bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The measure and significance of Bateman's principles
Authors: Collet Julie M. , Dean Rebecca F. , Worley Kirsty , Richardson David S. , Pizzari Tommaso
Published: March 2014

Bateman's principles explain sex roles and sexual dimorphism through sex-specific variance in mating success, reproductive success and their relationships within sexes (Bateman gradients). Empirical tests of these principles, however, have come under intense scrutiny. Here, we experimentally show that in replicate groups of red junglefowl,
Gallus gallus
, mating and reproductive successes were more variable in males than in females, resulting in a steeper male Bateman gradient, consistent with Bateman's principles. However, we use novel quantitative techniques to reveal that current methods typically overestimate Bateman's principles because they (i) infer mating success indirectly from offspring parentage, and thus miss matings that fail to result in fertilization, and (ii) measure Bateman gradients through the univariate regression of reproductive over mating success, without considering the substantial influence of other components of male reproductive success, namely female fecundity and paternity share. We also find a significant female Bateman gradient but show that this likely emerges as spurious consequences of male preference for fecund females, emphasizing the need for experimental approaches to establish the causal relationship between reproductive and mating success. While providing qualitative support for Bateman's principles, our study demonstrates how current approaches can generate a misleading view of sex differences and roles.
Stress exposure in early post-natal life reduces telomere length: an experimental demonstration in a long-lived seabird
Authors: Herborn Katherine A. , Heidinger Britt J. , Boner Winnie , Noguera Jose C. , Adam Aileen , Daunt Francis , Monaghan Pat
Published: March 2014

Exposure to stressors early in life is associated with faster ageing and reduced longevity. One important mechanism that could underlie these late life effects is increased telomere loss. Telomere length in early post-natal life is an important predictor of subsequent lifespan, but the factors underpinning its variability are poorly understood. Recent human studies have linked stress exposure to increased telomere loss. These studies have of necessity been non-experimental and are consequently subjected to several confounding factors; also, being based on leucocyte populations, where cell composition is variable and some telomere restoration can occur, the extent to which these effects extend beyond the immune system has been questioned. In this study, we experimentally manipulated stress exposure early in post-natal life in nestling European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) in the wild and examined the effect on telomere length in erythrocytes. Our results show that greater stress exposure during early post-natal life increases telomere loss at this life-history stage, and that such an effect is not confined to immune cells. The delayed effects of increased telomere attrition in early life could therefore give rise to a ‘time bomb’ that reduces longevity in the absence of any obvious phenotypic consequences early in life.
Highly resolved early Eocene food webs show development of modern trophic structure after the end-Cretaceous extinction
Authors: Dunne Jennifer A. , Labandeira Conrad C. , Williams Richard J.
Published: March 2014

Generalities of food web structure have been identified for extant ecosystems. However, the trophic organization of ancient ecosystems is unresolved, as prior studies of fossil webs have been limited by low-resolution, high-uncertainty data. We compiled highly resolved, well-documented feeding interaction data for 700 taxa from the 48 million-year-old latest early Eocene Messel Shale, which contains a species assemblage that developed after an interval of protracted environmental and biotal change during and following the end-Cretaceous extinction. We compared the network structure of Messel lake and forest food webs to extant webs using analyses that account for scale dependence of structure with diversity and complexity. The Messel lake web, with 94 taxa, displays unambiguous similarities in structure to extant webs. While the Messel forest web, with 630 taxa, displays differences compared to extant webs, they appear to result from high diversity and resolution of insect–plant interactions, rather than substantive differences in structure. The evidence presented here suggests that modern trophic organization developed along with the modern Messel biota during an 18 Myr interval of dramatic post-extinction change. Our study also has methodological implications, as the Messel forest web analysis highlights limitations of current food web data and models.
Commuting fruit bats beneficially modulate their flight in relation to wind
Authors: Sapir Nir , Horvitz Nir , Dechmann Dina K. N. , Fahr Jakob , Wikelski Martin
Published: March 2014

