bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does farmers' field schooling impact eco-efficiency? Empirical evidence from paddy farmers in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Sariful , Ferdousy Sabiha , Afrin Sonia , Ahsan Md. Nasif , Haider Mohammed Ziaul , Das Debasish Kumar
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Recent studies suggest extensive use of environmental resources in agrofarming degrades ecosystem significantly. In this backdrop, this study aims at assessing ecoefficiency of paddy farming. Because ecoefficiency links up between economic performances and environmental resources supporting the provision of goods and services for the society, this study further investigates the effectiveness of attending Farmers' Field School (FFS), an agroenvironmental program, in conserving environmental resources through improving farm-level ecoefficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

In a dataset of 200 randomly selected paddy farmers from three districts of the southwestern Bangladesh, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to compute both radial and pressure-specific (nutrient balance, energy balance, irrigation and pesticide lethal risk) ecoefficiency scores. Furthermore, propensity score matching (PSM) technique is applied to examine the impact of FFS program on farm-level ecoefficiency.

Findings

The DEA results suggest that paddy farmers are highly eco-inefficient. The computed radial eco-efficiency score is 0.40 implying farmers could reduce around 60% of environmental pressure equiproportionally even by maintaining the same level of value addition. In addition, the PSM results suggest farmers' participation in FFS program led to around 22.5% higher radial ecoefficiency and 7–25% higher environmental pressure-specific eco-efficiencies. Furthermore, simulation exercises reveal that FFS participation in interaction with farm size would lead to around 32–40% reduction of all environmental pressures.

Practical implications

Promoting FFS programs among paddy farmers could be an effective policy option to improve eco-efficiency through environment-friendly farming paradigm.

Originality/value

This study is probably the maiden effort that has examined the impact of attending the FFS program on ecoefficiency improvement in Bangladesh. This study contributes to both the concern literature by adding useful information and the policymakers by providing new insights about the reduction of environmental resource usage with maintaining the same value addition from agrofarming.
Impact of lean operations on the roles of finance functions and their application of lean
Authors: Nielsen Henrik , Kristensen Thomas Borup
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study the relations between lean operations, lean principles in finance functions and the roles of finance functions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses structural equation modeling to analyze data from 408 different firms in the Danish production and services sectors. A dyadic approach is applied, as a sub-sample of 107 chief operating officers in the responding firms is used to investigate the construct validity, reliability and average deviation index of the instrument measuring the roles of finance functions.

Findings

The paper finds that lean-operation firms emphasize four different yet interdependent roles of finance functions. The paper also finds that lean operation leads to firms’ finance functions adopting lean principles.

Research limitations/implications

This paper characterizes lean-operation firms as contextually ambidextrous to predict relations between lean operation and roles of finance functions. The paper expands prior case study findings on the roles of finance functions in lean-operation firms, and the findings of the paper underline that finance functions continue to play an important role in these firms.

Practical implications

Decision-makers in lean-operation firms should not be hesitant with respect to integrating finance function workers into the lean operation. Furthermore, decision-makers should understand that a balanced emphasis of the roles of finance functions is necessary to avoid overemphasizing exploitation at the expense of exploration, or vice versa.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to provide large-scale evidence of the roles of finance functions in lean-operation firms and to show that lean principles diffuse to finance functions. Furthermore, the paper introduces a new instrument for measuring finance function roles, based on the competing values framework.
Research on dynamic stiffness of the damping element in bellows-type fluid viscous damper by a simplified model
Authors: Jiao Xiaolei , Zhang Jinxiu , Zhao Hongchao , Yan Yong
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Bellows-type fluid viscous damper can be used to isolate micro vibration in high-precision satellites. The conventional model cannot describe hydraulic stiffness in the medium- and high-frequency domain of this damper. A simplified analytical model needs to be established to analyze hydraulic stiffness of the damping element in this damper.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a bellows-type fluid viscous damper is researched, and a simplified model of the damping element in this damper is proposed. Based on this model, the hydraulic stiffness and damping of this damper in the medium- and high-frequency domains are studied, and a comparison is made between the analytical model and a finite element model to verify the analytical model.

