bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequent hypermethylation of MST1 and MST2 in soft tissue sarcoma
Authors: Seidel Claudia , Schagdarsurengin Undraga , Blümke Karen , Würl Peter , Pfeifer Gerd P. , Hauptmann Steffen , Taubert Helge , Dammann Reinhard
Published: May 2007

The RASSF1A tumor suppressor is involved in regulation of apoptosis and cell cycle progression. RASSF1A is localized to microtubules and binds the apoptotic kinases MST1 and MST2. It has been shown that this interaction is mediated by the Sav‐RASSF‐Hpo domain, which is an interaction domain characterized for the Drosophila proteins Sav (human WW45), Hpo (human MST1 and MST2) and Warts/LATS (large tumor suppressor). Previously, we have reported that RASSF1A hypermethylation occurs frequently in soft tissue sarcoma and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis for cancer patients. In our study, we performed methylation analysis of the CpG island promoter of MST1, MST2, WW45, LATS1 and LATS2 in soft tissue sarcomas by methylation‐specific PCR. No or a very low methylation frequency was detected for WW45, LATS1 and LATS2 (<7%). In 19 out of 52 (37%) sarcomas, a methylated promoter of MST1 was detected and 12 out of 60 (20%) samples showed methylation of the MST2 promoter. Methylation status of MST1 was confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. In tumors harboring a methylated promoter of MST1, a reduction of MST1 expression was observed by RT‐PCR. In leiomyosarcomas, MST1 and MST2 or RASSF1A methylation were mutually exclusive (P = 0.007 and P = 0.025, respectively). Surprisingly, a significantly increased risk for tumor‐related death was found for patients with an unmethylated MST1 promoter (P = 0.036). In summary, our results suggest that alteration of the Sav‐RASSF1‐Hpo tumor suppressor pathway may occur through hypermethylation of the CpG island promoter of MST1, MST2 and/or RASSF1A in human sarcomas. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Controlled study of decision‐making and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Pagonabarraga Javier , García‐Sánchez Carmen , Llebaria Gisela , Pascual‐Sedano Berta , Gironell Alexandre , Kulisevsky Jaime
Published: May 2007

Impulse control disorders (ICD) related to reward‐processing dysfunction have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). The relationship between clinical markers of limbic dysfunction with demographic variables and cognitive status of PD is incompletely known. Our objective was to further characterize the relationship between limbic and cognitive dysfunction in a representative sample of nondemented PD patients without antecedents of ICD, as assessed by a risk‐taking test of decision‐making and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Prospective, controlled study of 35 nondemented PD patients and 31 matched controls who received the Iowa gambling task (IGT), the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) and verbal fluencies for global cognitive function, the Stroop and digit span tests for executive function, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test for memory. Compared to controls, PD patients performed significantly worse on the IGT. No clear relationship with demographic variables including dopaminergic treatment and motor response to levodopa (stable or fluctuating) emerged. Performance on the IGT was not related to executive function. In contrast, an inverse relationship was found between the IGT and memory and global cognitive performance, with patients with the better MDRS and memory scores performing significantly worse on the IGT. Our results confirm subclinical dysfunction of the limbic system in nondemented PD patients. Although impaired decision‐making appears unrelated to executive dysfunction, patients with the better cognitive status appears more prone to assume risky behaviors. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Short‐term cortical plasticity in patients with dystonia: A study with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Gilio Francesca , Suppa Antonio , Bologna Matteo , Lorenzano Cinzia , Fabbrini Giovanni , Berardelli Alfredo
Published: May 2007

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered at 5 Hz frequency and suprathreshold (RMT) intensity produces a progressive facilitation of motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitude that outlasts the end of stimulation. This phenomenon is related to a short‐term enhancement of cortical excitatory interneurones. In this study, we investigated whether 5 Hz‐rTMS elicits similar MEP facilitation during stimulation and similar facilitatory after‐effects in patients with upper limb dystonia and healthy subjects. Trains of 5, 10, and 20 stimuli were delivered at 120% RMT over the primary motor cortex with the subjects at rest. rTMS‐trains were followed by single test stimuli delivered at various interstimulus intervals (0.5–10 s) at 120% RMT using a conditioning‐test paradigm. Single conditioning stimuli were also delivered. The effects of suprathreshold 1 Hz‐rTMS were also tested. The MEP amplitude during the course of the trains and of the test stimuli was measured. In control experiments, we investigated the role of the afferent inputs elicited by muscle twitches after ulnar nerve stimulation on the MEP amplitude. In patients and healthy subjects, MEP amplitude increased significantly during the course of 5 Hz‐trains. In both groups the MEP facilitation outlasted the end of 5 Hz‐rTMS, however the facilitatory after‐effects were more pronounced and lasted longer in patients than in healthy subjects. MEP amplitudes during and after 1 Hz‐rTMS remained unchanged. Ulnar nerve stimulation did not change the test MEP amplitude. We conclude that in patients with upper limb dystonia there is an abnormal recovery from MEP facilitation after suprathreshold 5 Hz‐rTMS suggesting an abnormal pattern of short‐term cortical plasticity. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
A nationwide survey of excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease in France
Authors: Ghorayeb Imad , Loundou Anderson , Auquier Pascal , Dauvilliers Yves , Bioulac Bernard , Tison François
Published: May 2007

To determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and that of dozing and sudden onset of sleep episodes (SOS) while driving in ambulatory patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in France, a national sample of private and public neurologists was asked to recruit the first 10 consecutive nondemented PD patients. Each patient completed a questionnaire including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the likelihood of dozing off and experiencing SOS episodes behind the wheel. Clinical and demographic data were collected. One thousand six hundred and twenty‐five patients with PD were included in the survey. Twenty‐nine percent of the patients suffered from EDS (ESS score ≥10) but only 0.8% declared a high chance of dozing while driving and 0.5% reported totally unpredictable SOS episodes while driving. Risk factors for EDS were male gender, reduced activity of daily living, and a high daily levodopa equivalent dosage. Risk factors for SOS episodes while driving were an ESS score ≥10, male gender, and low Hoehn and Yahr staging. EDS is common in ambulatory patients with PD and is a major risk factor for dozing and for SOS episodes behind the wheel in patients who drive. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Predictors for snoring in children with rhinitis at Age 5
Authors: Marshall Nathaniel S. , Almqvist Catarina , Grunstein Ronald R. , Marks Guy B.
Published: May 2007

Snoring is often found in allergic diseases and may be an early manifestation of more serious sleep‐disordered breathing. We aimed to investigate whether the risk factors for snoring among pre‐school children with rhinitis are similar to those for allergic diseases in a birth cohort. The study cohort was drawn from participants in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS). This is a randomized controlled trial of dietary intervention and house dust mite avoidance during the first 5 years of life, aimed at reducing the risk of acquiring asthma and other allergic conditions in children at high‐risk for allergic diseases. Parents of children with symptoms of rhinitis at age 5 years (n = 219 out of 516 cohort members) were asked if their child snored: 127 (60%) reported some snoring and 56 (26%) snored more than three times per week. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that children who were first‐born (adjusted odds ratio, 2.50, 95% CI 1.20–5.21), were exposed to maternal tobacco smoke during the first year of life (2.40, 1.1–5.25), or who had asthma (2.51, 1.14–5.55) and/or eczema (2.29, 1.02–5.13) at age 5 years were more likely to snore. Birth‐weight, body mass index at age 4.5, spirometry, and breastfeeding were not related to snoring. Risk factors for snoring are similar to risk factors for allergic disorders. Snoring may be part of the allergic spectrum of diseases. Our data may contribute to clinician's ability to effectively screen for snoring in preschool children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:584–591. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gauged supergravities in various spacetime dimensions
Authors: Weidner M.
Published: May 2007

In this review article we study the gaugings of extended supergravity theories in various space‐time dimensions. These theories describe the low‐energy limit of non‐trivial string compactifications. For each theory under consideration we review all possible gaugings that are compatible with supersymmetry. They are parameterized by the so‐called embedding tensor which is a group theoretical object that has to satisfy certain representation constraints. This embedding tensor determines all couplings in the gauged theory that are necessary to preserve gauge invariance and supersymmetry. The concept of the embedding tensor and the general structure of the gauged supergravities are explained in detail. The methods are then applied to the half‐maximal (N = 4) supergravities in d = 4 and d = 5 and to the maximal supergravities in d = 2 and d = 7. Examples of particular gaugings are given. Whenever possible, the higher‐dimensional origin of these theories is identified and it is shown how the compactification parameters like fluxes and torsion are contained in the embedding tensor.
Exploration of target molecules for prostate cancer gene therapy
Authors: Suzuki Kazuhiro , Nakamura Kiminori , Kato Kazunori , Hamada Hirofumi , Tsukamoto Taiji
Published: May 2007

BACKGROUND

Focusing on Adv‐FZ33, a modified adenovirus in which a synthetic 33‐amino‐acid immunoglobulin G‐binding domain was inserted into the adenoviral fiber protein, we tried to identify suitable target molecules for prostate cancer‐specific gene therapy.