When animals move, their tracks may be strongly influenced by the motion of air or water, and this may affect the speed, energetics and prospects of the journey. Flying organisms, such as bats, may thus benefit from modifying their flight in response to the wind vector. Yet, practical difficulties have so far limited the understanding of this response for free-ranging bats. We tracked nine straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) that flew 42.5 ± 17.5 km (mean ± s.d.) to and from their roost near Accra, Ghana. Following detailed atmospheric simulations, we found that bats compensated for wind drift, as predicted under constant winds, and decreased their airspeed in response to tailwind assistance such that their groundspeed remained nearly constant. In addition, bats increased their airspeed with increasing crosswind speed. Overall, bats modulated their airspeed in relation to wind speed at different wind directions in a manner predicted by a two-dimensional optimal movement model. We conclude that sophisticated behavioural mechanisms to minimize the cost of transport under various wind conditions have evolved in bats. The bats’ response to the wind is similar to that reported for migratory birds and insects, suggesting convergent evolution of flight behaviours in volant organisms.
The humerus ofEusthenopteron: a puzzling organization presaging the establishment of tetrapod limb bone marrow
Authors: Sanchez S. , Tafforeau P. , Ahlberg P. E.
Published: March 2014

Because of its close relationship to tetrapods,Eusthenopteronis an important taxon for understanding the establishment of the tetrapod body plan. Notably, it is one of the earliest sarcopterygians in which the humerus of the pectoral fin skeleton is preserved. The microanatomical and histological organization of this humerus provides important data for understanding the evolutionary steps that built up the distinctive architecture of tetrapod limb bones. Previous histological studies showed thatEusthenopteron's long-bone organization was established through typical tetrapod ossification modalities. Based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of the inner microstructure ofEusthenopteron's humerus, obtained from propagation phase-contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography, we are now able to show that, despite ossification mechanisms and growth patterns similar to those of tetrapods, it also retains plesiomorphic characters such as a large medullary cavity, partly resulting from the perichondral ossification around a large cartilaginous bud as in actinopterygians. It also exhibits a distinctive tubular organization of bone-marrow processes. The connection between these processes and epiphyseal structures highlights their close functional relationship, suggesting that either bone marrow played a crucial role in the long-bone elongation processes or that trabecular bone resulting from the erosion of hypertrophied cartilage created a microenvironment for haematopoietic stem cell niches.
A novel flavivirus in the soybean cyst nematode
Authors: Bekal Sadia , Domier Leslie L. , Gonfa Biruk , McCoppin Nancy K. , Lambert Kris N. , Bhalerao Kaustubh
Published: March 2014

Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is a subterranean root pathogen that causes the most damaging disease of soybean in the USA. A novel nematode virus genome, soybean cyst nematode virus 5 (SbCNV-5), was identified in RNA sequencing data from SCN eggs and second-stage juveniles. The SbCNV-5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA helicase domains had homology to pestiviruses in the family Flaviviridae, suggesting that SbCNV-5 is a positive-polarity ssRNA virus. SbCNV-5 RNA was present in all nematode developmental stages, indicating a transovarial mode of transmission, but is also potentially sexually transmitted via the male. SbCNV-5 was common in SCN laboratory cultures and in nematode populations isolated from the field. Transmission electron microscopy of sections from a female SCN showed virus particles budding from the endoplasmic reticulum and in endosomes. The size of the viral genome was 19 191 nt, which makes it much larger than other known pestiviruses. Additionally, the presence of a methyltransferase in the SbCNV-5 genome is atypical for a pestivirus. When cDNA sequences were mapped to the genome of SbCNV-5, a disproportionate number aligned to the 3′ NTR, suggesting that SbCNV-5 produces a subgenomic RNA, which was confirmed by RNA blot analysis. As subgenomic RNAs and methyltransferases do not occur in pestiviruses, we conclude that SbCNV-5 is a new flavivirus infecting SCNs.
Consequences of in vitro host shift for St. Louis encephalitis virus
Authors: Ciota Alexander T. , Payne Anne F. , Ngo Kiet A. , Kramer Laura D.
Published: March 2014

