bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to “green operation” of commercial office buildings
Authors: Rock Stephanie , Hosseini M. Reza , Nikmehr Bahareh , Martek Igor , Abrishami Sepehr , Durdyev Serdar
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The built environment is a major source of carbon emissions. However, 80 per cent of the damage arises through the operational phase of a building’s life. Office buildings are the most significant building type in terms of emission-reduction potential. Yet, little research has been undertaken to examine the barriers faced by building operators in transitioning to a green operation of the office buildings in their care. This study aims to identify those barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

Building facilities managers with between 7 and 25 years’ experience in operating primarily Melbourne high-rise office buildings were interviewed. The sample was taken from LinkedIn connections, with ten agreeing to participate in semi-structured interviews – out of the 17 invitations sent out. Interview comments were recorded, coded and categorised to identify the barriers sought by this study.

Findings

Seven categories of barriers to effecting green operation of office buildings were extracted. These were financial, owner-related, tenant-related, technological, regulatory, architectural and stakeholder interest conflicts. Difficulties identifying green operation strategies that improved cost performance or return on investment of buildings was the major barrier.

Practical implications

Government, policymakers and facilities managers themselves have been struggling with how to catalyse a green transition in the operation of office buildings. By identifying the barriers standing in the way, this study provides a concrete point of departure from which remedial strategies and policies may be formulated and put into effect.

Originality/value

The uptake of green operation of office buildings has been extremely slow. Though barriers have been hypothesised in earlier works, this is the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, that categorically identifies and tabulates the barriers that stand in the way of improving the green operational performance of office buildings, drawing on the direct knowledge of facilities experts.
Simulation of water/FMWCNT nanofluid forced convection in a microchannel filled with porous material under slip velocity and temperature jump boundary conditions
Authors: Gholamalizadeh Ehsan , Pahlevanzadeh Farzad , Ghani Kamal , Karimipour Arash , Nguyen Truong Khang , Safaei Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to numerically study the forced convection effects on a two-dimensional microchannel filled with a porous material containing the water/FMWCNT nanofluid. The upper and lower microchannel walls were fully insulated thermally along 15 per cent of their lengths at each end of the microchannel, with the in-between length being exposed to a constant temperature. The slip velocity boundary condition was applied along the microchannel walls.

Design/methodology/approach

The Navier–Stokes equations were discretized before being solved numerically via a FORTRAN computer code. The following ranges were considered for the studied parameters: slip factor (B) equal to 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1; Reynolds number (Re) between 10 and 100; solid nanoparticle mass fraction (ϕ) between 0.0012 and 0.0025; Darcy number (Da) between 0.001 and 0.1; and porosity factor (ε) between 0.4 and 0.9.

Findings

Increasing the Da caused a greater increase in the velocity profile than increasing Re, whereas increasing porosity did not affect the velocity profile growth at all.

Originality/value

This paper is the continuation of the authors’ previous studies. Using the water/FMWCNT nanofluid as the working fluid in microchannels is among the achievements of this study.
Liquid drop breakup in homogeneous isotropic turbulence
Authors: Zhong Cheng , Komrakova Alexandra
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the capabilities of a diffuse interface free energy lattice Boltzmann method to perform direct numerical simulations of liquid–liquid dispersions in a well-controlled turbulent environment. The goal of this research study is to develop numerical techniques that can visualize and quantify drop interaction with the turbulent vortices. The obtained information will be used for the development of sub-models of drop breakup for multi-scale simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

A pure binary liquid system is considered that is subject to fully developed statistically stationary turbulent flow field in a cubic fully periodic box with the edge size of 300 lattice units. Three turbulent flow fields with varying energy input are examined and their coherent structures are visualized using a normalized Q-criterion. The evolution of the liquid–liquid interface is tracked as a function of time. The detailed explanation of the numerical method is provided with a highlight on a choice of the numerical parameters.

Findings

Drop breakup mechanisms differ depending on energy input. Drops break due to interaction with the vortices. Quantification of turbulent structures shows that the size of vortices increases with the decrease of energy input. Drop interacts simultaneously with multiple vortices of the size comparable to or smaller than the drop size. Vortices of the size smaller than the drop size disturb drop interface and pinch off the satellites. Vortices of the size comparable to the drop size tend to elongate the drop and tear it apart producing daughter drops and satellites. Addition of the second phase enhances turbulent dissipation at the high wavenumbers. To obtain physically realistic two-phase energy spectra, the multiple-relaxation-time collision operator should be used.

