bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AlternativeRESTSplicing Underappreciated
Authors: Chen Guo-Lin , Miller Gregory M.
Published: March 2017

As a major orchestrator of the cellular epigenome, the repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) can either repress or activate thousands of genes depending on cellular context, suggesting a highly context-dependent REST function tuned by environmental cues. WhileRESTshows cell-type non-selective active transcription1, an N-terminal REST4 isoform caused by alternative splicing – inclusion of an extra exon (N3c) which introduces a premature stop codon – has been implicated in neurogenesis and tumorigenesis2-5. Recently, in line with established epigenetic regulation of pre-mRNA splicing6,7, we demonstrated thatRESTundergoes extensive, context-dependent alternative splicing which results in the formation of a large number of mRNA variants predictive of multiple protein isoforms8. Supported by that immunoblotting/-staining with different anti-REST antibodies yield inconsistent results, alternative splicing allows production of various structurally and functionally different REST protein isoforms in response to shifting physiological requirements, providing a reasonable explanation for the diverse, highly context-dependent REST function. However, REST isoforms might be differentially assayed or manipulated, leading to data misinterpretation and controversial findings. For example, in contrast to the proposed neurotoxicity of elevated nuclear REST in ischemia9and Huntington’s disease10,11, Lu et al. recently reported decreased nuclear REST in Alzheimer’s disease and neuroprotection of REST in ageing brain12. Unfortunately, alternativeRESTsplicing was largely neglected by Lu et al., making it necessary for a reevaluation of their findings.
Brain-wide maps of Fos expression during fear learning and recall
Authors: Cho Jin-Hyung , Rendall Sam D. , Gray Jesse M.
Published: March 2017

Fos induction during learning labels neuronal ensembles in the hippocampus that encode a specific physical environment, revealing a memory trace. In the cortex and other regions, the extent to which Fos induction during learning reveals specific sensory representations is unknown. Here we generate high-quality brain-wide maps of Fos mRNA expression during auditory fear conditioning and recall in the setting of the home cage. These maps reveal a brain-wide pattern of Fos induction that is remarkably similar among fear conditioning, shock-only, tone-only, and fear recall conditions, casting doubt on the idea that Fos reveals auditory-specific sensory representations. Indeed, novel auditory tones lead to as much gene induction in visual as in auditory cortex, while familiar (nonconditioned) tones do not appreciably induce Fos anywhere in the brain. Fos expression levels do not correlate with physical activity, suggesting that they are not determined by behavioral activity-driven alterations in sensory experience. In the thalamus, Fos is induced more prominently in limbic than in sensory relay nuclei, suggesting that Fos may be most sensitive to emotional state. Thus, our data suggest that Fos expression during simple associative learning labels ensembles activated generally by arousal rather than specifically by a particular sensory cue.
Evaluating the adaptive reuse potential of buildings in conservation areas
Authors: Hong Yan , Chen Fei
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Adaptive reuse of building assets is an important approach to sustainability. Adapting a building for new uses often involves complex factors in the decision-making process, particularly in conservation areas. The paper aims to show an evaluation process of the adaptive reuse potential of historic buildings that are subject to change in the Grand Canal area, a world heritage site in Hangzhou, China.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, a model has been established with aggregated views of professionals on the degree to which a variety of factors affect the buildings’ potential for adaptive reuse. The model intends to help prioritise some of the buildings in the area for adaptive reuse, which is important for effective allocation of public resources. Interviews with professionals, analytic hierarchy process and the Delphi method have been used to establish the evaluation model. It is then applied to the Grand Canal area to generate indices for buildings’ adaptive reuse potential and the ranking of priority. The indices are generated through public scoring of historic buildings against the variables and calculated through the model.

Findings

The paper concludes that the evaluation process is an effective way to engage the public in the decision-making process and to balance conflict interests of various stakeholders in the management of historic building assets in conservation areas.