Understanding the potential for host range shifts and expansions of RNA viruses is critical to predicting the evolutionary and epidemiological paths of these pathogens. As arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) experience frequent spillover from their amplification cycles and are generalists by nature, they are likely to experience a relatively high frequency of success in a range of host environments. Despite this, the potential for host expansion, the genetic correlates of adaptation to novel environments and the costs of such adaptations in originally competent hosts are still not characterized fully for arboviruses. In the studies presented here, we utilized experimental evolution of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV; familyFlaviviridae, genusFlavivirus)in vitroin theDermacentor andersoniline of tick cells to model adaptation to a novel invertebrate host. Our results demonstrated that levels of adaptation and costs in alternate hosts are highly variable among lineages, but also that significant fitness increases in tick cells are achievable with only modest change in consensus genetic sequence. In addition, although accumulation of diversity may at times buffer against phenotypic costs within the SLEV swarm, an increased proportion of variants with an impaired capacity to infect and spread on vertebrate cell culture accumulated with tick cell passage. Isolation and characterization of a subset of these variants implicates the NS3 gene as an important host range determinant for SLEV.
Cnidarian microRNAs frequently regulate targets by cleavage
Authors: Moran Yehu , Fredman David , Praher Daniela , Li Xin Z. , Wee Liang Meng , Rentzsch Fabian , Zamore Phillip D. , Technau Ulrich , Seitz Hervé
Published: March 2014

In bilaterians, which comprise most of extant animals, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the majority of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) via base-pairing of a short sequence (the miRNA “seed”) to the target, subsequently promoting translational inhibition and transcript instability. In plants, many miRNAs guide endonucleolytic cleavage of highly complementary targets. Because little is known about miRNA function in nonbilaterian animals, we investigated the repertoire and biological activity of miRNAs in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a representative of Cnidaria, the sister phylum of Bilateria. Our work uncovers scores of novel miRNAs in Nematostella, increasing the total miRNA gene count to 87. Yet only a handful are conserved in corals and hydras, suggesting that microRNA gene turnover in Cnidaria greatly exceeds that of other metazoan groups. We further show that Nematostella miRNAs frequently direct the cleavage of their mRNA targets via nearly perfect complementarity. This mode of action resembles that of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and plant miRNAs. It appears to be common in Cnidaria, as several of the miRNA target sites are conserved among distantly related anemone species, and we also detected miRNA-directed cleavage in Hydra. Unlike in bilaterians, Nematostella miRNAs are commonly coexpressed with their target transcripts. In light of these findings, we propose that post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs functions differently in Cnidaria and Bilateria. The similar, siRNA-like mode of action of miRNAs in Cnidaria and plants suggests that this may be an ancestral state.
Automated identification of elemental ions in macromolecular crystal structures
Authors: Echols Nathaniel , Morshed Nader , Afonine Pavel V. , McCoy Airlie J. , Miller Mitchell D. , Read Randy J. , Richardson Jane S. , Terwilliger Thomas C. , Adams Paul D.
Published: March 2014

Many macromolecular model-building and refinement programs can automatically place solvent atoms in electron density at moderate-to-high resolution. This process frequently builds water molecules in place of elemental ions, the identification of which must be performed manually. The solvent-picking algorithms inphenix.refinehave been extended to build common ions based on an analysis of the chemical environment as well as physical properties such as occupancy,Bfactor and anomalous scattering. The method is most effective for heavier elements such as calcium and zinc, for which a majority of sites can be placed with few false positives in a diverse test set of structures. At atomic resolution, it is observed that it can also be possible to identify tightly bound sodium and magnesium ions. A number of challenges that contribute to the difficulty of completely automating the process of structure completion are discussed.
Comparison of practitioners' views on managing equity investments
Authors: Prorokowski Lukasz , Roszkowska Paulina
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which Central European emerging stock markets (focusing on Poland) have been affected by the recent international financial crisis, and how the current investment climate (barriers, risks, challenges and opportunities) influences appetite for investments in Polish equities. In doing so, the study aims to report timely findings in relation to the determinants of the safety and profitability of international portfolio diversification to the Polish stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on qualitative empirical research, the authors analyse the differences between the foreign (UK) and domestic (Poland) investors' views on equity investments in Poland. The study builds on questionnaires and interviews with practitioners associated with the Polish stock market.

Findings

– The authors report that the global financial crisis influenced changes to domestic and international investors' appetite for risk related to equity investments in emerging stock markets: investors are more prudent about emerging markets but the Polish stock market has shown substantial growth potential and positively distinguished itself from other Central European stock exchanges; particular types of investment risks associated with equity investments in the Polish stock market have abated. Polish equities are an attractive component of the international portfolio diversification, provided that trading strategies are adjusted to the contemporary investment environment.