Originality/value

Detailed information of drop breakup in the turbulent flow field is crucial for the development of drop breakup sub-models that are necessary for multi-scale numerical simulations. The improvement of numerical methods that can provide these data and produce reliable results is important. This work made one step towards a better understanding of how drops interact with the turbulent vortices.
Numerical modeling of aeroacoustic characteristics of different savonius blade profiles
Authors: Delbari Seyed Hamid , Nejat Amir , Ahmadi Mohammad H. , Khaleghi Ali , Goodarzi Marjan
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to carry out numerical modeling to predict aerodynamic noise radiation from four different Savonius rotor blade profile.

Design/methodology/approach

Incompressible unsteady reynolds-averaged navier-stokes (URANS) approach using gamma–theta turbulence model is conducted to obtain the time accurate turbulent flow field. The Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) acoustic analogy formulation is used for noise predictions at optimal tip speed ratio (TSR).

Findings

The mean torque and power coefficients are compared with the experimental data and acceptable agreement is observed. The total and Mono+Dipole noise graphs are presented. A discrete tonal component at low frequencies in all graphs is attributed to the blade passing frequency at the given TSR. According to the noise prediction results, Bach type rotor has the lowest level of noise emission. The effect of TSR on the noise level from the Bach rotor is investigated. A direct relation between angular velocity and the noise emission is found.

Practical implications

The savonius rotor is a type of vertical axis wind turbines suited for mounting in the vicinity of residential areas. Also, wind turbines wherein operation are efficient sources of tonal and broadband noises and affect the inhabitable environment adversely. Therefore, the acoustic pollution assessment is essential for the installation of wind turbines in residential areas.

Originality/value

This study aims to investigate the radiated noise level of four common Savonius rotor blade profiles, namely, Bach type, Benesh type, semi-elliptic and conventional. As stated above, numbers of studies exploit the URANS method coupled with the FW-H analogy to predict the aeroacoustics behavior of wind turbines. Therefore, this approach is chosen in this research to deal with the aeroacoustics and aerodynamic calculation of the flow field around the aforementioned Savonius blade profiles. The effect of optimal TSR on the emitted noise and the contribution of thickness, loading and quadrupole sources are of interest in this study.
Supervisory skills training for the neglected supervisors: development and preliminary evaluation of an autonomy-supportive programme
Authors: Yong Amy , Roche Maree , Sutton Anna
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Previous studies have demonstrated that an autonomy-supportive supervision style is associated with improved well-being and positive behaviours for supervisees. However, autonomy-supportive training (AST) has yet to be tailored to suit supervisors in low-skilled occupations for whom traditional pedagogical approaches may be inappropriate. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and preliminary evaluation of AST for these supervisors, using self-determination theory (SDT) and andragogical principles of adult learning.

Design/methodology/approach

SDT and andragogical principles were systematically integrated to develop (a 3 h) AST programme. The training sessions were trialled with 11 first-line supervisors in New Zealand as a preliminary evaluation of AST. The evaluation used open-ended questions following Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model and incorporated the trainer’s reflections.

Findings

Supervisors found AST relevant, easy to understand and suited to their approach to learning. Trainer’s reflections also provided insight into the challenges in conducting such training for supervisors in low-skilled occupations and the article makes suggestions to address these challenges.

Research limitations/implications

AST can be successfully tailored to first-line supervisors, indicating that an autonomy-supportive style of leadership is relevant for those employed in low-skilled occupations. This initial evaluation provides a foundation for future studies to conduct higher-level assessment of AST.

Practical implications

AST can be utilised to provide first-line supervisors with access to improved leadership development opportunities. Challenges of conducting this kind of training programme in a context of low-skilled occupations are addressed and recommendations made for organisations and trainers.

Originality/value

This study is novel as it demonstrates the development of AST, a leadership skills training, tailored to suit the needs of an understudied group, supervisors in low-skilled occupations.
Political negotiations: characteristics and related performance disincentives
Authors: Ade Valentin
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The media, private citizens and other stakeholders regularly appraise political negotiations, but the character of these negotiations and the reasons for outcomes are little understood. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to discuss this character and explore its implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper. The author carried out a literature review and used his experiences in supervising political negotiation simulations.

