bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation in decision making: a case study of job satisfaction and commitment (part two)
Authors: H. Appelbaum Steven , Louis Damien , Makarenko Dmitry , Saluja Jasleena , Meleshko Olga , Kulbashian Sevag
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– When employees believe in and trust their management, it motivates and encourages employees' participation in decision making which improves employees' efforts, and benefits their job satisfaction and commitment to work. All of these factors, in turn, contribute to a trustworthy manager-employee relationship. While the literature supports this premise, there is little empirical evidence that patterns of causal inference in the relationship are clearly understood. This three-part empirical case aims to focus on studying the relations between employee trust in management in a Quebec manufacturing company and their job satisfaction, intention to quit, level of employee participation in decision making and their commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– This empirical case will test five hypotheses regarding seven variables influencing the level of employee engagement and commitment, employee turnover, employee participation in decision-making processes and job satisfaction.

Findings

– The article finds that employee trust in management is an important determinant of their willingness to participate in decision making. Insufficient employee participation in decision making in turn leads to low level of employee job satisfaction and employee commitment. Lack of employee commitment and engagement affects the employee's intention to quit.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample size of the office workers was not sufficient in order to have statistically significant results of the correlations between the variables for the production department employees, and for the office/administrative staff. This could have helped to determine the level of internal communication specifically, but also the level of all of the other variables for the two different groups of employees.

Practical implications

– This article offers useful insights for management in relation to strengthening interpersonal trust within an organization, introducing employee empowerment practices and increasing employee job satisfaction and commitment.

Social implications

– Due to lack of trust in management, there will be high employee turnover. This in its turn will have a negative effect on both the performance of management and employees' welfare.

Originality/value

– The findings provide empirical evidence to support theoretical models that link employee trust in management, participation in decision making, job satisfaction, commitment, and turnover intentions and highlight the impact of these factors on organizational performance.
Six Sigma in healthcare delivery
Authors: J. Liberatore Matthew
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the extant Six Sigma healthcare literature, focusing on: application, process changes initiated and outcomes, including improvements in process metrics, cost and revenue.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were obtained from an extensive literature search. Healthcare Six Sigma applications were categorized by functional area and department, key process metric, cost savings and revenue generation (if any) and other key implementation characteristics.

Findings

– Several inpatient care areas have seen most applications, including admission, discharge, medication administration, operating room (OR), cardiac and intensive care. About 42.1 percent of the applications have error rate as their driving metric, with the remainder focusing on process time (38 percent) and productivity (18.9 percent). While 67 percent had initial improvement in the key process metric, only 10 percent reported sustained improvement. Only 28 percent reported cost savings and 8 percent offered revenue enhancement. These results do not favorably assess Six Sigma's overall effectiveness and the value it offers healthcare. Results are based on reported applications. Future research can include directly surveying healthcare organizations to provide additional data for assessment.

Practical implications

– Future application should emphasize obtaining improvements that lead to significant and sustainable value. Healthcare staff can use the results to target promising areas.

Originality/value

– This article comprehensively assesses Six Sigma healthcare applications and impact.
Clinical quality improvement: eliminating unplanned extubation in the CCU
Authors: Chia Pow-Li , Rapi Santos Deanna , Chai Tan Tit , Leong Candice , Foo David
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This article aims to explore coronary care unit (CCU) extubation structures, processes and outcomes. There were 13 unplanned-extubation cases (UE) among 251 intubated patients (5.2 per cent) in a cardiologist-led CCU in 2008. Seven did not require re-intubation, implying possible earlier extubation. A quality improvement project was undertaken with a goal to eliminate CCU UE within 12 months.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using the clinical practice improvement (CPI) method, the most significant root causes were missing sedation/analgesia protocol, no ventilator weaning protocol and absent respiratory therapist during the CCU morning rounds. Non-physician directed sedation/analgesia and ventilation weaning protocols were created and put on trial in Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles before formal implementation. Arrangements were made to allocate a respiratory therapist to the CCU daily for morning rounds.

Findings

– For 12 months after fully implementing the interventions, UE incidence dropped from 5.2 per cent to 0.9 per cent (p=0.006). There were no adverse outcomes, re-intubation and/or readmission to CCU within 48 hours.

Practical implications

– Through a multi-disciplinary CPI approach, adopting non-physician directed protocols has successfully streamlined and improved airway management in mechanically ventilated patients in a cardiologist-led CCU.