Originality/value

– This paper addresses the absence of the academic literature devoted to the analysis of equity investments in the contemporary Central European emerging stock markets. The authors discuss the differences in appetite for risk between the UK and Polish investors and assumptions about investments in Poland. The authors also contribute to the international debate on investor protection and regulations that can improve investment processes.
The effect of an MBA on the development of women's management competencies
Authors: Lämsä Anna-Maija , Savela Terttu
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to report the findings of a study of the effect of a women's Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme in Finland called the femaleMBA on the development of women's management competencies. The gendered nature of the competency development was also analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative interview study was conducted with 20 women who completed the programme. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Findings

– In addition to improving the women's business competencies and their mastery of management language, the programme contributed to the creation of a clearer managerial identity, greater assertiveness, and increased credibility in a managerial role. The development of management competencies was shown to be gendered in varying ways. An all-women learning environment was experienced as a safe and supportive social context for development.

Research limitations/implications

– Only a specifically women's MBA was studied. The topic should also be studied in a mixed MBA group.

Practical implications

– MBAs should pay systematic attention to the informal and social learning context. A combination of “masculinity” and “femininity” might be worth taking into consideration when all-women management development programmes are planned and conducted. This study suggests that an all-women group in an MBA has the potential to challenge and even transform participants' ideas and assumptions about the dominance of masculinity in management and to increase their understanding of the importance of femininity in management.

Originality/value

– A gender angle on research into management development and particularly MBAs is very rare. This study shed light on the topic by showing that competency development in MBAs is not, as is often assumed, gender neutral but gendered.
The role of dialogue between executives and ground-level employees mediated by MACS
Authors: Pärl Ülle
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose is to understand the manner in which companies use management accounting and control systems (MACS) for dialogical communication in assisting collaboration and the coordination of actions. The task of the research is to answer the following questions: why is it important to support dialogical communication by MACS in the organisation? Who are the salient stakeholder(s) in a company implementing collaboration and cooperation? How does one analyse and understand the role of MACS as a medium for supporting dialogical communication? Which aspects of dialogical communication are (not) fulfilled in the implementation of MACS and why?

Design/methodology/approach

– This study's philosophical assumptions are based on relational constructivism as a social science perspective. This study uses a participative action and observation case study as its methodology.

Findings

– Based on this case study, it can be concluded that most of the assumptions that dialogue could take place were fulfilled in departments in need of changes for competition and economic reasons. In the departments that did not need changes, assumptions of mutual openness, mutual confirmation and non-manipulation were not fulfilled – information from MACS was hidden and censored. The open dialogue by MACS between ground and senior groups was prevented resulting in a lack of information on different practices at the organisational level. One assumption that was problematic even in departments in need of changes was the assumption of non-evaluation. There is a paradox or contradiction between the contemporary business environment needing innovativeness and creativity, which means free and open communication without evaluation, and the coordination and control function which is a common part of MACS.

Research limitations/implications

– In this study, the data collection, documentation and analysis were carefully conducted and several methods applied to deal with possible bias. Nevertheless, the problem of the observer bias cannot be entirely eliminated since an individual researcher can never be separated from his or her background, philosophical views and experiences.

Practical implications

– The paper makes a strong practical contribution. Based on this case study, it has been demonstrated that MACS could be a medium to support dialogue between senior and ground levels if: senior management sees the need for dialogue between organisational members; management and other organisational members support and believe in dialogue which could be mediated by MACS.

Originality/value

– The conceptual novelty of the research lies in tying the concept of dialogue in the environment of stakeholder capitalism with the MACS framework. The contribution of this research is to shed more light on the role of MACS as one option of mediums for supporting dialogue between top and ground-level managers.
A review of enabling factors in construction industry productivity in an Australian environment
Authors: Hughes Rami , Thorpe David
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the research discussed in this paper is to ascertain the perception, from the project manager's viewpoint, of factors affecting construction productivity in the State of Queensland, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted by a structured questionnaire that was sent to 89 randomly selected construction project managers in Queensland, Australia. This questionnaire requested background information about the respondents and then sought a score, using a 0-4 Likert scale, from each of them with respect to the importance of 47 factors identified from the literature that were considered likely to affect construction productivity. The factors were stratified into primary factors and secondary factors contributing to three of the primary factors. There were 36 responses. These factors were rated by the respondents and then ranked using a relative importance index approach.

