower than 70 %. As evidenced by results of genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic tests provided here, we conclude that isolate VG1CT represents a novel rhizosphere-associated species in the genus

Burkholderia

, for which the name Burkholderia aspalathi sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain VG1CT ( = DSM 27239T = LMG 27731T).
Detecting translational regulation by change point analysis of ribosome profiling datasets
Authors: Zupanic A. , Meplan C. , Grellscheid S. N. , Mathers J. C. , Kirkwood T. B. L. , Hesketh J. E. , Shanley D. P.
Published: March 2014

Ribo-Seq maps the location of translating ribosomes on mature mRNA transcripts. While ribosome density is constant along the length of the mRNA coding region, it can be altered by translational regulatory events. In this study, we developed a method to detect translational regulation of individual mRNAs from their ribosome profiles, utilizing changes in ribosome density. We used mathematical modelling to show that changes in ribosome density should occur along the mRNA at the point of regulation. We analyzed a Ribo-Seq dataset obtained for mouse embryonic stem cells and showed that normalization by corresponding RNA-Seq can be used to improve the Ribo-Seq quality by removing bias introduced by deep-sequencing and alignment artefacts. After normalization, we applied a change point algorithm to detect changes in ribosome density present in individual mRNA ribosome profiles. Additional sequence and gene isoform information obtained from the UCSC Genome Browser allowed us to further categorize the detected changes into different mechanisms of regulation. In particular, we detected several mRNAs with known post-transcriptional regulation, e.g. premature termination for selenoprotein mRNAs and translational control ofAtf4, but also several more mRNAs with hitherto unknown translational regulation. Additionally, our approach proved useful for identification of new gene isoforms.
μ-Oxido-bis[hydridotris(trimethylphosphane-κP)iridium(III)](Ir—Ir) bis(tetrafluoridoborate) dihydrate
Authors: Merola Joseph , Husebo Trang Le
Published: March 2014

The title compound, [Ir2H2O(C3H9P)6](BF4)2·2H2O, was isolated from the reaction between [Ir(COD)(PMe3)3]BF4and H2in water (COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene). The asymmetric unit consists of one IrIIIatom bonded to three PMe3groups, one hydride ligand and half an oxide ligand, in addition to a BF4−counter-ion and one water molecule of hydration. The single oxide ligand bridging two IrIIIatoms is disordered across an inversion center with each O atom having a 50% site occupancy. Each IrIIIatom has three PMe3groups occupying facial positions, with the half-occupancy O atoms, a hydride ligand and an Ir—Ir bond completing the coordination sphere. The Ir—Ir distance is 2.8614 (12) Å, comparable to other iridium(III) metal–metal bonds. Two water molecules hydrogen bond to two BF4−anions in the unit cell.
Heptacarbonylbis(μ-propane-1,3-dithiolato)triiron(I,II)(2Fe—Fe)
Authors: Hu Mingqiang , Ma Chengbing , Wen Huimin , Cui Honghua , Chen Changneng
Published: March 2014

The trinuclear title compound, [Fe3(C3H6S2)2(CO)7], is a mixed-valent FeI/FeIIcomplex and crystallizes with two molecules of similar configuration in the asymmetric unit. The three Fe atoms in each molecule display a bent arrangement [Fe—Fe—Fe = 156.22 (4) and 157.06 (3)°]. Both outer FeIatoms are six-coordinated in a distorted ocahedral coordination geometry defined by the bridging FeIIatom, three carbonyl C atoms and two bridging S atoms. The coordination number of the central FeIIatom is seven and includes bonding to the two outer FeIatoms, four bridging S atoms and one carbonyl C atom. The resulting coordination polyhedron might be described as a highly distorted monocapped trigonal prism. In the crystal packing, the molecules exhibit a chain-like arrangement parallel to [100] and [001], and the resulting layers are stacked along [010]. The cohesion of the structure is dominated by van der Waals interactions.
3,5-Dimethyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidine
Authors: Sathya S. , Prathebha K. , Usha G. , Abdul Basheer S. , Ponnuswamy S.
Published: March 2014