Originality/value

The research has proposed an evaluation model to help set priority of buildings subject to adaptive reuse and to help distribute public fund effectively. It facilitates wide public engagement in the decision-making progress of adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
Investigating training through the lens of dramatic possibilities
Authors: Shree Sonal
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to probe aid readers’ understanding of the areas in which drama-based trainings are being used and how drama as a tool acts as a means to achieve desired learning and behavioral changes in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses literature review to analyze the practice of drama-based training.

Findings

Drama-based training is one of the most effective tools to engage participants. It elicits the desired response in them when they ruminate over familiar circumstances or behaviors being depicted and leads to instant recall and associations that acts as a propeller to imbibing new learning. Coming up with an alternative response or behavior as a result of experiencing events through drama could help them learn or manage the situation through behavioral transformation.

Research limitations/implications

Being conceptual in nature, this model must be tested empirically by relevant stakeholders in the area of learning and development to add further weightage to literature.

Practical implications

By detailing drama-based training used in varied areas of specialization and how its usage has tremendous potential to facilitate bringing about desired behavioral changes, the paper demonstrates the importance of creating a lasting impact through this method of training that will specially be relevant to HRD managers.

Originality/value

Multidisciplinary areas in which drama- or theatre-based trainings are being used have been studied through literature review and a conceptual model of training, abbreviated as DRAMA for easy recall, has been proposed with inclusion of salient features that make drama-based interventions for training so engaging and effective for disseminating learning. This model also finds some connection with the Kolb’s experimental learning theory.
“The great divide”: skill gap between the employer’s expectations and skills possessed by employees
Authors: Malik Geetika , Venkatraman A.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasise on demand supply skill gap of human resources in India which would help generate reasons for the same and the necessary steps to be taken to improve the situation and bridge the skill gap helping maximum number of the students becoming employable. It will put an impact on various stakeholders about the steps to be taken in bridging the gap in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of available literature was done in order to understand the reasons behind the increasing skill gap despite a vibrant and abundance of young population.

Findings

The findings of the paper implicitly point out that a vast skill gap is prevailing in the Indian labour market and there is a dearth of human intellectual capital in India. Also it emphasises on the role of various stakeholders in bridging the skill gap by investing in workforce of today for a better tomorrow.

Originality/value

Based on literature review, the paper makes specific recommendations to various stakeholders (industry, academia, and government) in bridging the skill gap and would serve as a roadmap for companies guiding them to follow certain strategies to improve skills of future workers by investing in them and growing their own talent pool; and is an attempt to highlight the fact that India’s jobless growth is not going to reap the demographic dividend and certainly the increasing skill gap needs to be bridged ASAP.
Cost, revenue and profit efficiency analysis of Indian scheduled commercial banks
Authors: Mahendru Megha , Bhatia Aparna
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the cost, revenue and profit efficiency performance of Indian scheduled commercial banks. The study also determines differences if any related to efficiency among banks on the basis of ownership pattern.

Design/methodology/approach

Cost, revenue and profit efficiency of banks is calculated by using the non-parametric approach, namely, data envelopment analysis. Further, the differences in the efficiency scores are examined by applying analysis of variance.

Findings

Indian scheduled commercial banks have not been able to maintain their input-output synchronization in terms of cost, revenue and profits in the year 2012-2013. Foreign sector banks have higher cost and profit efficiency as compared to their counterparts in private and public sector, whereas public sector banks are found to have been more revenue efficient.

Originality/value

With specific reference to India, less empirical work has been carried out with respect to cost, revenue and profit efficiency. None of the studies have evaluated the sector-wise performance of banks in terms of all three efficiency parameters.
Impact of worksite cafeteria interventions on fruit and vegetable consumption in adults
Authors: Hendren Sarah , Logomarsino John
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Increasing obesity rates and health care costs have prompted worksites to investigate interventions to improve employee health. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of worksite cafeteria interventions on fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

This review was guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method. After a thorough literature search and screening process, 18 studies were included in the review. Data were extracted, and a risk of bias assessment was created for the primary studies. An un-weighted average was used to determine the overall ranking for each study.

Findings

There appears to be a moderately strong association toward a positive impact of cafeteria interventions to increase F/V consumption. Of the 18 studies in the review, 13 reported a statistically significant increase, one reported a significant decrease, three reported mixed results, and one did not assess a change in consumption.