Findings

The author argues that political negotiations have several specific characteristics that distinguish them from other kinds of negotiations. Political negotiations, for instance, tend to address often rather fuzzy public interests, involve value conflicts or are simultaneously performed “on stage” and “behind the scenes.” These characteristics may matter, as they can provide structural disincentives to negotiators, who might be tempted to focus on selling outcomes rather than on improving them (“saleability-oriented negotiating”). Hence, the author argues that political negotiators and their stakeholders face the challenge that political contexts may foster weak negotiation performances.

Practical implications

The author proposes an approach to political negotiations’ training that takes the findings of this paper into consideration.

Originality/value

This paper is the first, to the best of the author’s knowledge, to provide a detailed characterization of political negotiations and to discuss related implications.
A cross-national study on restaurant attributes between Korea and China
Authors: Cha Seong-Soo , Park Cheol , Wang Xiaowu
Published: June 2019

Purpose

IThis study aims to investigate the effects of the consumption motivations of restaurant customers on their perception of the importance of experiential and functional restaurant attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 330 questionnaires were issued in China (168) and Korea (162). The resulting data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 to verify the reliability and validity of the measured variables. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The results showed that customers with hedonic consumption motivation were more sensitive to the experiential attributes than to the functional attributes of a restaurant. In addition, those customers with utilitarian consumption motivation were more influenced by functional attributes than by experiential attributes. However, these relationships differed between China and Korea. In China, the consumers’ hedonic motivation had a stronger relationship with functional restaurant attributes, which reflects a culture that emphasizes pragmatism.

Originality/value

This study analyzed the relationship between the motives to eat at a restaurant and the evaluation of restaurant attributes and how this differed between China and Korea, while suggesting practical implications.
Clustering Spanish alcoholic beverage shoppers to focus marketing strategies
Authors: Hernandez Asuncion , Vila Natalia , Kuster Ines , Rodriguez Carmen
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold: to analyse the influence of both individual and environmental factors in order to explain alcoholic spending and to identify different groups of alcoholic beverage shoppers.

Design/methodology/approach

For the research, an online questionnaire was distributed among 1,023 Spanish participants of age more than 18 years. Multivariance techniques were used for analysis, and the results show significant influence of specific motivational domains, brand awareness, perceived culture, socio-demographic variables and purchasing environment. With these results, a cluster analysis was carried out identifying seven groups of alcoholic beverage shoppers.

Findings

This research confirmed the influence of both individual and environmental factors, and the authors have identified seven different groups of alcoholic beverage shoppers: prosperous, social, non-conformist, postmodern, communities, controllers and planners. This led to the consideration of various management implications, which would boost the success of the beverage industry.

Originality/value

The originality of this research focuses on identifying different cluster of shoppers who purchase alcoholic beverages and on revealing the characteristics of each identified cluster. Based on the exact profile proposed, the alcoholic beverage industry should design more appropriate marketing strategies to achieve competitive advantage and to reinforce purchasing because in today’s markets, there are fewer and fewer situations where a mass marketing approach is feasible.
Examining financial needs of banking customers for product development in Islamic banking in Indonesia
Authors: Yumna Aimatul
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims at product development in Syariah banking, using the theory of Pyramid of Maslahah. Product development are important aspects of Islamic banking to realize Maqasid Al Shariah and to better serve the real economy.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the needs of the customers, this study uses qualitative approaches and collects primary data from semi-structured interviews of 25 banking customers in Indonesia.

Findings

The study found that the group of respondents who have similar characteristics in age, marital status and number of kids tend to have similar financial needs. Some of the needs that have not been fulfilled by Sharia banking are the needs for investment in banking products, the needs for pension plan products and the needs for travelling-related financial products.

Practical implications

This study proposed that Islamic banking should provide financial products that cater to three needs of the society, including the needs for necessities/essentials (daruriyat), the needs of complementary requirements (hajiyyat) and the needs for beautifications or embellishments (tahsiniyat), to be able to better serve the real economy.

Originality/value

Financial needs and the life cycle approach can be used for product development in banking industry. However, this approach has not been widely used for consideration in the development of Sharia banking products in Indonesia. This study provides some novelty in Islamic banking customer behavior, especially in understanding financial needs based on the theory of Pyramid of Maslahah.
The alignment of organizational structure and R&D management in internationalized public company
Authors: Crespi Tatiane Baseggio , Rezende da Costa Priscila , Preusler Taísa Scariot , Porto Geciane Silveira
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the organizational structure and R&D management alignment in an internationalized public company.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors performed a descriptive qualitative research using the single case method of EMBRAPA.