Findings

The results show that when silicone oil has low viscosity, a model that considers the influence of the initial segment of the damping orifice is more reasonable. In the low-frequency domain, hydraulic stiffness increases quickly with frequency and remains stable when the frequency increases to a certain value; the stable stiffness can reach 106 N/m, which is much higher than the main stiffness. Excessive dynamic stiffness in the high-frequency domain will cause poor vibration isolation performance. Adding compensation bellows to the end of the original isolator may be an effective solution.

Practical implications

A model of the isolator containing the compensation bellows can be derived based on this analytical model. This research can also be used for dynamic modeling and vibration isolation performance analysis of a vibration isolation platform based on this bellows-type fluid viscous damper.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a simplified model of damping element in bellows-type fluid viscous damper, which can be used to analyze hydraulic stiffness in this damper and it was found that this damper showed stable hydraulic stiffness in the medium- and high-frequency domains.
Building high-performing and integrated project teams
Authors: Ahiaga-Dagbui Dominic D. , Tokede Olubukola , Morrison John , Chirnside Anthony
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Effective inter-organisational relationships are key to engendering innovation and ensuring the successful delivery of infrastructure projects. Relationship-based contracts are thus widely used to stimulate best-for-project ideals and attenuate the otherwise adversarial relationship that often exists between clients and contractors. This study examines the effectiveness and limitations of a project facilitation model as coaching tool for developing conducive inter-organisational relationships for construction project delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a case-study approach using evidence from triangulated data sources of focus group workshops, semi-structured interviews and document analysis.

Findings

(1) The facilitation model enabled an environment for psychological safety to be developed, which engendered a platform for effective cooperation for problem-solving and achieving quasi best-for-project ideals. (2) The model provides the mechanism to develop team behaviours that support enhanced performance and create an environment less adversarial and more collaborative than traditional contracting.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is that relationship-based principles have been utilised as part of a traditional design-bid-build contract with lump-sum payment arrangements.
Visualised inspection system for monitoring environmental anomalies during daily operation and maintenance
Authors: Xie Xiang , Lu Qiuchen , Rodenas-Herraiz David , Parlikad Ajith Kumar , Schooling Jennifer Mary
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Visual inspection and human judgement form the cornerstone of daily operations and maintenance (O&M) services activities carried out by facility managers nowadays. Recent advances in technologies such as building information modelling (BIM), distributed sensor networks, augmented reality (AR) technologies and digital twins present an immense opportunity to radically improve the way daily O&M is conducted. This paper aims to describe the development of an AR-supported automated environmental anomaly detection and fault isolation method to assist facility managers in addressing problems that affect building occupants’ thermal comfort.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed system focusses on the detection of environmental anomalies related to the thermal comfort of occupants within a building. The performance of three anomaly detection algorithms in terms of their ability to detect indoor temperature anomalies is compared. Based on the fault tree analysis (FTA), a decision-making tree is developed to assist facility management (FM) professionals in identifying corresponding failed assets according to the detected anomalous symptoms. The AR system facilitates easy maintenance by highlighting the failed assets hidden behind walls/ceilings on site to the maintenance personnel. The system can thus provide enhanced support to facility managers in their daily O&M activities such as inspection, recording, communication and verification.

Findings

Taking the indoor temperature inspection as an example, the case study demonstrates that the O&M management process can be improved using the proposed AR-enhanced inspection system. Comparative analysis of different anomaly detection algorithms reveals that the binary segmentation-based change point detection is effective and efficient in identifying temperature anomalies. The decision-making tree supported by FTA helps formalise the linkage between temperature issues and the corresponding failed assets. Finally, the AR-based model enhanced the maintenance process by visualising and highlighting the hidden failed assets to the maintenance personnel on site.

Originality/value

The originality lies in bringing together the advances in augmented reality, digital twins and data-driven decision-making to support the daily O&M management activities. In particular, the paper presents a novel binary segmentation-based change point detection for identifying temperature anomalous symptoms, a decision-making tree for matching the symptoms to the failed assets, and an AR system for visualising those assets with related information.
Multidimensional mining of public opinion in emergency events
Authors: Zhou Qingqing , Jing Ming
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The suddenness, urgency and social publicity of emergency events lead to great impacts on public life. The deep analysis of emergency events can provide detailed and comprehensive information for the public to get trends of events timely. With the development of social media, users prefer to express opinions on emergency events online. Thus, massive public opinion information of emergencies has been generated. Hence, this paper aims to conduct multidimensional mining on emergency events based on user-generated contents, so as to obtain finer-grained results.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducted public opinion analysis via fine-grained mining. Specifically, public opinion about an emergency event was collected as experimental data. Secondly, opinion mining was conducted to get users’ opinion polarities. Meanwhile, users’ information was analysed to identify impacts of users’ characteristics on public opinion.