METHODS

Hybridomas were established from mice immunized with prostate cancer cell lines. The hybridomas were screened using Adv‐FZ33 to create monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that induced high gene transfer efficiency for PC‐3 cells. Furthermore, we identified target antigens of the mAbs by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, and investigated the expression of target molecules by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

Using Adv‐FZ33, we established four different mouse mAbs that increased transduction efficiency for PC‐3. The target antigens identified were Ep‐CAM, CD155, HAI‐1, and Na,K‐ATPase β1. These antigens were expressed in several cancer cell lines, including prostate cancer. Human prostatic myofibroblast cells lacked expression of Ep‐CAM and HAI‐1.

CONCLUSIONS

We established anti‐Ep‐CAM mAb and anti‐ HAI‐1 mAbs. Gene transduction via Ep‐CAM and HAI‐1 may be a novel strategy for treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate 67: 1163–1173, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reasoning about multiple variables: Control of variables is not the only challenge
Authors: Kuhn Deanna
Published: May 2007

Thirty fourth‐grade students participated in an extended intervention previously successful in fostering skills of scientific investigation and inference, notably control of variables (COV). The intervention was similarly successful for a majority of students in the present study, enabling them to isolate the three causal and two noncausal variables operating in a multivariable system. However, when asked to predict outcomes of various constellations of variable levels, they tended not to take into account the effects of all of the causal variables they had identified. Moreover, they did not adhere to a consistency principle, i.e., that a factor that produces an effect can be expected to produce the same effect in the future, given similar conditions. These findings suggest that COV is not the only challenge students experience in reasoning about multiple variables. Elementary‐school students' mental models of multivariable causality appear to deviate from a normative, scientific model, even after they have mastered that aspect of scientific method having to do with the design of controlled experiments to isolate effects of individual variables. The challenges, beyond COV, that appear to be involved in making prediction judgments involving multiple variables warrant attention in the design of curricula to foster development of scientific thinking skills. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Sci Ed91:710–726, 2007
Environment, strategy, organization structure and performance: Patterns in one industry
Authors: Lenz R. T.
Published: May 2007

This paper reports the findings of an empirical field study of savings and loan associations. The investigation centres upon whether combinations of environment, strategy, and organization structure of “high”‐performance firms differ from combinations associated with “low”‐performance firms. Results show that such combinations differ, both statistically and with respect to their basic character. There is also evidence that norms held by managers of competing institutions and the nature of relationships between organizations and populations served to influence the vigour and form of interfirm rivalries and, in turn, organizational performance.
The corporation and innovation
Authors: Haggerty Patrick E.
Published: May 2007

On 1st October 1980 the untimely death of Patrick Haggerty, former chairman and chief executive officer of Texas Instruments, occurred. Patrick Haggerty was a founding member of the editorial board of this journal and in the formative years of the Texas Instruments Company made a major contribution to the practice of strategic management, in addition to shaping the destiny of a great and progressive corporation. As a mark of our respect and in memoriam the editors are proud to publish one of Mr Haggerty's last lectures given to NASA at Houston, Texas on 13th February 1980 in which he outlines briefly the history and philosophy which led to the development of many of the systems of strategic management at Texas Instruments, which have shaped policy within this highly innovative organization.
Increase your divestment effectiveness
Authors: Nees Danielle
Published: May 2007

In many large diversified corporations there is a largely prevalent habit to consider divestment decisions as ‘top secret’: information concerning potential divestitures is restricted to top management and only a handful of senior managers are involved in the decision making process.

The major assumption underlying such behaviour is the fear of failure; that is, top management is concerned about involving line—generally divisional—managers in the process of making up one's mind to divest (a time consuming process as will be seen later) and searching a potential acquirer, in the fear that such involvement might work in counteractive ways and perhaps cause the abortion of the project.

As a result, information is most often withheld, decisions in progress are kept secret; an ‘underground’ strategy is developed.

The purpose of this article is to show that the most successful divestments are precisely those where line management's co‐operation has been elicited at very early stages and to suggest that such a participative management mode is likely to produce better results.