In the title compound, C19H23N, the piperidine ring has a chair conformation. The phenyl rings are inclined to one another by 52.76 (16)°. One of the methyl substituents on the piperidine ring is axial while the other is equatorial, like the phenyl rings. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...π interactions, forming zigzag chains along [001].
Bis[4-amino-N-(4-methylpyrimidin-2-yl-κN3)benzenesulfonamidato-κN](2,2′-bipyridine-κ2N,N′)mercury(II)
Authors: Hossain G. M. Golzar , Amoroso A. J.
Published: March 2014

The complete molecule of the title complex, [Hg(C11H11N4O2S)2(C10H8N2)], is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with the mercury cation lying on the rotation axis. The mercury coordination polyhedron can be described as tetrahedral (from theN,N′-bidenate bipyridine molecule and the sulfonamide N atoms of the sulfamerazine anions) or as squashed trigonal-prismatic, if two long (> 2.80 Å) Hg—N bonds to pyrimidine N atoms are included. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings in the anion is 73.3 (2)°. In the crystal, N—H...(N,O) and N—H...N hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three-dimensional network.
Benchmarking model of supplier development for an Indian gear manufacturing company
Authors: Routroy Srikanta , Kumar Pradhan Sudeep
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to propose a benchmarking model of supplier development (SD) for an Indian gear manufacturing company for its successful adoption and improvement in a continuous basis.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirteen SD critical success factors (CSFs) are identified and classified into four categories through extensive literature review and discussion held with managers/senior engineers in different Indian manufacturing companies. The four categories are primary CSFs related to supplier, secondary CSFs related to supplier, CSFs related to manufacturer and CSFs related to both manufacturer and supplier. The interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach is applied to the Indian gear manufacturing company for developing and analyzing structural framework of CSFs to propose a benchmarking model for SD.

Findings

– It is concluded that SD adoption should be carried out in four phases sequentially for the Indian gear manufacturing company. The first, second, third and fourth phase should sequentially focus on primary CSFs related to supplier; secondary CSFs related to supplier; CSFs related to manufacturer; and CSFs related to both manufacturer and supplier, respectively. The proposed benchmarking model has four phases (i.e. plan, analyze, implement and measure) and bifurcated into 12 steps to enhance the performance of CSFs.

Practical implications

– This paper provides a useful benchmarking model for successful adoption of SD in manufacturing organizations.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few studies to develop the relationship of CSFs for SD in general and its application to an Indian gear manufacturing company in particular. A benchmarking model for SD is also proposed having five phases and 12 steps. The findings of the proposed structural framework and benchmarking model for the Indian gear manufacturing company are discussed in detail and will serve as a guideline for successful adoption of SD in manufacturing environment.
Process management, innovation and efficiency performance
Authors: L. Sanders Jones Janine , Linderman Kevin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Much of the practitioner literature touts the universal benefits of process management and its impact on operational performance. However, in academic literature, empirical evidence is mixed. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the competitive intensity on the effectiveness of process management.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey data from manufacturing plants were collected from through a global research project. Regression analysis was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

– The influence of process design on efficiency and innovation performance is not dependent on competitive intensity; however, the impact of process improvement and process control on efficiency and innovation performance is in some instances moderated by competitive intensity.

Research limitations/implications

– The inclusion of competitive intensity as a contingency variable helps to explain the contextual impact of process management on efficiency and innovation.

