bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Panoramic Insights into the Microevolution and Macroevolution ofPrevotella copri-containing Lineage in Primate Guts
Authors: Li Hao , Meier-Kolthoff Jan P. , Hu Can-Xin , Wang Zhong-Jie , Zhu Jun , Zheng Wei , Tian Yun , Guo Feng
Published: July 2020

Prevotella copriand related taxa are widely detected in mammalian gut microbiomes and have been linked with one human enterotype. However, their microevolution and macroevolution among hosts are poorly characterized. In this study, extensively collected marker genes and genomes were analyzed to trace their evolutionary history, host specificity, and biogeographic distribution. Investigations based on 16S rRNA gene,gyrB, and genomes suggested that a multi-specificP. copri-containing lineage (PCL) harbors diverse species in higher primates. Firstly,P. copriis the dominant species of PCL in the human gut and consists of multiple groups exhibiting high genomic divergence and conspicuous but non-strict biogeographic pattern. Most African strains with high genomic divergence from other strains were phylogenetically placed near the species root, indicating the co-evolutionary history ofP. copriandHomo sapiens. Secondly, although long-term co-evolution between PCL and higher primates was revealed, sporadic signals of co-speciation and extensive host jumping of PCL members were observed among higher primates. Metagenomic and phylogenetic analyses indicated thatP. copriand other PCL species found in captive mammals have been recently transmitted from humans. Thirdly, strong evidence was found on the extensively horizontal transfer of genes (e.g., carbohydrate-active enzyme encoding genes) among sympatricP. coprigroups and PCL species in the same primate host. Our study provides panoramic insights into the complex effects of vertical and horizontal transmission, and potential niche adaption on speciation, host, and biogeographical distribution spanning microevolutionary and macroevolutionary history for a certain gut bacterial lineage.

Importance

Prevotella copriand its related taxa, which we designated asPrevotella copri-containing lineage (PCL) in the present study, are widely detected in guts of human, non-human primates and many captive mammals, showing positive or negative correlation to some human diseases. However, a comprehensive understanding on its microevolutionary (withinP. copri) and macroevolutionary (among PCL members) history across host species and host biogeography is still lacking. According to our analysis based on 16S rRNA gene,gyrBand genomes, we provided the panoramic insights into the putative effects of vertical transfer, horizontal transmission and potential niche selection on host and biogeographical distribution of this gut bacterial lineage andP. copri. To our knowledge, it is the first time that a gut bacterial lineage was studied at both micro- and macroevolutionary levels, which can aid our systematic understanding on the host-microbe co-evolutionary interactions.
Combinatorial CRISPR screening reveals functional buffering in autophagy
Authors: Diehl Valentina , Wegner Martin , Grumati Paolo , Husnjak Koraljka , Schaubeck Simone , Gubas Andrea , Shah Varun Jayeshkumar , Langschied Felix , Kalousi Alkmini , Ebersberger Ingo , Dikic Ivan , Kaulich Manuel
Published: July 2020

Functional genomics studies in model organisms and human cell lines provided important insights into gene functions and their context-dependent role in genetic circuits. However, our functional understanding of many of these genes and how they combinatorically regulate key biological processes, remains limited. To enable the SpCas9-dependent mapping of gene-gene interactions in human cells, we established 3Cs multiplexing for the generation of combinatorial gRNA libraries in a distribution-unbiased manner and demonstrate its robust performance. The optimal number for combinatorial hit calling was 16 gRNA pairs and the skew of a library’s distribution was identified as a critical parameter dictating experimental scale and data quality. Our approach enabled us to investigate 247,032 gRNA-pairs targeting 12,736 gene-interactions in human autophagy. We identified novel genes essential for autophagy and provide experimental evidence that gene-associated categories of phenotypic strengths exist in autophagy. Furthermore, circuits of autophagy gene interactions reveal redundant nodes driven by paralog genes. Our combinatorial 3Cs approach is broadly suitable to investigate unexpected gene-interaction phenotypes in unperturbed and diseased cell contexts.
Crystal structure of GH30-7 endoxylanase C from the filamentous fungusTalaromyces cellulolyticus
Authors: Nakamichi Yusuke , Fujii Tatsuya , Watanabe Masahiro , Matsushika Akinori , Inoue Hiroyuki
Published: July 2020