Our research, based on the study of 14 divestments in the US and Europe (see Appendix), thus shows that the division manager is a key person on the divestment chess‐board and accomplishes varied missions.
‘Determinants’ of organizational performance: An interdisciplinary review
Authors: Lenz R. T.
Published: May 2007

The paper contains a review and evaluation of empirical and case studies on the performance of whole enterprises. Research from a diverse array of academic disciplines and research traditions is included. The central focus is on identifying factors that influence organizational performance, and discussing implications for future interdisciplinary research and the strategic management of contemporary organizations.
Corporate planning in the U.K.: The state of the art in the 70s
Authors: Bazzaz Shawki J. , Grinyer Peter H.
Published: May 2007

The paper reports the major descriptive results of a study of corporate planning in 48 U.K. companies in the mid‐1970s. Introduction of corporate planning clearly quickened in the 1970s. The number of specialist corporate planners tended to be small and was correlated with company size. Responsibilities of planners varied between operating companies, divisions, and the corporate parent company. Corporate planners had widened the scope of their plans since the late 1960s, made fairly extensive use of written documents and procedures, and often used a high number of sophisticated techniques for forecasting and evaluation, but their use of documents and techniques was far from uncritical. The extent of planning varied between types of companies.
The role of venture capital in corporate development
Authors: Rind Kenneth W.
Published: May 2007

Many corporations have now discovered the value of a venture capital programme as an aid to the corporate development function. The article describes the venture capital business, reviews its history, and indicates the reasons for the resurgence of interest in corporate venturing. The problems of direct venture capital investment by corporations are enumerated and the trend towards investment in outside venture capital partnerships is explained. The conclusion drawn is that, whereas venture capital is a useful tool for corporate development, it is difficult to do internally and an outside partnership investment can serve as an alternative first step or as a supplement.
Diversification and the failure of new foreign activities
Authors: Bane W. T. , Neubauer Franz‐Friedrich
Published: May 2007

The paper describes a quantitative investigation into the role of diversification in the failure of new foreign manufacturing activities based upon some of the results of the Harvard/CEI Comparative Multinational Enterprise Project. These results are related to the foreign subsidiaries of 69 of the largest continental European multinationals and show a considerable company‐to‐company spread in the rate of failure. Nearly half of this spread can be accounted for by the differing diversities of the companies when diversity is measured in relation to the marketing characteristics of the products manufactured and when the balance between the differing marketing categories is taken into account. The rate of foreign subsidiary expansion is also significant.
Strategic market analysis and definition: An integrated approach
Authors: Day George S.
Published: May 2007

Two distinct approaches to market analysis and definition have evolved. Those approaches which adopt a top‐down persepective, tend to specify markets in terms of competitive capabilities and resource transferability. The alternative bottom‐up perspective emphasizes customer requirements or usage patterns when defining markets. An integrated approach begins with a common model of the principal dimensions of a market. The second element is the recognition that different market definitions are needed for different strategic purposes. Next, the strategic planning framework which links business units and product‐market units should be compatible with these purposes and reflect a strategically relevant balance of cost and demand factors. A procedure for forming business units from groups of product‐markets is shown to be effective for achieving this balance.
Corporate economic performance: Diversification strategy versus market structure
Authors: Christensen H. Kurt , Montgomery Cynthia A.
Published: May 2007

This paper incorporates both diversification strategy and market structure variables in a study of corporate economic performance. A subsample of 128 firms from Rumelt's 1974 study was updated and utilized to investigate the possibility that market structure variables might moderate or confound the diversification/performance relationship he reported. Study results indicate that performance differences could be demonstrated for some of Rumelt's categories, but, across the range of categories, a hypothesis of performance differences was rejected. As expected, categories associated with distinctly high or distinctly low economic performance were also associated with significant differences in a series of market structure variables.
Using rewards in implementing strategy
Authors: Stonich Paul J.
Published: May 2007

Corporations often find it difficult to carry out their strategies because they have executive compensation systems that measure and reward performance in a way that ignores or even frustrates strategic thinking, planning, and action. In particular, reward systems rarely emphasize the long run adequately, nor are they well coordinated with the methods and objectives of other management systems.

This article describes three methods that can be used to match rewards with accomplishment of strategic goals: the weighted‐factor method which weights various performance measurements according to strategic objectives, the long‐term evaluation method, which ties compensation to goals achieved over a multiyear period, and the strategic funds deferral method which varies from the conventional financial accounting model for the measurement of performance.

The article recommends that all three methods be combined into a single system in which the rewards for senior managers throughout the company are determined by the three methods in different proportions according to those factors that constitute successful performance in their positions.
The incorporation of management development in strategic management
Authors: Wissema J. G. , Brand A. F. , Van Pol H. W. Der
Published: May 2007

In view of the increasing demands on managers and the corresponding scarcity of managers of high quality, management planning and development begins to emerge as one of the most important management techniques. In this paper, the authors advocate a procedure which incorporates the establishment of dynamic function profiles (based on the future function requirements) and dynamic manager profiles (based on the likely and desired development of the managers). The future gap in the quality and quantity of the company's management is found by comparing the two sets of profiles. The description of this gap is the basis for recruitments and other MPD actions. The procedure is closely synchronized with the strategic planning procedure and can therefore be considered as part of the strategic management concept. Experiences with the procedure in a multinational company show that it can be successful provided that the system is open to the managers and non‐bureaucratic. Furthermore, it should not affect the normal powers of line managers with respect to their team formation.