Findings

The results indicated that EMBRAPA organizational structure provides a structural framework for R&D management, promoting knowledge and infrastructure sharing. The internationalization, especially through LABEX, allows researchers to interact with research centers of excellence abroad. This makes strategic planning (Sistema de Inteligência Estratégico da EMBRAPA – Agropensa, portfolios and project arrangements) results in R&D projects, through macro programs, generating innovations for Brazilian agriculture.

Research limitations/implications

It should be noted that this study presents some limitations, among them, the fact that only one company is being analyzed.

Practical implications

Therefore, EMBRAPA’s organizational structure provides a structural framework for R&D management, promoting knowledge sharing and infrastructure. This makes the strategic planning (Agropensa, portfolios and arrangements) to result in R&D projects, via macro programs, generating innovations for the Brazilian agriculture. On the contributions to the advancement of knowledge with regard to the professional management of public research institutes, it is worth synthesizing, therefore, the following practical evidence in the field and that they were key to the successful management of R&D activities in EMBRAPA.

Originality/value

The choice of this company is due to its importance for the Brazilian agricultural development, to the innovations generated for the modernization of agriculture and due to it being a public, internationalized R&D company, and with a trajectory of four decades of existence.
The impact of the global economic crisis of 2008 on earnings quality in Mexico
Authors: Miranda-Lopez Jose , Valdovinos-Hernandez Ivan
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the earnings quality of companies listed on Mexico’s primary stock market, the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Bolsa) before and during the global economic crisis of 2008. Previous research has shown that these economic events can have potentially conflicting effects on the quality of earnings of listed companies in capital markets around the world.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper operationalizes earnings quality based on earnings management. Therefore, four constructs to proxy for earnings quality are developed from previous literature, and multiple regression analysis along with tests of differences across two time periods, 2005–2007 and 2008–2010, are used to determine if there is a significant change in the accounting quality of companies listed on the Bolsa before and after the start of the global economic crisis.

Findings

Results indicate a statistically significant decrease of earnings quality on three out of the four constructs used to proxy for earnings management. There is only one construct in this category that shows a significant increase of earnings quality.

Research limitations/implications

There are different number of constructs and methodologies used to test for earnings quality. This study draws on four different constructs on two dimensions of earnings quality from previous literature, but other methodologies and constructs can potentially be used as well, such as discretionary accruals. Furthermore, there is a chance that there can be confounding factors affecting the results of this study besides the effects of the global economic crisis. Finally, the sample used in this study comprises non-financial public companies listed on the Bolsa, which can affect the generalization of the results to countries other than Mexico.

Practical implications

The results of this study can be of interest to Mexican and foreign investors, standard setters and regulators of the Bolsa, as the results show a strong incentive to manage companies’ earnings using income smoothing in an emerging economy during an economic crisis even after converging to a higher-quality set of accounting standards. Results can also be of interests to investors and regulators in other Latin-American countries with economies similar to that of Mexico.

Originality/value

This is the first study to test the quality of earnings of Mexican companies before and during the global economic crisis of 2008. Thus, this study contributes to the accounting quality literature by offering evidence showing a significant increase of income smoothing during the global economic crisis for companies listed in a developing economy with a relevant history of economic crises, even when these companies were using recently converged, higher-quality accounting standards.
Knowledge co-creation in Open Innovation Digital Platforms: processes, tools and services
Authors: Abbate Tindara , Codini Anna Paola , Aquilani Barbara
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how Open Innovation Digital Platforms (OIDPs) can facilitate and support knowledge co-creation in Open Innovation (OI) processes. Specifically, it intends to investigate the contribution of OIDPs-oriented to successfully implement all the phases of interactive coupled OI processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper carries out an exploratory qualitative analysis, adopting the single case study method. The case here investigated is Open Innovation Platform Regione Lombardia (OIPRL).

Findings

The case study sheds light on how OIPRL supports knowledge co-creation through its processes, tools and services as a co-creator intermediary. In its launch stage, the platform simply aimed at giving firms a tool to “find partners” and financial resources to achieve innovative projects. Now, however, the platform has developed into an engagement platform for knowledge co-creation.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation lies in the particular perspective used to perform the case study: the perspective of the digital platform itself. Future research should focus on the individuals engaged in the platform to better investigate the processes, tools and services used to implement the OI approach.