Practical implications

– Process management can be an effective tool if the levels of process design, control, and improvement are customized to fit with the competitive environment.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few studies to empirically examine process management as three core elements. Previous studies utilized a single construct of process management or multiple manufacturing practices such as customer/supplier involvement, statistical quality control, process focus, and cross-functional teams to measure process management. Using this measurement approach demonstrates how process management can influence both efficiency and innovation.
Rework and schedule performance
Authors: Hwang Bon-Gang , Yang Shimin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Rework is a pervasive problem in the construction industry. While several studies have examined the relationship between rework and cost overruns, few have related rework to schedule performance impacts. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to assess rework in the construction industry and its impact on schedule performance. Additionally a discussion of the most probable causes for rework that affect schedule outcomes is presented, with some recommended solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– To achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was developed and the responses from 32 companies in Singapore were analyzed. Furthermore, face-to-face interviews with six industry experts were conducted to get an in-depth understanding of the survey results.

Findings

– The findings of this study revealed that rework is a leading factor affecting schedule performance and its occurrence is relatively high in the construction industry, with a significant contribution to construction schedule growth. It also identified certain root causes, namely design-related changes, poor design coordination and poor site management as factors that most negatively affect schedule performance.

Originality/value

– It is anticipated that once companies recognize the causes for rework and their impacts on schedule, they will develop strategies to manage and prevent rework, ultimately allowing the industry to improve on project delivery schedule performance.
Using public-private partnerships for the building and management of school assets and services
Authors: Liu Tingting , Wilkinson Suzanne
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The provision of school assets and associated services is essential for achieving a country's educational outcomes. Building and managing schools usually features large component of operation, multiple groups of stakeholders, relatively simple design and technical requirements and tight timeframes to be completed to meet the open date. Internationally, public-private partnerships (PPPs) were introduced as innovative delivery models to bring forward school projects. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the PPP experiences in the school sector focusing on the critical dimensions impacting on the viability of using PPPs for school development.

Design/methodology/approach

– Comparative case studies of two school PPP projects based in Australia and New Zealand were adopted as the main research method. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders were used as primary data collection method.

Findings

– By examining the procedural and organisational arrangements from a comparative perspective, the research finds that, for a successful school PPP, the followings are critical: sound business case development; size-adjusted and streamlined tendering process; localised private sector partner and streamlined finance; extensive stakeholder engagement; and effective governance and organisational structure and enhanced partnership.

Originality/value

– The findings provide practical implications for policy makers and public procuring authorities initiating school projects and private entities seeking investment opportunities. By implementing the strategies derived from this research and adjusting to their own social and economic environment, governments and industry would be at a better position to develop and manage schools using PPPs.
Convergence of corporate governance in Malaysia and Thailand
Authors: Abdulla Al Mamun Syed , Badir Yousre
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a firm-level corporate governance (CG) convergence in two emerging economies, namely Malaysia and Thailand in post-Asian financial crisis periods, and how the level of convergence is moderated by different firm-specific factors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data collected from annual reports of top Malaysian and Thai companies in two point of times 2005 and 2008, this research examines the attributes of board of directors to find the firm-level CG convergence. This study, based on prior literature, identified firm-specific factors to assess their moderating impact on the level of convergence. This paper exploits beta and sigma convergence technique to measure the CG convergence.

Findings

– Results show that top Malaysian and Thai companies have developed internal CG practices in similar way with increasing board independent, separate board leadership, important board committees, board education, and participation in the post-crisis reform regime. Accordingly, there is a firm-level CG convergence within companies of an individual country, i.e. intra-convergence, and companies across the countries, i.e. inter-convergence. Notwithstanding, the study does not find the unconditional convergence in all CG variables. Additionally, it observes that the firm-level CG convergence is moderated by firm-specific factors.

Practical implications

– Outcomes of the study have the implication to understand the complicated changing aspects of internal CG practices in emerging economies which, in turn, can help to formulate and implement effective CG structure so that firms can tackle adverse effects of any further economic crisis. Because this paper highlights that the firms in these emerging economies have enough room yet to improve their CG practices to become internationally competitive.