Despite all the attention it attracts, management planning and development (MPD) is still an underutilized management tool in many companies. Procedures are often either lacking or too bureaucratic. Reasons for this are the inherent limitations to planning with human beings and, on the other hand, the availability of a safety net in the form of a market of managers.
Screening policy options: An approach and a case study example
Authors: Thomas Howard
Published: May 2007

This paper examines screening procedures in the context of developing an understanding of, and dialogue about, strategic problems. Such a dialogue process is seen as providing a ‘thinking structure’ for policy type problems. Within this dialogue, many different inputs and analyses of assumptions should be reviewed and discussed as a prelude to policy choice.

A case example drawn from the electronics industry is presented, followed by a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of such approaches.
Strategic management in a new framework
Authors: Van Cauwenbergh Andre , Cool Karel
Published: May 2007

The present article is concerned with strategic management as a specific field of general management. The authors analyse the nature of strategy formation in complex organizations and present some tools for improving this critical activity. Section 2 sets out with a simple terminology and framework for the analysis of strategic management. Next, an open‐systems view is presented for analysing the strategic activity and a brief literature survey is added to support the concepts presented (Section 3). After discussing their own model of strategic management in complex organizations, the authors proceed to investigate the task of top managers in this specific field (Section 4).

Finally, the concepts presented are confronted with specific management modes, drawn from literature reporting on German and Japanese business practice (Section 5).
Reconciling logical incrementalism and synoptic formalism—an integrated approach to designing strategic planning processes
Authors: Camillus John C.
Published: May 2007

The advocates of logical incrementalism and synoptic formalism in strategic planning emphasize, respectively, the interactive and analytical dimensions of the planning process. This paper suggests a framework for designing planning processes that permits a symbiotic integration of both approaches. In particular, synoptic exercises scheduled at intervals of more than a year, with incremental exercises in the intervening years are recommended.
Implementing the unrelated product strategy
Authors: Dundas Kenneth N. M. , Richardson Peter R.
Published: May 2007

There has been considerable debate over the viability of the unrelated product, or conglomerate strategy. The financial arguments for and against its viability are well known. However, the administrative imperatives for its successful implementation have not been well investigated. The paper argues that there are a number of critical administrative contingencies for successful implementation of this strategy which only a few unrelated product firms have recognized. These concern policies dealing with acquisition, divestment, portfolio structure, management and organization. The paper discusses each in turn, describing specific instances of success and failure to illustrate the major points of the argument.
Diversification strategy and profitability
Authors: Rumelt Richard P.
Published: May 2007

Prior work has shown an association between diversification strategy and profitability. This paper replicates that association using more recent and complete data and goes on to investigate the sources of the association. Theoretical arguments are advanced which predict the association which will remain once the effects of varying industry profitability are removed. Empirical tests verify this prediction and permit the discrimination between the effects of industry and diversification strategy on profitability.
Diversification Strategies and the Experience of Top Executives of Large Firms
Authors: Song Jae H.
Published: May 2007

Prior research by Berg and Pitts has shown that there is a difference in the diversification strategies followed by major corporations; this strategy depends upon the type of organizational structure at the corporate level. This paper extends research on diversification strategy by testing the hypotheses that the skills and competence of the incumbent chief executive officer of a major firm are associated with its diversification strategy. Using empirical data spanning the years 1965‐1980 for fifty‐three major U.S. firms that have diversified and grown, it is shown that the background and prior experience of the incumbent CEO of each firm is significantly associated with the diversification strategy of a firm. This has implications for boards of directors in their search for and selection of top level corporate executives, as well as implications for managers in search of executive jobs.
Effectiveness in marketing planning
Authors: Greenley Gordon E.
Published: May 2007

This paper is concerned with the assessment of effectiveness, despite the problems involved in its determination. The conventional approach to assessment is considered first. This is based upon a determination of the success of the planning in achieving its objectives. However, the problem here is that it does not consider the actual nature of the planning. A multidimensional approach is then considered, which attempts to overcome this problem, by measuring effectiveness within the planning system. The paper concludes that there are two types of effectiveness to be measured. However, although it recognizes the value of the conventional approach, the multidimensional approach is only seen to be useful in being an indicator to certain factors.
A diagnostic framework for planning
Authors: Leontiades Milton
Published: May 2007