Research limitations/implications

Most of the data were self-reported and is subject to error. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of study design, method, and outcome measures among the studies warrants additional research with consistent methodology.

Practical implications

A positive impact on F/V consumption may be realized by the following techniques: price-point subsidies, point-of-purchase materials, and menu modification.

Originality/value

This new information on increasing F/V consumption in workplace cafeterias may improve employee health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Tribology study of hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffold blended single based binder via rheology and mechanical properties
Authors: Abu Bakar Mimi Azlina , Abd Aziz Siti Norazlini , Ismail Muhammad Hussain
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the vital characteristic of an innovative ceramic injection molding (CIM) process for orthopedic application with controlled porosity and improved tribological and mechanical properties which were affected by complex tribological interactions, whether lubricated like hip implants and other artificial prostheses. The main objective is to maximize the usage of palm stearin as a single based binder as the function of flow properties during injection molding process.

Design/methodology/approach

The binder used in this present study consists of 100 per cent palm stearin manufactured by Kempas Oil Sdn Bhd and supplied by Vistec Technology Sdn Bhd. The feedstock was prepared by using a Z-blade mixer (Thermo Haake Rheomix OS) and Brabender mixer model R2400. The feedstock prepared was injection molded using a manually operated vertical benchtop machine with an average pressure of about 5-7 bars. The firing step included the temporary holds at intermediate temperatures to burn out organic binders. At this stage, the green molded specimen was de-bound using a single-step wick-debinding method.

Findings

The maximum content of ceramic material is applied to investigate the efficiencies of net formulation that can be achieved by ceramic materials. The longer the viscosity will change with shear rate, the higher the value of n obtained instead. From the slope of the curves obtained in Figure 3, the value of n for the feedstock was determined to be less than 1, which indicates a pseudoplastic behavior and suitability for the molding process. Moreover, high shear sensitivity is important in producing complex and intrinsic specimens which are leading products in the CIM industry.

Originality/value

The feedstock containing HAp powder and palm stearin binder was successfully prepared at very low temperature of 70°C, which promoting a required pseudo-plastic behavior during rheological test. The single binder palm stearin should be optimized in other research works carried out, as palm stearin is most preferred compared to other polymeric materials that provided high energy consumption when subjected to the sintering process. Besides the binder is widely available in Malaysia, low cost and harmless effect during debinding process.
China’s foreign trade policy with OPEC member countries
Authors: Rasoulinezhad Ehsan
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze specifications of the China’s foreign trade policy with Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducts three panel data estimations (fixed effect [FE], random effect [RE] and fully modified ordinary least squares [FMOLS]) based on the gravity model approach for bilateral trade patterns in natural resource and non-natural resource commodities between China and 13 OPEC members over the period of 1998-2014.

Findings

The findings reveal that the gravity equation fits the data reasonably well. The existence of long-term relationships between the bilateral trade flows and the main components of gravity model – GDP, income (GDP per capita), the difference in income, exchange rate, the openness level, distance and WTO membership – through the FE, RE and the FMOLS approaches was confirmed. The estimation results show that the trade pattern between China and OPEC member countries relies on the Heckscher–Ohlin theory, thus being explained by difference in factor endowments such as energy resources and technology.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the China’s foreign trade policy with the OPEC member countries through a gravity trade approach.
Change your space, change your culture: exploring spatial change management strategies
Authors: Skogland Mari Anna Chatarina , Hansen Geir Karsten
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the use of, and challenges associated with, spatial change management strategies. This is done through a discussion on how spatial environments may be utilised to effect organisational change. The intention is to provoke new thinking on physical change initiatives and to challenge the often highly deterministic view on the effects of contemporary workspace concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is structured as a case study-based literature review, drawing on literature from the fields of environmental psychology, organisational branding, corporate real estate and facility management, as well as organisational change management.

Findings

The study indicates that space management strategies may fail because of the lack of understanding of how organisational events and other contextually specific aspects correlate with the physical change initiative. Succeeding with the spatial strategy requires a strong focus on socio-material relationships and the employee meaning-making process during the spatial change process.

