bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manipulating base quality scores enables variant calling from bisulfite sequencing alignments using conventional Bayesian approaches
Authors: Nunn Adam , Otto Christian , Fasold Mario , Stadler Peter F. , Langenberger David
Published: January 2021

Calling germline SNP variants from bisulfite-converted sequencing data poses a challenge for conventional software, which have no inherent capability to dissociate true polymorphisms from artificial mutations induced by the chemical treatment. Nevertheless, SNP data is desirable both for genotyping and to understand the DNA methylome in the context of the genetic background. The confounding effect of bisulfite conversion can be resolved by observing differences in allele counts on a per-strand basis, whereby artificial mutations are reflected by non-complementary base pairs. Herein, we present a computational pre-processing approach for adapting sequence alignment data, thus indirectly enabling downstream analysis in this manner using conventional variant calling software such as GATK or Freebayes. In comparison to specialised tools, the method represents a marked improvement in precision-sensitivity based on high-quality, published benchmark datasets for both human and model plant variants.
Transcriptomic analyses of MYCN-regulated genes in anaplastic Wilms’ tumour cell lines reveals oncogenic pathways and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities
Authors: Szemes Marianna , Melegh Zsombor , Bellamy Jacob , Park Ji Hyun , Chen Biyao , Greenhough Alexander , Catchpoole Daniel , Malik Karim
Published: January 2021

TheMYCNproto-oncogene is deregulated in many cancers, most notably in neuroblastoma whereMYCNgene amplification identifies a clinical subset with very poor prognosis. Gene expression and DNA analyses have also demonstrated over-expression ofMYCNmRNA, as well as focal amplifications, copy number gains and presumptive change of function mutations ofMYCNin Wilms’ tumours with poorer outcome, including tumours with diffuse anaplasia. Surpisingly, however, the expression and functions of the MYCN protein in Wilms’ tumours still remain obscure.

In this study, we assessed MYCN protein expression in primary Wilms’ tumours using immunohistochemistry of tissue microarrays. We found MYCN protein to be expressed in tumour blastemal cells, and absent in stromal and epithelial components. For functional studies, we used two anaplastic Wilms’ tumour cell-lines, WiT49 and 17.94, to study the biological and transcriptomic effects of MYCN depletion. We found that MYCN knockdown consistently led to growth suppression but not cell death. RNA sequencing identified 561 MYCN-regulated genes shared by WiT49 and 17.94 cell-lines. As expected, numerous cellular processes were downstream of MYCN. MYCN positively regulated the miRNA regulator and known Wilms’ tumour oncogeneLIN28B, the genes encoding methylosome proteins PRMT1, PRMT5 and WDR77, and the mitochondrial translocase genesTOMM20andTIMM50. MYCN repressed genes included the developmental signalling receptorROBO1and the stromal markerCOL1A1.

Importantly, we found that MYCN also repressed the presumptive Wilms’ tumour suppressor geneREST, with MYCN knockdown resulting in increased REST protein and concomitant repression of REST target genes. Together, our study identifies regulatory axes that interact with MYCN, providing novel pathways for potential targeted therapeutics for poor prognosis Wilms’ tumour.
Revisiting the measurement of financial inclusion of rural smallholder farmers in Nigeria
Authors: Adegbite Olayinka O. , Machethe Charles L. , Anderson C. Leigh
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop and apply a multidimensional measure of financial inclusion (FI) to address measurement issues and determine the level of FI of rural smallholder farmers and the contribution of domain indicators to the level of FI in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adapts the Alkire–Foster method to develop a multidimensional FI index (MFII). A stratified two-stage sampling procedure is used to select 2,300 rural respondents from the 2016 Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) Smallholder Household Survey.

Findings

Results indicate that 78% of rural smallholder farmers in Nigeria are financially excluded. In addition, owning a formal account is significantly different (p < 0.00) from being financially adequate. The financial capability domain contributes the least (29.66%) to the multidimensional FI (MFI) of rural smallholder farmers relative to financial participation and financial well-being. Financial literacy, consumer protection, overcoming barriers such as high transaction costs and financial planning indicators contribute the least to FI relative to formal access.

Practical implications

Results of the study lead to policy recommendations for increasing the FI of rural smallholder farmers in Nigeria, which may be applicable to other countries.