Findings

– The research evaluated the relative importance of the primary factors with respect to their effect on construction productivity. The 15 highest ranking factors are discussed. Three factors – rework, poor supervisor competency, and incomplete drawings – were ranked as having a strong effect on construction productivity. There was also an analysis of the secondary factors in relation to three of the primary factors.

Research limitations/implications

– The research focused on the State of Queensland in Australia. It had a response rate of 40 per cent. It provides insight into the factors affecting productivity on construction projects in Australia. Further research to investigate the identified factors in depth, using targeted interviews of expert project management professionals, is currently being undertaken.

Practical implications

– The construction industry can use the findings in this paper as a basis for improving the productivity of construction projects.

Originality/value

– This research is original research, which has highlighted a number of key areas of which construction productivity can be improved.
Aspects of project learning in construction: a socio-technical model
Authors: Mohammed Alashwal Ali , Abdul-Rahman Hamzah
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the measurement constructs of learning within construction projects' milieu. The literature indicated some mechanisms of learning in projects under four aspects, namely knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, team action to learn, and learning support. The empirical study attempts to verify whether intra-project learning can be measured through these aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used a survey method to collect the data from 36 mega-sized building projects in Malaysia. In total, 203 questionnaires were collected from professionals working in the sites of these projects. The data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the constructs of intra-project learning. Partial least squares-path modeling was used then to confirm the results of PCA and determine the contribution of each construct to intra-project learning.

Findings

– The results affirmed two constructs of intra-project learning, named, social and technical and each consisted of four indicators of learning.

Originality/value

– The paper emphasized the socio-technical perspective of learning and contributed to developing a hierarchical measurement model of learning in construction project. A project manager can propose new initiatives in response to the new perspective of learning for team building and continuous development. Lastly, the paper provides a comprehensive presentation of how to estimate the hierarchical measurement models of project learning as a latent variable.
Environmental index for Finnish construction sites
Authors: Teriö Olli , Sorri Jaakko , Kähkönen Kalle , Hämäläinen Jukka
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The primary aim of this study was to better understand the grounds to develop a monitoring and performance measurement method to support the environmental management of construction operations. The practical purpose was to improve environmental activities in construction sites. This study helps to fill the gap between environmental needs and practices on construction sites.

Design/methodology/approach

– Action research was the principal research method. The research procedure was executed in collaboration with construction companies. The EICS meter was originally developed to create rules for environmental competition between construction sites. Since the time of this competition, the meter has been further improved in other studies.

Findings

– Based on the literature and feedback gained in the testing round of the EICS, five relevant categories were formulated to evaluate environmental operations: environmental information management, waste management, material handling and shielding, energy use and emissions. A simple index method was applied for these five categories. Furthermore, observation targets and acceptance criteria were defined for these categories. The meter supports environmental management in practise. The method can be used to analyse the starting point level when developing environmental processes.

Originality/value

– This study offers insights based on action research for both academics and practitioners. The meter is outlined for Nordic conditions, but the structure of the method is also suitable elsewhere. The national demands can be locally fine-tuned.
Tracking of secondary and temporary objects in structural concrete work
Authors: Turkan Yelda , Bosché Frédéric , T. Haas Carl , Haas Ralph
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Previous research has shown that “Scan-vs-BIM” object recognition systems, which fuse three dimensional (3D) point clouds from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) or digital photogrammetry with 4D project building information models (BIM), provide valuable information for tracking construction works. However, until now, the potential of these systems has been demonstrated for tracking progress of permanent structural works only; no work has been reported yet on tracking secondary or temporary structures. For structural concrete work, temporary structures include formwork, scaffolding and shoring, while secondary components include rebar. Together, they constitute most of the earned value in concrete work. The impact of tracking secondary and temporary objects would thus be added veracity and detail to earned value calculations, and subsequently better project control and performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two techniques for recognizing concrete construction secondary and temporary objects in TLS point clouds are implemented and tested using real-life data collected from a reinforced concrete building construction site. Both techniques represent significant innovative extensions of existing “Scan-vs-BIM” object recognition frameworks.

