bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Xenon on Excitatory and Inhibitory Transmission in Rat Spinal Ventral Horn Neurons
Authors: Yamamoto Tomohiro , Honda Hiroyuki , Baba Hiroshi , Kohno Tatsuro
Published: March 2012

Background

The minimum alveolar concentration is determined in the spinal cord rather than in the brain. Xenon inhibits glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn neurons. However, its actions in the ventral horn neurons have not been investigated.

Methods

The effects of 50 or 75% xenon on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission were examined in the spinal lamina IX neurons of neonatal rats by using a whole cell patch clamp technique.

Results

Fifty percent xenon inhibited the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-4-propionic acid-induced currents (amplitudes = 72 ± 9% and integrated area = 73 ± 13% of the control values), and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor-mediated electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (amplitudes = 69 ± 13% of the control values). Seventy-five percent xenon similarly inhibited α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-4-propionic acid-induced currents. However, xenon had no effect on the N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced currents or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated electrically evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents. Xenon decreased the amplitude, but not the frequency, of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents. There were no discernible effects on the currents induced by γ-aminobutyric acid or glycine or on miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents.

Conclusions

Xenon inhibits α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor-mediated glutamatergic excitatory transmission in the spinal lamina IX neurons via a postsynaptic mechanism. In contrast, there are no substantial effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated or inhibitory synaptic transmission. The suppressive effects on excitatory synaptic transmission in the ventral horn neurons partly account for the mechanism behind xenon's ability to produce immobility in response to noxious stimuli and to determine the minimum alveolar concentration.
Fontimonas thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from a freshwater hot spring, and proposal of Solimonadaceae fam. nov. to replace Sinobacteraceae Zhou et al. 2008
Authors: Losey Nathaniel A. , Stevenson Bradley S. , Verbarg Susanne , Rudd Stephen , Moore Edward R. B. , Lawson Paul A.
Published: March 2012

A novel bacterial strain designated HA-01T was isolated from a freshwater terrestrial hot spring located at Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, USA. Cells were Gram-negative-staining, rod-shaped, aerobic, chemo-organotrophic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-spore-forming and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 37–60 °C, with an optimum between 45 and 50 °C, and at pH 6.5–8.5, with an optimum between pH 6.5 and 7.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the closest relatives of strain HA-01T were

Solimonas aquatica

NAA-16T (93.8 %),

Solimonas flava

CW-KD 4T (94.1 %),

Solimonas soli

DCY12T (93.1 %),

Solimonas variicoloris

MN28T (94.0 %),

Nevskia ramosa

Soe1T (91.2 %) and

Hydrocarboniphaga effusa

AP103T (91.1 %). Major fatty acids consisted of C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 1ω6c). Polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, and the major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence, it is proposed that strain HA-01T represents a novel species in a new genus for which the name Fontimonas thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is HA-01T ( = DSM 23609T = CCUG 59713T). A new family, Solimonadaceae fam. nov., is also proposed to replace Sinobacteriaceae Zhou et al. 2008.
Metschnikowia proteae sp. nov., a nectarivorous insect-associated yeast species from Africa
Authors: de Vega Clara , Guzmán Beatriz , Lachance Marc-André , Steenhuisen Sandy-Lynn , Johnson Steven D. , Herrera Carlos M.
Published: March 2012

A collection of yeasts isolated from nectar of flowers ofProtea caffra(Proteaceae) and associated scarab beetles (Atrichelaphinis tigrina,Cyrtothyrea marginalis,Trichostetha fascicularisandHeterochelussp.) and drosophilid flies in South Africa, contained 28 isolates that could not be assigned to known species. Comparisons of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene demonstrated the existence of three separate phylotypes with an affinity to the genusMetschnikowiaand more specifically to the beetle-associated large-sporedMetschnikowiaclade. Twenty-six strains that had similar D1/D2 sequences were mixed in all pairwise combinations. They were found to mate and give rise to large asci typical of those in the clade. The nameMetschnikowia proteaesp. nov. (type strain EBDT1Y1T = CBS 12522T = NRRL Y-48784T; allotype strain EBDC2Y2 = CBS 12521 = NRRL Y-48785) is proposed to accommodate this novel species. The ecology of this novel yeast species is discussed in relation to its potential plant and insect host species. The additional two single strains isolated fromHeterochelussp. represent two novel undescribed species (Candidasp. 1 EBDM2Y3 andCandidasp. 2 EBDM8Y1). As these single strains are probably haploid mating types ofMetschnikowiaspecies, their description is deferred until the species are sufficiently well sampled to permit meaningful descriptions.
Genome-wide analysis of long noncoding RNA stability
Authors: Clark Michael B. , Johnston Rebecca L. , Inostroza-Ponta Mario , Fox Archa H. , Fortini Ellen , Moscato Pablo , Dinger Marcel E. , Mattick John S.
Published: March 2012