Social implications

Achieving sustainable FI requires that interventions increase the FI of rural smallholder farmers by strengthening financial capability, participation and well-being and not only focus on formal account owners.

Originality/value

The study provides a new methodological and empirical contribution to the FI literature on rural smallholder farmers.
Developing a model for mental health services for children and young people with intellectual disability and/or autism in North West England
Authors: Wee Christine , Mottershead Trixie , Wright Sarah , Jaydeokar Sujeet , Odiyoor Mahesh
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to improve community care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or autism. Lack of coordination between agencies leads to children and young people with the most complex needs falling between services. The North West Operational Delivery Network (ODN) for learning disability and autism set out to develop a model of care for mental health services for children and young people with ID and/or autism in North West England that would improve coordination between services and lead to better community care.

Design/methodology/approach

The ODN held a series of good practice events and consultations with stakeholders in North West England to look at gaps in service provision, national guidelines and agree on a pathway for services.

Findings

The ODN decided to use the THRIVE framework as the basis for a specific model of care. Interventions were mapped against the THRIVE groupings, including pathways and team specifications for assessment and support for children with autism, and models for child and adolescent mental health service support for ID and/or autism, for keeping children and young people with behaviour that challenges in the community and transition.

Originality/value

This model aims to provide the North West England region with a clear multi-agency approach for supporting the needs of this population and supports multi-agency commissioning, gap analysis, earlier intervention and improving health outcomes for this population.
Relative effectiveness of celebrity and product match-up for two high consumer involvement situations
Authors: Hussain Danish , Adnan Arham , Khan Maaz Hasan
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The study attempted to gauge the relative effectiveness of celebrity and product image match-up in comparison to non-celebrity attractive endorsers for two distinct high involvement situations. Also, due to the expected demographic diversity among target consumers, the study aimed at assessing the impact of respondent's age and gender on the effectiveness of image match-up.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the three-order hierarchy model, two experiments were conducted (utilising celebrity and non-celebrity endorsers) for two high involvement hierarchies, i.e. standard learning and dissonance/attribution. Through fictitious print advertisement, the experiments assessed the effectiveness of the match-up in terms of consumer attitudes towards advertisement and brand and intentions to purchase.

Findings

The match-up consistently and significantly outperformed non-celebrity attractive endorser in case of standard learning hierarchy. The same conclusion was not established for dissonance/attribution hierarchy due to the lack of significant results. The findings also suggest that the match-up subdues the impact of consumer's gender and age on consumer attitudes only in case of standard learning hierarchy.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides interesting theoretical implication by challenging a widely held postulation about the applicability of celebrity and product match-up under high involvement.

Practical implications

The research provides the practitioners with a better understanding of important issues, mainly, whether to use a celebrity endorser and selecting the right celebrity, especially if high involvement is expected.

Originality/value

Previous research concerning celebrity endorsements has largely considered consumer involvement as unitary, i.e. either high or low. However, the multifaceted aspect of consumer involvement is well established in the field of consumer psychology. The present research, therefore, is a pioneering attempt as it studies the effectiveness of match-up for two distinct high involvement situations. Moreover, unlike the majority of previous studies that have focused on the performance of “celebrity match” versus “celebrity mismatch”, the impact of match-up was studied in comparison to a non-celebrity attractive endorser.
The application of digital technology in gambling industry
Authors: Liu Matthew Tingchi , Dong Shiying , Zhu Mingxia
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The study aims to integrate the insights gained from the gambling industry into a value creation conceptual framework for analyzing the influence of digital technology application. Both primary and secondary data from industry practitioners are examined and discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews covering top management from six major casinos in Macau were conducted with industry experts, who provided the pioneering feedback on digitalization technology implemented with examples from major casino cities, including Macau, Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Singapore, Seoul and some others.

Findings

The study provides an overview of the current status of the application of digital technology in the gambling industry and the level of the feasibility, practicability and profitability of this development on the casino floor. Digital technologies are found to augment the gambling industry in aspects of the product, service and operational structure. Research also discovers that benefits and values gained by the casino can be categorized in three dimensions: (1) value perceived by the customer, (2) value obtained from the customer and (3) value gained by the firm.