Findings

– The experimental results show that it is feasible to recognise secondary and temporary objects in TLS point clouds with good accuracy using the two novel techniques; but it is envisaged that superior results could be achieved by using additional cues such as colour and 3D edge information.

Originality/value

– This article makes valuable contributions to the problem of detecting and tracking secondary and temporary objects in 3D point clouds. The power of Scan-vs-BIM object recognition approaches to address this problem is demonstrated, but their limitations are also highlighted.
What's happening to international business?
Authors: Michailova Snejina , Tienari Janne
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to outline different views on international business (IB) as an academic discipline and looks into how IB scholars can cope with challenges to their disciplinary identity when stand-alone IB departments are merged with other departments such as management, marketing or strategy in business schools and universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article offers a critical reflection on the development and future of IB as a discipline. The two authors are an IB and a Management scholar, both of whom were engaged in recent departmental mergers at their respective business schools. While the authors do not analyze these particular mergers, their experiences are inevitably interwoven in the views they express.

Findings

– Mergers of stand-alone IB departments with other departments bring to light the nature of the IB discipline as a contested terrain. The article discusses how these structural changes challenge the disciplinary identity of IB scholars. It contributes, first, to discussions on the development of IB as a discipline and, second, to understanding identities and identification during major organizational change events in academia.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors suggest that the threat of marginalization of IB in the context of business schools and universities necessitates a move beyond the “big questions” debate to a critical self-examination and reflection on IB as a discipline and as a global scholarly community.

Originality/value

– The article offers a critical view on current processes and challenges related to IB as a discipline and an academic community.
A critical perspective on corporate social responsibility
Authors: Bobby Banerjee Subhabrata
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to argue that there are structural and functional limits to corporate social responsibility (CSR) that determine the boundary conditions of corporate social initiatives. The current preoccupation with win-win situations in CSR may not serve societal interests. For CSR to produce social outcomes that are not necessarily constrained by corporate rationality there needs to be a change in the normative framework of public decision making at the institutional level. The author develops a global governance framework for CSR that provides more democratic forms of decision making in the political economy that will enable corporate social responsibility to overcome the constraints imposed by corporate rationality.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual paper and critique.

Findings

– The author develops a global governance framework for CSR that provides more democratic forms of decision making in the political economy that will enable corporate social responsibility to overcome the constraints imposed by corporate rationality.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to theoretical development of CSR.
Transnational corporations in twenty-first century capitalism
Authors: Sprague Jeb , Ietto-Gillies Grazia
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss economic and social issues of contemporary capitalism through the views and works of Grazia Ietto-Gillies who has a long experience of research in these fields. The issues relate to strategies of TNCs, to globalization and transnationalization, to internationalization indices, to linkages between innovation and internationalization, to uneven development, and, finally, to issues related to the economics profession and the dissemination of research in the twenty-first century.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interview; use of relevant literature to support statements by interviewer and interviewee; qualitative analysis of issues discussed.

Findings

– The article links together under the same theoretical umbrella the following issues: a theory of TNCs based on strategic approach towards labour, governments and suppliers; the development of an internationalization index based on the geography of TNCs' networks; and the possible impact of internationalization on innovation. Uneven development is linked to current problems in Europe. The need and opportunity to reconsider the economics profession and the peer review system in the digitalization era is presented.

Research limitations/implications

– The article is based on the views of the interviewer and the interviewee. Their views are backed by their own previous research as well as by research by other scholars cited in the article.

Practical implications

– The interview draws policy implication in relation to TNCs and other actors who interact with them such as labour and governments. There are also policy implications in the economic and social spheres regarding the implications of TNCs' strategies and the aftermath of the 2007/2008 crisis.

Originality/value

– At the methodological level the article highlights the advantages of in-depth interviews. Specifically, it allows the interviewee to give an overall perspective on her research and to show how the various strands are connected and how they developed through the decades of her research. It allows both interviewer and interviewee to link the issues to a variety of literatures in the economics, sociology and politics fields.
Challenging the orthodox: a decade of critical perspectives on international business
Authors: Roberts Joanne , Dörrenbächer Christoph
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This article reflects on the development and impact of critical perspectives on international business (CPoIB) during its first decade of existence. The influence that the journal has had through its efforts to challenge orthodox understandings of international business (IB) is considered. The evolution of CPoIB is set against the changing global environment. The contributions to this 10th anniversary issue are outlined.