GH30-7 endoxylanase C from the cellulolytic fungusTalaromyces cellulolyticus(TcXyn30C) belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 30 subfamily 7, and specifically releases 22-(4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronosyl)-xylobiose from glucuronoxylan, as well as various arabino-xylooligosaccharides from arabinoxylan.TcXyn30C has a modular structure consisting of a catalytic domain and a C-terminal cellulose-binding module 1 (CBM1). In this study, the crystal structure of aTcXyn30C mutant which lacks the CBM1 domain was determined at 1.65 Å resolution. The structure of the active site ofTcXyn30C was compared with that of the bifunctional GH30-7 xylanase B fromT. cellulolyticus(TcXyn30B), which exhibits glucuronoxylanase and xylobiohydrolase activities. The results revealed thatTcXyn30C has a conserved structural feature for recognizing the 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid (MeGlcA) substituent in subsite −2b. Additionally, the results demonstrated that Phe47 contributes significantly to catalysis byTcXyn30C. Phe47 is located in subsite −2b and also near the C-3 hydroxyl group of a xylose residue in subsite −2a. Substitution of Phe47 with an arginine residue caused a remarkable decrease in the catalytic efficiency towards arabinoxylan, suggesting the importance of Phe47 in arabinoxylan hydrolysis. These findings indicate that subsite −2b ofTcXyn30C has unique structural features that interact with arabinofuranose and MeGlcA substituents.
Accounting for work conditions from modern slavery to decent work
Authors: Christ Katherine Leanne , Burritt Roger Leonard , Schaltegger Stefan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

With the initial focus on the extreme end of the work conditions continuum where, in the last decade, legislation has been introduced to combat illegal and illegitimate practices, this issue's lead paper provides an overview on key topics of extreme work conditions of modern slavery and accounting. The paper introduces the Special Issue on “Accounting for modern slavery, employees and work conditions in business” and its selected papers.

Design/methodology/approach

The method adopted is a wide-ranging literature review exploring the continuum of work conditions and their relationship to accounting, especially extreme exploitation of workers through modern slavery.

Findings

Employment and workplace conditions and practices in business can be viewed as a continuum ranging from the illegal and illegitimate practices of modern slavery, through unethical and often illegal practices such as wages theft, to decent work. Given this continuum, in this Special Issue avenues are identified for accounting research to provide an account of the effectiveness of actions taken to eliminate modern slavery and overcome grey areas of work conditions.

Practical implications

The paper helps to create an improved understanding of different types of exploitation in work conditions in different industries and the role accounting might play in research and practice.

Social implications

Slavery did not end with abolition in the 19th century. Instead, it changed its forms and continues to harm people in every country in the world especially in certain industries, of which several are discussed and accounting advice proffered. Likewise, as reflected in Special Issue papers, the role of accounting in reducing less extreme forms of poor work conditions is also considered.

Originality/value

The paper provides an overview of different forms and degrees of exploitation in work conditions and identifies the need for and areas of accounting research in this emerging area.
Tradition, innovation and relationships: emergent profiles from agro-food Italian industry
Authors: Cosentino Antonietta , Paoloni Paola , Iannone Barbara , Temperini Valerio
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the link between innovation technology (IT), relationships which affect the relational capital (RC), and intangible value for the environment, focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of agro-food sector (AFS) in which these topics are prominent.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a qualitative research methodology, based on a multiple case study. The empirical data were obtained from interviews designed to reveal the determinants of the Paoloni's CAOS model (characteristics, ambience, organization, start-up) useful to analyze the relational capital from the firm's perspective. The content analysis shows the most important factors influence the relationships of the companies analyzed.

Findings

The empirical analysis highlights the strong link between tradition and innovation in the AFS and its positive effects on corporate sustainability and company relationships as well as in enhancing knowledge. The introduction of ITs and the positive effects it produces in terms of efficiency, product quality, environmental sustainability and new communication channels is an important factor that influences business's relationships.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the RC literature by stressing how ITs improve not only the executive process and performance of SMEs, but also the intangible resources of the territory. Accordingly, it provides both triggers for future research in the AFS, as well as suggestions to SMEs decision-makers to enhance their competitiveness. Furthermore, the paper offers insights to push policy makers in adopting policies that favor ITs investments in the AFS.
An examination of associations between business process management capabilities and the benefits of digitalization: all capabilities are not equal
Authors: Antonucci Yvonne Lederer , Fortune Annetta , Kirchmer Mathias
Published: July 2020

Purpose

While organizations have learned to understand the importance of developing business process management (BPM) capabilities, digitalization now transforms business processes, and introduces new challenges. Extending prior research examining the value of BPM capabilities in organizations, this study examines the associations of BPM capabilities across direct and indirect digitalization benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the capabilities perspective of strategic management, the dynamic versus ordinary classification was used to classify eight BPM capabilities. An empirical investigation of associations between the eight BPM capabilities and 20 digitalization benefits is presented based on data collected from 165 BPM professionals across four continents. Factor analyses were performed to verify the framework measures for BPM capabilities and digitalization benefits. The Kendall's tau-b (τb) correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength and direction of associations.