Originality/value

The research serves as a reference for Macau policymakers regarding regulations on emerging digital technologies in the gambling industry, as well as for casino management seeking to understand new potential business opportunities and future developments in digitalization.
‘Welcome on board’: resource dependency and agency theoretic evidence from the South African life insurance market
Authors: Alhassan Abdul Latif , Zyambo Kalwani , Afua Boakye Mary-Ann
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the role of corporate governance on the financial performance of life insurers in South Africa. Specifically, the paper tests two competing hypotheses on the role of boards as effective monitors of opportunistic behaviour of executives, as prescribed by the agency theory or as an effective resource, as advocated by the resource dependency view.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper estimates both static and dynamic panel data of 68 insurers from 2007 to 2014 using random effects, panel corrected standard error ordinary least squares and generalized method of moment’s estimation techniques. Board size, audit committee size, board independence and audit committee independence are used as the governance indicators while profitability is measured as returns on assets and equity.

Findings

The findings support both the resource dependency and agency theoretic views of boards. Specifically, the results indicate that large board and audit committees improve financial performance which supports the view of boards as effective resources for insurers. In addition, the role of non-executive directors in addressing agency conflict is reflected in the positive effect of board independence on financial performance. However, the long-run causal positive effect is only reported for audit committee size on return on assets. In addition, the paper also finds evidence of profitability persistence in the life insurance market. Finally, reinsurance usage, insurer size and market concentration were found to have a negative effect on financial performance.

Practical implications

The findings re-enforce the important role of boards in their oversight responsibilities and as effective resources in the operations of highly specialized insurance businesses.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are concerned, this empirical analysis documents the first evidence of the linkages between governance mechanisms and financial performance of an insurance market in Africa.
Elite maintenance work across the Covid-19 crisis: a critical view on power and language
Authors: Riaz Suhaib , Buchanan Sean
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present a critical interpretation of unfolding events related to corporate and policymaking elites during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis to serve as a point of contrast to mainstream views.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon literature on elite maintenance and power, learning from recent previous crises and emerging evidence during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, this study develops arguments to question and problematize the exercise of power by elites toward maintenance of existing systems across the pandemic.

Findings

Critical examination points attention to three related but analytically distinct strategies in the exercise of elite power: reinforcing myths, redirecting blame and reclaiming positions, all directed to maintain the system and preserve power. The potential effects of this ongoing elite maintenance are highlighted, revealing the old and new forms of power likely to emerge at the corporate, national and global levels across the pandemic crisis and endure beyond it.

Social implications

It is hoped that the critical examination here may build more awareness about the deep and complex nature of elite power and systems across the globe that preclude meaningful system change to address societal challenges. It may thereby provide more informed engagement toward system change.

Originality/value

The main originality of the paper lies in its attempt to tie together the various types of elite maintenance works and their potential effects into an overarching narrative. Making these connections and interpreting them from a critical perspective provides a rare large-canvas picture of elite power and system maintenance, particularly across a global crisis.
Identifying impact of variables in deep learning models on bankruptcy prediction of construction contractors
Authors: Jang Youjin , Jeong Inbae , Cho Yong K.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The study seeks to identify the impact of variables in a deep learning-based bankruptcy prediction model, which has achieved superior performance to other prediction models but cannot easily interpret hidden processes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed three LSTM-RNN–based models that predicted the probability of bankruptcy before 1, 2 and 3 years using financial, the construction market and macroeconomic variables as input variables. Then, the impacts of the input variables that affected prediction accuracy in each model were identified by using Shapley value and compared among the three models. This study also investigated the prediction accuracy using variants of input variables grouped sequentially by high-impact ranking.

Findings

The results showed that the prediction accuracies were largely impacted by “housing starts” in all models. As the prediction period increased, the effects of macroeconomic variables on prediction accuracy increased, whereas the impact of “return on assets” on prediction accuracy decreased. It also found that the “current ratio” and “debt ratio” significantly influenced the prediction accuracies in all models. Also, the results revealed that similar prediction accuracies could be achieved using only 8, 10, and 10 variables out of a total of 18 variables for the 1-, 2-, and 3-year prediction models, respectively.