Design/methodology/approach

– The journal's contents are reviewed and their impact assessed through an analysis of download and citation data. The position of the journal in various journal quality rankings is also examined. The contents of mainstream IB journals are compared to those of CPoIB.

Findings

– During its short life, CPoIB has had an important impact on the field of IB both directly through the consideration of issues from a critical perspective in the pages of the journal and through its influence on the field of IB and critical management studies.

Research limitations/implications

– The conclusions of the research are based on nine years of citation and download data as well as journal quality lists.

Practical implications

– The findings of this paper provide valuable information for authors seeking a quality and impactful outlet for their research in the field of critical perspectives on IB and related disciplines. Academic and political activists in the field of IB will find theoretical backgrounds supporting their political campaigns.

Originality/value

– This is the only paper to undertake an assessment of the first decade of CPoIB's development, content, and impact.
Diversity and inclusion by design: best practices from six global companies
Authors: Derven Marjorie
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to share best practices for diversity and inclusion from six global companies and to make the business case for its importance.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interviews were conducted with diversity and inclusion leaders in the USA from Volkswagen, Sodexo Health Care and Government Services, Sanofi, L'Oreal, BASF North America, and China Merchants Bank New York.

Findings

– Key findings related to the importance of tailoring global diversity and inclusion strategies and programs to local needs; embedding practices throughout the organization; multiplying impact through external partnerships and leveraging this as a source of innovation.

Research limitations/implications

– The article provides a range of diversity and inclusion best practices that can be adapted by different organizations, as multiple industries (including pharmaceuticals, banking, automotive, etc.) are included. However, the findings do not represent a comprehensive picture of all global diversity and inclusion best practices.

Practical implications

– The article provides a range of diversity and inclusion best practices that can be used to benchmark other organizational practices and to add new programs and initiatives for better D&I impact.

Originality/value

– This is a fully original paper which combines secondary research with illustrative quotes.
Engaging with stakeholders is critical when leading change
Authors: Mayfield Patrick
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what would happen if we were to ignore relationships when leading change. Many believe that project management, change management, and related fields, are a matter of marshalling stuff: working the right processes and tasks, writing the correct documents, having good governance mechanisms in place, etc. People just distract and get in the way. Some tend to concentrate on these technicalities working their computer tools, rather than leaning towards people. The result is huge waste. Organisational change will always cut across different business functions, boundaries and across silos of working. This is where stakeholder engagement leads to successful outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is a surprise to many, but listening is probably the most powerful influencing strategy of all. The key is to ask the person you seek to influence, first for their thoughts, fears, and aspirations. If you can show you are genuinely interested, you begin to break down any barriers to change. This helps focus on the need for change rather than present the solution first. Yes, time is money, but often we can let this get in the way of engaging successfully. Conversations like this do take time. It feels counter-intuitive.

Findings

– There is growing evidence that people who make better leaders have a leaning towards action, they are never victims of “paralysis by analysis”. The self-aware, pro-active manager leading change understands that relationships are central to success and are thinking about their relationships in a real and active way. They think about their mental landscape and on that landscape they see the vital importance of stakeholders and are prepared to spend a far higher proportion of their discretionary time devoted to engaging with other people, quite apart from the structured meetings and emails that we usually describe as “communicating”.

Originality/value

– Most management books are written with the assumption that the business world is rational, but when it comes to change, it appears this is far from the case. We are taught to put a reasonable proposition to people, the business case, the plan, and so on, then expect people to mull it over for a while, then jump into action – reason – analyse – act. But nearly always the actual sequence is – see – feel – act. There is little doubt that people engage with their stakeholders better if there is some kind of emotional connection.
Developing female leaders: helping women reach the top
Authors: Sandler Catherine
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to explore the reasons behind the extremely small proportion of women at the top of UK business. It argues that companies must change their approach if they are to address this problem successfully. The article also describes the innovative Impact Programme for talented and senior women run by the author since 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article is based on a combination of data, analysis and experience. It draws on a wide range of research evidence relating to female leaders and differences in how men and women behave. It describes and brings alive the benefits of the Impact Programme through examples of participant behaviour.