Originality/value

Contrary to the traditional and rational focus on functional space management strategies, the paper takes a socio-material approach suggesting that there is a need for more empirically based research into the employee meaning-making process and the role of human and organisational practices in the development of new workplace concepts. Focusing on how organisational members understand and “make use of” spatial environments may substantially improve organisations and building consultants’ abilities to strategically manage the physical change initiative and achieve the intended ends.
Preventive maintenance (PM) planning: a review
Authors: Basri Ernnie Illyani , Abdul Razak Izatul Hamimi , Ab-Samat Hasnida , Kamaruddin Shahrul
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide comprehensive information on preventive maintenance (PM) planning and methods used in the industry in order to achieve an effective maintenance system.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review is organized in a way that provides the general overview of the researches done in the PM. This paper discusses the literatures that had been reviewed on four main topics, which are the holistic view of maintenance policies, PM planning, PM planning concept and PM planning-based in developing optimal planning in executing PM actions.

Findings

PM policy is one of the original proactive techniques that has been used since the start of researches on maintenance system. Review of the methods presented in this paper shows that most researches analyse effectiveness using artificial intelligence, simulation, mathematical formulation, matrix formation, critical analysis and multi-criteria method. While in practice, PM activities were either planned based on cost, time or failure. Research trends on planning and methods for PM show that the variation of approaches used over the year from early 1990s until today.

Practical implications

Research about PM is known to be extensively conducted and majority of companies applied the policy in their production line. However, most analysis and method suggested in published literatures were done based on mathematical computation rather than focussing on solution to real problems in the industry. This normally would lead to the problems in understanding by the practitioner. Therefore, this paper presented researches on PM planning and suggested on the methods that are practical, simple and effective for application in the real industry.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper comes from its detail analysis of PM planning in term of its research focus and also direction for application. Extensive reviews on the methods adopted in relation to PM planning based on the planning-based such as cost-based, time-based and failure-based were also provided.
Brand-building efforts in high and low performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Authors: Odoom Raphael
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine brand-building efforts within small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an attempt to understand the extent to which such efforts are undertaken in high- and low-performing enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from 430 SMEs in an emerging market. After evaluating scale measures with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, multiple stage analyses involving cluster analysis, ANOVA and hierarchical regression with sub-group analysis were used to examine the theoretical relationships among the constructs.

Findings

Findings from the study identify four composite brand-building efforts that influence SMEs’ performance. These are implemented in varying extents, culminating into proportional levels of performance within high- and low-performing SMEs. Significant differences with regard to profit margin, market share, sales volume, customer base and new product success are also exhibited in the two enterprise segments.

Originality/value

The results provide evidence to issues of research and managerial interest, offering insightful implications to the academic and practitioner communities. The paper offers a preliminary attempt to progress literature by synthesizing various brand-building efforts under four broader theorizations in SMEs setting.
Identification and prioritization of factors affecting venture capitalists’ investment decision-making process
Authors: Dhochak Monika , Sharma Anil Kumar
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and rank critical factors influencing investment decisions of venture capitalists.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify and prioritize factors affecting investment decisions of venture capitalists, a two-phase methodology was adopted: in the first phase, critical factors influencing venture capitalists’ investment decisions were identified using exploratory factor analysis; the second phase entailed the use of a multi-criteria decision-making technique – analytical hierarchal process (AHP) which involved assigning weights to, and prioritizing the identified criteria and sub-criteria.

Findings

Seven factors were found to significantly influence investment decisions of venture capitalists: entrepreneur’s characteristics, product or services, market characteristics, management skills, financial consideration, economic environment and institutional and regulatory environment. Findings revealed that entrepreneur’s characteristics, financial consideration and product or services were prime influencers of venture capitalists’ investment decisions.

Research limitations/implications

As for limitations, first, the study considers limited number of factors influencing investment decisions of venture capitalists; there may be other influencers not considered in this study. Second, the AHP methodology assumes that the various decision-making criteria and sub-criteria are independent of each other; in real life, there may be inter-dependency among criteria. Third, the hierarchal model has been tested in the Indian venture capital industry only, and generalizability of results with respect to other industries is questionable.