Originality/value

This study provides a Shapley value-based approach to identify how each input variable in a deep-learning bankruptcy prediction model. The findings of this study can not only assist in obtaining better insights into the underlying concept of bankruptcy but also use to select variables by removing those identified as less significant.
CSR and appropriation potential of firm innovative knowledge
Authors: Mei Xiaohong , Ge Yang , Huang Jiashun , Chen Yu
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the knowledge asset–firm financial performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first develops hypotheses based on multiple theoretical lenses and uses a sample of 3,030 US firms in 51 industries over 11 years to test these hypotheses.

Findings

It is found that CSR positively moderates the relationship between research and development (R&D) investments and the firm's financial performance, and the moderating effect declines when firms mistreat their employees.

Practical implications

This paper provides evidence that when firms allocate their resources, they should consider the synthetic effect among different activities such as R&D and CSR.

Originality/value

First, this study offers a new and alternate mechanism for the appropriability literature and also extends the boundary of CSR research. Second, this work shifts the CSR performance thought by considering CSR as an enabler rather than a driver for performance.
Gastronomy as a factor of tourists' overall experience: a study of Jeonju, South Korea
Authors: Carpio Nimrod Mendoza , Napod Wiziel , Do Hyun Wook
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Satisfying the gastronomy experience of tourists becomes the most important strategic aim in the hospitality and tourism industries. This study attempts to prove that there is a distinct and specific market segment related to gastronomy from the overall number of tourist arrival of Jeonju City. Furthermore, this study investigates the different factors that affect the overall experience of tourists. The focus of the study is Jeonju City, a popular gastronomy destination in South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were distributed to 680 tourists in Jeonju City during two survey periods. Descriptive statistics and regressions were utilized to treat the data. The predictors that affect the overall experience of tourists were identified through the different literature. The hypotheses were formulated and tested to examine the relationship between the assessments of the distinct gastronomy-tourist market and tourists' overall experience.

Findings

The results indicate that there are 17.20% of the respondents indicated that their main reason for traveling was for the food. Descriptive statistics revealed that local food satisfaction, destination image perceived quality, perceived value, tourist expectations, and costs and risks have a positive and significant influence on tourist overall experience.

Originality/value

The findings of this study could provide guidelines for both the hospitality and tourism industries of the country, and tourist destination operators to further positioned approaches to satisfy gastronomy tourists in the “new normal”.
Water resources in the hotel industry: a systematic literature review
Authors: Antonova Natalia , Ruiz-Rosa Inés , Mendoza-Jiménez Javier
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to structure research on water resources in the hotel industry, identifying the key areas and research gaps in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review of water use in the hotel industry has been performed using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. From 515 articles selected between the years 2000 and 2019, a sample of 58 articles was used to structure existing research on this subject.

Findings

Research is classified into four groups: water consumption, water management, impacts of water use and good practices, with different research methods and topics within each one. Existing research gaps and their causes are also discussed. The results show how academic research can help strengthen international methodologies that measure sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the search process, some publications on water consumption in the hotel industry may have been missed; also book chapters and conference papers were excluded. Furthermore, the authors recognise some subjectivity in the classification of articles.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic analysis focussed on water use in the hotel industry. The findings can be used to build a research framework for this area, establishing an approach to cover research gaps and to connect academic research with general methodologies and indicators of sustainability, as well as improving data collection techniques in this field.
The contribution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to student enrollment and performance in Ghana
Authors: Fusheini Karim , Salia Hussein
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Financing is a major obstacle to achieving quality education for all persons of school-going age in less-developed countries. Consequently, corporate institutions through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are increasingly becoming government partners in financing education sector projects. The effect of these CSR interventions on education funding gap, school enrollment and academic performance is yet to be adequately evaluated, hence the reason for this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions on examining the contributions of CSR initiatives to school funding, enrollment and academic performance from the viewpoint of teachers, students and heads of schools. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, reviewed and sorted according to key and recurrent themes.

Findings

The study shows that CSR interventions have contributed to student enrollment in beneficiary schools, improved academic and core-curricular performances of students. Funding gaps in schools have also being unraveled through this study which will inform policy decisions going forward. However, the informal financiers may have other reasons unknown to the resource recipients for investing in the education sector.

Research limitations/implications

The research only considered the perspectives of teachers, students, pupils and heads of schools on the effect of CSR interventions on enrollment and performance. The views of CSR initiators (corporations), opinion leaders and other stakeholders of the schools are reserved for future research.