Findings

– The article finds that current efforts to increase the number of senior women in businesses are mostly fragmented, cosmetic and ineffective. Invisible organisational barriers holding women back must be addressed. The differences between men and women should be fully understood so that more high-potential women are identified and promoted. It concludes that women themselves also need to make changes to how they lead and should be offered development programmes which help them increase their self-belief, assertiveness and impact without losing their emotional intelligence or authenticity.

Originality/value

– This article brings a powerful new set of arguments to bear on an important issue. The Impact Programme described is a highly original and effective intervention. Business leaders and executives, both male and female, and members of the HR and L&D community will find it of significant conceptual and practical value.
Bribery in subsidized credit markets: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Dechenaux Emmanuel , Lowen Aaron , Samuel Andrew
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to study the role of bribery in subsidized credit markets in developing countries. First, the authors use the data to test whether more productive borrowers will pay larger or smaller bribes since the theoretical literature offers conflicting findings regarding the relationship between the size of the bribe and the productivity of borrowers. Second, the authors test whether being eligible to borrow from a microfinance institution affects the frequency or the magnitude of the bribe paid when borrowing from a (non-microfinance) subsidized bank.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical analysis is based on existing theoretical models of bribery. The data set uses publicly available survey data from the Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies. The primary linear model is estimated using OLS. Because left-censoring affects the data, the authors also estimate a Tobit model. Finally, to correct for potential selection bias, the authors also estimate a Heckman selection model.

Findings

– The authors find that more productive borrowers pay lower bribes than less productive borrowers and that being MFI-eligible affects the frequency of bribery, but not the magnitude of the bribe.

Originality/value

– To the authors' knowledge, the paper is the first empirical study of bribery in subsidized credit markets.
Accountability of local and state governments in India: an overview of recent research
Authors: Mookherjee Dilip
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide an overview of recent research on accountability of local and state governments in India.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Downsian theory of electoral competition is used as a departure point for classifying different sources of government accountability failures. Subsequent sections deal with each of these sources in turn: limited voter participation and awareness; ideology, honesty and competence of political parties and electoral candidates; capture by elites; clientelism and vote-buying. Each section starts by explaining the relevant departure from the Downsian framework and then reviews available empirical evidence in the Indian context for each of these possible “distortions”, besides effects of related policy interventions. The final section summarizes the lessons learnt, and the fresh questions that they raise.

Findings

– The paper describes a range of possible reasons that limit the effectiveness of elections as a mechanism inducing governments to be accountable to their citizens and reviews the evidence available from the Indian context concerning each of these.

Originality/value

– The contribution of the paper is to provide an overview and perspective of recent literature on political economy problems affecting performance of state and local governments in India.
Reporting adverse events at geriatric facilities
Authors: Shmueli Tali , Har Noy Ronit , Ben Natan Merav , Ben-Israel Joshua
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Adverse events and patient care-related adverse events are a challenging universal problem, among elder residents of geriatric facilities. The aim of this study was to examine which types of adverse events are characteristic of the geriatric center studied and which of the nursing staff reported this event.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were retrieved from the computerized adverse event management system at a large geriatric center in central Israel, and all adverse events reported over the past three years were examined.

Findings

– The study findings indicate that the most common type of adverse event was falls. Older nurses with greater seniority in the facility show a higher tendency to report adverse events. In addition, registered nurses were found to report more often than practical nurses.

Practical implications

– This study highlights the important role that nurses can play in reporting and reducing adverse events. The role of the nurse is becoming increasingly complex, especially in geriatric facilities, which serve people with complex mental and physical states who are more susceptible to adverse events to begin with.

Originality/value

– Despite the large number of adverse events, few studies have been undertaken on adverse events in geriatrics in general, and in nursing homes and long-term facilities in particular. Answers to these questions will enable improvement in the quality of care provided and ensure a safe care environment for residents. Systematically examining types of adverse events and the characteristics of those who do and do not report them, can contribute to improvement of processes in the healthcare system in general, and in the facility in particular. Additionally, efficient investigation can improve the behavior of those who enable adverse events.