The traditional framework for strategy formulation in the field of business policy is deliberately broad and generalized, so as to encompass an almost limitless number of potentially influential factors. There is also a need for a more focused view, a means for showing similarities and differences among firms and how these relate to strategy formulation—a framework, in other words, that allows companies to be diagnosed by key situational elements and uses these, in turn, to define the appropriate strategy alternatives. What is proposed is a framework based on three familiar key elements—organizational levels, management styles, and stages of growth—integrated with and related to four basic strategy alternatives.
The visible and the invisible hand: Resource allocation in the industrial sector
Authors: Bettis Richard A. , Prahalad C. K.
Published: May 2007

The standard economic analysis holds that resource allocation in the industrial sector is primarily a market process operating through the capital markets. The current political resurgence of free market economics has popularized this approach. Contrary to this approach the authors demonstrate that: (1) trends in the size, diversity and administrative complexity of firms; (2) structural features of the capital markets; and (3) the emergence of the state as a major source of capital in developed countries imply that internal organizational and political/ ideological considerations are also vital to understanding resource allocation in the economy.
The trade‐off between production and transportation costs in determining optimal plant size
Authors: Karnani Aneel
Published: May 2007

An important element of manufacturing strategy is to decide on the shipping radius and the size of a geographically focused plant. This decision involves a trade‐off between exploiting economies of scale in production by building a large plant and decreasing transportation costs by building a small plant. The paper presents a model for analysing this trade‐off. It is shown that scale economies in transportation facilitate the exploitation of production economies of scale. For an optimal sized plant, the ratio of transportation to production costs does not depend on the absolute cost levels in production and transportation, but only the economies of scale present in production and in transportation.
Business and national priorities for industrial development: Intersectoral consensus in Israel
Authors: Rosenberg Richard D.
Published: May 2007

This study describes a survey of experts chosen from Industry, Labour, and Government in Israel, who ranked and scored three business and four national goals in the context of industrial development. The business goals represented profitability, capital use and growth potential. The national goals involved human resource utilization, added value, foreign exchange conservation, and export of technologically advanced products.

The findings support a hypothesis of consensus on goals and goal priorities between different sectors of the Israel economy, despite what might appear to be their divergent special interests. The findings also indicate overall consensus with respect to a balance between business and national goals. The study concludes that this consensus is the result of the need to respond to environmental threats and uncertainties which has created a sense of mutual interdependence among the sectors.
Approaches for the experimental examination of the dialectic
Authors: Cosier Richard A.
Published: May 2007

A great deal of attention has focused on the potential benefits of the dialectic during strategic decision making. Some field studies have shown favourable perceptions of the dialectic. Exclusive use of field studies, however, is inadequate for a comprehensive evaluation of the dialectic. Controlled studies in the laboratory and the field are needed. Operationalizing the dialectic and measuring its effectiveness in controlled settings has been the subject of debate. This paper reviews three controlled approaches—lens model studies, creative task experiments, and case studies. The applicability of these approaches to dialectical research is discussed. Basic assumptions underlying controlled research are that the dialectic can be created in controlled settings and its effectiveness can be measured in terms of better decisions.
Diversifying acquisitions and financial relationships: Testing 1974‐1976 behaviour
Authors: Song Jae H.
Published: May 2007

Fifty‐four diverisifying acquisitions in manufacturing and mining industries from 1974 to 1976 are investigated in terms of sales growth rate, rate of return on assets, and current ratio of the acquiring and acquired companies. The average characteristics of acquired companies, classified by the characteristics of their acquiring companies, are compared. Results indicate significant structural matches between the acquired and acquiring companies to exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses in growth, profitability, and liquidity. It appears that firms try to balance their business segments in terms of product life cycle stages within a limit of maintaining proper levels of profit.
Progression or regression in facilities focus
Authors: Hill Terence J. , Duke‐Woolley R. M. G.
Published: May 2007

In many industries today, advances in technology and changes in market demand have together resulted in the need for significant manufacturing change, both in terms of products and processes. This need to respond in order to stay competitive means not only planning for product change but also planning for process change. Further, this latter aspect has two dimensions. The first concerns process technology changes which are due to the introduction of new products or to gain distinct, accrued advantages such as process capability or cost. The second is the need for process alterations which are necessary to support changes relating to existing products in terms of mix, volumes and product maturity. In many situations, however, the consideration of process change, particularly to support alterations in product mix, is an anathema to the presently‐held view of cost‐effective manufacturing. Consequently, such changes tend to be made on an ad hoc rather than planned basis. However, if this attitude is not reviewed then companies may gradually lose their competitive edge as the required facilities focus deteriorates.
Strengthening managerial approaches to improving technological capabilities
Authors: Gold Bela
Published: May 2007

