bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The small and large intestine contain transcriptionally related mesenchymal stromal cell subsets that derive from embryonic Gli1+ mesothelial cells
Authors: Pærregaard Simone Isling , Schussek Sophie , Wulff Line , Niss Kristoffer , Mörbe Urs , Jendholm Johan , Wendland Kerstin , Andrusaite Anna T. , Brulois Kevin F. , Nibbs Robert J. B. , Sitnik Katarzyna , Mowat Allan McI , Butcher Eugene C. , Brunak Søren , Agace William W.
Published: August 2021

Intestinal fibroblasts (FB) play essential roles in intestinal homeostasis. Here we show that the small and large intestinal lamina propria (LP) contain similar FB subsets that locate in specific anatomical niches and express distinct arrays of epithelial support genes. However, there were tissue specific differences in the transcriptional profile of intestinal FB subsets in the two sites. All adult intestinal LP mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), including FB, smooth muscle cells (SMC) and pericytes derive from Gli1-expressing embryonic precursors which we identify as mesothelial cells. Trajectory analysis suggested that adult SMC and FB derive from distinct embryonic intermediates, and that adult FB subsets develop in a linear trajectory from CD81+ FB. Finally, we show that colonic subepithelial PDGFRαhi FB comprise several functionally and anatomically distinct populations that originate from an Fgfr2-expressing FB intermediate. Collectively our results provide novel insights into MSC diversity, location, function and ontogeny, with implications for our understanding of intestinal development, homeostasis and disease.
Automated Design of Robust Genetic Circuits: Structural Variants and Parameter Uncertainty
Authors: Schladt Tobias , Engelmann Nicolai , Kubaczka Erik , Hochberger Christian , Koeppl Heinz
Published: August 2021

Genetic design automation methods for combinational circuits often rely on standard algorithms from electronic design automation in their circuit synthesis and technology mapping. However, those algorithms are domain-specific and are hence often not directly suitable for the biological context. In this work we identify aspects of those algorithms that require domain-adaptation. We first demonstrate that enumerating structural variants for a given Boolean specification allows us to find better performing circuits and that stochastic gate assignment methods need to be properly adjusted in order to find the best assignment. Second, we present a general circuit scoring scheme that accounts for the limited accuracy of biological device models including the variability across cells and show that circuits selected according to this score exhibit higher robustness with respect to parametric variations. If gate characteristics in a library are just given in terms of intervals, we provide means to efficiently propagate signals through such a circuit and compute corresponding scores. We demonstrate the novel design approach using the Cello gate library and 33 logic functions that were synthesized and implementedin vivorecently (1). We show that an average 1.3-fold and a peak 6.5-fold performance increase can be achieved by simply considering structural variants and that an average 1.8-fold and a peak 30-fold gain in the novel robustness score can be obtained when selecting circuits according to it.

Graphical TOC Entry
Opioid-blunted cortisol response to stress is associated to increased negative mood and wanting of social reward
Authors: Massaccesi Claudia , Willeit Matthaeus , Quednow Boris B. , Nater Urs M. , Lamm Claus , Mueller Daniel , Silani Giorgia
Published: August 2021

Animal research suggests a central role of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) system in regulating affiliative behaviors and in mediating the stress-buffering function of social contact. However, the neurochemistry of stress-related social contact seeking in humans is still poorly understood. In a randomized, double-blind, between-subject design, healthy female volunteers (N = 80) received either 10 mg of the μ-opioid agonist morphine sulfate, or a placebo. Following a standardized psychosocial stress induction, participants engaged in a social reward task, in which the motivation to obtain skin-to-skin social touch and the hedonic reactions elicited by such touch were assessed.

Morphine prevented the increase of salivary cortisol typically observed following acute stress exposure. Notably, this altered HPA axis responsivity was associated with increased negative affect in response to psychosocial stress, and with enhanced subjective wanting of highly rewarding social contact.