Practical implications

It is therefore imperative that managers of school systems are cautious in establishing exchange relationship with informal financiers as there may be other hidden reasons behind the corporate support to the beneficiary schools.

Originality/value

The addition of other stakeholders' perspective on the effect of CSR initiatives on school enrollment and students' performance is a novelty.
Ethics in real estate: agency practices in Istanbul
Authors: Markoc Ilkim , Cizmeci Fusun
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss unethical behaviors that small real estate agencies encounter in real estate brokerage practices, the factors that give rise to a trust issue and the potential of legal arrangements for offering a solution. Small real estate agencies, almost the only actor in the real estate brokerage industry until the late twentieth century, still strive to survive despite the globalized market, large corporations increasingly dominating the market, the increasing informality and the real estate portals offering certain brokerage services online. While all these developments put pressure on small real estate agencies, the industry’s unethical behaviors diminish their reliability. Despite the efforts to overcome this issue through legal arrangements, the extent to which these regulations will be successful is still a matter of intense debate.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 85 small real estate agencies operating in Istanbul, Turkey, were posed semi-structured open-ended questions and asked to provide an opinion about the unethical behaviors they face and the potential of a legal arrangement to solve those problems. In the second stage, three focus group interviews were held with representatives from large real estate brokerage companies to make a comparison and they were also posed similar questions. The answers were evaluated using content analysis.

Findings

It was found that the unethical behaviors in the real estate industry could mainly be evaluated in two categories, i.e. those stemming from structural problems of the industry and those stemming from problems related to service delivery and that a legal arrangement could only solve the first category.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to small real estate agencies that operate in Istanbul, the heart of the Turkish economy and the biggest city of the country where intensive efforts are spent to integrate into the global order.

Originality/value

It is considered that categorization of the causes of problems encountered by the numerous small real estate agencies that struggle to survive in the market and an analysis of the root causes of unethical behaviors in the industry and a discussion on potential solutions that may be brought bylaws will contribute to the literature.
Islamic banking’s contribution to the Malaysian real economy
Authors: Gani Ibrahim Musa , Bahari Zakaria
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing Asian economies with a properly designed and developed Islamic financial system. This unique feature of the Malaysian economy made it an important case study, and the purpose of this study is to assess for the dynamic contribution of Islamic finance to the growth of the real economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a quarterly data set of 20 years analysed via the autoregressive distributive lag bounds test approach to cointegration.

Findings

The results in the short-run show a non-significant relationship between Islamic banking indices and the real economy. However, in the long-run, financing and deposits of Islamic banks are favourable and contribute significantly to the growth of the Malaysian economy. There was an accumulation of meaningful and wide-ranging investment over the period of the study and productivity of capital was also extra-efficient. The direction of causality is found to be bidirectional between Islamic banking deposits and Malaysian gross domestic product (GDP), but there is a weak causal effect from Islamic banking financing to GDP.

Research limitations/implications

Malaysia has a dual financial system (conventional and Islamic) and both can affect its real economy. This research is limited to Islamic banking’s effects on Malaysian economic growth. The research also limits the scope and coverage for 20 years, from 1998 to 2017 to cover the years for which data is available for all the variables used in the study.

Practical implications

The results confirm that the Islamic banking sector in Malaysia is performing well in carrying out its major function of financial intermediation, which is the pooling and channelling of funds to productive investment activities. Consequently, the fact that Malaysia excels in Islamic finance is not a fluke. It is because of the effective performance of Islamic financial institutions in the country. Furthermore, Malaysian authorities are doing their level best in promoting Islamic financial activities.

Originality/value

The study fulfills the need to uncover the relationship between the Islamic financial system and the real economy in Malaysia. It differs from other studies as it uses the most recent available data, introduces new variables and identifies the channel by which Islamic banking development transmits growth.
Capital market and economic growth in Malaysia: the role of ṣukūk and other sub-components
Authors: Tan Yan-Ling , Mohamad Shafi Roslina
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of the capital market on economic growth by considering the role of ṣukūk (Islamic investment certificates) and other capital market sub-components in Malaysia between 1998 and 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical investigation is based on the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration bounds test.