Findings

Overall results confirm positive associations between BPM capabilities and digitalization benefits, but the relationship was less dominant for ordinary BPM capabilities and indirect benefits. Furthermore, relationships between individual BPM capabilities and specific digitalization benefits vary both across and within the categories.

Practical implications

These findings support the moderate capability-based view that puts ordinary and dynamic capabilities on equal footing in dynamic environments, while also providing insight for managers focused on specific outcomes with digitalization efforts.

Originality/value

This study reveals that the strength of associations between BPM capabilities and digitalization benefits varies. This highlights the relevance of ordinary-dynamic and direct-indirect distinctions, and the value of a more fine-grained understanding to better inform practice.
South Korean humanistic leadership
Authors: Kim Hak Yoon , Park Joon Hyung , Kim Hyun Jeong
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and explore what leadership characteristics constitute humanistic leadership in the South Korean context. Moreover, this study examines how these leadership characteristics are connected to Korean culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the information gathered from semi-structured interviews and other sources, including books, case study articles and news articles, this study captures a more comprehensive perspective of Mr. Kook-Hyun Moon, the former CEO of Yuhan–Kimberly.

Findings

The key characteristics of Mr. Moon's humanistic leadership that are identified in this study are: respect for all mankind, benevolence (seeking the greater good), sincerity (building trusting relationships with stakeholders) and continuous learning and innovation (developing self and others). These key characteristics set Mr. Moon apart from other leaders and are connected to the fundamental values and philosophies of Korean culture.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the current leadership literature by identifying and exploring Mr. Moon's humanistic leadership characteristics that enable him to gain respect and contribute to communities and society in the South Korean context. This study also finds that the humanistic leadership characteristics of Mr. Moon reflect three major attributes of Korean culture: the ideology of the Dangun mythology, the principle of Neo-Confucianism in Korea and jeong – an indigenous cultural concept in Korea (these attributes will be discussed in detail in the South Korean values and philosophies section). Such reflection suggests that investigating how humanistic leadership characteristics are connected to local cultural roots is important to enhance the understanding of humanistic leadership.
Analysis of the characteristics of connotation evolution of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics in the 70 years since the founding of New China
Authors: Jiang Yongmu , Yang Lu , Xiaolei Zhang
Published: July 2020

Purpose

With the development of social productive forces and the advancement of agricultural practices since the founding of New China, the connotation of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics has undergone a process from formation to continuous expansion and deepening.

Design/methodology/approach

Its evolution can be roughly divided into four stages: the exploration stage, the formation stage, the establishment stage and the deepening stage. The historical evolution of the connotation of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics demonstrates four typical characteristics, namely increasingly scientific logical premise, continuously diversified orientations, increasingly improved core contents and progressively maturing strategies of development.

Findings

The achievements of agricultural modernization have laid a solid foundation for China's industrial modernization and the rapid development of the national economy. Meanwhile, the authors have identified through practical exploration a path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics. In recent years, academic research on the connotation of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics has gradually heated up, and relevant achievements have emerged constantly.

Originality/value

The Communist Party of China (hereinafter “CPC”) has placed considerable emphasis on agricultural issues and has been committed to promoting agricultural modernization since the founding of New China. Through long-term persistence and unremitting efforts, China has made remarkable achievements in agricultural development: significantly improved agricultural production conditions and agricultural output capacity, constantly optimized agricultural structure and steadily increased the income of farmers.
The coordination and balance of economic structure is a major theoretical innovation of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics in the new era
Authors: Xie Di , Kong Xiao
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The proportional distribution of social labor is a general law governing human social and economic activities, also a law discovered by Marxist political economy that governs socialist economic operations and development based on public ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

This law draws on Marx's vision of future society, but how it is adopted is not only subject to the way a country's economy interacts but also to the influence of a country's historical and cultural traditions. Generations of the CPC and state leaders since Mao Zedong have made unremitting explorations for its application.