Originality/value

– This paper demonstrates how internal CG practices may evolve and converge in emerging Southeast Asian economies. Results related to moderating factors of firm-level CG convergence contribute in literature by exploring a new dimension of CG convergence.
What influence dividend decisions of firms in Sub-Saharan African?
Authors: C. Arko Anastacia , Abor Joshua , K.D. Adjasi Charles , Amidu Mohammed
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of the dividend decisions of firms in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper applies a two-step estimation procedure using firm-level panel data for firms in selected SSA countries during the period from 1997 to 2007. In the first step the paper employs a probit model to estimate the parameters of the determinants of the decision to pay or not to pay dividends. In the second step the paper estimates the parameters of the dividend payout and dividend per share models by applying the generalised least squares techniques.

Findings

– The results provide consistent evidence that dividend decision and its payments are influenced by firm profitability level, investment opportunity sets, taxation, leverage, institutional shareholding and risk. The results affirm the signalling, agency cost and free-cash flow theories of dividend policy.

Originality/value

– The main value of this paper is identification of factors that influence dividend decisions of firms in SSA.
Routine outcome monitoring of evidence-based parenting programmes: indications of effectiveness in a community context
Authors: Hurst Alison , Price Anna , Walesby Rebecca , Doolan Moira , Lanham Wendy , Ford Tamsin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Despite an increasing policy focus, routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is not common practice in UK children's services. This paper aims to examine whether it is feasible and valid to use measures from ROM of evidence-based parenting programmes (EBPPs) to assess the impact of services and to drive service improvements through feedback mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a secondary analysis of ROM measures collected from a London clinic offering EBPPs over five years. Demographic information from referrals was compared for attendees and non-attendees. Changes in parent reported child behaviour were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Findings

– No significant differences were found in socio-demographic characteristics of attendees and non-attendees. Statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-scores on parent reported SDQ scores and VAS concerns, as well as the SDQ Added Value Score. The data collected did not allow for investigation of a dose-response relationship between the level of attendance and any improvement made.

Originality/value

– This study illustrates that ROM can provide useful information about the impact of EBPPs in a particular clinical context. Demographic data could support service managers to evaluate reach and uptake while evidence of improvements can be communicated back to parents and support future funding bids. Incomplete data limited the inferences that could be drawn, and collaborations between research centres and clinics may be a way to optimise the use of ROM to drive service improvement and innovation.
Aiming higher: more than “on the job” training for residential child care workers
Authors: Nordoff Jan , Madoc-Jones Iolo
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Children who enter the care system in England and Wales are among some of the most vulnerable children in society, often presenting with high levels of need. Ensuring that the children's workforce has the skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of caring for this group of children has been at the forefront of policy agendas over the past two decades. This paper aims to report on an educational initiative to develop the capacity of residential childcare staff to work therapeutically with children.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the origins and nature of the Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Childcare and documents the reflections of tutors responsible for delivering the programme on their experiences. Comments from a small student sample are included to highlight the student perspective in studying for the Foundation Degree.

Findings

– The paper concludes that while some barriers exist in delivering the Foundation Degree to residential child care workers, programmes designed to develop knowledge and understanding of working therapeutically with children should be promoted.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights some of the issues and challenges associated with educating the children's workforce and reports back on one of the first Foundation Degrees in the UK focusing on residential and foster care workers.
Communities of practice, knowledge acquisition and innovation: a case study of science-based SMEs
Authors: Pattinson Steven , Preece David
Published: March 2014

Purpose

–Recent research into communities of practice (CoPs) has focused on large organizations, suggesting they can be constructed for the purposes of knowledge acquisition and innovation. The present study found that, for science-based SMEs, CoPs are more likely to emerge unplanned to support incremental innovation in the form of problem-solving activities. This paper aims to discuss these points.

Design/methodology/approach

–Deploying a social constructionist research methodology, thematic template analysis was used to analyze 25 in-depth interviews conducted with a range of employees in six science-based SMEs.

Findings

–Both intra and inter-organizational CoPs were leveraged for a variety of purposes, including knowledge acquisition and the enhancement of the organizations' ability to generate innovative solutions.

Research limitations/implications

–Whilst there is no claim for the representativeness of the sample in relation to the wider population of science-based firms, the paper offers new material and theorizing in a domain which has been dominated to date by a focus upon large organizations and a managerialist orientation.