These findings provide novel evidence on the effect of exogenous opioids administration on the reactions to psychosocial stress and point to a state-dependent regulation of social motivation.
A single-cell atlas reveals unanticipated cell type complexity in Drosophila ovaries
Authors: Slaidina Maija , Gupta Selena , Banisch Torsten U. , Lehmann Ruth
Published: August 2021

Organ function relies on the spatial organization and functional coordination of numerous cell types. The Drosophila ovary is a widely used model system to study the cellular activities underlying organ function, including stem cell regulation, cell signaling and epithelial morphogenesis. However, the relative paucity of cell type–specific reagents hinders investigation of molecular functions at the appropriate cellular resolution. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize all cell types of the stem cell compartment and early follicles of the Drosophila ovary. We computed transcriptional signatures and identified specific markers for nine states of germ cell differentiation and 23 somatic cell types and subtypes. We uncovered an unanticipated diversity of escort cells, the somatic cells that directly interact with differentiating germline cysts. Three escort cell subtypes reside in discrete anatomical positions and express distinct sets of secreted and transmembrane proteins, suggesting that diverse micro-environments support the progressive differentiation of germ cells. Finally, we identified 17 follicle cell subtypes and characterized their transcriptional profiles. Altogether, we provide a comprehensive resource of gene expression, cell type–specific markers, spatial coordinates, and functional predictions for 34 ovarian cell types and subtypes.
Positive solution for the (p, q)-Laplacian systems by a new version of sub-super solution method
Authors: Moussa Mohammed , Moussa Abdelqoddous , Mazan Hatim
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this paper, the authors give a new version of the sub-super solution method and prove the existence of positive solution for a (p, q)-Laplacian system under weak assumptions than usually made in such systems. In particular, nonlinearities need not be monotone or positive.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors prove that the sub-super solution method can be proved by the Shcauder fixed-point theorem and use the method to prove the existence of a positive solution in elliptic systems, which appear in some problems of population dynamics.

Findings

The results complement and generalize some results already published for similar problems.

Originality/value

The result is completely new and does not appear elsewhere and will be a reference for this line of research.
Disclosing customers' intentions to use social media for purchase-related decisions
Authors: Sangwan Sumit , Sharma Supran Kumar , Sharma Jyoti
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The present study intends to shed light on behaviour of customers towards usage of social media for purchasing decisions. The study proposes an extension to technology acceptance model (TAM) to analyse the significance of monetary benefits and information reliability on customers' intention to use social media.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample was drawn from social media users of north-western region of India (n = 622). The proposed model was tested using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results indicate that monetary benefits and perceived ease of use have significant influence on customers' intention to use social media, while information reliability and monetary benefits significantly influence only through perceived usefulness.

Practical implications

The findings are valuable to marketers to acknowledge the potential of social media to reach to masses by providing timely and reliable information. The study also reveals that website/app developers should implement a user-friendly interface and reliable content to influence customers' usage behaviour.

Originality/value

The study is a unique attempt to examine the effect of monetary benefits and information reliability with TAM's key constructs in the context of social media adoption. Studies undertaken aforementioned dimensions are mainly concerned with examining direct contribution of social media and its effect on purchase decisions.
Hamilton Won More than Twitter
Authors: Murray Meghan
Published: August 2021

The case is set in summer 2016, centered on the writer and performing star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose Broadway show Hamilton had grossed almost $75 million and won 11 Tony Awards. The musical's cultural influence was buoyed by Miranda’s 578,000 Twitter followers; hundreds of celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Jennifer Lopez had become ambassadors for the musical; and its impromptu #Ham4Ham live performances were engaging thousands of people on social media with each release. The case explores specific tactics the show employed, challenges students to consider the importance of personality in creating social media buzz, and studies the practical influence social media may have had on the show’s success. It is appropriate for any marketing course, particularly a digital media class in which students are familiar with the major platforms.
Does MBA education benefit women more than men? A longitudinal study
Authors: Krishnan Venkat R.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to see if women value power less than men do and if MBA education reduces this gender difference in power value.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of a two-year residential full-time MBA program on students’ values was studied using a longitudinal design and data collected over two years from a business school in India. Values were measured when students entered the program and again when they graduated. The sample consisted of 230 students (90 women and 140 men).

Findings

While entering the MBA program, female students considered power less important than male students did. Results of matched sample t-tests show that power, hedonism, stimulation and tradition become more important and benevolence, universalism, conformity and security become less important over two years of MBA education. The increase in the importance of power value is significantly higher for women than for men.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to show that women’s value ratings for power value increase much more than that of men over two years of management education.
Inhomogeneous wave reflection from the surface of a partially saturated thermoelastic porous media
Authors: Kumar Manjeet , Liu Xu , Kalkal Kapil Kumar , Dalal Virender , Kumari Manjeet
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the propagation of inhomogeneous waves in a partially saturated poro-thermoelastic media through the examples of the free surface of such media..