Practical implications

The present study identifies and ranks seven factors found to significantly influence investment decisions of venture capitalists. Venture capitalists could use this list of factors as a guideline before making investment decisions, and if considering all factors is not possible, take into account the factors given top rank so that they arrive at informed and intelligent decisions.

Originality/value

This study is the first to identify economic factors (economic environment and institutional & regulatory environment) as influencers of venture capitalists’ investment decisions. Further, no study in the past has attempted to rank or prioritize factors influencing venture capitalists’ investment decisions; this is the first attempt of the kind.
Team sponsors in community-based health leadership programs
Authors: Patterson Tracy Enright , Dinkin Donna R. , Champion Heather
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to share the lessons learned about the role of team sponsors in action-learning teams as part of community-based health leadership development programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study uses program survey results from fellow participants, action learning coaches and team sponsors to understand the value of sponsors to the teams, the roles they most often filled and the challenges they faced as team sponsors.

Findings

The extent to which the sponsors were perceived as having contributed to the work of the action learning teams varied greatly from team to team. Most sponsors agreed that they were well informed about their role. The roles sponsors most frequently played were to provide the teams with input and support, serve as a liaison to the community and serve as a sounding board, motivator and cheerleader. The most common challenges or barriers team sponsors faced in this role were keeping engaged in the process, adjusting to the role and feeling disconnected from the program.

Practical implications

This work provides insights for program developers and community foundations who are interested in building the capacity for health leadership by linking community sponsors with emerging leaders engaged in an action learning experience.

Originality/value

This work begins to fill a gap in the literature. The role of team sponsors has been studied for single organization work teams but there is a void of understanding about the role of sponsors with multi-organizational teams working to improve health while also learning about leadership.
Blindsided by linearity? Curvilinear effect of leader behaviors
Authors: Cho Inchul , Diaz Ismael , Chiaburu Dan S.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to posit and empirically demonstrate that positive and negative leader behaviors have a linear relationship with subordinate outcomes. The authors challenge this notion, and test a model where leader positive and negative behaviors have a curvilinear relationship (inverse-U shaped) with subordinate job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional design, based on a sample of 131 employees working across organizations and industries in the USA. Subordinates provided information on all study measures.

Findings

The authors show that higher levels of positive and negative behaviors from the leader will not generate a corresponding linear increase in employees’ satisfaction. Instead, the relationship is non-linear, with diminishing returns in subordinate job satisfaction for positive leader behaviors and higher ones for negative leader behaviors. In addition, subordinates with high levels of hardiness are more satisfied with positive leader behaviors, and report less dissatisfaction with negative leader behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are cross-sectional design, self-reported data, measurement of a limited number of leader behaviors as representative of leader positive and negative behaviors, and focus on only one dependent construct (subordinate job satisfaction).

Practical implications

Above a certain point, leaders’ positive behaviors have limited effect on increasing subordinates’ job satisfaction. Likewise, leaders’ negative behaviors decrease subordinates’ job satisfaction only above specific levels of leader behaviors.

Originality/value

The authors challenge this notion of linearity by theorizing and demonstrating that subordinates’ job satisfaction is influenced by leader positive and negative behaviors in non-linear relationship characterized by an inverse-U-shaped and a specific increase and decrease pattern.
Value congruence and tenure as moderators of transformational leadership effects
Authors: Lajoie Denis , Boudrias Jean-Sébastien , Rousseau Vincent , Brunelle Éric
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Using the substitute for leadership framework, the purpose of this paper is to verify whether employees’ perceived value congruence with their organization can act as a moderator of the relationship between transformational leadership and empowered behaviors. A triple moderation hypothesis, wherein value congruence could both enhance or substitute leadership practices depending on employee tenure, is tested.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-reported data were collected from 1,934 employees of a large public organization.

Findings

Hierarchical regressions show that value congruence enhances transformational leadership’s effectiveness in new employees, but plays either a substitute role or no role at all in more tenured employees.