Originality/value

– There is little published data on improving intubated patient care in cardiologist-led CCUs. Previous studies centered on intensive care units managed by critical care specialists.
The value of group affiliation: evidence from the 2008 financial crisis
Authors: Zhang Tianshu , Huang Jun
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to observe listed firms in China during the 2008 financial crisis and investigates how group affiliation affects firm value when the economy turns down. The paper focusses the study on answering the following questions: during the crisis, do affiliated firms have higher or lower stock returns than independent firms? Does corporate governance relate to the value of group firms? How does group affiliation influence firm value? Does performance of affiliated entrepreneurial firms differ from affiliated state-owned enterprises (SOEs)?

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses non-parametric tests and regression analysis on a sample of 1,469 Chinese listed companies to investigate the research questions.

Findings

– Affiliated firms have lower stock returns than independent firms by 1.91 percent during September to December of 2008. This poor performance is even worse for firms seriously shocked by the crisis. Good corporate governance can mitigate the negative effects of group affiliation on firm value. The lower valuation of affiliated firms lies in the fact that controlling shareholders undertake more related party transactions at the expense of minority shareholders. Finally, although business groups can provide internal financing for entrepreneurial firms in China, affiliated entrepreneurial firms experience a larger value decrease than affiliated SOEs due to the conflict interest between controlling and minority shareholders.

Originality/value

– This research provides unique evidence about the performance of group-affiliated firms during the 2008 financial crisis and documents the mechanisms through which group affiliation influences firm value.
IPO lockups, founder power, and executive compensation
Authors: He Lerong , Wan Hong
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between IPO lockups and founder-CEOs’ compensation and incentives in newly public firms. The paper argues that existence and length of lockup agreements are affected by bargaining power of founders, which will consequently influence the determination of their compensation contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multivariate tests are constructed to examine the relationship between IPO lockups and executive compensation. OLS, fixed-effect panel data model, and the Heckman two-stage model are all utilized to conduct the tests.

Findings

– The study finds that lockup existence and lockup length are negatively related to founder-CEOs’ total compensation and positively related to founder-CEOs’ equity incentives. The results hold after controlling for the endogenous decision to sign a lockup agreement at the IPO.

Research limitation/implications

– The paper's results suggest that the power of founders and other insiders is a crucial factor in the lockup determination process besides economic factors identified in previous studies. The paper's results also echo the political power theory in the management literature which suggests that an organization's decision making is heavily influenced by relative power of organizational members and reflects their preference.

Originality/value

– The paper raises a new explanation for the determinant of IPO lockups that supplements the extant theories. The paper argues that existence and length of lockup agreements could be affected by bargaining power of insiders.
“Punching above their weight”
Authors: J. Contractor Farok
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the sources of competitive strength of emerging market multinationals (EMMs). Since most lack firm-specific assets such as internalized knowledge or globally recognized brands, especially in their early international growth, and emanate from less-developed nations, the success of EMMs has to be explained by identifying factors in their home nations and international scope which make these firms internationally competitive.

Design/methodology/approach

– A comprehensive review of the extant literature and company cases identified several sources of competitive advantage for emerging market firms. Since conclusive evidence is still unavailable, many of these factors are proposed as hypotheses for future empirical research. Where needed, contrary viewpoints are also discussed and cited.

Findings

– This paper identifies several possible location-specific assets of emerging market companies including the mindset of top management of EMMs (such as long term orientation, global or cosmopolitan perspectives, a degree of humility that recognizes the need to catch-up by learning from foreign allies and customers, tolerance for ambiguity, and frugality) and home country cultural traits such as emphasis on relationships, family control, and private equity capital. Other sources of competitiveness may lie in the home country pool of technical talent and cheap labor, the extensive diasporas of persons of Chinese, Indian and Brazilian origin, and the role of common language as determinants for the geographical pattern of FDI from emerging nations.