Design/methodology/approach

The mathematical model evolved by Zhou et al. (2019) is solved through the Helmholtz decomposition theorem. The propagation velocities of bulk waves in partially saturated poro-thermoelastic media are derived by using the potential functions. The phase velocities and attenuation coefficients are expressed in terms of inhomogeneity angle. Reflection characteristics (phase shift, loci of vertical slowness, amplitude, energy) of elastic waves are investigated at the stress-free thermally insulated boundary of a considered medium. The boundary can be permeable or impermeable. The incident wave is portrayed with both attenuation and propagation directions (i.e. inhomogeneous wave). Numerical computations are executed by using MATLAB.

Findings

In this medium, the permanence of five inhomogeneous waves is found. Incidence of the inhomogeneous wave at the thermally insulated stress-free surface results in five reflected inhomogeneous waves in a partially saturated poro-thermoelastic media. The reflection coefficients and splitting of incident energy are obtained as a function of propagation direction, inhomogeneity angle, wave frequency and numerous thermophysical features of the partially saturated poro-thermoelastic media. The energy of distinct waves (incident wave, reflected waves) accompanying interference energies between distinct pairs of waves have been exhibited in the form of an energy matrix.

Originality/value

The sensitivity of propagation characteristics (velocity, attenuation, phase shift, loci of vertical slowness, energy) to numerous aspects of the physical model is analyzed graphically through a particular numerical example. The balance of energy is substantiated by virtue of the interaction energies at the thermally insulated stress-free surface (opened/sealed pores) of unsaturated poro-thermoelastic media through the bulk waves energy shares and interaction energy.
Effect of employees’ work engagement and knowledge sharing as mediators of empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour
Authors: Na-Nan Khahan , Arunyaphum Apiwat
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influences of work engagement and knowledge sharing as mediators of empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design study was used, and questionnaires were submitted to 385 engineers to test the proposed relationships. AMOS 21 and PROCESS macro 3.1 were used for statistical analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that work engagement and knowledge sharing were partially mediated by empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour.

Practical implications

The results of the study can be used by leaders for promoting and supporting innovative work behaviour in the organisation. Moreover, employees should be supported and enhanced to learn continuously under the consultation of the leaders.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the literature on empowering leadership and innovative work behaviour by highlighting that work engagement and knowledge sharing act as mediators to empower leadership and enhance innovative work behaviour.
The governance role of shareholders and board of directors on firm performance: an eclectic governance-performance model
Authors: Ozdemir Ozgur , Kilincarslan Erhan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the governance role of shareholders and board of directors in determining firm performance through an eclectic multi-theoretic model that integrates structure and incentive functions of agency theory and capability aspect of the resource-based view.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model uses a large panel data set of 2,364 UK firms over the period 2000–2010 and uses alternative specifications of the model to improve robustness.

Findings

The results show that the industry experience of major shareholders as a proxy for shareholder capability has a significant positive impact on investee firm performance. The findings also reveal that the lock-in effect of the largest shareholder has a positive impact on performance, whereas the monitoring effectiveness of shareholders is not associated with ownership concentration. Moreover, the results indicate the underlying capabilities of the board of directors and their impact on corporate performance – particularly, the interlocking directorates of executives have a positive impact on firm performance but those of non-executives have a negative one. However, the previous directorship experience of non-executives has a positive impact on performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents a more comprehensive and complete understanding of the governance-performance relationship beyond the narrow or partial explanations provided by single-theory-based studies or those of investigating the effect of various governance tools separately.

Practical implications

This study provides more insights into the capability dimension of shareholders and the role of incentives in motivating shareholders to exercise stronger oversight on the management rather than just using ownership concentration. Hence, the study can serve as valuable guidance for investors, corporate managers and policymakers.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study that uses an eclectic philosophical approach, integrating the agency theory and resource-based view, to not only examine the impact of board of directors but also investigate the governance role of shareholders in modern corporations to understand how shareholders acquire the requisite skills and information, the best practices and processes, and ultimately use the scarce and inimitable resources that help investee firms in improving their performance.
Sustainability and green practices: the role of stakeholder power in fast-food franchise chains
Authors: Perrigot Rozenn , Watson Anna , Dada Olufunmilola (Lola)
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how the power of salient stakeholders involved in the green waste management of franchise chains can impact the ability of the chains to change their green practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study is based on interview data from 19 franchisors and their head office staff operating in the fast-food sector in France where franchise chains have been ‘named and shamed’ as continuing to ignore waste management regulation.