Findings

The experimental results indicate that public opinion is mainly negative in emergencies. Meanwhile, users in developed regions are more active in expressing opinions. In addition, male users, especially male users with high influence, are more rational in public opinion expression.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research to identify public opinion in emergency events from multiple dimensions, which can get in-detail differences of users’ online expression.
Improving the US hospital reimbursement: how patient satisfaction in HCAHPS reflects lower readmission
Authors: Chen Hui-chuan , Cates Tommy , Taylor Monty , Cates Christopher
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether patient readmission rates are associated with patient satisfaction and Medicare reimbursement rates in the US hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

The Hospital Compare database was obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the US. A total of 2,711 acute care hospitals were analyzed for this present study. The data included patient satisfaction surveys, hospital 30-days readmission ratios for heart failure and pneumonia patients and related payments. Exploratory factor analysis was applied in the first stage to operationalize constructs for scale development. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling analysis via Smart-PLS was utilized for testing the hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicated that data provided from the Hospital Compare database for the acute care hospitals accurately reflect quality outcomes. Nevertheless, the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) did not penalize the hospitals when patients reported lower satisfaction via the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that a high-readmission rate is not associated with lower payment. Such results appear to conflict with the goals of value-based purchasing programs, which seek to penalize hospitals financially for higher readmission rates.
Mediating effects of person–environment fit on the relationship between high-performance human resource practices and firm performance
Authors: Uppal Nishant
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the interactionist approach and interest alignment theory, this study aims to examine the mediating effects of three dimensions of person environment fit – person–organisation fit, person–job fit and person–supervisor fit – on the relationship between high-performance human resource practices (HPHRP) and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data obtained from 3,014 employees of research and development units and 721 senior HR executives and top management team members belonging to 274 Indian-based pharmaceutical firms is analysed to investigate a mediated pathway between HPHRP and firm performance.

Findings

The findings of the current research established that HPHRP was positively and significantly related to person–organisation fit, person–job fit and person–supervisor fit, and this facilitates firm performance and curtails employee turnover.

Originality/value

The current work firmly establishes a link between human resource management with firm performance using interactionist approach. Implications of the study to theory and practice are discussed.
A review of the literature on cross-functional integration (2010–2020): trends and recommendations
Authors: Jeske Debora , Calvard Thomas Stephen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Structural and technological changes are driving functional reorganization in many organizations. To date, there are very few articles that explicitly, consistently and cumulatively focus on cross-functional integration. This paper aims to review and explore the literature that does directly address cross-functional integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a literature review within the general management domain for the time frame 2010 to 2020 and identified 71 relevant articles that provide an overview of current practices and trends.

Findings

This conceptual paper reviews this identified literature and outlines key trends, noteworthy articles and a summary of relevant theories, and provides an overview of outcomes linked to cross-functional integration in the literature. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for practitioners and an outline of potential research areas for academic researchers, including a call for more theory integration, building and testing in the area of cross-functionality.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind to attempt to summarize the literature on cross-functionality (published between 2010 and 2020), a currently very fragmented field of study spread out across different management disciplines.
Public–private joint ventures in the healthcare sector: enlarging the shadow of the future through social and economic incentives
Authors: Solheim-Kile Espen , Wald Andreas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Public–private joint ventures (PPJVs) have a stronger partnership element than standard public–private partnerships (PPPs) but PPJVs are under-researched despite this important partnership element. This article derives knowledge of incentives and barriers to goal alignment in healthcare PPJVs.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth case study of the UK’s Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) model including three PPJVs and 34 individual projects was conducted.

Findings

The main economic incentives are future opportunities creating a strong shadow of the future. This is supplemented by social incentives such as the ability to have a social impact. Enlarging the shadow of the future can encourage both parties to think long-term, avoiding short-term opportunism.