Originality/value

– This paper serves the dual purpose of providing a comprehensive literature review of this topic for doctoral or Masters students, and specifying hypotheses (as well as opposing views) for further investigation.
Fashion product display
Authors: Wu Juanjuan , Won Ju Hae , Kim Jieun , Damminga Cara , Kim Hye-Young , K.P. Johnson Kim
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of three virtual fashion stores using product display methods dominant by colour, visual texture and style coordination on consumers' retailer interest, retail pleasure, perception of merchandise quality, patronage intention, and purchase behaviour to provide empirically tested, actionable product display methods to visual merchandising researchers and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used mixed methods for this exploratory study, combining experimental and focus group methods to gather data. For the experiment, data were collected via a between-subjects design reflecting manipulation of three variables (i.e. colour, style coordination, visual texture). After the experiment, participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire. A segment of the participants also participated in focus group discussions of the virtual stores.

Findings

– Participants who shopped in the style coordination store spent significantly more money than those who shopped in colour or visual texture stores. Participants who shopped in the colour store experienced significantly more retail pleasure and showed significantly higher patronage intention than those who shopped in the visual texture and style coordination stores; and they showed more retailer interest than subjects in the visual texture store. Retail pleasure and interest were found to mediate the link between methods of product display and patronage intention. Participants' fashion involvement moderated the relationship between fashion product display methods and retail interest.

Originality/value

– This research is one of the first to create three virtual stores featuring product display methods dominant by colour, visual texture, and style coordination using 3D technology – a Mockshop software package. The effect of these different display methods on shoppers' reactions and responses was tested, which provided actionable results for visual merchandising practitioners, not only in the physical but also in the virtual store environment.
Sustainability of digital information services
Authors: Chowdhury Gobinda
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a model which serves to illustrate that a number of factors are responsible for, and contribute to, the different forms of sustainability of digital information services. It also seeks to identify some areas of information research and their interrelationship in the context of sustainability of digital information services.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research is based on critical analysis of a range of research and policy documents, and an environment scan, in different aspects of sustainability of information systems and services. Recent and relevant past research studies as well as some relevant government policies and initiatives have been critically analyzed in order to identify various factors that are said to contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services.

Findings

– It is noted that the sustainability of information has not been studied within the mainstream information science research. However, several previous research studies have produced findings and models that can be used to achieve some aspects of sustainability of information. It is also noted that various parameters of sustainability are inter-related and hence a proper research agenda has to be prepared, and concerted research efforts are needed in order to be able to develop and manage sustainable digital information services.

Practical implications

– A model has been proposed showing the various factors to be studied for achieving the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services. Interrelations among the different factors and their implications for sustainability of digital information systems services are also discussed.

Originality/value

– The model is expected to open new vistas for research in the economic, social and environmental sustainability of digital information systems and services. It will develop new tools, technologies and applications for building sustainable information systems and services appropriate for the digital era.
An interaction and interface design framework for video digital libraries
Authors: Albertson Dan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a framework applicable to interactive video retrieval. The objective of the framework is so that it can be applied conceptually for understanding users and use of video digital libraries, and also practically for designing retrieval components like user interfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

– The framework was developed through a user-centered and analytical approach, and serves as an initial attempt at generalizing how users interact when searching and browsing digital video, throughout different situations, along with the general designs that can be supportive.

Findings

– The framework is two-fold, yet, together, comprises one set of conceptual findings. The first component of the framework depicts generalized user interactions throughout varying contexts of an interactive video retrieval process, followed by a second component, an illustration of the resulting supportive interface designs or sets of features. Cautions from previous studies not to over generalize the interactive process were heeded.

Research limitations/implications

– The implications for such research are based on the understanding that video retrieval will benefit from the advancement of user-centered foundations, which can guide and support design decisions for resources like digital libraries.

Originality/value

– The need for this study is rather straightforward: there is currently not enough conceptual research of interactive video retrieval from a user-centered perspective, which contrasts with other areas of information retrieval research where the interaction process has been thoroughly examined for a variety of domains and contexts with implications for different retrieval tools like OPACs, search engines, and article databases.
Integrating service-learning and humanitarian logistics education
Authors: P. Goffnett Sean , Keith Helferich Omar , Buschlen Eric
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Humanitarian logistics is critical to providing relief to people in regions affected by hardship and disaster. This study examines literature on humanitarian logistics and service-learning and evaluates the integration of concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

– An exploratory case study approach was used to understand the integration of service-learning and humanitarian logistics. This was achieved by exploring current literature, piloting courses, providing relief, and documenting factors that facilitate successful service-learning experiences.

Findings

– Findings from this information-oriented work demonstrate the applicability of service-learning methods in humanitarian logistics education and contributes to current research by addressing urgent global needs.