Findings

The findings suggest that both the form and bases of power of different stakeholder groups have important implications for the implementation of green practices, even those required by law. The authors find that the franchisees’ central network position alters the ability of franchisors to directly engage in dialog, consult with, and educate key stakeholders, creating additional challenges for franchisors in the implementation process.

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative nature of the study limits the extent to which the findings can be generalized. Future studies could develop an instrument to assess franchisor perceptions of stakeholder power.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that franchisors should consider carefully how they communicate changes to green practices to their franchisees to ensure not only their compliance but also their motivation to engage with those stakeholders with whom they have regular interactions. The findings can also help governments to better understand how to involve other stakeholders to ensure effective environmental legislation.

Originality/value

The study is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, to consider the role of stakeholders in the implementation of green practices in franchise chains. By examining franchise chains, this paper provides new insights into the role of an additional stakeholder, the franchisee, and enriches the literature on green practices in the hospitality sector.
COVID-19 and health-care worker's combating approach: an exhausting job demand to satisfy
Authors: Shah Syed Jamal , Huang Cheng
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between person-role conflict, psychological capital and emotional exhaustion. Specifically, the research explores how person-role conflict magnified due to daily contact with COVID-19 carriers leads doctors and nurses to experience emotional exhaustion. Moreover, psychological capital function as an explanatory mechanism between stressor strain relationships has also been tested.

Design/methodology/approach

The study results are based on three months of lagged data conducted from the sample of 347 frontline physicians and nurses who provide treatment and care to infected people. To test direct, indirect and total effect, the author's used PROCESS Macro.

Findings

The results suggested that person-role conflict reduces state-like psychological capital and increases emotional exhaustion through reduced psychological capital. Results aligned with the model's expectations in that psychological capital mediated the relationship between person-role conflict and emotional exhaustion, and the mediation was partial.

Originality/value

This paper is the first one that tested the link between person-role conflict and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, up till now, no study has examined the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between person-role conflict and emotional exhaustion. Finally, in the context of the contagion outbreak, this is the preliminary effort that validated the resource loss cycle principle of conservation of resource theory.
A systematic analysis of the spatial migration patterns and the linkages between market components in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Authors: Doan Le-Vinh-Lam , Yudono Adipandang
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to bring together research on housing market area, submarket and household migration into a systems approach that helps us gain a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of a housing market and identify housing problems for a large metropolitan area.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a geographic information system (GIS)-based method with simple quantitative techniques, including spatial analysis, location analysis, house price clustering and cross-tabulation. The analysis is based on migration data from the 2011 Census, house price data from the Land Registry in 2011 for Greater Manchester at the ward level and the output areas level.

Findings

The results show that different submarkets and housing market areas had different patterns of spatial migration and connections with other areas. Through a systematic analysis of migration and house price in combination, it also found a close connection between destination submarkets and the ages of migrants and identified specific problematic patterns for a large metropolitan area.

Research limitations/implications

The interactions between the owner-occupied sector and the social and private rented sectors are arguably an important omission from the analysis. Also, it is acknowledged that clustering ward units based on price differentials is subject to distortions in terms of specification, size and shape. Moreover, the use of the large samples may result in very smallp-values, leading to the problem of the rejection of the predefined hypothesis.

Practical implications

A systematic analysis of migration and house price in combination may be used to gain a better understanding of the housing market dynamics and identify housing problems systematically for a large metropolitan. It may help to identify low-demand areas, high-demand areas and assist planners with decisions in allocating suitable land for new housing constructions.