Practical implications

PPJV is a promising model for partnership. However, complexity through fragmented public sector partners and the financial structure can create barriers for goal alignment.

Originality/value

This study challenges earlier research studies based on PPJV by providing evidence that the long-term nature of PPJV, especially the potential of new projects, enables the public sector to get more engagement from the private sector.
Pandemic designs for the future: perspectives of technology education teachers during COVID-19
Authors: Code Jillianne , Ralph Rachel , Forde Kieran
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The disruption caused by the pandemic declaration and subsequent public health measures put in place have had a substantial effect on teachers’ abilities to support student engagement in technology education (TE). The purpose of this paper is to explore the following research question: How do TE teachers see emergency remote teaching (ERT) transitions to blended learning into the next academic year affecting their profession?

Design/methodology/approach

A snowball and convenience sampling design was used to recruit specialist teachers in TE through their professional organization and were asked to respond to the question: What are your concerns about the future of teaching TE remotely? The qualitative data collected from the participants (N = 42) was analyzed thematically (Braun and Clarke, 2006).

Findings

The analysis revealed that the switch to ERT impacted the teachers’ ability to support hands-on competency development owing to inequitable student access to tools, materials and resources, all of which affected student motivation and engagement. As a result, teachers raised questions about the overall effectiveness of online learning approaches and TE’s future and sustainability if offered completely online.

Originality/value

This research is the first of its kind exploring the experiences of TE teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In answer to the challenges identified by teachers, the authors offer a blended learning design framework informed by pandemic transformed pedagogy that can serve as a model for educators to use when designing blended instruction.
Modified C-17 taxi procedures: a fuel cost savings exploration
Authors: Wells Michael , Kretser Michael , Hazen Ben , Weir Jeffery
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the viability of using C-17 reduced-engine taxi procedures from a cost savings and capability perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study model expected engine fuel flow based on the number of operational engines, aircraft gross weight (GW) and average aircraft groundspeed. Using this model, the research executes a cost savings simulation estimating the expected annual savings produced by the proposed taxi methodology. Operational and safety risks are also considered.

Findings

The results indicate that significant fuel and costs savings are available via the employment of reduced-engine taxi procedures. On an annual basis, the mobility air force has the capacity to save approximately 1.18 million gallons of jet fuel per year ($2.66m in annual fuel costs at current rates) without significant risk to operations. The two-engine taxi methodology has the ability to generate capable taxi thrust for a maximum GW C-17 with nearly zero risks.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited to C-17 procedures and efficiency improvements specifically, although it suggests that other military aircraft could benefit from these findings as is evident in the commercial airline industry.

Practical implications

This research recommends coordination with the original equipment manufacturer to rework checklists and flight manuals, development of a fleet-wide training program and evaluation of future aircraft recapitalization requirements intended to exploit and maximize aircraft surface operation savings.

Originality/value

If implemented, the proposed changes would benefit the society as government resources could be spent elsewhere and the impact on the environment would be reduced. This research conducted a rigorous analysis of the suitability of implementing a civilian airline’s best practice into US Air Force operations.
Estimations of business exposure to corruption in Malaysia
Authors: Yusof Selamah Abdullah , Arshad Mohd Nahar Mohd
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the level of business exposure to corruption in Malaysia. The authors estimate the effect of bribe requests from business establishments by public officials and identify the level of vulnerability of businesses to such requests.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses firm-level data from the World Bank Malaysia Enterprise Survey 2014. The analyses are based on binary logit, tobit and generalized ordered logit regressions.

Findings

The authors find that one-fifth of firms applying for construction permits or had visits or meetings with tax officials were expected to pay bribes. Firms’ encounters with corruption were higher still when applying for import (29%) or operating license (24.7%). About 40% of the firms considered corruption an obstacle to their business operations to the degree of moderate, major and even severe. On average, 11% of firms’ total annual sales were apportioned for informal gifts or “speed money.” The authors also find that larger, younger and women-managed/owned companies were more likely to be targeted for bribe payments. The amount of bribe paid by foreign-owned firms was higher than the local firms. Manufacturing firms had lower incidences of bribe requests, but the amount paid was higher than services-related companies. Firms run or owned by women also, on average, paid a higher amount bribe.

Social implications

These findings should be taken into consideration in the efforts to eradicate corruption affecting businesses in Malaysia.