Practical implications

– This case has practical relevance for logistics educators, humanitarian agencies, and service-learning leaders as it outlines various challenges and steps to developing a humanitarian logistics course with potential pathways for research. By integrating the theories and principles of service-learning with major logistics and supply-chain management concepts, colleges, and universities in collaboration with relief agencies can facilitate an impactful humanitarian logistics learning experience that provides needed support to disaster response.

Originality/value

– There is a scarcity of literature that connects humanitarian logistics and service-learning. This case shows that the service-learning movement shares a common purpose with many humanitarian organizations that work to foster citizenship, education, and community well-being. This paper is a first of its kind to study the efforts necessary to create a successful humanitarian logistics course that benefits students, faculty, communities, and institutions through applying service-learning principles.
Learning mechanisms for humanitarian logistics
Authors: Lu Qing , Goh Mark , De Souza Robert
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– As humanitarian organizations often operate in highly volatile environments, a good understanding of their learning mechanisms would improve the knowledge acquisition and retention in these organizations, and complement the formal logistics education and training for their relief staff. The paper explores the following research question: what learning mechanisms are used by humanitarian organizations to acquire sufficient knowledge for their logistics operations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper opts for a theoretical study based on the existing literature. We apply organizational learning theory to examine the learning process and mechanisms of humanitarian organizations. An actual case is used to validate the findings.

Findings

– The study develops a theoretical framework for the learning mechanism of humanitarian organizations, and reports four learning mechanisms: learning by hiring, learning by doing, learning by observing, and learning by searching. Five propositions are proposed for empirical validation.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the theoretical nature of the study, the research is still an exploratory one. The organization learning literature employed is not comprehensive. Researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for humanitarian organization to better manage their learning processes, improve the effectiveness of their knowledge management, and benefit more disaster-affected people.

Originality/value

– This paper fills a gap in the learning processes and knowledge management of humanitarian organizations.
“Fact” and “fiction”: enlivening health care education
Authors: Sheridan Alison , O'Sullivan Jane
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to demonstrate how close analysis of cultural narratives can be employed as effective pedagogical tools in the explication and critique of specific workplace issues relevant to health management education.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two narratives have been selected to illustrate this point: the apparently “fictional” UK-based medical television drama series Bodies (2005-2006) and the apparently “factual” report of an Australian state government public inquiry into acute health care, the Garling Report.

Findings

– Through their demonstration of how analyses of selected segments of these texts can be used in health management education, the authors conclude that the comparative analyses of ostensibly “fictional” and “factual” narratives allow for analysis and critique of the inadequacies of new public management (NPM) applied to the health care industry, leading to a greater understanding of wider ideological effects on public perceptions.

Practical implications

– The authors argue that these understandings enliven students' learning experiences, and that such comparative analyses should be applied more widely across health management education to develop students' critical skills and openness to exploring alternative models.

Originality/value

– Comparative analysis of cultural texts is novel in health care education, and allows for the interrogation of ideology and its effects.
Improving care for people after stroke: how change was actively facilitated
Authors: Bamford David , Rothwell Katy , Tyrrell Pippa , Boaden Ruth
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to report on the approach to change used in the development of a tool to assess patient status six months after stroke (the Greater Manchester Stroke Assessment Tool: GM-SAT).

Design/methodology/approach

– The overall approach to change is based on the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARiHS) Framework, which involves extensive stakeholder engagement before implementation. A key feature was the use of a facilitator without previous clinical experience.

Findings

– The active process of change involved a range of stakeholders – commissioners, patients and professionals – as well as review of published research evidence. The result of this process was the creation of the GM-SAT.

Practical implications

– The details of the decision processes within the tool included a range of perspectives; the process of localisation led commissioners to identify gaps in care provision as well as learning from others in terms of how services might be provided and organised. The facilitator role was key at all stages in bringing together the wide range of perspectives; the relatively neutral perceived status of the facilitator enabled resistance to change to be minimised.

Social implications

– The output of this project, the GM-SAT, has the potential to significantly improve patients' physical, psychological and social outcomes and optimise their quality of life. This will be explored further in future phases of work.