Findings

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core adheres to the standpoints, viewpoints and methods of Marxist political economy, draws from the splendid Chinese traditional culture that values integrity, peace and harmony of all, builds on the reality of China's socialist market economy development, has summed up the features of socialist economy development with Chinese characteristics, and has proposed the five-sphere integrated plan, the four-pronged comprehensive strategy.

Originality/value

The new development concept of “innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing” for socialism with Chinese characteristics, all reflecting the Party's deepening understanding of coordinated development, the gradual formation of the general thought and policy methods of the country's economic regulations based on the coordination and balance of economic structure, the continuous explorations to open a new chapter of contemporary Marxist political economy, China's experience and wisdom, and the Party's confidence in the theories it applies, the road it takes, its system and its culture. The coordination and balance of economic structure are a major theoretical innovation of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Organizational culture processes for promoting innovation in small businesses
Authors: Harel Ronen , Schwartz Dafna , Kaufmann Dan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of organizational culture processes aimed at promoting innovation in small businesses

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study was conducted in Israel on a sample of 202 businesses in face-to-face interviews.

Findings

The study demonstrated that small businesses in the industry sectors that seek to promote innovation must implement processes for developing an innovation culture. Interestingly, these processes contribute mainly to product and process innovation and less to marketing and organizational innovation.

Practical implications

The study may contribute in a practical manner to assisting small businesses in the development and implementation of appropriate organizational culture processes for promoting innovation, and as a result, contribute to overall economic growth.

Originality/value

This research expands the body of knowledge on organizational culture processes for promoting innovation in this group of businesses, which has rarely been the focus of studies on innovation. The use of face-to-face interviews as a research tool facilitated obtaining knowledge that is generally not readily accessible.
Media reputation: a source of banks' financial performance
Authors: Doan Ngoc Thang , Hoang Dung Phuong , Pham Anh Hoang Thi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Based on the resource-based view (RBV) and the signaling theory, this paper examines the effect of media reputation on financial performance as well as the moderating role of bank characteristics (risk management and financial capacities) in this relationship, using Vietnamese commercial bank data for the period 2007–2018.

Design/methodology/approach

We rely on the agenda-setting theory to measure the media reputation of banks. Return on average equity (ROE) is used as a proxy of financial performance. We regress financial performance on media reputation with fixed effects to control unobserved variables. In addition, the instrumental variable (IV) method is applied to deal with the endogeneity problem. We use the change in bank logo as an IV for media reputation.

Findings

We find that media reputation has a positive effect on financial performance. This effect becomes prominent for large banks, listed banks or banks that demonstrate good risk management capacities, and is particularly strong when we control for endogeneity bias. The effect of media reputation on financial performance is transmitted through the non-performing loan (NPL) channel.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings further endorse the positive impact of media reputation on financial performance in the low-quality institutional settings. Moreover, these findings expand the existing knowledge regarding the relationship between media reputation and financial performance by affirming two strategies which could be used to leverage the contribution of media reputation including improving banks' risk management capacities and raising financial capital.

Originality/value

This is the first known paper to examine the effect of media reputation on financial performance in commercial banks in an underdeveloped institutional setting while exploring the moderators in this relationship. This study, therefore, provides insightful implications for different bank segments in managing NPL and taking advantage of media reputation as a potential resource of financial performance.
COVID-19’s impact on the hospitality workforce – new crisis or amplification of the norm?
Authors: Baum Tom , Mooney Shelagh K.K. , Robinson Richard N.S. , Solnet David
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality workforcein situbetween mid-April and June 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper that brings together a variety of sources and intelligence relating the impacts on hospitality work of the COVID-19 pandemic at three levels: macro (global, policy, government), meso (organisational) and micro (employee). It questions whether the situations faced by hospitality workers as a result of the pandemic are seed-change different from the precarious lives they normally lead or just a (loud) amplification of the “normal”.

Findings

In light of the fluid environment relating to COVID-19, conclusions are tentative and question whether hospitality stakeholders, particularly consumers, governments and the industry itself, will emerge from the pandemic with changed attitudes to hospitality work and hospitality workers.

Practical implications

This raises questions about hospitality work for key stakeholders to address in the future, some of which are systemic in terms of how precarious labour forces, critical to the global economy are to be considered by policy makers, organisations in a re-emerging competitive market for talent and for those who chose (or not) to work in hospitality.