Transcriptomic analyses have identified tens of thousands of intergenic, intronic, and cis-antisense long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are expressed from mammalian genomes. Despite progress in functional characterization, little is known about the post-transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs and their half-lives. Although many are easily detectable by a variety of techniques, it has been assumed that lncRNAs are generally unstable, but this has not been examined genome-wide. Utilizing a custom noncoding RNA array, we determined the half-lives of ∼800 lncRNAs and ∼12,000 mRNAs in the mouse Neuro-2a cell line. We find only a minority of lncRNAs are unstable. LncRNA half-lives vary over a wide range, comparable to, although on average less than, that of mRNAs, suggestive of complex metabolism and widespread functionality. Combining half-lives with comprehensive lncRNA annotations identified hundreds of unstable (half-life < 2 h) intergenic, cis-antisense, and intronic lncRNAs, as well as lncRNAs showing extreme stability (half-life > 16 h). Analysis of lncRNA features revealed that intergenic and cis-antisense RNAs are more stable than those derived from introns, as are spliced lncRNAs compared to unspliced (single exon) transcripts. Subcellular localization of lncRNAs indicated widespread trafficking to different cellular locations, with nuclear-localized lncRNAs more likely to be unstable. Surprisingly, one of the least stable lncRNAs is the well-characterized paraspeckle RNA Neat1, suggesting Neat1 instability contributes to the dynamic nature of this subnuclear domain. We have created an online interactive resource (http://stability.matticklab.com) that allows easy navigation of lncRNA and mRNA stability profiles and provides a comprehensive annotation of ∼7200 mouse lncRNAs.
Same–different categorization in rats
Authors: Wasserman Edward A. , Castro Leyre , Freeman John H.
Published: March 2012

Same–different categorization is a fundamental feat of human cognition. Although birds and nonhuman primates readily learn same–different discriminations and successfully transfer them to novel stimuli, no such demonstration exists for rats. Using a spatial discrimination learning task, we show that rats can both learn to discriminate arrays of visual stimuli containing all same from all different items and transfer this discrimination to arrays composed of novel visual items. These results are consistent with rats’ engaging in same–different categorization. As such, they pave the way for investigations into the perceptual, cognitive, and neurobiological substrates of abstract categorization behavior.
Information behaviour meta‐models
Authors: Shenton Andrew K. , Hay‐Gibson Naomi V.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore meta‐models that pertain to information behaviour. It seeks to highlight the possibilities they offer to researchers wishing to develop their own and to readers more generally interested in information behaviour literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Various frameworks that may be regarded as information behaviour meta‐models were examined and three separate types were identified. These are discussed in turn, with particular characteristics of individual meta‐models used to illustrate the types.

Findings

A meta‐model is considered here to be a model that has been derived from one or more existing models. Information behaviour meta‐models fall into three categories: those that unify, within one framework, disparate models/theories from a number of areas; those that integrate the fundamentals of several models which share common strands; and those that recast an established model for a particular purpose.

Research limitations/implications

The extent of the typology presented in the paper is bound by the limits of the authors' endeavours in uncovering relevant meta‐models. Should further meta‐models be traced, it is possible that other types would also come to light.

Originality/value

The work will aid the reader's understanding of how theoretical frameworks in information behaviour are developed. It will help those who study the field's literature to grasp variations in the origin of the individual models they see, by demonstrating that models may be derived from others in different ways. It will also enable readers intent on constructing their own models to understand some of the courses of action open to them.
User perception on library services and information resources in Kenyan Public Libraries
Authors: Nzivo Charles N.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide information on how public libraries and information services in Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) are perceived, by examining adult users, with a view of improving service delivery and enhancing the effective management of public library services.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology using questionnaires was adopted to solicit required information from 112 respondent adult users and data were analyzed using SPSS version 14.

Findings

The paper shows that KNLS library services and information resources are very positively perceived by most respondents. KNLS libraries are: comparatively better off than universities and other public libraries; are predominantly focused on print documents (books) as preferred sources; readers' mostly begin their search for information on a particular topic; general reading and research purposes and information resources equip users with appropriate knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on adult users in internet‐serviced libraries within the KNLS and thus may not be used to generalize about users of all public libraries in Kenya.

Practical implications

This paper attempts to provide KNLS public libraries with fundamental information about adult users' perspectives of services and information resources. Though the services and information resources are positively perceived, the library management has room to improve and maintain current levels of perception.