Practical implications

–A contextualized framework for the construction of CoPs in science-based SMEs has been developed from the findings of this study.

Originality/value

–The role of CoPs in science-based SMEs and the factors that influence their success or failure have been neglected to date, and thus have received little attention in the literature. Yet CoPs, as we found, can contribute to knowledge acquisition and innovation.
The factors influencing CoP activities and their impact on relationship commitment and individual performance
Authors: Jang Heeyoung , Ko Ilsang
Published: March 2014

Purpose

–The objective of this study is to identify the factors that affect CoP activation and performance variables obtainable through CoP activities, and to gain greater insight into their relationships and the mechanisms. In particular, this paper intends to illustrate the role of perceived risk factor for the loss of uniqueness of one's own knowledge in terms of their influence on CoP activities.

Design/methodology/approach

–In this study, the human behaviours were divided into online and offline CoP activities and adopted affirmative affect and social norm from the Triandis model. In addition, the paper considered perceived expectation, perceived risk, and organization support as independent variables. These would accelerate online and offline activities in the community of practice. The paper considered relationship commitment and individual performance in the context of performance evaluations via CoP activities. A structural equation model was developed with research variables and hypotheses.

Findings

–As the consequence of the empirical assessment of the variables influencing the on/offline activities of a CoP, social norm, perceived expectation, perceived risk, and organizational support showed significantly influential relationships with online activities, and affirmative affect, perceived expectation, and organizational support evidenced significantly influential relationships with offline activities. However, with regard to online CoP activities, affirmative affect was not shown to be significant. As to offline activities, perceived risk was not shown to be significantly influential, while it was determined to significantly influence online activities in a negative direction.

Originality/value

–The results of this study demonstrated that on/offline CoP activities were significantly influential in terms both of relationship commitment and individual performance.
Mapping the organizational factors that support knowledge management in the Brazilian automotive industry
Authors: Valio Dominguez Gonzalez Rodrigo , Fernando Martins Manoel
Published: March 2014

Purpose

–The latest models on knowledge management (KM) recognize four phases for its practice: acquisition, storage, distribution, and knowledge utilization. The KM is characterized as a multidisciplinary discipline, involving both technical and social aspects. Therefore, the purpose of this research is both social and of coordination, aiming to identify contextual factors, internally developed in the organizations, which support the KM process in the Brazilian companies in the automotive sector.

Design/methodology/approach

–To achieve the research purpose, a quantitative research method was employed, based on a survey research in the automotive sector.

Findings

–The results point to the existence of eight contextual factors that support the KM process in the organizations. These factors are mainly related to the human being, responsible for the retention and transformation of primary knowledge, and the development of an organizational context that encourages the learning process through the culture and structure designed for this purpose.

Research limitations/implications

–One of the limitations is that the study is based on constructs derived from a theoretical background, however it does not offer an empirical test to validate the selected constructs. Future studies could create a metric to evaluate the constructs' consistency and use regression analysis to validate them. The second limitation relates to empirical research. The survey achieved a return of 78 companies and a larger sample could provide more robust data.

Practical implications

–Practitioners need to take cognizance of the fact that KM process must not be confused nor focused on IT deployment. The development of an organizational context is much more complex and important to the success of KM. By characteristics of mapped factors, it is possible to conclude that KM process is focused on the development of individuals. It is from their employees that the organization promotes the knowledge exploitation in problem solving activities and incremental improvements, and knowledge exploration, rebuilding the competences to innovate the processes.

Originality/value

–The main contribution of this paper is to identify the factors that companies in the Brazilian automotive industry must develop in order to promote KM. Furthermore, the research shows the relationship between these factors and KM process.
Industry clusters: an antidote for knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation?
Authors: Connell Julia , Kriz Anton , Thorpe Michael
Published: March 2014

Purpose

–This paper seeks to focus on industry clusters and a rationale for why they may be considered an antidote for stimulating knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

–Community based participatory research was undertaken using case studies and interviews within four industry clusters based in two countries – Australia and Dubai. Findings were ranked according to a knowledge sharing relational framework.