Practical implications

The paper suggests ways in which OIDPs could be used by firms for effective exploration, acquisition, integration and development of valuable knowledge.

Originality/value

The study conceptualizes the role of OIDPs in shaping knowledge co-creation, assuming that the platforms act as Open Innovation Intermediaries (OIIs). Specifically, OIDPs can be observed to function as “co-creator intermediaries” that define, develop and implement dedicated processes, specific tools and appropriate services for supporting knowledge co-creation activities.
The Buginese entrepreneurs; the influence of local values, motivation and entrepreneurial traits on business performance
Authors: Tamar Muhammad , Wirawan Hillman , Bellani Elvita
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of Buginese cultural value system (BCVS), motivational values type (MVT) and entrepreneurial traits (ET) on business performance (BP). The study investigated the role of each variable in predicting BP among Buginese entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in South Sulawesi, in small and medium scale enterprises with a focus on Buginese entrepreneurs. Random sampling technique was used along with some inclusion criteria. Based on those criteria, the questionnaires were administered to 300 participants with 70 per cent valid responses (180 males, 30 females). The study used well-constructed measures (i.e. BCVS, MVT, ET and BP) by following a guideline of adapting and developing instruments. The data were analyzed using structural equation model technique to examine the proposed theoretical model.

Findings

The results showed that the hypothesized model fitted the empirical data. The MVT and ET-mediated the effect of BCVS on BP or BCVS indirectly influenced BP. In brief, this research successfully showed that local cultural value system (BCVS) had a significant effect on the performance of Buginese entrepreneurs through the mediating role of MTV and ET, which means that local cultural value functions as a predictor of the performance of Buginese entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

A number of previous studies have investigated the significant role of local culture in predicting business and entrepreneurship performance. This study focused on local values and considering some advanced theories in both entrepreneurship and psychology. As a result, this study provided a new perspective in understanding local culture as an antecedent to entrepreneurship performance.
Local and global determinants of office rents in Istanbul
Authors: Bera Anil Kumar , Kangalli Uyar Sinem Guler
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper presents a hedonic office rent model under the decentralized structure of Istanbul Office Market. The data set in the study includes 2,348 office spaces for the first quarter of 2018. This study aims to find determinants that affect the level of rent and examine whether the effects of office rent determinants are global or not.

Design/methodology/approach

To consider both global and local effects, the paper uses mixed geographically weighted regression approach in hedonic office rent analysis.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that office rent determinants such as physical, locational, neighborhood and market operational characteristics have significant impacts on the level of the rent. The findings also show that one of the office rent determinants has a global effect and the other determinants have local effects. According to the estimation results, local effects and statistical significances of these determinants vary from lower quartiles to upper quartiles.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to consider global and local effects of office rent determinants on the level of rent, with mixed geographically weighted regression approach. The paper provides new insights into the hedonic valuation of commercial real estates, especially for decentralized office markets.
The impact of Wi-Fi service on millennial diners
Authors: Jeon Jiyeon , Yoo Myongjee , Christodoulidou Natasa
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of Wi-Fi service on the millennial generation’s loyalty to restaurants. Additionally, this study examines the impact of Wi-Fi service on three different types of restaurants (coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and casual dining restaurants). Furthermore, this study examines the similarities and differences that exist cross-culturally between Americans and Koreans.

Design/methodology/approach

A total number of 480 questionnaires were collected to empirically test the study model. A factor analysis that used a principal components analysis with varimax rotation was performed to condense the loyalty items into a few underlying constructs, and the Cronbach’s alpha was checked to test for reliability. A multiple regression analysis and t-test were performed to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that Wi-Fi service has a significant impact on millennials’ loyalty behavior on all three types of restaurants in this study. However, the differences between Americans and Koreans on how they perceive the Wi-Fi services turned out to be significant only for coffee shops.

Research limitations/implications

The authors used a non-probability convenience sampling method for data collection. The findings cannot be generalized to other types of restaurants, such as fine dining and luxury restaurants. Although the results indicate a positive relation between Wi-Fi usage and a customer’s loyalty, loyalty is a multifaceted concept where a variety of factors, such as frequency or convenience can have an impact.