Originality/value

– A structured process of change which included multiple stakeholder involvement throughout, localisation of approaches and a dedicated independent facilitator role was effective in achieving the development of a useful tool (GM-SAT).
The development and deploymentof electronic personal health records
Authors: Lewis Mark , Baxter Ryan , Pouder Richard
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of strategic position on the ability of an entrepreneurial firm to successfully develop and deploy electronic personal health records technology within the US healthcare industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses an in-depth longitudinal case study methodology.

Findings

– The study contributes by juxtaposing a longitudinal view of how the focal firm proposed and acted on different strategic positions in an attempt to achieve development and deployment success. In doing so, the study also elaborates on Porter's recognition that firms need to make trade-offs when choosing a strategic position, as the purposeful limitation of service offerings can protect against the degradation of existing value creating activities.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors' study highlights the enormous challenge of facilitating the adoption and diffusion of technology enabled interventions in the US healthcare ecosystem. Future research that combines both interdisciplinary and multi-level investigation and analysis is sorely needed to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the phenomenon and to encourage the development and deployment of useful technology enabled interventions within the US healthcare industry.

Practical implications

– While the fragmented nature of the healthcare industry provides opportunities for entrepreneurial firms, such complexity within the ecosystem should not be underestimated as a reason for concern for small firms.

Social implications

– Total economic burden due to chronic diseases and other healthcare-related expenses is massive for the USA. Consequently, prevention and early detection of future disease states has become a core component of the current healthcare reform debate. EPHRs are considered one core component of a broader healthcare strategy to improve health outcomes and lower costs. By deepening our understanding of how best to develop and deploy such interventions, society will surely benefit.

Originality/value

– The longitudinal nature of the authors' study provides a unique opportunity to understand the dynamic interrelationships between context, position, and performance within the US healthcare industry.
Exploring the perceptions of auditor independence in Indonesia
Authors: Irmawan Yudi , Hudaib Mohammad , Haniffa Roszaini
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of auditors and users of their reports on auditor independence in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

– Auditors and users are requested to stated their confidence in the level of independence in 34 scenarios. Descriptive and χ2 test are the used to analyse the difference of perceptions amongst groups. The paper then conduct an interview with a senior officer of audit regulator body to better understand the findings.

Findings

– Both groups have less confidence on auditor independence in 30 situations. Results between auditors and users indicate auditors having lower confidence on auditor independence than users in situations related to crossover from audit firm to client, provision of NAS, auditor litigation and indirect financial interest through shareholdings while users have lower confidence on auditor independence involving personal relationship with a political figure and client imposing strict budget on audit fees. Within the auditor group, non-Big 4 auditors expressed more concerned for situations related to family relationship and restriction on audit fees.

Originality/value

– Research on auditor independence in Indonesia remains scarce despite the country's eagerness to adopt “international” accounting and auditing standards. In addition, the cultural context of Indonesia also helped in explaining our findings.
International positioning through online city branding: the case of Chengdu
Authors: Björner Emma
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The aim of the present study is to add to the existing research on online city branding by studying how metropolitan cities are internationally positioned using the internet and online branding. The focus is on objectives and strategies, method and expression (including five illustrations), and challenges in online city branding.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article relies on a single-case study approach, using the Chinese city of Chengdu as a case and illustration. Methods used are interviews, observations and documentation (including online material).

Findings

– The study illustrates how Chengdu uses online city branding in its international positioning. Chengdu's online branding is influenced by certain imagery, as well as challenges. Collaboration and endorsement crystalize as central elements in Chengdu's online city branding.

Research limitations/implications

– This article and study can be seen as an important element in broadening the understanding for online city branding to international audiences.

Practical implications

– The study offers insights to practitioners on how online city branding is carried out in a Chinese context and in the city of Chengdu.

Originality/value

– The study can be regarded as an important contribution to an area of practice and research which still is fairly new and unexplored, and an area that hitherto has not been well covered in the international literature.
Impact of cultural differences on foreign customers' perceived local services
Authors: Lin Chinho , Nguyen Conghoang , Lin Binshan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate and explain the influence of cultural differences on foreign customers' perceptions of the local service marketplace through their consumption experience.

Design/methodology/approach

– Exploratory research was conducted by conducting semi-structured interviews and using critical incidents technique to identify foreign customers' perception of each service. A purposive sampling method was used to collect 70 participants to recall their experience in the five most used services, including transportation, convenience stores, restaurants, healthcare, and banking.