Findings

–Industry clusters can play a key role in growing both established and new areas of economic development. Member firm collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation can result in positive outcomes if the cluster is managed and facilitated appropriately and knowledge sharing is nurtured.

Research limitations/implications

–The paper examines top-down, hybrid and bottom-up clustering from a variety of sectors as a way of understanding knowledge sharing and innovation exchange. However, given this research comprised case studies, it is recommended that broader, more internationally generalizable research is conducted that includes cluster firms within a range of sectors.

Practical implications

–The stimulation of opportunities for collaboration and innovation are mandatory for firms and regions to move forward. Irrespective of the uncertainty of the outcome, cluster managers/facilitators need to ensure that they provide regular opportunities for cluster firms facilitators/managers and representatives to network and generate new ideas.

Originality/value

–The role of cluster managers/facilitators in supporting knowledge sharing processes has been largely overlooked to date. Agglomeration needs both visible and invisible hands to stimulate knowledge sharing and exchange.
Geographical location: does distance matter or what is the value status of soft information?
Authors: Rauterkus Andreas , Munchus George
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to examine empirically the relationship between loan denials and lender distance and location.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses the 2003 Survey of Small Business Finance (SSBF) to draw the sample. This survey, conducted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, collects information on small businesses' use of financial services. In total the survey gathered information representing 4,240 firms (all sample firms have fewer than 500 employees). A number of statistical tests are conducted to test the relationship between loan denials and lender characteristics.

Findings

– The results of this study indicate that credit scores have no impact on the geographical location and lender distance; however, lender distance decreases with the length of relationship with the lender and the age of the business. This suggests that informationally opaque businesses seek out lenders nearby to maximize the value of soft information, whereas established businesses put no value on that. However, the probability of loan denial is not affected by the distance between the borrower and the lender. At the same time borrowers in rural areas are more likely to be denied. Thus, there seems to be a location effect in lending.

Originality/value

– This study closes a gap in the literature with regard to the value of soft information in light of increasing bank consolidation. Furthermore, this paper uses borrower data, making this – to the authors' knowledge – the first study on lending distance that does not utilize lender data.
Innovation culture in small Tunisian ICT firms
Authors: El Harbi Sana , R. Anderson Alistair , Amamou Meriam
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The research aims to ask whether, in the absence of overarching innovative conditions, a small firm can have an innovative culture and what its scale and scope is.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employs four exploratory case studies. This methodological choice is justified in that a case study approach allows the use of the existing literature without inhibiting the detection of any unique characteristics in the Tunisian context. This context of a developing economy is likely to be different from established economies.

Findings

– The study finds evidence of a learning environment within the firms and a good fit with the concepts of an innovative culture. Internal knowledge sharing is evident for all companies. However, this culture faces inwards, so that the paucity of linkages and weak socialisation combines with institutional thinness to isolate the firms. Local competitive advantages are not amplified but rather are dampened by the relative absence of interaction.

Research limitations/implications

– Most research about innovation in the ICT sector is conducted in the context of developed countries. This paper shows the specificities and uniqueness of innovation culture in the context of a developing country.

Practical implications

– The findings imply that despite recent improvements, Tunisia lacks many of the regional “institutions” that produce the synergic benefits of an innovative milieu.

Originality/value

– The context of a developing country is novel. The value of the findings may, however, be extended to other similar countries. This is important given the role of ICT in “catching up”.
Perceptions of entrepreneurs about their zero employee web enabled businesses
Authors: J. McQueen Robert , Yin Zhaowen
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This research aims to examine zero employee web-enabled businesses (ZEWEs) in a New Zealand context. A definition of ZEWEs is conceived and presented, synthesized from gaps in previous SME, micro business and web-based business literature. ZEWEs are an emerging and important new subcategory of web-enabled SMEs that have previously been not well covered by published research. Enablers and barriers to the successful establishment of a ZEWE are identified and compared to previous SME research.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 20 entrepreneurs in New Zealand were interviewed about their perceptions of enablers and barriers to a successful ZEWE, and the components of business strategies that would help them achieve success in the web-based market. Qualitative thematic analysis methods were used to extract factors.