Practical implications

The findings should encourage marketers in the restaurant industry to use Wi-Fi as a value-added service for their customers.

Originality/value

There are limited studies on how significant Wi-Fi service is for the hospitality industry, and in particular, for restaurants. This study builds on the scholarship of Cobanoglu et al. (2012) on the value of the customer loyalty by providing new insights into customers’ views on Wi-Fi service in the restaurant industry.
“My BEST friends, the books”
Authors: Dermata Κaterina
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The contribution of children’s literature to the social-emotional development of children has been recognized across disciplines. Especially picture books, as multimodal texts which communicate with young readers with two codes simultaneously, can be a potential means of fostering empathy in young children (Nikolajeva, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to introduce the program “My BEST friends, the books,” an empirical project (in progress) based on a Book-Based Emotional Social Thinking approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach is inspired by the Critical Thinking and Book Time approach (Roche, 2010, 2015). The program, based on the scales and competences of the Βar-On (2006) model of social-emotional intelligence, explores the way young readers interpret social-emotional skills when discussing about literary characters in children’s picture books. This paper examines the philosophy, the main characteristics and structure of the program, and presents the first results of the pilot phase.

Findings

The initial findings indicate that the design and implementation of such a program is a complex procedure that requires from the researcher to take into consideration various aspects that concern both the material and the participants, but also to step back and let children express their thoughts freely.

Originality/value

Moreover, such discussions allow for understanding how preschoolers interpret the social-emotional skills of literary characters in a critical manner.
Recent developments in China’s biopharmaceutical industry (2012-2017)
Authors: Conlé Marcus
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The paper aims to take stock of China’s recent biopharmaceutical industry development by analyzing product innovation and changes in the firms’ product portfolios during the five-year period between 2012 and 2017.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces a classification of biopharmaceutical products. By applying the classification to the product data of China’s drug regulator, the CFDA, it becomes possible to trace the developments within the sector by looking at changes in the number of firms within each subgroup and changes in the number of subgroups in which each firm is involved. The classification allows an evaluation of the latest product innovation achievements.

Findings

The paper demonstrates a mild shakeout of firms in the relatively long-existing domestic market segments, a trend toward more specialized product portfolios and an enduring prevalence of innovation strategies aimed at exploiting relatively unpopulated domestic market niches instead of pioneering entirely new products. Especially the capability of upgrading to second-generation protein therapeutics has become a key criterion for separating the wheat and the chaff in China’s domestic sector. The paper moreover points out the relevance of acquisitions as a corporate growth strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The research does not consider complementary indicators, product pipelines in particular. Future research should compare patterns across emerging economies.

Originality/value

The paper is unique in using the CFDA database for systematic academic research on (bio)pharmaceutical innovation and in introducing a biopharmaceutical product classification to trace innovative activities and changes in corporate product portfolios over time.
Empowerment in service recovery: the role of self-regulation process of frontline employee
Authors: Zhang Mo , Geng Ruoqi
Published: June 2019

Purpose

In accordance with the commitment–trust theory, employee attitudes and behaviours mediate the impact of empowerment on service recovery performance. The purpose of this paper is to extend the self-regulating process model and develop a structural framework that combines empowerment, self-regulation mechanisms (service recovery awareness, job engagement and emotional exhaustion) and post-recovery satisfaction. This framework explores how empowerment can lead to action of frontline employees (FLEs) in service recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the hypotheses by investigating 290 pairs of FLEs and customers, who have service failure experience in the express mail industry, using structure equation modelling.

Findings

The findings show that empowerment enhances both service recovery awareness and job engagement. On the one hand, service recovery awareness has a positive impact on emotional exhaustion, which has a negative impact on post-recovery satisfaction. On the other hand, job engagement has a positive impact on performance. These results provide the whole picture of the double-edged effects of empowerment on FLEs in service recovery.

Practical implications

This paper indicates that managers should re-consider approaches to empowerment based on self-regulation process to enhance performance following service failure.