Social implications

The GIS-based method introduced in the paper could be considered as an effective approach to provide a better basis for determining policy interventions and public investment designed to allocate land resources effectively and improve transport systems to change existing problematic migration patterns.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the international literature in relation to adopting a systems approach that analyses migration and house price data sets in combination to systematically explore migration patterns and linkages and identify housing problems for a large metropolitan area. This systems approach can be applied in any metropolitan area where migration and house price data are available.
Gentrification effects on housing prices in neighbouring areas
Authors: Wilhelmsson Mats , Ismail Mohammad , Warsame Abukar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to measure the occurrence of gentrification and to relate gentrification with housing values.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have used Getis-Ord statistics to identify and quantify gentrification in different residential areas in a case study of Stockholm, Sweden. Gentrification will be measured in two dimensions, namely, income and population. In step two, this measure is included in a traditional hedonic pricing model where the intention is to explain future housing prices.

Findings

The results indicate that the parameter estimate is statistically significant, suggesting that gentrification contributes to higher housing values in gentrified areas and near gentrified neighbourhoods. This latter possible spillover effect of house prices due to gentrification by income and population was similar in both the hedonic price and treatment effect models. According to the hedonic price model, proximity to the gentrified area increases housing value by around 6%–8%. The spillover effect on price distribution seems to be consistent and stable in gentrified areas.

Originality/value

A few studies estimate the effect of gentrification on property values. Those studies focussed on analysing the impacts of gentrification in higher rents and increasing house prices within the gentrifying areas, not gentrification on property prices in neighbouring areas. Hence, one of the paper’s contributions is to bridge the gap in previous studies by measuring gentrification’s impact on neighbouring housing prices.
An integrated spherical fuzzy AHP multi-criteria method for Covid-19 crisis management in regarding lean six sigma
Authors: Demir Ezgi , Turan Hakan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in many businesses. A difficult process has been experienced for businesses caught unprepared for this situation. The purpose of the study, the difficulties experienced in the business have been mapped in terms of crisis management.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, crisis management strategies have been discussed in terms of lean six sigma (LSS) strategies. Afterward, LSS strategies have been weighted with the spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method, which has been recently introduced to the literature (Gündogdu and Kahraman, 2020). While weighting has been done with the spherical fuzzy AHP method, three experts in the field of LSS at the master blackbelt level have been studied.

Findings

The Covid-19 process has caused the usual processes of businesses to change. Businesses do not have enough time to adapt their business processes in the Covid-19 process. To eliminate waste and time in the Covid-19 process, the lean methodology was used. At the same time, quality deficiencies have been tried to be eliminated with the six sigma methodology. Therefore, the six sigma methodology and lean techniques should be considered together. With LSS, the adaptation of this process has been wanted to be accelerated. In this context, the criteria in the Covid-19 process were prioritized and losses were reduced in accordance with the LSS methodology. In this study, the most important criterion during the covid-19 pandemic has been determined as “responding to the changing needs of customers” and the least important criterion has been determined as “communication with stakeholders in enterprises.”

Research limitations/implications

This study has been applied the Covid-19 pandemics. So, it has been evaluated related to these specific criteria.

Practical implications

Covid-19 crisis management was examined for the first time within the scope of the LSS methodology. The criteria in the Covid-19 process were determined by six sigma expert master black belts. For the first time, spherical fuzzy AHP, one of the multi-criteria decision methods, has been applied to the Covid-19 process.

Originality/value

This study has been aimed to create a roadmap to apply LSS steps in businesses against a possible second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, it is thought that the study will fill the following gaps in the literature: Covid-19 crisis management was examined for the first time within the scope of LSS methodology. The criteria in the Covid-19 process were determined by six sigma expert master black belts. For the first time, spherical fuzzy AHP, one of the multi-criteria decision methods, has been applied to the Covid-19 process.
Contextual coaching: levering and leading school improvement through collaborative professionalism
Authors: Hollweck Trista , Lofthouse Rachel M.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The research examines how contextual coaching (Gorrell and Hoover, 2009; Valentine, 2019) can act as a lever to build collaborative professionalism (Hargreaves and O'Connor, 2018) and lead to school improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi-case study (Stake, 2013) draws on two bespoke examples of contextual coaching in education and uses the ten tenets of collaborative professionalism as a conceptual framework for its abductive analysis. Data from both cases were collected through interviews, focus groups and documentation.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that effective contextual coaching leads to conditions underpinning school improvement. Specifically, there are patterns of alignment with the ten tenets of collaborative professionalism. Whereas contextual coaching is found on four of these tenets (mutual dialogue, joint work, collective responsibility and collaborative inquiry), in more mature coaching programmes, three others (collective autonomy, initiative and efficacy) emerge. There is also evidence that opportunities exist for contextual coaching to be further aligned with the remaining three tenets. The study offers insight into how school improvement can be realized by the development of staff capacity for teacher leadership through contextual coaching.