This paper draws on an extensive array of theoretical and empirical studies covering a variety of industries in the U.S. and elsewhere in order: (a) to review common shortcomings found in evaluating technological innovations both before and after adoption, as well as in generating proposals for new innovations; and (b) to suggest means of improving each of these efforts.
Firm profitability and relative firm power
Authors: Galbraith Craig S. , Stiles Curt H.
Published: May 2007

This paper expands the notion of extended rivalry as cross‐industry relations within the chain of production and distribution, and argues that firm power resides in the exclusivity and essentiality of the firm's function in the chain. A cross‐section of U.S. manufacturing firms representing components for finished goods, capital goods, and supplies or consumable products is examined. The analysis of the three industry groups by simultaneous equation estimation provides general support for the hypothesis that firm power, as expressed in inter‐industry transactions, and industry structure, is associated with firm profitability.
The relationship of internal versus external orientations to financial measures of strategic performance
Authors: Pearce John A.
Published: May 2007

Field research involving 137 respondents in eight organizations was conducted to study the relationship between alternative measures of the internal/external orientations of sociometrically identified dominant coalition members and their firms' financial performance. Results showed that attitudinal measures were more often correlated with financial measures of strategic performance than were traditional ‘insider’ to ‘outsider’ measures based on descriptive categorizations. The significant findings were related to four performance indicators of company profitability, namely, profit margin, return on average assets, net interest spread, and return on average equity.
Manufacturing strategy: Defining the missing link
Authors: Wheel Wright Steven C.
Published: May 2007

The primary objective of strategy is to develop and support a lasting competitive advantage. In manufacturing industries, substantial focus has been given during the early eighties to the importance of the manufacturing function's contribution to overall corporate success, and yet the apparent lack of attention (historically) to achieving that potential contribution. In this article, characteristics of competitive advantage in manufacturing firms are described, a general framework for relating such advantage to corporate, business and functional levels of strategy is given, and an approach for pursuing that potential is outlined.
Merger strategy: An examination of Drucker's five rules for successful acquisitions
Authors: Paine Frank T. , Power Daniel J.
Published: May 2007

This paper critically examines five rules for making successful acquisitions advocated by Peter Drucker. In an attempt to verify the rules, supporting and non‐supporting empirical evidence, opinions and arguments are reviewed. The analysis suggests that the rules are not conclusively supported by current evidence or argument. Adopting these rules does not ensure successful acquisitions and may needlessly limit managers' opportunities for successful acquisitions.
Cognitive biases and their impact on strategic planning
Authors: Barnes James H.
Published: May 2007

Subjective judgements by planners and managers are a major component in the process of strategic planning. If such judgements are faulty, efforts at better strategic plans are likely to be misdirected. This paper discusses those biases which appear common to both managers and planners when they make judgements about risk. Implications of biased judgement are discussed in a planning context. Although we still do not know the best ways to elicit judgements, the paper concludes with a discussion of subjective sensitivity analysis which appears to offer some hope.
The selection of delphi panels for strategic planning purposes
Authors: Preble John F.
Published: May 2007

Despite the popularity of the Delphi technique little scientific literature exists to help guide the strategic planner in its proper application. In an effort to fill part of that void a comparative test was conducted using both intracompany and intercompany Delphi panels to forecast future events in the socio‐political environment of business. The intent was to determine whether the two groups produced similar or different forecasts under virtually identical test conditions. Analysis of the data showed similarities in both the forecast estimates and the degree of consensus achieved across groups. Since strong similarities were demonstrated, the intracompany panel type is recommended to strategic planners based on its unique advantages.
A resource‐based view of the firm
Authors: Wernerfelt Birger
Published: May 2007

The paper explores the usefulness of analysing firms from the resource side rather than from the product side. In analogy to entry barriers and growth‐share matrices, the concepts of resource position barrier and resource‐product matrices are suggested. These tools are then used to highlight the new strategic options which naturally emerge from the resource perspective.
Diversification strategy and systematic risk
Authors: Montgomery Cynthia A. , Singh Harbir
Published: May 2007

This paper addresses the relationship between diversification strategy and systematic risk (beta). Beta values are examined for six diversification categories, and it is found that betas for unrelated diversifiers are significantly higher than those of other firms. Possible contributions to this difference, including market power, capital structure, and capital intensity are explored.
Strategy and the environment: A study of corporate responses to crises
Authors: Smart Carolyne , Vertinsky Ilan
Published: May 2007