Social implications

This paper contributes to ongoing debates about precarious work and the extent to which such practices are institutionalised and adopts an “amplification model” that may have value in futures-orientated analysis about hospitality and tourism.

Originality/value

This paper is wholly original and a reflection on the COVID-19 crisis. It provides a point of wider reference with regard to responses to crises and their impact on employment in hospitality, highlighting how ongoing change, fluidity and uncertainty serve to magnify and exacerbate the precarious nature of work in the industry.
Harnessing innovation success in hotels: the interplay among key drivers of new service performance
Authors: Pascual-Fernández Primitiva , Santos-Vijande María Leticia , López-Sánchez José Ángel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the interplay among three key drivers of service innovation success in the hospitality industry. Specifically, how internal marketing practices in hotels influence frontline employee involvement, training and empowerment for the new service provision (frontline employee ITE) and new service advantage. The study also analyzes how success factors affect new service internal and external performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data collected from managers of 256 hotels located in Spain, the model is tested through structural equation modeling data analysis.

Findings

Internal marketing practices have a positive and direct effect on frontline employee ITE, which, in turn, strengthens new service advantage. Frontline employee ITE also has a positive effect on the employees’ satisfaction and motivation (new service employee outcomes). New service employee outcomes and new service advantage reinforce the new service customer outcomes in terms of customer’s loyalty, improved hotel image and perceived leadership. Both new service employee and customer outcomes benefit new service market outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are obtained from a cross-sectional study. Hotel managers must pay particular attention to internal marketing practices, as they foster key drivers of new service success that ultimately improve new service internal and external performance.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on service innovation success providing for the first time a study of the interrelationships among organizational and project-level new service success factors in the hospitality context.
Antecedents of entrepreneurial employee activity: does gender play a role?
Authors: Turro Andreu , Noguera Maria , Urbano David
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The objective of this article is to examine the extent to which the antecedents of entrepreneurial employee activity differ by gender across countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Generalised linear multilevel logistic regression is applied to data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) with a sample of 60 countries for the period 2014–2016. This data is complemented with data from the World Governance Indicators (WGI) project and from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Findings

Using human capital theory (for individual-related antecedents) and institutional economics (for environmental related antecedents), the results show that the antecedents of entrepreneurial employee activity differ by gender. Specifically, being in contact with other entrepreneurs, and the quality of government regulations condition entrepreneurial employee activity and have a different intensity depending on gender.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature about entrepreneurial initiatives and gender by providing insights that add to the literature on why men and women have different entrepreneurial behaviours. In addition, this study also contributes to human capital theory and institutional economics as their role in the relation between entrepreneurial employee activity and gender has not been studied in detail in previous research. Finally, the promotion of female intrapreneurial activity is a key policy for most public bodies and organisations in developed countries.
Pervasive computational model and wearable devices for prediction of respiratory symptoms in progression of COVID-19
Authors: Dhanapal Jagadeesan , Narayanamurthy Badrinath , Shanmugam Vijayakumar , Gangadharan Asha , S. Magesh
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a model for prediction of respiratory symptoms in the progression of COVID-19, social distancing, frequent hand washes, wearing of face mask in public are some of the potential measures of preventing the disease from further spreading. In spite of the effects and efforts taken by governments, the pandemic is still uncontrolled in major cities of the world. The proposed technique in this paper introduces a non-intrusive and major screening of vital symptoms and changes in the respiratory organs.

Design/methodology/approach

The novel coronavirus or Covid-19 has become a serious threat to social and economic growth of many nations worldwide. The pace of progression was significantly higher in the past two months. Identified by severe respiratory illness, fever and coughs, the disease has been threatening the lives of human society. Early detection and prognosis is absolutely necessary to isolate the potential spreaders of the disease and to control the rate of progression.

Findings

Recent studies have highlighted the changes observed in breathing characteristics of infected patients. Respiratory pattern of Covid-19 patients can be differentiated from the respiratory pattern of normal cold/flu affected patients. Tachypnoea is one among the vital signs identified to be distinguishing feature of Covid-19. The proposed respiratory data capture will commence with facial recognition, use of infrared sensors and machine-learning approaches to classify the respiratory patterns, which finally narrows down as a symptom of Covid-19.