Findings

– The results found 286 critical incidents in four main categories of the physical environment, employee behavior, value, and functionality. The participants were likely to mention positive arguments. The results also provide evidence that Western customers were more likely than their Asian counterparts to have a negative perception of local services.

Research limitations/implications

– The study combines all the participants' perceptions of all the most used services together for measurement; therefore, it may imply some various results for individual services. This paper has several limitations that need to be recognized in interpreting its findings.

Practical implications

– These results have cross-cultural implications, especially that foreign consumers really see services in a very simplistic manner. International service providers can take advantage of economies of scale and experience curve effects, while local service providers can also make efforts to attract foreign customers.

Originality/value

– The findings provide an initial step towards developing a comprehensive understanding of foreign consumers' perceptions of local services and make a theoretical contribution to the applicability of cross-cultural marketing.
The M Curve and the multinationality-performance relationship of Korean INVs
Authors: Hyeock (Ian) Lee In
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Using data from a sample of new high technology manufacturing start-ups in Korea, the purpose of this paper is to examine the multinationality-performance relationship of international new ventures (INVs) which are born regional in terms of exporting activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper estimates econometric models as both cubic and quartic fits between the degree of multinationality and firm performance of Korean INVs using a feasible generalized least square (FGLS) regression method.

Findings

– It is found that the relationship between the INVs' degree of multinationality and firm performance is M-shaped, supporting the augmentation from the traditional S-curve fit applied to multinational enterprises (MNEs). In addition, in terms of performance implications, high technology manufacturing INVs perform better in their home region than in non-home regions when the degree of multinationality is mediocre or becomes very high. Finally, these findings hold for diverse performance measures.

Originality/value

– This paper assesses if it is really needed to go beyond the S-shaped curve with a sample of INVs, and how much the addition of the fourth degree polynomial term may increase the empirical model's explained variance between the two model specifications.
The economic rationale for option backdating: incentive explanations
Authors: Fang Hongyan , Whidbee David
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence in support of incentive and retention-based explanations for backdating.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use matching-firm techniques and the bivariate logistic model.

Findings

– Backdating firms tend to be younger and faster growing – the characteristics of firms with growing demand for skilled labor. Further, rather than experiencing poor performance, backdating firms tend to outperform matching firms in both prior- and post-backdating years.

Originality/value

– The results suggest that backdating reflects a firm's demand for valuable employees rather than strictly a manifestation of agency problems, as evidenced by previous study.
Quality: where have we come from and what can we expect?
Authors: Brown Alan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the major themes of the quality movement in the past 25 years along with some of the lessons learnt from this. The future direction of quality is then explored by identifying a number of issues which are likely to impact on quality in organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach is a review of trends in the academic, professional and business world around quality.

Findings

–The main outcomes from the past 25 years of quality are presented and discussed along with the lessons from this experience. A number of current and future trends on the quality movement are identified and discussed.

Research limitations/implications

– Emerging trends are identified which could provide the stimulus for future research.

Originality/value

– Lessons for managers and leaders on the mistakes of the past and matters which they will need to deal with in the future are presented.
The TQM legacy – Gurus’ contributions and theoretical impact
Authors: Zairi Mohamed
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the various contributions made by Gurus who have impacted significantly on the theory and practice of total quality management (TQM) over the past 100 years.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses the solid foundation created by the various thoughts, concepts, principles and methods contributed by specifically considered individuals.

Findings

– The methodology makes the case for the legacy that TQM has created and in particular, its unique additions to theory building.

Originality/value

– A unique examination of a century of TQM Gurus.
Action ethics: using action method techniques to facilitate training on ethical practice
Authors: Newns Kerri , Paul Moli , Creedy Kate
Published: September 2013

This article describes how we facilitated a family therapy training day that privileged experiential learning when teaching ethics. Our approach used a range of action methods as learning activities selected from different disciplines. The theoretical basis on which these ideas were taught was drawn from types and categories of rights, balancing rights and parents' and children's rights. The teaching of these ethical frameworks, facilitated through action methods, enabled trainees to apply rights‐related reasoning to link theory to practice. Systemic social constructionist connections with action methods are explored and the term action ethics is used to describe the process of teaching ethical thinking and reasoning in a clinical context.

Practitioner Points

Clinical ethics in family therapy is best taught using action method techniques to facilitate trainees learning.