Findings

The results reveal the prevalence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between capital market variables and economic growth. As expected, bond market components (ṣukūk and conventional bonds) have a positive, albeit insignificant influence on economic growth. In contrast, in the long-term, stock market development – regardless of the indicator used on economic growth – is shown to have a significant and positive effect. The study suggests that stock market sub-components affect Malaysia’s economic growth the most.

Research limitations/implications

The primary limitation of this study is that only corporate ṣukūk were considered, while government ṣukūk were excluded from the estimation due to a lack of requisite information, resources and data.

Practical implications

A strategic framework should be established, especially in pricing efficiencies. Furthermore, there is a need to create more awareness on the benefits of ṣukūk investment among conventional bond investors, including retail investors. Thus, there will be more players in the ṣukūk market, and this will help to improve market liquidity.

Originality/value

Apart from conventional capital market sub-components, this study takes into account ṣukūk as a sub-component in the capital market on economic growth using the ARDL framework. Also, this study particularly concentrates on the world’s largest ṣukūk issuer, Malaysia, rather than focusing on other ṣukūk-issuing countries.
Clustering helps to improve price prediction in online booking systems
Authors: Trang Le Hong , Huy Tran Duong , Le Anh Ngoc
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Pricing on the online booking systems is a difficult task for the host, the systems usually set the prices that are lower than the general premises and quality, and that only gives benefits to the system by easily attracting the customer to use the service. The setting price of the new accommodation is often based on location, the number of beds, type of house and so on. The main problem is to predict the most reasonable price for the host. This paper aims to study the use of machine learning and sentiment analysis for predicting the price of online booking systems.

Design/methodology/approach

In particular, an empirical study is performed first for some well-known classification models for the problems. The authors then propose to apply k-means, a clustering technique, together with Gradient Boost and XGBoost models to improve the prediction performance. Experiments are conducted and tested for real Airbnb data sets collected in London City.

Findings

Experimental results are given and compared to show that the authors’ method outperforms to an updated method.

Originality/value

The authors use k-means and sampling together with Gradient Boost and XGBoost models to improve the prediction performance.
Integration of Islamic bank specific risks and their impact on the portfolios of Islamic Banks
Authors: Shah Syed Alamdar Ali , Sukmana Raditya , Fianto Bayu Arie
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a risk management framework for Islamic banks to address specific risks that are unique to Islamic bank settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique methodology has been developed first by exploring the dynamics and behaviors of various risks unique to Islamic banks. Second, it integrates them through a series of diagrams that show how they behave, integrate and impact risk, returns and portfolios.

Findings

This study proposes a unique risk-return relationship framework encompassing specific risks faced by Islamic banks under the ambit of portfolio theory showing how Islamic banks establish a steeper risk-return path under Shariah compliance. By doing so, this study identifies a unique “Islamic risk-return” nexus in Islamic settings as an explanation for the concern of contemporary researchers that Islamic banks are more risky than conventional banks.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is that it extends the scope of risk management in Islamic banks from individual contract-based to an integrated whole, identifying a unique transmission path of how risks affect portfolio diversification in Islamic banks.
Gender budgeting in emerging economies–a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Nolte Isabella M. , Polzer Tobias , Seiwald Johann
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Gender budgeting aims to include a gender perspective at all stages of the budgetary process. Emerging economies (EEs) face different challenges in gender equality to high-income economies–with larger informal economic sectors that typically employ a larger proportion of women and weaker political accountability. We analyse the literature on gender budgeting in EEs and derive avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a systematic literature review, we investigate the focus of research on gender budgeting in EEs and analyse how the literature has developed over the last decade.

Findings

Our results show that gender budgeting is a relevant topic in EEs. The literature focuses on overall rationales for employing gender budgeting and its theoretical implementation. However, many studies remain explorative, reviewing existing content without collecting new and potentially more suitable data. The evidence on the success of gender budgeting initiatives is mixed. While a number of studies present positive experiences regarding certain aspects of gender budgeting, other studies discuss a decoupling between adopted instruments and their actual use, as well as projects not being further pursued or developed when donors retreat.

Originality/value

Given the identified lack of studies reporting on actual implementation experiences, future research should address gender budgeting from an accounting and accountability perspective and focus on the reform impacts.
Examining the impact of locus and justice perception on B2B service recovery
Authors: Oflaç Bengü Sevil , Sullivan Ursula Y. , Kaya Aslan Zeynep
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationships between locus of attribution, recovery justice perceptions, recovery satisfaction and repurchase intention after a B2B service failure.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling was used to analyze 300 customer surveys from hospitality businesses. The connections between the selected variables were explored through path analysis using AMOS 24.