Originality/value

Proposed system produced outcome of 94% accuracy, precision, recall and a F1-measure as an average in the conducted experiments. This method also proves to be a fruitful solution for large-scale monitoring and categorisation of people based on the symptoms.
The onset of friction for rubber across an ice bead
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Guo Yanbao , Li Wanjun , Wang Deguo , Zhou Yongjie
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The exploration of the polar regions is of immeasurable potential. It brings great challenges to tribology in the extreme environment. Moreover, the static friction force is an essential index of the braking performance. The purpose of this paper is the static friction force between the rubber of marine pipe tensioner and the ice bead.

Design/methodology/approach

The frictional phenomena were studied for rubber-ice bead at different contact positions (front edge, front part and end part) by means of image processing and measuring. Also, the image sequences of the contact were combined with friction force and displacement data.

Findings

As rubber across the ice bead, the forces of rubber and ice bead at different contact positions determined the order of static friction force (front edge > front part > end part). Meanwhile, there were two different contact states in this process. In addition, under the low tangential load growth rate, the higher temperature can increase the static friction force by increasing the viscoelasticity and contact area of rubber.

Originality/value

The research on the static friction of rubber-ice bead leads to more controlled and higher friction levels during marine pipeline laying.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2019-0526/
External debt and growth: role of stable macroeconomic policies
Authors: Dey Sima Rani , Tareque Mohammad
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of external debt on economic growth in Bangladesh within a broader macroeconomic scenario.

Design/methodology/approach

In the process of doing so, it assesses the empirical cointegration, long-run and short-run dynamics of the concerned variables for the period of 1980–2017 applying the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration. First, debt-gross domestic product linkage explores the impact of external debt impact on economic growth using a set of macro and country risk variables, and then this linkage is also analyzed along with a newly formed macroeconomic policy (MEP) variable using principal component analysis.

Findings

The study results reveal the negative impact of external debt on GDP growth, but the larger positive impact of MEP index indicates that this adverse effect of debt can be mitigated or even nullified by sound MEP and appropriate human resource policy.

Originality/value

The dynamic effects of different shocks (external debt and macro policy variable) on economic growth by vector autoregression impulse response function also confirm our ARDL findings.
The Iranian policy in the Middle East: evolution and consequences
Authors: Mohei Mohamed Kamal
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study and analyze the Iranian policy towards the Middle East (ME) and its consequences on Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the national interest approach and system analysis approach as analytical framework.

Findings

Several areas are points such as pillars of the Iranian National strategy, pillars of the Iranian policy in the ME and the concept of the Iranian National Security.

Originality/value

Iran is one of the most important and influential regional powers in the Middle East that affects dramatically regional security and stability. The paper analyzes Iranian policy in the ME and its determinants. In this context, this study deals with the Iranian strategy and Iranian interests. It focuses on the impact of Iranian policy on Egypt and its national security from a comprehensive perspective.
The mobility of team members and team creativity: exploring the mediating role of team cognition
Authors: Guo Weixiao , Gan Chenjing , Wang Duanxu
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the mobility of team members affects team creativity in knowledge-worker teams and the mediating role of team transactive memory system (TMS) and team creative efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple surveys were conducted on team leaders and members in knowledge-worker teams in China. A total of 94 teams were analyzed by adopting the confirmatory factor analyses, hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap analysis method.

Findings

The results show that frequent team member mobility is negatively related to a knowledge-worker team's creativity, and the relationship is mediated by team TMS and creative efficacy.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how the mobility of team members affects team creativity in knowledge-worker teams by exploring the underlying mechanisms from the perspective of team cognition. Specifically, team TMS and creative efficacy mediate the relationship between team member mobility and team creativity.
Chief Executive Officer's traits and open innovation in small and medium enterprises: the mediating role of innovation climate
Authors: Najar Tharwa , Dhaouadi Karima
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study the impact of Chief Executive Officer's (CEO's) personality traits on open innovation (OI) strategies and the mediating effect of innovation climate by mobilizing the upper echelons theory and the OI literature. In fact, CEO's role in OI promotion has been under-investigated in the literature especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and in developing economies.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the structural equation modeling, a survey is scheduled by administrating a questionnaire within 178 CEOs in Tunisian high-tech sector. The relevance of the empirical evidences is to disclose human levers to the success of OI strategies in the Tunisian context as a developing country.