Originality/value

This study is unique in the sense that it is based on firm-level data for a Malaysian case.
How organisations can affect employees’ intention to manage enterprise-specific knowledge through informal mentoring: a vignette study
Authors: Roobol Conny J.J. , Koster Ferry
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of organisational conditions and workplace characteristics in midcareer and senior employees’ intention to volitionally provide career support to junior organisational members, their protégés.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses are tested using multilevel linear modelling on a heterogeneous sample of Dutch employees ages 29 to 69 who participated in a vignette study in the autumn of 2017.

Findings

In line with the hypotheses, the findings of this study show that volitional (informal) mentoring is positively related to an organisation’s endorsement of intrinsic values (e.g. learning opportunities) and negatively to the presence of hindrance demands (e.g. time pressure).

Practical implications

Practitioners could facilitate co-mentor consultation, employ autonomy-supportive direct supervisors and fulfil psychological contract obligations by providing job security and learning opportunities. Organisations could also lower time pressures through job carving.

Originality/value

This study extends extant mentoring research by combining insights from perceived organisational support (POS) and self-determination theory (SDT) to examine the role organisational conditions and workplace characteristics play in aiding or hindering volitional mentoring. It enriches extant knowledge management studies on the link between organisational aspects and (intended) knowledge sharing behaviour by showing that similar organisational motivators predict volitional mentoring, thereby launching a call to study knowledge management through volitional mentoring using a SDT- and POS-based lens. A methodological novelty is the reliance on a vignette study.
The conflict between anti-money laundering reporting obligations and the doctrine of confidentiality for legal practitioners in Kenya
Authors: Gichuki Njaramba E.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the balance between anti-money laundering reporting obligations and the doctrine of advocate–client confidentiality for legal practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted for this research is secondary research and analysis.

Findings

The doctrine of confidentiality between advocates and clients and reporting obligations under the anti-money laundering regime are relevant issues today more than ever. The equitable doctrine of confidentiality seeks to protect confidential information provided by one party to another in circumstances that import an obligation not to disclose that information or to use it for unauthorised purposes. The Constitution guarantees fair trial. Money laundering is a menace that should be fought from all fronts. Self-regulation is the best bet to address money laundering for legal practitioners.

Originality/value

This paper is the work of the author and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere.
International regulation of virtual assets under FATF’s new standards
Authors: Pavlidis Georgios
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To critically examine two significant developments for the regulation and supervision of virtual assets and virtual assets services providers: the amendment of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation No 15 in October 2018 and the adoption of an Interpretative Note in June 2019. We argue that new FATF standards constitute an appropriate response to money laundering and terrorist financing risks associated with virtual assets, but that they must be followed by firm, consistent and effective implementation at the national level.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on reports, legislation, legal scholarship and other open source data in order to examine the new FATF standards on virtual assets.

Findings

The amendment of the FATF Recommendation No 15 in October 2018 and the adoption of an Interpretative Note in June 2019 have been necessary and opportune to forge a global approach to mitigate money laundering risks associated with crypto-assets. The new FATF standards on crypto-asset activities need to be implemented firmly, effectively and consistency to reduce the risk of jurisdiction-shopping by money launderers and terrorism financiers.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies examining two important and recent FATF initiatives, the amendment of the FATF Recommendation No 15 in October 2018 and the adoption of an Interpretative Note in June 2019.
Integrating value-focused thinking and FITradeoff to support information technology outsourcing decisions
Authors: Poleto Thiago , Clemente Thárcylla Rebecca Negreiros , de Gusmão Ana Paula Henriques , Silva Maisa Mendonça , Costa Ana Paula Cabral Seixas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The information technology (IT) outsourcing (ITO) decision is a key issue in strategic and operational management and is considered a main critical factor influencing successful organizational performance and technology assessment. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework combining value-focused thinking (VFT) methodology and the FITradeoff method to support decisions regarding ITO.

Design/methodology/approach

This study answers the following questions: How to identify, in a structured way, the objectives that should be considered in an ITO decision process in a changing environment? How to identify new IT services to be outsourced from the established objectives? The VFT method is recommended in this case to structure and model the problem. Moreover, the FITradeoff multicriteria method was considered in this study to support the evaluation and prioritization of IT services in an ITO decision

Findings

The framework provides promising results for ITO decisions. This study revealed that a lack of strategic and fundamental objectives is a critical issue in making ITO decisions. Although the VFT methodology is subjective in nature, it promotes a better understanding of goals and values, and FITradeoff allows the decision-maker to make comparisons of consequences based on his/her preferences.