Originality/value

This study explores the dark side of empowerment in service recovery from a self-regulation perspective.
Phytochemicals derived from soya bean husk exert hypoglycemic and anti-adipogenic properties in cell culture models
Authors: Tan Seok-Tyug , Ismail Amin , Hamid Muhajir , Chong Pei-Pei , Sun Jian , Tan Seok-Shin
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Literature has shown that phenolic acids and flavonoids are bearing with hypoglycemic and anti-adipogenic properties. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the possibility of phenolic-rich soya bean husk powder extract (SHPE) in combating diabetes and obesity using in vitro models.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypoglycemic properties were evaluated by determining the ability of SHPE (25-100 µg/mL) in inhibiting a-amylase and a-glucosidase enzymes and in triggering insulin secretion in BRIN-BD11 cells. Murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used for evaluating the anti-adipogenic properties of SHPE through the determination of relative lipid accumulation, triglyceride content and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity.

Findings

The hypoglycemic properties of SHPE was in the dose-dependent manner, where 100 µg SHPE/mL exhibited a significant higher (p < 0.05) a-amylase inhibitory activity (56.8 ± 0.11 per cent) and insulin secretion activity (0.73 ± 0.02 µg/l) against other concentrations. In contrast to the aforementioned findings, a significant lower a-glucosidase inhibitory activity (52.0 ± 0.44 per cent) was also observed in 100 µg SHPE/mL. Nevertheless, findings revealed that all the SHPE were able to inhibit the activity of a-amylase and a-glucosidase and stimulated the insulin secretion in BRIN-BD11 cells. On the other hand, the anti-adipogenic properties of SHPE were in the reverse dose-dependent manner, where 100 µg SHPE/mL demonstrated a significant lower (p < 0.05) relative lipid accumulation (48.5 ± 0.03 per cent), intracellular triglyceride content (5.7 ± 0.07 mg/dL) and GPDH activity (1.0 ± 0.01 mU/mL). These findings reflected that 100 µg SHPE/mL was a potent anti-adipogenic agent when compared with other concentrations. In conclusion, soya husk could emerge as a potential hypoglycemic and anti-adipogenic agents in in vitro models.

Originality/value

This was the first study to explore the effectiveness of phytochemicals derived from soya bean husk in ameliorating hyperglycemia and adipogenesis. Promising findings that derived from the present study could enable the scientists to re-evaluate the potential use of agricultural wastes, especially in the formulation of nutraceuticals.
In transitional periods how does bureaucracy work steadily?
Authors: Ahmed Nahla Mahmoud , Aref Alia Abd el Hamid
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the issues and variables that influence the bureaucracy’s role and work in the transitional period, which is known with its complexity, uncertainty, instability, ambiguity and asymmetry. This paper highlights the transition from theoretical perspective, giving examples from the Polish experience in transition.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the changing roles of public bureaucracies in transitional periods by highlighting their ecology with the transitional period and analyzing the determinants of bureaucracy’s role and functions in terms of participation in policy-making policies, providing consultations to executives and elected officials, working as a mediator in communication and acting as an active participant in the development process giving examples from Poland. Finally, it highlights the way the bureaucracy manages its functions and the internal and external variables that constitute various levels affecting this role in the transition.

Findings

Bureaucracy is supposed to function naturally and stably in an unstable environment (transition) as its success in doing these functions and helping the new regime to exceed the transition and achieve its goals depends on many variables (bureaucracy capabilities and skills, history, power, experience, the nature of politics and bureaucratic functions, political support, policy environment, knowledge, cohesion, etc.). Most of these variables were demonstrative in the case of Poland.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful for scholars and policymakers interested in public administration role in the time of transition, especially countries that recently have been experiencing the transition.
Do environmental responsibility views influence investors’ use of environmental performance and assurance information?
Authors: Dilla William , Janvrin Diane , Perkins Jon , Raschke Robyn
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether investor views regarding the benefits of corporate environmental responsibility moderate the influence of environmental performance and assurance information on their judgments. Specifically, the authors examine the effects of two broad views: environmental responsibility is more important than financial performance, regardless of investment returns (i.e. environmental responsibility importance) and positive environmental performance will increase investment returns (i.e. environmental performance return).

Design/methodology/approach

Nonprofessional investors completed an online study where environmental performance (high or low) and assurance on environmental performance information (present or absent) were varied. Participants’ corporate environmental responsibility views were assessed using a series of questions adapted from Cheahet al.’s (2011) study.

Findings

Environmental performance and assurance information had a greater influence on the investment judgments of investors with strong environmental responsibility views. In contrast, participants’ environmental performance return views did not moderate the influence of environmental performance and assurance information on their judgments. Supplemental analysis indicates that these contrasting results are due to the fact that the two investor views have differing influences on the relative importance that investors place on financial vs environmental performance information.