The application of action method techniques in training creates opportunities for reflexive ethical therapy.

Action method techniques applied in family therapy training develops trainees' skills in rights related ethical reasoning and thinking.
Accounting Standards and Earnings Management: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhou Donghua , Habib Ahsan
Published: September 2013

This article examines the effect of an asset impairment–related regulatory reform on earnings management in China. Chinese Accounting Standard No. 8 (CAS No. 8), which prohibits the reversal of long‐lived asset impairments, was promulgated to constrain managerial opportunism with respect to previously recognized impairment loss reversal. CAS No. 8 forbids the reversal of long‐lived asset impairment losses only, while allowing the reversal of short‐term asset impairment losses. Based on a sample of China's A‐share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange during the period 2001–2008, we reveal that managers use less current asset write‐downs and more reversals in the post–CAS No. 8 period. However, such reporting practices do not appear to be influenced by managerial incentives to avoid reporting losses and/or for “big bath” accounting purposes.
FXTAS in an unmethylated mosaic male with fragile X syndrome from Chile
Authors: Santa María L. , Pugin A. , Alliende M.A. , Aliaga S. , Curotto B. , Aravena T. , Tang H.‐T. , Mendoza‐Morales G. , Hagerman R. , Tassone F.
Published: September 2013

Carriers of an FMR1 premutation allele (55–200 CGG repeats) often develop the neurodegenerative disorders, fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Neurological signs of FXTAS, parkinsonism and rapid onset of cognitive decline have not been reported in individuals with an unmethylated full mutation (FM). Here, we report a Chilean family affected with FXS, inherited from a parent carrier of an FMR1 unmethylated full mosaic allele, who presented with a fast progressing FXTAS. This case suggests that the definition of FXTAS may need to be broadened to not only include those with a premutation but also those with an expanded allele in FM range with a lack of methylation leading to elevated FMR1‐mRNA expression levels and subsequent RNA toxicity.
Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma with sequential development of nodal marginal zone lymphoma in a patient with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency
Authors: Wobser Marion , Kerstan Andreas , Kneitz Hermann , Goebeler Matthias , Kunzmann Volker , Rosenwald Andreas , Geissinger Eva
Published: September 2013

Multiple lymphoma subtypes occurring within one patient is rare in the context of B‐cell lymphoma, and only few such cases have been reported in association with primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL). We herein describe the case of a 43‐year‐old patient who was diagnosed with PCMZL and subsequently developed a clonally unrelated nodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). At the time of diagnosis of PCMZL, multiple skin lesions were present. The atypical lymphoid infiltrate showed monotypic expression of immunoglobulin light chain lambda and heavy chain (IgM) on immunohistochemistry and an identical B‐cell clone. No sign of systemic lymphoma was present in staging examinations. Complete remission was achieved utilizing rituximab. After a 3‐year clinical course of repetitive cutaneous relapses and remissions, the patient additionally developed nodal lymphoma involvement by MZL which, however, harbored an immunophenotype and a genetic clone distinct from the cutaneous lymphoma counterpart. Therefore, the rare occurrence of two different types of MZL with sequential evolution was diagnosed. In this uncommon case, we hypothesize that selective immunoglobulin A deficiency may play a promoting role for the metachronous development of the two MZL that occurred in our patient.
Vitamin D hydroxylases CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Urbschat Anja , Paulus Patrick , von Quernheim Quirine Freiin , Brück Patrick , Badenhoop Klaus , Zeuzem Stefan , Ramos‐Lopez Elizabeth
Published: September 2013

Background

There is increasing evidence that vitamin D metabolites influence carcinogenesis. Besides its role in mineral homoeostasis, calcitriol, the active metabolite of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3), is known to possess antiproliferative, proapoptotic and immunomodulatory effects in cancer. Concerning the synthesis of vitamin D, the hydroxylases CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 play a critical role, and the latter molecule determines the biological half‐life of 1,25(OH)2D3, which is synthesized in the proximal renal tubules.

Materials and methods

The adjacency of these two biological processes prompted us to investigate the gene expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 in patients with ccRCC. Using RT‐PCR, we retrospectively compared mRNA expression profiles from human ccRCC tumour samples with those derived from the corresponding adjacent healthy tissues (n = 30).