Findings

Based on the results, the more that business customers blame their wholesalers after a service failure, the less they perceive the procedures in the recovery process as fair. Findings also indicate that in the recovery process, interactional connections through fair treatment and inclusion of customer opinions are important to achieve high recovery satisfaction levels. Moreover, if business customers perceive the monetary compensation provided as fair, their recovery satisfaction increases, and recovery satisfaction then helps to retain these business customers after a service failure.

Research limitations/implications

Starting from the locus of blame, this study highlights the after-failure calculation that business customers make in considering their recovery justice perceptions and the resulting satisfaction level.

Practical implications

The findings have relevance for B2B relationships. This study provides practical processes for failure and recovery management in B2B settings, especially for wholesale providers who function as resellers rather than as manufacturers.

Originality/value

The contributions from this study are largely due to examining B2B service failure and recovery as a process that starts at the pre-recovery stage with the locus of attribution followed by recovery justice perceptions. Whereas other studies have focused more on justice perceptions, the authors go back a step in the recovery process to better understand the antecedents of repurchase intention in B2B transactions.
The effect of fiscal policy on economic growth in South Africa: a nonlinear ARDL model analysis
Authors: Nuru Naser Yenus , Gereziher Hayelom Yrgaw
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the short-run and long-run asymmetric effects of fiscal policy, namely government spending on economic growth over the sample period 2004Q2 up to 2018Q1 for the South African economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag model is used to examine the short-run and long-run asymmetric effects of government spending on economic growth.

Findings

The results exhibit the negative change effect of government spending is found to be greater than the positive change effect of government spending on economic growth. Real effective exchange rate is found to have a positive and significant effect on economic growth both in the short run and long run. Whereas, inflation rate affects economic growth negatively and significantly in the short run and long run.

Originality/value

Previous empirical studies on the effect of fiscal policy on growth, at least for South Africa, consider only the asymmetric short-run effect while this paper extends the literature by incorporating asymmetries into the long-run effect. It provides a detailed analysis to the recent controversies on the effects of fiscal policy on growth.
Using PLS-SEM to analyze challenges hindering success of green building projects in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Quangdung , Huang Dechun
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study focused on investigation of the critical challenges the general contractors are facing in executing green building (GB) projects in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a literature review and three in-depth interviews to define 31 potential challenges hindering success of GB projects. Data was collected from 163 respondents through the questionnaire survey and was analyzed by the mean ranking technique, EFA and PLS-SEM.

Findings

The result found general contractors in Vietnam are facing the four components of challenges, namely “Planning activities-related challenges”, “Organizational activities-related challenges”, “Onsite management and control activities-related challenges” and “Green supply chain-related challenges”; and all of them have statistically significant effects on success of GB projects in Vietnam. Furthermore, the most dominant component was related to the non-readiness of external GB supply chain.

Practical implications

The findings suggest for practical measures to enhance success of GB projects in Vietnam, including (1) completing the system of legal regulations and technical codes, standards, guidelines on GB, (2) providing incentive policies to promote the R&D activities on GB and (3) providing educational programs to improve the awareness and capacity on GB in domestic construction organizations, especially medium and small subcontractors.

Originality/value

This study seeks to gain a better understanding on critical challenges hindering success of green building projects under the view point of general contractors with reference to the context of Vietnam – a developing economy. This study is the first study to identify potential challenges and evaluate the impact of the key components of challenges on success of GB projects.
Mental health and burnout among teachers in Thailand
Authors: Ratanasiripong Paul , Ratanasiripong Nop T , Nungdanjark Worawon , Thongthammarat Yada , Toyama Shiho
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study investigated factors that impacted the mental health and burnout among kindergarten, primary and secondary school teachers in Thailand and presented a comprehensive intervention program to improve their wellbeing.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional survey study included 267 teachers from five public schools in Thailand. The survey instruments included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Educators Survey, along with data on demographics, health behaviors, finances, professional work, relationships and resilience.