Research limitations/implications

The impact of coaching in education is enhanced by recognizing the importance of context and the value of iterative design and co-construction.

Practical implications

The principles of contextual coaching are generalizable, but models must be developed to be bespoke and to align with each setting. Collaborative professionalism offers a useful framework to better design and implement contextual coaching programmes.

Originality/value

The research introduces contextual coaching in education, and how coaching can enhance collaborative professionalism in schools.
Reduction of hole misalignment in turbocharger center housing
Authors: Sundaramali G. , Reddy C. Vishal , Kodali Revanth Vinay Kumar , Sipri Sherin Thomas , Santhosh Raj K. , Anirudh S. , Selvaraj Senthil Kumaran
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This research work focuses on implementing this methodology in reducing the rejection rate of the turbocharger component problem that occurs during the manufacturing process. Using design, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) processes, it has been identified that clamping pressure on the component is one factor that affects quality. The impact of clamping pressure is studied to arrive at the ideal clamping pressure in which the rejection rate is the least.

Design/methodology/approach

Quality is the keyword in manufacturing where the production of a defect-free component is the most sought out objective. The definition of quality keeps getting refined throughout the years, from making products with no defects to minimizing rejection and scrap in the manufacturing process. Production facilities, to achieve this purpose, have adopted various methods and use of the DMAIC of Six Sigma methodology is one among them.

Findings

The study identified the fault causing the defect and suggested the methods to correct the fault. The suggestions would result in reducing the losses arising due to this and similar rejection causes.

Originality/value

With the adoption of DMAIC, it is found that misalignment of top and side clamp pressure is zero. When the side clamp pressure is at 75 PSI, and top clamp pressure is changed from 90 PSI to 95 PSI, the mean of responses is greater than the side clamp pressure of 80 PSI. Therefore, from the three-combination top clamp pressure of 100 PSI and the side clamp pressure of 75 PSI is the optimal condition.
Competitive strategies-performance nexus and the mediating role of enterprise risk management practices: a multi-group analysis for fully fledged Islamic banks and conventional banks with Islamic window in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Waqas , Ibrahim Alasan Imran , Hussain Khan Mushtaq , Ali Shujahat , Cheah Jun-Hwa , Ramayah T.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether the effect of competitive strategies on the performance is significantly different for fully fledged Islamic banks vis-a-vis conventional banks with Islamic window. Specifically, two competitive strategies namely the low-cost strategy and the differentiation strategy were considered. In addition, we examined further the competitive strategies–performance nexus by introducing enterprise risk management as a mediating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used structured questionnaires to collect data from 506 respondents (251 from fully fledged Islamic banks and 255 from conventional banks with Islamic window). A disjoint two-stage approach was employed to analyze a hierarchical component model. Construct Level Correction and Measured Latent Marker Variable approaches were employed to assess the common method variance. As a robustness check, two-stage approach was used to explore the curvilinear relationship, and the Gaussian copula approach was adopted to address the endogeneity issue.

Findings

The findings show the evidence of complementary partial mediation in the relationships between low-cost strategy, differentiation strategy, and performance through enterprise risk management practices in both types of banks.

Practical implications

Competitive strategies are essential as they send signals to owners, managers, policymakers, and regulatory authorities. On the one hand, fully fledged Islamic banks face dual competition from pure conventional counterparts as well as conventional banks with Islamic window. On the other hand, Islamic window banks also face strong competition from the fully fledged Islamic banks due to their strong Shariah roots. Hence, this competitive pressure on both types of banks calls for more attention to focus on competitive strategies and enterprise risk management practices to accelerate their performance and overcome the bank risk. Moreover, these competitive strategies can be used as a tool to enter into a new market by reducing costs and risks. Besides, banks cannot achieve a competitive advantage without implementing enterprise risk management practices because competitive strategies are significant antecedents of enterprise risk management practices. Therefore, this study recommends both types of banks to focus on enterprise risk management practices to make these strategies successful.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the competitive strategies–performance nexus and the mediating role of enterprise risk management practices in an unexplored area of Islamic banking.
The effect of financial analysts on the economic implications of disclosed lease information – a note
Authors: Hsieh Su-Jane , Su Yuli
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether financial analyst coverage affects the dissemination of disclosed operating lease information into cash flow predictions and stock prices.