Results

We observed that all three genes (CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A1) were upregulated in tumours compared with normal tissue (P < 0·0001). Moreover, CYP24A1 displayed a significantly higher expression in tumours than CYP27B1 (P < 0·05) and CYP2R1 (P < 0·0001), whereas no differences in the expression of these genes were found in healthy renal tissue. Gene expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and CYP24A did not differ between pathological classifications (TNM, grading, presence of metastasis).

Conclusion

We thus conclude that upregulated gene expression of the catabolizing CYP24A1 as well as the synthesizing CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 may lead to a misbalance of vitamin D metabolites in ccRCC and thus contributing to its pathogenesis.
Can you read my pokerface? A study on sex differences in dentophobia
Authors: Leutgeb Verena , Übel Sonja , Schienle Anne
Published: September 2013

Men and women with dentophobia differ in specific fear contents and underlying brain activity during symptom provocation. Possible sex differences concerning other basic emotions, such as disgust, have undergone minimal investigation. Therefore, we recorded the facial electromyogram from the musculus levator labii (as a specific disgust indicator) and the heart rate of 36 individuals with dentophobia (18 women and 18 men with comparable disorder severity) and of 36 non‐phobic controls (18 women and 18 men). The participants were asked to look at pictures showing dental treatment scenes, generally fear‐ and disgust‐inducing, as well as pictures with neutral contents. Subsequently they performed an affective picture rating. Independently of sex, phobic subjects relative to controls showed heart‐rate acceleration when watching pictures of dental treatment scenes, reflecting a fear reaction. Male and female phobic subjects did not differ in their verbal reports of fear and disgust experienced. However, phobic women showed enhanced disgust‐related facial electromyographic activity to dental treatment scenes relative to men. This sex‐specific response pattern points to the greater relevance of disgust for the female symptomatology of dentophobia, or it might also be possible that male patients more successfully inhibit disgust reactions during confrontation.
Sexual Signals as Advertisers of Resistance to Mistakes
Authors: Cardoso Gonçalo C.
Published: September 2013

To be evolutionarily stable, sexual signals need to convey information regarding the quality or motivation of individuals. This can be achieved through direct or indirect signal costs that guarantee honest communication or through signal designs that facilitate the assessment of quality. Here, I present the case for an alternative hypothesis: that signalling exposes informative mistakes. Signalling mistakes range from occasional to frequent and from slight distortions of typical signals to grossly atypical signals. Their occurrence may be enhanced by disease or stress, thus revealing individual quality or motivation, and receivers typically respond negatively to them. By this mechanism, honest communication is due to costs of developing resistance to mistakes. Therefore, the hypothesis can function independently of signal design costs, although it can also be enhanced by signal design costs when those increase the occurrence of mistakes. This hypothesis widens the scope of signals expected to be sexually selected and creates new approaches to research in sexual selection and animal communication.
Amino acid residues crucial for specificity of toxin–antitoxin interactions in the homologous Axe–Txe and YefM–YoeB complexes
Authors: Połom Dorota , Boss Lidia , Węgrzyn Grzegorz , Hayes Finbarr , Kędzierska Barbara
Published: September 2013

Toxin–antitoxin complexes are ubiquitous in bacteria. The specificity of interactions between toxins and antitoxins from homologous but non‐interacting systems was investigated. Based on molecular modeling, selected amino acid residues were changed to assess which positions were crucial in the specificity of toxin–antitoxin interaction in the related Axe–Txe and YefM–YoeB complexes. No cross‐interactions between wild‐type proteins were detected. However, a single amino acid substitution that converts a Txe‐specific residue to a YoeB‐specific residue reduced, but did not abolish, Txe interaction with the Axe antitoxin. Interestingly, this alteration (Txe‐Asp83Tyr) promoted functional interactions between Txe and the YefM antitoxin. The interactions between Txe‐Asp83Tyr and YefM were sufficiently strong to abolish Txe toxicity and to allow effective corepression by YefM‐Txe‐Asp83Tyr of the promoter from which yefM–yoeB is expressed. We conclude that Asp83 in Txe is crucial for the specificity of toxin–antitoxin interactions in the Axe–Txe complex and that swapping this residue for the equivalent residue in YoeB relaxes the specificity of the toxin–antitoxin interaction.

Structured digital abstract

Axe and Txe physically interact by two hybrid (View interaction)

YoeB and YefM physically interact by two hybrid (View interaction)