Findings

The results show the importance of CEO's entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and attitude in promoting innovation climate and so then OI strategies. The study offers a reading grid for managers of high-tech SMEs to better lead and identify key factors for OI adoption. Innovative climate is found to be a relevant driver of OI encompassing the key role of attitude and EO of top managers.

Practical implications

Results highlight the relevance of the recruitment of appropriate top managers with high levels of EO and with positive attitude toward OI in order to facilitate OI integration and to enhance SMEs' competitiveness. Entrepreneurially oriented CEOs should be required in order to overcome "Not Invented Here" and "Not Shared Here" syndromes, to support innovative climate and to encourage knowledge import and export in the Tunisian SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the micro-foundation of OI by emphasizing the relevance of human factors and namely EO and attitude of CEOs in OI issue. It provides conceptual and empirical clarification of the extent to which CEO's traits affect OI through innovative climate. This would value initiatives exploring key individual's characteristics influence on OI strategies within SMEs.
Using the International Integrated Reporting Framework to comply with EU Directive 2014/95/EU: can we afford another reporting façade?
Authors: Biondi Lucia , Dumay John , Monciardini David
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Motivated by claims that the International Integrated Reporting Framework (IRF) can be used to comply with Directive 2014/95/EU (the EU Directive) on non-financial and diversity disclosure, the purpose of this study is to examine whether companies can comply with corporate reporting laws using de facto standards or frameworks.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted an interpretivist approach to research along with current regulatory studies that aim to investigate business compliance with the law using private sector standards. To support the authors’ arguments, publicly available secondary data sources were used, including newsletters, press releases and websites, reports from key players within the accounting profession, public documents issued by the European Commission and data from corporatergister.com.

Findings

To become a de facto standard or framework, a private standard-setter requires the support of corporate regulators to mandate it in a specific national jurisdiction. The de facto standard-setter requires a powerful coalition of actors who can influence the policymakers to allow its adoption and diffusion at a national level to become mandated. Without regulatory support, it is difficult for a private and voluntary reporting standard or framework to be adopted and diffused. Moreover, the authors report that the  preferences stock market capitalism over sustainability because it privileges organisational sustainability over social and environmental sustainability, emphasises value creation over holding organisations accountable for their impact on society and the environment and privileges the entitlements of providers of financial capital over other stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

The authors question the suitability of the goals of both the  and the EU Directive during and after the COVID-19 crisis. The planned changes to both need rethinking as we head into uncharted waters. Moreover, the authors believe that the people cannot afford any more reporting façades.

Originality/value

The authors offer a critical analysis of the link between the  and the EU Directive and how the  can be used to comply with the EU Directive. By questioning the relevance of the compliance question, the authors advance a critique about the relevance of these and other legal and de facto frameworks, particularly considering the more pressing needs that must be met to address the economic, social and environmental implications of the COVID-19 crisis.
Frontline managers' implementation of the formal and informal performance management systems
Authors: Lee Qian Yi , Townsend Keith , Wilkinson Adrian
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The implementation of performance management is the responsibility of managers; more importantly, a key part of a frontline manager's role is ensuring that frontline employees are performing by meeting organisational goals. Existing research has shown a lack of focus on the role of frontline managers in the implementation of performance management systems despite plenty of research on the separate topics of frontline managers and performance management. This article aims to understand how frontline managers connect the intended performance management system, through components and processes developed by the human resources department and higher levels of management, with their employees' performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative method, conducting semi-structured interviews with 57 participants from two Singapore public sector organisations to understand the interaction between the formal and informal performance management systems.

Findings

The authors found that frontline managers used the formal and informal performance management systems in the organisation to manage the demands of their role. Notably, the expectations that superiors and subordinates have heavily influences how the frontline managers choose to implement their performance management responsibilities.

Originality/value

The article uses systems theory to illustrate and explain the complex and dynamic nature of PM in practice through the FLM's implementation of the formal and informal PM systems. The primary contribution of the study is through demonstrating under what situations do frontline managers use the formal and informal performance systems in a complementary manner within the constraints placed on them.
Individual investors’ intention towards SRI in India: an implementation of the theory of reasoned action
Authors: Raut Rajdeep Kumar , Kumar Rohit , Das Niladri
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore and comprehend the reasons behind individual investors’ intention towards socially responsible investment (SRI) in the Indian stock market along with examining the validity of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model to predict such phenomenon in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