Research limitations/implications

This study presented participants with summarized financial and environmental performance information to maintain scale compatibility between financial and environmental measures. However, the information was presented in a format similar to those used by online brokerages.

Practical implications

This study suggests that financial statement preparers should consider investors’ views regarding the importance and value of environmental performance information when making decisions to disclose and obtain assurance on this information.

Social implications

Standard setters should consider individual differences among investors when developing guidance regarding the disclosure and assurance of environmental performance information.

Originality/value

There is limited prior research which examines how investors’ views of the importance of environmental performance information may influence investment judgments. This research indicates that the strength of investors’ environmental responsibility importance moderates the previously reported influence of environmental performance and assurance information on investment judgments.
Bank-based and market-based development and economic growth: an international investigation
Authors: Boadi Isaac , Osarfo Daniel , Boadi Perpetual
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative impact of bank-based and market-based financial developments on economic growth from 1984 to 2015, using 60countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses fixed effect and generalized method of moments (GMM) to investigate the relative impact of bank-based and market-based financial developments on economic growth from 1984 to 2015, using 60 countries. The study further controls regional effects and the Asian crisis, as well as the global economic crisis.

Findings

The empirical results of the study revealed that market-based development positively affects economic growth. Besides, market-based financial development indirectly promotes investment, which has the potential to strongly enhance growth. The findings of this study, therefore, provide more support to pro-market-based financial development policies in these regions. Interestingly, bank-based development has no direct impact on development, but indirectly encourages investment, which also promotes growth.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind to empirically examine fixed effect and GMM to investigate the relative impact of bank-based and market-based financial developments on economic growth from 1984 to 2015, using 60 countries.
Development of an optical tyrosinase biosensor (TCA) for detection of “Parathion-Methyl”
Authors: Polatoğlu İlker , Cakıcıoglu Ozkan Fehime
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a novel and cost-effective optical biosensor design by simple preparation method for detection of “parathion-methyl,” which is a model pesticide pose to public health and the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The optical enzyme biosensor (TCA) for detection of pesticide “parathion-methyl” was developed on the basis of immobilization of tyrosinase enzyme on chitosan film by adsorption technique. The analytic performance of TCA was investigated by measuring its activity with Ultraviolet (UV) visible spectrophotometer.

Findings

Uniform porous network structure and protonated groups of chitosan film provided a microenvironment for tyrosinase immobilization evident from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy analysis. TCA has a wide linear detection range (0-1.03 µM) with high correlation coefficient and it can detect the parathion-methyl concentration as low as 159 nM by noncompetitive inhibition kinetics. Using the TCA sensor both for ten times and at least 45 days without a significant loss in its activity are the indicators of its good operational and storage stability. Moreover, TCA can be applicable to tap water, providing a promising tool for pesticides detection.

Originality/value

This is the first time to use the in situ analytical technique that can improve the performance of optical enzyme sensor provided to control the pesticide residue better with respect to traditional techniques. The effect of organic solvents on the performance of optical enzyme biosensor was investigated. Inhibition kinetic of the solvents rarely encountered in literature was also studied besides the pH and temperature tolerance of the optical biosensor.
A paradox of place: civic education in the rural south
Authors: Moffa Eric
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Due to the complexities of place and the limited knowledge of citizenship education in rural contexts, the purpose of this paper is to examine civics teachers’ perceptions of place in rural schools and its influence on their decision making about the curriculum.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study design was utilized. Four 12th grade civics teachers were sampled across three rural schools in a southern state. Data came from interviews, classroom observations and teaching artifacts. A constant comparison method of data analysis led to the emergence of a major theme: the paradoxical treatment of place in civic education in rural schools.

Findings

Participants implemented place-based pedagogies while simultaneously promoting the narrative that students leave their home communities after graduation due to limited post-secondary opportunities (i.e. place-based learning for future (dis)placements). Participants reconciled leaving narratives and the displaced futures of students by emphasizing “the basics” devoid of place.

Originality/value

The paradoxical treatment of place, as influenced by teachers’ perceptions and civic sensibilities, contrasted with theoretical perspectives on place-based education that emphasize inhabiting and attending to place. Findings suggest the need to prepare rural civics teachers for place-conscious civic pedagogies to challenge paradoxical treatments of place and engender democratic investments in rural communities.