Findings

– It was found that competitive advantage of products, adopting electronic commerce websites, motivation to become a business owner, and having a good reputation of both entrepreneurs and their businesses are significant enablers of success, while online competition, commercial disputes, capital requirements, deficits in management and technical capabilities, and taxation issues are barriers for the development and future success of ZEWEs.

Research limitations/implications

– This is exploratory research. The data was gathered in a New Zealand context of entrepreneurs using auction websites to found and operate their ZEWE businesses, and the findings may be useful in understanding other geographic and cultural environments.

Originality/value

– A new category of zero employee web-enabled enterprises (ZEWE) has been investigated, and found to exist. Enabling factors and barriers particular to this class have been uncovered and compared to previous SME research. This new enterprise category may become important in future research about internet-based small enterprises and the entrepreneurs that start them.
Investment risk preference among Greek SME proprietors: a pilot study
Authors: Georgousopoulou Margarita , Chipulu Max , Ojiako Udechukwu , Johnson Johnnie
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Current research in the area of risk management within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) appears predisposed towards risk, predominantly dealing with the willingness of SMEs to take on losses. However, in this pilot study, the authors aim to focus on a different aspect of risk management in SMEs, namely the risk preferences. Risk preferences in this case are regarded as the willingness of SME proprietors to take on risks that are likely to lead to investment gains.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data is gathered via a combination of a survey questionnaire and a probability scenario toolset. The authors sampled a total of 150 SME proprietors operating in Greece. The data was analysed using a combination of regression models and binomial tests.

Findings

– The results suggest that we cannot, as previous literature suggests, conclude that SME proprietors generally exhibit a negative risk preference.

Originality/value

– In light of Greece's recent economic difficulty, and in acknowledgement of the critical role played by SMEs in the Greek economy, this study addresses a topical subject in entrepreneurship research: what are the factors determining investment risk preferences?
Improving service employee work affect: the transformative potential of work design
Authors: W. Rayburn Steven
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to employ Self-Determination Theory to explain the mediated impact of work design – empowerment and serial and investiture socialization – on employee work affect. The theory proposes fulfilment of three psychological needs – autonomy, competence, and relatedness – will mediate individuals' ability to achieve contextually relevant well-being. An empirical study tests this claim and exposes the structure of the mediating effects.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey responses were collected from a sample of 239 front-line service employees using snowball data collection. SEM was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

– Findings suggest that empowerment and serial and investiture socialization are significantly differentially related to need fulfilment. Additionally, all forms of need fulfilment do not directly influence employee affect. Instead, there are both direct and interactive effects that work simultaneously to influence employees' positive work affect.

Practical implications

– This study exposes specific work design levers managers can manipulate to benefit employees. This research highlights the different effects of specific work design variables on employee work affect.

Originality/value

– This paper extends understanding of Self-Determination Theory by exposing the direct and interactive effects of need fulfilment on work affect for service workers. Also, it delivers a deeper exploration of the impact of work design on employees by modelling multiple work design variables as well as process variables simultaneously to provide a more detailed picture of how work design influences employee work affect.
Anxiety, crowding, and time pressure in public self-service technology acceptance
Authors: Gelbrich Katja , Sattler Britta
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose and to test a model that illustrates the impact of technology anxiety on the intention to use a self-service technology (SST) in public. The study includes two context variables that are relevant in public settings: perceived crowding and perceived time pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey was conducted to reflect individual perceptions and intentions when initially using a self-checkout. The proposed relationships and interaction effects were examined using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The analysis confirms the core relationships of the model (technology self-efficacy→technology anxiety→perceived ease of use→ intention to use) and yields three important results. First, technology anxiety has a direct negative effect on intention to use, which is greater than the indirect effect through the reduction of ease of use. Second, perceived crowding reinforces the negative effect of technology anxiety. Third, when perceived crowding coincides with perceived time pressure, technology anxiety almost completely inhibits the intention to use the SST in public.