Research limitations/implications

The recommendations of the study are restricted to the case study and cannot be generalized. In addition, applying the method requires attention in determining the criteria used for outsourcing IT.

Practical implications

The strategic analysis of ITO provides a holistic view of the current situation since (i) the VFT methodology enables the IT manager to generate new alternatives to assist future decisions and (ii) FITradeoff has been demonstrated as a suitable option to evaluate ITO decisions.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to utilize a problem structuring method (VFT) to identify criteria and alternatives based on the organizational values and objectives. This is integrated with a multicriteria method that uses partial information and may consequently lead to fewer inconsistencies (FITradeoff) in the context of ITO.
The perspective of capability providers in creating a sustainable I4.0 environment
Authors: Lardo Alessandra , Mancini Daniela , Paoloni Niccolò , Russo Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

Purpose

With the increasing pressures towards global sustainability and the transition to Industry 4.0 (I4.0), the collaboration between firms and other key stakeholders is essential. Value is no longer created by firms acting autonomously, but rather by firms acting together with external parties. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the potential contribution of capability providers to a Sustainable I4.0 Environment as an additional perspective regarding the management decisions of a smart and sustainable business model (SSBM) transformation of big corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth qualitative case study of Futuryng INC., which is a company based in Silicon Valley, New York and Italy, is presented and analysed through interviews, secondary sources and using a triangulation approach. The company is a Connected Technologies Ecosystem, which acts as a provider of technology building blocks (capability) able to design and release end-to-end Information Technologies–Internet of Things–Operational Technologies (IT-IoT-OT) Solutions.

Findings

From the case study, the authors determine that the success of big corporations' SSBM transformation requires a Sustainable I4.0 Environment approach where capability providers play a relevant role and act as enablers. Then, the authors develop a framework by adopting an actor perspective, called the Sustainable I4.0 Environment, highlighting the contribution of the capability provider in the sustainable I4.0 business model transformation of a big corporation.

Practical implications

The authors’ analysis clarifies that the successful execution of a sustainable I4.0 business model transformation requires integrated thinking for management decisions and a co-creation approach with capability providers, along with an open innovation process.

Originality/value

In the analysis of I4.0 and sustainability issues, previous studies only focus on implementing firms and view the environment merely as a background in which act forces of sustainability and I4.0. A comprehensive overview of the Sustainable I4.0 Environment, which considers actors and their contribution, is lacking. By integrating the literature review with the case study, the authors’ research proposes a comprehensive framework to guide the decision process of transformation from a traditional business model (TBM) to an SSBM and considers one of the key actors involved, the capability providers.
Belief in importance of information literacy abilities among undergraduates. Underlying factors and analysis of variance
Authors: Pinto Maria , Caballero David , Sales Dora , Segura Alicia
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the levels of belief in importance of information literacy abilities (BILAs) among an undergraduates’ sample. The aim is, on the one hand, to discover if there is a representative latent structure and, on the other hand, to know the existing differences according to external variables such as academic degree, course, gender and age.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-assessment questionnaire (IL-HUMASS) was applied to a sample of 749 students in English Studies, Translation and Interpreting and Education in Spain. Three types of statistical methods have been used to study the results: descriptive, factorial and analysis of variance.

Findings

Students’ levels of BILAs are acceptable but improvable. A framework of six underlying factors has been uncovered: evaluation-ethics, searching-using, technological processing, communication, dissemination and cognitive processing of the information. Significant differences on degree, course and gender have been found.

Practical implications

This paper is intended for a broad academic sector, including faculty, librarians and students in higher education. The BILAs construct helps to improve the diagnosis of the perception of the BILAs. Its representation through a reduced number of latent factors simplifies results and possible applications. The results show that variations in degree, course and gender are significant and should be taken into account.