Research limitations/implications

Findings suggest that the substitutes for leadership framework are useful in understanding both the enhancing and substitute role of value congruence with regards to transformational leadership. This study also underlines this framework’s complexity and the need for additional research that goes beyond bivariate models to further our understanding of transformational leadership moderators.

Practical implications

The knowledge of when leadership practices are enhanced or substituted could help leaders focus their efforts to maximize empowered behaviors.

Originality/value

This study verifies the theorized moderating role of value congruence in transformational leadership, which has been largely ignored in research. Additionally this study shows that this role can fluctuate according to tenure.
Does leadership matter in diversity management? Assessing the relative impact of diversity policy and inclusive leadership in the public sector
Authors: Jin Myung , Lee Jaeyong , Lee MiYoung
Published: March 2017

Purpose

While prior research has emphasized the importance of diversity management for the betterment of future workforce, the role of managerial actors in leading the diversity management movement has not been substantiated. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of managers in practicing diversity management and the extent to which inclusive leadership affects employee performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on a large survey data (n=415,696) with a representative sample of employees in federal government in the USA.

Findings

The quantitative results show that diversity policy alone predicts performance less strongly for employees of racial minority than for whites. In contrast, the study finds that inclusive leadership predicts performance more strongly for nonwhites.

Research limitations/implications

The embodied approach to diversity management proposed in this paper expands the understanding of diversity management research by exploring the interaction effect between diversity policy and diversity leadership.

Practical implications

The paper is unique in proposing an interaction effect between diversity policy and diversity leadership in managing diversity.

Social implications

Previous studies in the literature surprisingly neglected to take into account the role of leader behavior in managing diversity. As the study shows the significant moderating role of diversity leadership in diversity management, organizational leaders are encouraged to critically assess and provide training for those team leaders and middle level managers to promote diversity in the workplace.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to distinguish and examine the relative impact of diversity policy and inclusive leadership on employee performance in the public sector.
Ambidextrous leadership, entrepreneurial orientation, and operational performance
Authors: Tuan Luu Trong
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of ambidextrous leadership in fostering entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and operational performance. The research also seeks an insight into the moderating role that organizational social capital (OSC) plays on the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and EO.

Design/methodology/approach

The responses to the questionnaire survey were collected from 427 managers from software companies in Vietnam business context.

Findings

The data analysis verified the positive effect of ambidextrous leadership on EO, which was positively moderated by OSC. The research results also shed light on the predictive role of EO for the organization’s operational performance.

Originality/value

This research contributes to literature through identifying the convergence of entrepreneurship and operations management research streams, and the moderation role of OSC for the ambidextrous leadership-EO relationship.
Leaders behaving badly: the relationship between narcissism and unethical leadership
Authors: Blair Carrie A. , Helland Katherine , Walton Bill
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Narcissism is often cited as a construct that is likely related to unethical leadership. Still, only a handful of empirical studies have examined the relationship between narcissism and workgroup outcomes, and practically none have linked narcissism to leader behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to use narcissism scores to predict behaviors associated with unethical leadership in a controlled setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed a measure of narcissistic personality. Participants also completed an administrative assessment center (AC). Qualitative analysis was used to code the behaviors in the AC into dimensions associated with unethical leader behavior.

Findings

Narcissism was related to the display of unethical behaviors during the AC. Scores on the narcissism scale correlated positively with behaviors associated with unethical leadership, including one-way communication, control of power, insensitivity to others, an unrealistic assessment of the environment, manipulative communication, and pseudo-transformational behaviors.

Originality/value

This is one of only a few studies that demonstrate a relationship between narcissism and observed unethical “bad” leader behaviors. Quantifying this relationship suggests that measures of narcissism could be used in leadership selection. Quantifying this relationship could also be used by coaches as they work to improve leader behavior.
Bridging the gap in competitiveness of Russian companies with intangible bricks
Authors: Shakina Elena , Barajas Angel , Molodchik Mariya
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to explore factors of the low competitiveness of Russian companies assuming that the gap in the endowment of intangible resources is responsible for the gap in competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework of resources-based view is used to examine causality between the resources used and competitiveness measured by economic value added (EVA). Controlling for the most relevant factors, the authors place an emphasis on those intangible resources that are considered in the literature as being the most critical for Russian companies when contending for global competitiveness: productivity, strategic long-term orientation of companies, quality of human capital, innovative behavior of companies, foreign investments and corporate networks. The data set of more than 1,000 Russian companies benchmarked to the data set of more than 1,600 European companies during a period of 10 years: 2004-2013 is analyzed to test the hypothesis put forward.