Design/methodology/approach

The difference in lease expense between capital/finance lease and operating lease reporting is estimated based on the approach in Hsieh and Su (2015). This difference is referred to as the earnings impact from operating lease capitalization and is only available from footnotes. The authors then include the level of financial analyst following in a cash flow model to study its impact on the cash flow predictive value of the earnings impact. Similarly, the level of financial analyst following is inserted in an earnings-return model to assess the effect of analyst coverage on the association between contemporaneous stock returns and earnings impact.

Findings

The authors find that the cash flow predictive value of the earnings impact shifts to the interaction between analyst coverage and the earnings impact, suggesting that the decision-usefulness of the earnings impact is conditioned on the level of analyst following. Nevertheless, the authors find that the earnings impact continues to have explanatory value for the contemporaneous stock returns, while the interaction between analyst coverage and the earnings impact does not. This finding suggests that the earnings impact is already fully reflected in stock prices regardless of analyst following.

Research limitations/implications

Since the estimation of the earnings impact from reporting operating leases as capital leases is based on the method developed by Imhoff et al. (1991), the results and inferences are thus constrained by the validity of the method.

Practical implications

The authors find that financial analyst activities accelerate the incorporation of the earnings impact from operating lease capitalization in cash flow predictions, but it does not promote the impounding of the earnings impact into stock prices. This finding suggests that financial analysts' influence on the dissemination of the earnings impact hinges on the type of economic activity, and failing to consider the financial analyst following in studying the cash flow predictive value of the earnings impact would obscure the findings.

Originality/value

The authors extend the findings of prior research that financial analysts' activities promote the incorporation of firm-specific information into stock prices by investigating the impact of financial analysts on the dissemination of disclosed operating lease information.
The gendered effects of entrepreneurialism in contrasting contexts
Authors: Tillmar Malin , Ahl Helene , Berglund Karin , Pettersson Katarina
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Contrasting Sweden and Tanzania, this paper aims to explore the experiences of women entrepreneurs affected by entrepreneurialism. This study discusses the impact on their position in society and on their ability to take feminist action.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analysed interviews conducted in the two countries over 15 years, using a holistic perspective on context, including its gendered dimensions.

Findings

The results amount to a critique of entrepreneurialism. Women in Sweden did not experience much gain from entrepreneurship, while in Tanzania results were mixed. Entrepreneurialism seems unable to improve the situation for women in the relatively well-functioning economies in the global north, where it was designed.

Research limitations/implications

In mainstream entrepreneurship studies, there is a focus on the institutional context. From the analysis, it is apparent that equal attention must be given to the social and spatial contexts, as they may have severe material and economic consequences for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. The paper raises questions for further studies on the gendering of markets in different contexts, as well as questions on the urban-rural dimension.

Practical implications

In Sweden, marketisation of welfare services led to more women-owned businesses, but the position of women did not improve. The results strongly convey the need for a careful analysis of the pre-existing context, before initiating reforms.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the understanding of context in entrepreneurship studies: Africa is largely an underexplored continent and contrasting North and South is an underexplored methodological approach. This paper further extends and develops the model of gendered contexts developed by Welter et al. (2014).
The relationship between academic integrity of online university students and its effects on academic performance and learning quality
Authors: Ayoub/Al-Salim Majda I. , Aladwan Khaled
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between academic integrity of online university students and its effects on academic performance and learning quality. The first hypothesis aimed to see if there is statistically significant relationship between academic honesty of students taking online classes and their apparent academic performance. The second hypothesis aimed to see if there is a statistically significant difference in academic integrity among male and female students. The third hypothesis aimed to see if there was a statistically significant relationship between academic honesty of students and their quality of learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study; data was collected via student emails from 155 active online university students.

Findings

There was a positive linear relationship for the first hypothesis, the relationship is relatively weak as the value of Pearson correlation was (0.172). For the second hypothesis, the results showed that there was no significant difference between males and females. The results for the third hypothesis showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between academic integrity of students taking online classes and academic learning quality. This relationship is relatively strong.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size may have been a limitation for generalizing the results.