Originality/value

Although much has been written about information literacy abilities, we still know little about the importance students place on them. The BILAs construct is intended to improve that knowledge.
Sustainable outcomes: INS/IEO and the relevance of proximity and control to drive change
Authors: Barter Nick , Alston-Knox Clair
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore and develop new theories. These theories emerged from combining environmental psychology literature with sustainability literature and the five research questions at the core of the work built upon a central theme of sustainability that argues us and the organizations require a relationship of entwinement rather than separation and the language can reinforce or diminish the path to sustainable outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an electronic questionnaire to explore five research questions. The study consisted of survey individuals from across the world on their connection with nature using the inclusion of nature in self scale (Schultz, 2002). An adaptation of this scale called the inclusion of environment in organization scale to understand individuals’ views of their organization and then three pairs of questions that had alternative phrasing within each pair.

Findings

In total, 632 respondents from across the globe responded to the survey. The results highlight that respondents consider their organization’s conceptual relationship with the environment as far from ideal for sustainable outcomes and that their organization is out of synch with them personally. Further, respondents believe that asking a question that emphasizes proximity and control such as “would I want to breathe this”? is more likely to yield sustainable outcomes than an alternative phrasing that does not emphasize proximity and control, phrasing such as “do the gaseous outputs meeting regulation requirements”?

Research limitations/implications

Given the study was exploratory the number and range of respondents ensure the study has a perspective, that is useful to organizational leaders and academics in exploring new directions. However, at the same time given the exploratory nature of the work, more studies are required to understand the “why” of respondents’ choices and to more fully develop and understand the implications of a wider range of alternatively phrased questions (only three were tested) that emphasize proximity and control such as that shown earlier “would I want to breathe this”?

Practical implications

For organizational leaders, the research highlights that respondents view their organizations as being far from ideal in realizing sustainable outcomes, which, in turn, should be a spur to do more. Further, it indicates that simple phrasing that emphasizes proximity and control could be a tactic in helping an organization pursue sustainable strategies. For academics, the results of this study point us towards phraseology, as a key technique for helping drive organizational strategy towards sustainable outcomes.

Social implications

See prior implications

Originality/value

The value of this work is that it combines environmental psychology with sustainability management and provides a foundation and confidence for scholars and practitioners to explore the potential of new theories and thus follow new lines of enquiry.
A brief history of British drug policy: 1850-1950
Authors: Yates Rowdy
Published: July 2020

Purpose

As the clamour within the drug treatment field in the UK – and throughout much of Europe – increases, leading agencies are arguing for a review of the current legislation and a change in focus away from criminal justice and towards a more public health understanding of addiction. Therapeutic communities have found themselves united with many drug users-led campaigns to argue for a wholesale restructuring of the legislative, policy and funding arrangements which recognises the role of recovery-oriented interventions within the mix. Given these on-going debates, it is perhaps useful to understand how the current arrangements were established [1].

Design/methodology/approach

In 1850s, the sale of opium – like alcohol – was largely unregulated. It was widely used, in a variety of preparations, by all classes for medical and non-medical purposes. A pennyworth of opium was as likely (perhaps more likely) as a pound of potatoes to find its way into the weekly shopping basket.

Findings

By the 1920s, the Fu Manchu novels of Sax Rohmer – with their tales of innocent English virgins being seduced into crime and sexual perversion by an evil Chinese genius who lurked within the opium dens of Edwardian Britain – had redefined opium as a drug of the outside, the deadly, an agent in the enslavement of innocence.

Originality/value

This dramatic change was largely brought about by the introduction of an array of new medications and a move away from traditional “herbal” remedies. This change was accelerated by the experiences of the First World War and underpinned by the print media and laid the foundations of the legislation and policy of the present day.
Digital ambidexterity in the public sector: empirical evidence of a bias in balancing practices
Authors: Magnusson Johan , Päivärinta Tero , Koutsikouri Dina
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore and theorize on balancing practices (BP) for digital ambidexterity in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is designed as an interpretative case study of a large Swedish authority, involving data collection in the form of interviews and internal documents. The method of analysis involves both theorizing on the findings from a previous framework for digital innovation and deriving design implications for ambidextrous governance.

Findings

The findings show that all identified BP except one (shadow innovation) is directed toward an increased emphasis on efficiency (exploitation) rather than innovation (exploration). With the increased demand for innovation capabilities in the public sector, this is identified as a problem.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations identified are related to the choice in the method of an interpretative case study, with issues of transferability and empirical generalizability as the main concerns. The implications for research are related to a need for additional studies into the enactment of digital ambidexterity, where the findings offer insight and inspiration for continued research.