Findings

Causal effect of the gap in intangible endowment and competitiveness of Russian companies compared with European rivals is revealed. According to our analysis, gaps in productivity, strategy implementation, qualifications of the board of directors and company location play critical roles in the global competitiveness of Russian companies. Meanwhile, underinvestment in structural resources, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and other intangible assets, are considered positive factors that reduce gaps in EVA.

Originality/value

The paper introduces original approach for studying the gap in performance caused by the gap in used resources.
Performance measurement and management for manufacturing SMEs: a financial statement-based system
Authors: Bahri Moujib , St-Pierre Josée , Sakka Ouafa
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a performance measurement and management system (PMMS) for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on an analysis of the connections between the firm’s business practices and financial results as reported in the financial statements.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data on the business practices and financial statements of 108 Canadian manufacturing SMEs were taken from a private database. Items from financial statements were used to measure the firm’s performance in specific areas such as sales and current assets management, while net profit was used to measure the overall performance. Information about the level of adoption of more than 120 business practices by the sampled firms was also used. Step-wise regression was then performed for two consecutive years to identify the business practices that had significantly influenced the items in the financial statements.

Findings

The findings show that an understanding of the business practice/financial statement connection can be useful in managing SME performance. The regression analyses provide rich and interesting results. They indicate that some practices influence performance quickly, while others have a deferred effect. In addition, some practices have impacts that are significant in specific areas of the organization but insignificant in terms of overall performance, while others affect the firm’s overall performance but not the specific area they are intended to improve.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is the non-probabilistic sample. However, the sampled SMEs vary widely in their characteristics, which should partially mitigate the negative impacts of a non-probabilistic sample.

Practical implications

The paper offers a useful and low-cost PMMS for SMEs, using information that is easily available to owner-managers. It shows that SME performance can be managed using a simple system built around the firm’s financial statements.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to empirically test the connection between an extensive list of SME business practices and the financial results presented in the firms’ financial statements.
Quality and safety assessment of cow’ milk in different regions of Mathura city
Authors: Ojha Sadhana , Pathak Vikas , Goswami Meena , Bharti Sanjay Kumar , Singh Veer Pal , Singh Tanuja
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the quality characteristics of cow?s milk in the holy city Mathura, which is famous for it?s gau dhan and Lord Krishna.

Methodology

The milk samples were collected from dairy shops, vendors and milk producers and evaluated on the basis of various organoleptic tests, physico-chemical properties, proximate estimation and microbiological studies following the standard procedures.

Findings

The milk samples of Township and Chungi areas had more clear appearance and normal texture/consistency than other three areas. No cow milk sample was observed with pure white colour; however, 74 per cent of the samples had normal light yellow colour. No milk sample had rancid/oxidized odour; however, few milk samples contained weedy or absorbed odour. Watery consistency was observed in 50 per cent of the samples, whereas thick, ropy or slimy consistency was observed in 4, 4 and 20 per cent of the samples, respectively. The temperature, pH and specific gravity of milk collected from different regions were lower, but titratable acidity was higher than normal prescribed range (<0.14 per cent). The moisture content of all the samples was higher; however, other proximate parameters showed quite variable values than normal values of cow milk. Out of the total, 28 per cent of the samples of cow milk were positive for formalin. The microbial load was higher than normal prescribed limit.