The TRA has been used as an underlying framework and has been extended by adding four variables, namely, moral norms, environmental concern, financial literacy and financial performance. The study used a self-administered questionnaire and adopted a convenience sampling method for a survey to collect the data from the individual investors from the capital cities of three states of India. Further, the collected data have been analysed using two-step structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results of this study indicate a significant impact of attitude, subjective norms, moral norms, financial literacy and financial performance on investors’ intention towards SRI; however, no significant relation was found between environmental concern and investors’ SRI intention. The multiple squared correlation (R2) shows that the final model could explain 71% of the variance in investors’ intention towards SRI, which signifies a successful implementation of TRA model along with new additions to predict investors’ decision-making behaviour for SRI. Moreover, investors are found to be highly concerned primarily about their financial goals and then for their personal obligation towards society as far as SRI is concerned.

Practical implications

This study reports significant and prominent importance of subjective norms in SRI which could be a strategic theme for the government and the policymakers to influence investors through their opinion leaders to promote SRI. The government should also increase its efforts to facilitate financial literacy among citizens.

Originality/value

Using the TRA model and four variables, namely, moral norms, environmental concern, financial literacy and financial performance addition to its original variables, this study extends the understandings of SRI which is perhaps the novelty of this paper because such examination of SRI has not been conducted, especially in the case of developing countries such as India.
Twenty‐eight‐year incidence and characteristics of post‐transplant skin cancers: Comparative analysis of past and recent 10‐year experience
Authors: Kim Young Jae , Jung Chang Jin , Park Gyeong‐Hun , Won Chong Hyun , Chang Sung Eun , Choi Jee Ho , Lee Mi Woo , Lee Woo Jin
Published: July 2020

Because primary skin cancers in organ transplant recipients are rare, little is known about the characteristics and risk factors for skin cancers in organ transplant recipients. We searched the Asan Medical Center database of 13 469 organ transplant recipients for cases of all skin cancers from January 1990 to December 2018. Characteristics of and risk factors for skin cancers were analyzed and compared according to the period of transplantation. Of the identified 113 patients with skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer followed by basal cell carcinoma and Kaposi sarcoma. The cumulative incidence of skin cancers at 28 years was 5.3%. Over the 10‐year period from January 2009 to December 2018, the standardized incidence ratio for premalignant in situ skin lesions increased, whereas the standardized incidence ratio for skin cancers decreased. Age at transplantation and treatment with more than two immunosuppressive agents were risk factors for the development of new skin cancers in organ transplant recipients. Over the most recent 10‐year period, post‐transplant skin cancers have been found earlier and diversified compared with in the previous period.
A synthesis of the quantitative literature on autistic pupils' experience of barriers to inclusion in mainstream schools
Authors: Bailey Julie , Baker Sara T.
Published: July 2020

Autistic pupils' full engagement with education can be limited by characteristics of their autism and features of the learning environment. We sought to identify which barriers to inclusion are most commonly and most frequently experienced and where gaps exist in the quantitative literature. In this systematic review, we followed the PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant literature and used the Research Domain Criteria (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017) framework to synthesise the findings. We then evaluated the strength and quality of the current literature in terms of the perspectives reflected in the data, characteristics of the participants and the methods used. Forty‐eight studies were found that contained quantitative data directly collected from autistic pupils relating to their mainstream school experience. Experiences of friendship, anxiety and sensory sensitivity have been explored in the literature, with findings suggesting that difficulties in these areas are common for autistic pupils. We found gaps in the research in the domains of cognitive systems, negative affect, positive affect, arousal and sensorimotor processes. Further quantitative research is needed that directly reflects the pupils' experience and more thoroughly covers the relevant focal domains in which barriers to inclusion for autistic pupils may be expected to occur.
The determinants of project worker voice in project‐based organisations: An initial conceptualisation and research agenda
Authors: Prouska Rea , Kapsali Maria
Published: July 2020

The growing projectification trend has brought to the forefront the importance of project‐based organising as a work mode and of project‐based organisations (PBOs) as key employers. However, research in certain human resource management (HRM) areas (including voice) has been limited in PBOs because of the decentralised and changing nature of HRM functions in these types of organisations. In dynamic project organisations, voice is highly important in recruitment, innovation and improvement; it therefore has to be conceptualised systematically. To this end, we focus on project workers as the key employee group and conceptualise the determining system factors that shape their voice in PBOs. The conceptual framework is based on a systematic review of peer‐reviewed articles and contributes to employee voice theory as a vehicle for the study of voice in temporary employment relationships.