Practical implications

As a practical implication, authors recommend that education administrators focus on training their faculty members to stress and instill strong ethical values, such as academic integrity and honesty, in their students all throughout their academic journey.

Social implications

As for social implication, the embracing of ethical values in students, graduates may continue to embrace such values in the workplace which may lead to more reputable and profitable work environment where the society at large benefits.

Originality/value

This research is among the pioneers that attempted to study the connection of academic integrity and learning quality from the students’ perspective.
The effectiveness of risk management system and firm performance in the European context
Authors: Ghazieh Louai , Chebana Nadia
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effectiveness of the risk management system in the European context, especially with regard to the risk management committee, the uncertainty of the environment and company performance. In summary, it evaluates European companies listed on the stock exchange in France, Germany and the United Kingdom to determine how risk management systems influence financial companies' performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To study the effectiveness of risk management systems and their influence on performance, the large companies selected in our sample are fairly representative of the European market, according to the Dutch indices of each country (SBF 120 in France, HDAX 110 in Germany and FTSE 100 in United Kingdom).The empirical evidence is based on an international quantitative analysis, using a data set involving 320 companies listed on the stock exchange over a ten-year period from 2005 to 2014.

Findings

The results indicate that the establishment of a risk management and control system by a company positively influences its management, and its performance level and value creation also improve. The results of this study demonstrate a significant strengthening of the role of the risk management committee in the three countries. The surveillance function is reinforced, and in particular, the internal control system is accentuated.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations that can form leads for future research. One of these limitations is the sample size. The authors have represented the European context by three countries that certainly constitute great European powers, but have regulations different from other countries. The company size is also a possible research element. Indeed, risk management system varies between large, small and medium-sized enterprises, so it is important to study each type of company well.

Originality/value

This study identifies the risk management committee as a mechanism of control that is highly important in the company, and it proposes an international framework that comparatively and empirically evaluates how the risk management system used in large European companies can improve their financial performance.
Measuring market-sensing capabilities for new product development success
Authors: Dias Alvaro Lopes , Lages Luis F.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize and operationalize the concept of market-sensing capabilities and analyze its relationship with new product development (NPD) success and organic organizational structures. To the authors' knowledge, past measures of market-sensing capabilities have never included opportunity interpretation, through business experience and organizational articulation, as part of the concept.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of over 180 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), market-sensing capabilities constructs and their relationships were tested through academics' and managers' perceptions. The measure was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Findings

Findings reveal theoretically sound constructs based on four underlying market-sensing capabilities components: analytical processes, customer relationship, business experience and organizational articulation. Results demonstrate reliability, convergent, discriminant and nomological validity. All four dimensions are positively associated with NPD success and are more likely to appear in organic organizational structures.

Practical implications

The resulting instrument provides managers with a valuable tool to measure firms' abilities to address environmental uncertainty. By using this instrument, managers can assess internal organizational structures and resources allocated to sensing capabilities. By developing sensing capabilities, managers might ultimately influence their NPD strategy. Findings also reveal that sensing capabilities are positively and significantly associated with organic organizational structures.

Originality/value

Existing sensing capabilities measures are focused on environmental scanning, and the essence of the concept is not fully expressed by the traditional measures of analytical processes and customer relationship. The authors' new measure includes opportunity interpretation through business experience and organizational articulation.
The robot-to-robot service encounter: an examination of the impact of inter-robot warmth
Authors: Söderlund Magnus
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine humans’ reactions to service robots’ display of warmth in robot-to-robot interactions – a setting in which humans’ impressions of a service robot will not only be based on what this robot does in relation to humans, but also on what it does to other robots.

Design/methodology/approach

Service robot display of warmth was manipulated in an experimental setting in such a way that a service robot A expressed low versus high levels of warmth in relation to another service robot B.

Findings

The results indicate that a high level of warmth expressed by robot Avis-à-visrobot B boosted humans’ overall evaluations of A, and that this influence was mediated by the perceived humanness and the perceived happiness of A.

Originality/value

Numerous studies have examined humans’ reactions when they interact with a service robot or other synthetic agents that provide service. Future service encounters, however, will comprise also multi-robot systems, which means that there will be many opportunities for humans to be exposed to robot-to-robot interactions. Yet, this setting has hitherto rarely been examined in the service literature.