This paper describes an empirical study that examines the relationship between the type of external environment in which a firm operates and the repertoire of strategic responses the firm develops to cope with crises. The findings suggest that an executive's propensity to adopt a particular strategic posture depends on his perceptions of how well his firm can control its environment and on the costs of introducing change into the organization.
Strategic implementation: Five approaches to an elusive phenomenon
Authors: Bourgeois L. J. , Brodwin David R.
Published: May 2007

The traditional textbook approach to strategy implementation was to treat ‘implementation’ as an activity following ‘formulation’. Usually, the topic was treated as a question of organization design, where systems and structures were manipulated in concert with strategic goals. More recent views treat implementation either as an issue of gaining prior group commitment through coalitional decision‐making, or as a question of total organizational involvement through a strong corporate culture. This paper reviews the evolution of these approaches, developing four models to characterize them, and suggests a fifth one, with strategy emerging in an almost‐implemented form from within the firm.
Measuring organizational performance in the absence of objective measures: The case of the privately‐held firm and conglomerate business unit
Authors: Dess Gregory G. , Robinson Richard B.
Published: May 2007

Strategic management researchers often encounter problems obtaining objective measures of selected aspects of organizational performance that are reliable and valid. With privately‐held firms, such data are frequently unavailable. With conglomerate business units, all or parts of such data are inextricably interwoven with corporate‐wide data. This paper examines the usefulness of subjective performance measures, obtained from top management teams, when problems are encountered in obtaining accurate performance data.
A taxonomy of competitive retailing strategies
Authors: Hawes Jon M. , Crittenden William F.
Published: May 2007

An important aspect of any scientific investigation involves classifying the phenomena being studied. This research focused on a taxonomic analysis of the limited domain of competitive retailing strategies employed by U.S. supermarket chains for generic brand grocery products. Using cluster analysis, an empirically derived taxonomy was developed, and the characteristics of firms in each of the four strategic groups were examined. In addition, the performance of particular strategic groups was analysed. Firms in one of the strategic groups (aggressive initiators) consistently indicated higher levels of success.
Mechanisms, organisms and social systems
Authors: Gharajedaghi Jamshid , Ackoff Russell L.
Published: May 2007

To think about anything requires an image or concept of it, a model. To think about a thing as complex as a social system most people use a model of something similar, simpler and more familiar. Traditionally, two types of models have been used in efforts to acquire information, knowledge and understanding of social systems: mechanistic and organismic. But, in a world of accelerating change, increasing uncertainty and growing complexity, it is becoming apparent that these are inadequate as guides to decision and action. The growing number of social crises and dilemmas that we face should be clear evidence that something is fundamentally wrong with the way we think about social systems. In this paper we describe and try to explain the deficiencies of the two traditional ways of thinking about social systems. We then develop a third type of model, one we believe does not suffer from these inadequacies, a social system model which seeks to penetrate beyond the nature of machine and organisms to understand social systems in their own right.
The comparative effectiveness of dialectical inquiry and Devil's advocacy: The impact of task biases on previous research findings
Authors: Schweiger David M. , Finger Phyllis A.
Published: May 2007

Considerable debate has recently emerged concerning the comparative effectiveness of two methods of inquiry recommended for use in strategic decision making: dialectical inquiry (DI) and devil's advocacy (DA). Much of the comparative research surrounding this debate has made use of the Multiple Cue Probability Learning Paradigm (MCPLP). The equivocal nature of previous research findings using this paradigm and others, along with results from the present research indicating potential order of presentation effects, raises serious questions concerning previous operationalizations of these two methods.
Generic competitive strategies—An analytical approach
Authors: Karnani Aneel
Published: May 2007

The concept of generic strategies for gaining competitive advantage has received considerable attention recently in the business policy field. Two generic strategies usually mentioned are low cost position and highly differentiated position. This paper uses a game‐theoretic model of oligopolistic competition to provide analytical support for these generic strategies, and, in places, to refine the conclusions drawn from previous research in this field. Another conclusion derived from the model is that a superior cost or differentiation position leads to a larger market share, which in turn leads to higher profitability.
Redirecting research in business policy and strategy
Authors: Camerer Colin
Published: May 2007

Because business policy research has primarily been a series of inductive generalizations of case studies; theories have been typically ambiguous and untested, and have not progressed swiftly. Deductive theorizing, by contrast, yields clear, often non‐obvious conclusions that can be debated effectively and generalized slowly; so realism of current models can be sacrificed for progress towards realistic future models. Deductive theorizing, with more attention to a game‐theoretic definition of equilibrium and to recent ideas from economics, should be one new direction for policy research. Of course, these deductive models will inevitably draw their inspiration from the richness of careful observation and exhaustive checklist‐making that are the hallmarks of induction. Specific avenues for new research are described, and the importance of teaching non‐obvious theories is defended.