Findings

For teacher mental health, results indicated that family economics status, relationship quality and resilience were significant predictors of depression (R2 = 0.19); family economics status, classroom size and resilience significantly predicted anxiety (R2 = 0.13); family economics status, gender, sleep and resilience significantly predicted stress (R2 = 0.20). For teacher burnout, relationship quality and age were significant predictors of emotional exhaustion (R2 = 0.15); relationship quality and drinking significantly predicted depersonalization (R2 = 0.06); resilience and number of teaching hours significantly predicted personal accomplishment (R2 = 0.28).

Originality/value

Besides providing an in-depth examination of mental health and burnout among teachers, this is the first study in Thailand to propose a comprehensive Teacher Wellness Program. This program recommends personal and professional development plans that public health personnel and school administrators could utilize to improve mental health and reduce burnout among teachers.
The tensions of defining and developing thought leadership within knowledge-intensive firms
Authors: Harvey William S. , Mitchell Vince-Wayne , Almeida Jones Alessandra , Knight Eric
Published: January 2021

Purpose

A major part of knowledge management for knowledge-intensive firms such as professional service firms is the increasing focus on thought leadership. Despite being a well-known term, it is poorly defined and analysed in the academic and practitioner literature. The aim of this article is to answer three questions. First, what is thought leadership? Second, what tensions exist when seeking to create thought leadership in knowledge-based organisations? Third, what further research is needed about thought leadership? The authors call for cross-disciplinary and academic–practitioner approaches to understanding the field of thought leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review the academic and practitioner literature on thought leadership to provide a rich oversight of how it is defined and can be understood by separating inputs, creation processes and outcomes. The authors also draw on qualitative data from 12 in-depth interviews with senior leaders of professional service firms.

Findings

Through analysing and building on previous understandings of the concept, the authors redefine thought leadership as follows: “Knowledge from a trusted, eminent and authoritative source that is actionable and provides valuable solutions for stakeholders”. The authors find and explore nine tensions that developing thought leadership creates and propose a framework for understanding how to engage with thought leadership at the industry/macro, organisational/meso and individual/micro levels. The authors propose a research agenda based on testing propositions derived from new theories to explain thought leadership, including leadership, reducing risk, signalling quality and managing social networks, as well as examining the suggested ways to resolve different tensions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, they are the first to separate out thought leadership from its inputs, creation processes and outcomes. The authors show new organisational paradoxes within thought leadership and show how they can play out at different levels of analysis when implementing a thought leadership strategy. This work on thought leadership is set in a relatively under-explored context for knowledge management researchers, namely, knowledge-intensive professional service firms.
Trust as the cement in the employment relationship? The role of trust in different workplace employment relations regimes
Authors: Brandl Bernd
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper addresses the puzzle of why the same workplace employment relations regimes can lead to different performances and why different regimes can produce the same performance. It is argued that the incidence of mutual, and not necessarily unilateral, trust between the employee representation and the management accounts for these differences, as mutual trust fosters information sharing and helps to strike deals that are mutually beneficial. Against the background that the institutional and organizational characteristics of some workplace employment relations regimes also constitutes information sharing and joint decision making, the author further argues that mutual trust is a functional equivalent.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodologically, the article is international and cross-country comparative in nature and conducted on the basis of a unique, large and transnational comparable data set of the employment relationship at firm level in eleven countries.

Findings

Our results show that strong mutual trust is associated with significantly higher incidences of increases in firm profitability, regardless of the workplace employment relations regime in which the firms are embedded.

Practical implications

The results clearly indicate that trust between the employee representation and the management works as a functional equivalent to performance enhancing employment relations regimes. Therefore, some policy recommendations and imposed institutional reforms of employment relations regimes by the IMF and the European Central Bank in some countries are sub-optimal and might not have been necessary. Trust building initiatives between the employee representation and the management are therefore an alternative, which is less conflictual and could have the same effect on the performance of firms.

Originality/value

Previous analyses on differences in the performance effects of workplace employment relations regime concentrated almost exclusively on institutional factors. Factors that account for differences in the functioning of regimes such as in particular the role of trust were not considered before. Against this background, the originality of this analysis is that it clearly shows that it is not sufficient to consider only the institutional and organizational structure of regimes, but it is essential for a better understanding of the effects of the employment relationship to consider factors which account for the functioning of the regimes such as, in particular, trust.