Original value

Food safety and food security are very much at the top of the agenda in India, so it is of utmost importance to screen the quality of milk and milk products in the market for avoidance of skimming practices and/or adulteration of milk with water and human health problems.
Nutrient and antinutrient composition of improved sweet potato [Ipomea batatas (L) Lam] varieties grown in eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Mitiku Demelash Hailu , Teka Tilahun Abera
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the nutrient and antinutrient content of two improved sweet potato varieties released for drought prone areas of eastern Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

Matured roots of two sweet potato varieties, namely, Berkume and Adu, were collected from Haramaya University, Toni Research Farm, Ethiopia. The sweet potatoes were ground into flour following standard procedure. Thereafter, proximate, dietary minerals and β-carotene were determined by official methods of analysis. The tannin and phytate contents were determined by colorimetric methods.

Findings

The moisture, protein, fat, fiber, ash, utilizable carbohydrate and gross energy varied from 6.23-6.61 per cent, 2.07-2.76 per cent, 1.25-1.52 per cent, 1.04-1.16 per cent, 3.38- 5.32 per cent, 90.03-91.45 per cent and 382.18-388.07 Kcal/100 g in both the sweet potato varieties. Potassium content (176.17 mg/100 g) was reported to be the highest and registered in Berkume variety, while the lowest mineral content (2.18 mg/100 g) determined was zinc in Adu sweet potato variety. The highest total carotenoid content (3.39mg/100 g) was recorded in Berkume sweet potato variety. The tannin and phytic acid contents ranged from 9.98 to 12.94 mg/100 g and from 0.24 to 0.31 mg/100 g in Berkume and Adu sweet potato varieties, respectively.

Originality/value

This study showed that the Berkume sweet potato variety has high nutritional potential and less antinutrient contents as compared with the nutritional value of many other roots and tuber crops documented in the FAO database and hence can contribute to reducing malnutrition in resource-poor settings of Ethiopia. Further work needs to be carried out on developing value-added products from Berkume sweet potato variety for its extensive utilization.
HMP Grendon therapeutic community: the residents’ perspective of the process of change
Authors: Dolan Rachel
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest HMP Grendon therapeutic community (TC) reduces recidivism and increases positive emotional and social well-being. Less is known about the factors that influence these positive impacts from the prisoner’s perspective. This paper discusses the factors perceived as most effective in changing behaviour, from the residents of HMP Grendon.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire based on different aspects of the programme measured perceived importance of different aspects. Semi-structured interviews explored these issues in greater depth and detail and the framework approach was utilised to analyse the data.

Findings

Questionnaire data suggested small group therapy, discussing offence impact, resolving problems with others, feeling responsible for self and actions, and open communication were perceived as the most important factors in terms of “what works”. Qualitative interviews supported these findings, and feeling safe, as well as trusting and supportive relationships with other residents and staff were seen as an integral part of the process of change. The analysis also identified some areas for improvement.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers insights into the process of change for residents, how the components of the TC experience are valued and their perceived impact, offering an updated understanding from the residents’ perspective, and also identifies areas for improvement. This is valuable for current and future TCs for planning and development. It is limited by the cross-sectional nature and relatively small number of factors considered.

Originality/value

This paper offers unique insights into why and how Grendon TC works from the residents’ perspective, using a large sample and appropriate qualitative methodology.
Training for democratic therapeutic community staff: a description and evaluation of three experiential workshops
Authors: Rawlings Barbara
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate three experiential training workshops, each set up as three-day transient therapeutic communities, and established to train therapeutic community staff.

Design/methodology/approach

The author carried out participant observation of all courses and analysed these using thematic analysis. The description is provided in Part 1 of the paper. The evaluation, in Part 2 was based on written feedback from participants and from assessment against relevant audit criteria.

Findings

All three workshops achieved their aims of providing participants with an authentic TC resident’s experience. Additionally, each offered personal understandings of how participants felt and why they felt that way in the community setting.

Research limitations/implications

This was largely a piece of qualitative research, carried out in the field, to achieve depth of description and understanding rather than statistical outcomes. Some numerical scores were derived from feedback forms. Further analysis of feedback from future workshops will strengthen findings by increasing the numbers of respondents.

Practical implications

The workshops should continue largely as they are, although there may be some small changes to the designs. They achieve the aim of advancing the understanding of TC staff members.

Originality/value

The paper is based on three earlier unpublished reports and is new published research of interest to trainers in the fields of mental health and experiential learning.