Research limitations/implications

– Technology anxiety is examined as the only antecedent of perceived ease of use.

Practical implications

– Initial encounters to public self-service technologies should be provided in servicescapes that avoid or at least reduce perceptions of crowding and time pressure.

Originality/value

– The approach highlights the impact of technology anxiety on the acceptance of self-service technologies used in public by considering two context variables that are salient in public settings: perceived crowding and perceived time pressure.
Entrepreneurship: predictive profiling a game changer
Authors: Middleton Simon
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Addresses the subject of the entrepreneur, describes the significant and growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, and outlines the author's development of an entrepreneurial competency profile (ECP).

Design/methodology/approach

– Draws on statistics taken form the UK government-sponsored Young Report, Make Business Your Business, and the author's own research into entrepreneurial efficacy.

Findings

– Describes how governments in developed countries and those in emerging nations are driving to create an environment that nurtures and sustains entrepreneurship. They believe it can rapidly create jobs, improve GDP and increase long-term productivity.

Practical implications

– Will benefit those in senior management positions by discussing the use of predictive profiling techniques to facilitate wealth creation.

Originality/value

– With so much attention being paid to entrepreneurship, and given our knowledge of predictive behavioral economics, can it be justifiably classified as a relatively distinct field in organizational sciences? Whilst there are many notable entrepreneurial successes, there are equally a large number of failures. How can we mitigate the failure rate?
Modernizing tradition – the Thai silk industry
Authors: Patichol Preeya , Wongsurawat Wiani , M. Johri Lalit
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper identifies challenges the traditional Thai silk industry has faced during its internationalization, and the public and private responses employed to overcome challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interviews were conducted with major players along the Thai silk value chain to gain insights into the industry's transformation from a domestic, cottage industry into an international fashion producer.

Findings

– Thai silk has created a niche market for high-end, cultural products, thus successfully sidestepping direct competition from emerging low-cost producers. The main innovative strategies employed include introducing new products, upgrading quality, attracting new customers, and collaboration between actors all along the silk value chain.

Originality/value

– This study illustrates how a traditional industry can evolve and successfully adapt to changing consumer demands and competitive landscapes in a globalize economy.
Cross‐cultural self‐preparation of Australian self‐initiated expatriates for working and living in South Korea: ‘Stumped like a bonsai: A show of what could have been’
Authors: Despotovic William Vuk , Hutchings Kate , McPhail Ruth
Published: March 2014

Multinational organisations continue to staff their international operations with expatriate employees and extant research has highlighted that organisationally provided cross‐cultural preparation can contribute towards intercultural effectiveness and minimise expatriate failure and challenges associated with working and living internationally for these individuals. Yet, the cross‐cultural preparation of self‐initiated expatriates, especially those from regions outside of North America and Europe, has received considerably less attention in the literature even though they represent a growing and significant component of the global talent pool. This research addresses this gap in the literature by exploring the perceptions that self‐initiated Australian expatriates have of cross‐cultural self‐preparation for careers in South Korea; providing greater insights into a cohort of expatriates living and working in a nation of growing commercial importance to Australia which has been accorded limited attention in the expatriation literature. The research draws on semi‐structured interviews with 20 self‐initiated Australian expatriates and repatriates working within diverse industries including construction, education, engineering, government, legal, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. The interviewees were primarily males aged between 20 and 30 years who had worked (on average) for 24.5 months in South Korea. The findings are significant in highlighting: the value of cross‐cultural self‐preparation; differences in preparation needs for those in urban and rural areas; prior work and non‐work experience for preparedness; and the importance of adjustments in attitudes.