Practical implications

The study shows that managers and executives involved in the design and imposition of governance within the public sector need to take the design recommendations for digital ambidexterity into consideration.

Social implications

The study offers two main implications for practice. First, policymakers need to take the conceptual distinction of efficiency and innovation into account when designing policies for the digital government. Second, existing funding practices need to be re-designed to better facilitate innovation.

Originality/value

This is the first study directed toward enhancing the insight into BP for digital ambidexterity in the public sector. The study has so far resulted in both a localized shift in policy and new directions for research. With the public sector facing needs for increased innovation capabilities, the study offers a first step toward understanding how this is currently counteracted through governance design.
Extracts of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. fruit fermented by lactic acid bacteria inhibit SW480 human colon adenocarcinoma via induction of cell cycle arrest and suppression of metastatic potential
Authors: Lizardo Rona Camille M. , Cho Hyun‐Dong , Lee Jin‐Hwan , Won Yeong‐Seon , Seo Kwon‐Il
Published: July 2020

Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. (cherry silverberry, CS) is an underutilized fruit with notable phytochemical profile and biological activities. However, there are few studies on cancer inhibitory effect using fermented CS fruits. This study aimed to develop fermented CS fruits using lactic acid bacteria and investigate its anticolorectal cancer (CRC) property and phenolic composition. SW480 CRC cells were treated with aqueous extracts of CS fermented by single and coculture of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. casei. The extracts of fermented CS exhibited greater antiproliferative activity and anticlonogenicity in comparison with the unfermented extract and the control. Among the extracts of CS fruits, the ones fermented by the coculture (LPLC) showed the most potent tumor suppression property, at 25 to 50 µg/mL, by induction of cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases, downregulating cyclins and its dependent kinases while increasing tumor suppressor proteins p27 and p53. LPLC also exerted its tumor suppression effect by inhibiting the chemotactic motility and invasiveness of SW480 cells, downregulating matrix metalloproteinase‐9, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways and upregulating TIMP‐9, and E‐cadherin. HPLC‐PDA analysis revealed that the levels of major flavonoids in CS extracts, namely, catechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, rutin, naringin, and quercetin, were enhanced by fermentation with L. plantarum and L. casei in coculture. Overall, this study showed that the extracts of fermented CS have augmented and multifaceted anticancer property and can be utilized in the development of functional food or ingredient for the prevention of CRC.

Practical Application

Elaeagnus multiflora, commonly known as cherry silverberry, has been proven to contain bioactive components and possesses high functionality. However, due to limited shelf‐life as a fresh commodity, development of novel product is essential. Fermentation is a beneficial process employed in the food industry to enhance the shelf stability, nutritional, sensory, and functional properties of food products. The present study has explored the possibility of adding value to an underutilized fruit, cherry silverberry, through the process of fermentation, making it as a potential source of functional food and ingredient for the prevention of colorectal cancer.
LINC00662 promotes cell viability and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by sponging miR‐340‐5p and upregulating HOXB2
Authors: Zhang Zhimei , Liang Xuyang , Ren Ling , Zhang Shuxian , Li Shouying , Wan Tongxun , Xu Dazhou , Lv Shengxiang
Published: July 2020

Background

Previous studies have shown that lncRNA LINC00662 plays an important role in pathogenesis of malignancies. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of LINC00662 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

In this study, the regulatory mechanism of LINC00662 was investigated by RT‐qPCR. MTT, transwell and dual luciferase reporter assays.

Results

Upregulation of LINC00662 was found in ESCC and associated with worse clinical outcomes in ESCC patients. More importantly, knockdown of LINC00662 restrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC. In addition, LINC00662 acts as a molecular sponge for miR‐340‐5p in ESCC, and miR‐340‐5p directly targets HOXB2. HOXB2 expression can be positively regulated by LINC00662 in ESCC. Furthermore, HOXB2 downregulation or miR‐340‐5p overexpression weakened the carcinogenesis of LINC00662 in ESCC.

Conclusions

LncRNA LINC00662 promotes the progression of ESCC by upregulating HOXB2 by sponging miR‐340‐5p.