Originality/value

The paper is of value because understanding of users' perceptions is vital for services and information resource improvement.
The role of social networking sites (SNSs) in the January 25th Revolution in Egypt
Authors: Mansour Essam
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to asses the role of social networking sites (SNSs) in the 25 January 2011 Egyptian Revolution, also known as the “Arab Spring”.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methods used were an adaptive form of snowball sampling of a heterogeneous demographic group of participants in the Revolution, used to select focus groups to explore a range of relevant issues.

Findings

SNSs are shown to have played a central and pivotal role in the events known collectively as the Arab Spring. Their importance as a source of non‐governmental information and as a means of informing the external and internal community of internal events is highlighted by all participants.

Originality/value

The paper outlines research into contemporary events of global significance.
The business model in the practice of strategic decision making: insights from a case study
Authors: Hacklin Fredrik , Wallnöfer Maria
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Traditionally, management scholars have conceptualized the business model as alocusof innovation, planning tool, heuristic logic, or market device. However, so far, little is known about how the model is being applied in practice. To address this gap, this study aims to introduce a strategy‐as‐practice perspective and to explore the implications and limitations of applying the business model as a strategizing device.

Design/methodology/approach

A single‐case study design was selected to explore the implications and limitations of using the business model as a strategizing device in a high‐tech firm.

Findings

The business model provides a valuable structural template for mapping the current business model of a firm. However, in developing and discussing strategic options, it acts more as a symbolic artifact stimulating a creative decision‐making process than as an analytic tool with a clear sequence of steps.

Practical implications

When working with the business model concept in practice, its technical and linguistic legitimacy is initially highly limited. In the process of gaining legitimacy, however, a collective lock‐in to the current strategic identity may arise. Managers have to be aware of these limitations and need to achieve an appropriate balance within the organization.

Originality/value

The study introduces a social practice perspective into the business model debate, with a special emphasis on the implications and limitations of applying the business model concept as a strategizing device in a real‐life setting.
Stakeholder pressure and environmental proactivity
Authors: Garcés‐Ayerbe Concepción , Rivera‐Torres Pilar , Murillo‐Luna Josefina L.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to learn more about the relationship between managers' perception of stakeholder pressure related to environmental matters and the degree of proactivity of firms' environmental strategies. It seeks to analyse the moderating effect that managers' perception of environmental issues as competitive advantage opportunities can have on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to verify the research framework.

Findings

The results indicate that, only in the least polluting firms, managers' competitive advantage expectations derived from environmental management moderate the relationship between the degree of environmental proactivity and stakeholder pressure. However, it is not effective in high polluting firms, perhaps as a consequence of the high degree of stakeholders' environmental pressure perceived by managers.

Practical implications

The results highlight the relevance of managers' subjective perceptions of the potential of environmental protection measures to generate competitive advantages. They suggest that the consideration of this variable is fundamental in order to better understand the degree of proactivity of firms' environmental strategies, as well as the influence of stakeholder pressure on environmental proactivity. The main limitation is the low response rate of the survey.

Originality/value

This is an original contribution because, although there are studies analysing how stakeholder pressure and managers' perceptions and values affect choice of environmental strategy, none of them analyse the combined impact of both issues.
Foreign board membership and firm value in Korea
Authors: Mi Choi Hyang , Sul Wonsik , Kee Min Sang
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore such questions as: “What are the impacts of foreign investors and what are the channels through which foreign investors contribute to or detracts from firm value in Korea?” It aims to discuss how foreign investors and foreign outside directors interact to enhance firm value.

Design/methodology/approach

Using longitudinal data from the KOSPI200 index in Korea during 2004‐2007, the study examined the direct and interaction effect of foreign blockholders and foreign board members. To address the representativeness of foreign investors, the authors verified the mandates of foreign board members though telephone interviews.

Findings

Foreign block shareholders and foreign outside directors respectively provide expertise and independent monitoring over management. Foreign blockholders' management control via board membership is likely to mitigate leverage of value enhancement when foreign outside directors represent private interests of foreign blockholders. The moderating effect is also supported since foreign ownership concentration has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with value enhancement. The paper confirms that board independence reinforces the positive impact of foreign outside directors on firm value.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers a key to understanding corporate governance in that mutual monitoring and a balance among various types of stakeholders are crucial to value enhancement.

Originality/value

The paper provides clues to the extant diverse findings concerning the impact of foreign investors on firm value. It applies an integrated perspective to the empirical analyses of the impact of foreign investors by giving consideration to the agency – foreign outside directors – to implement management control on behalf of foreign blockholders.
Leading virtual teams: how do social, cognitive, and behavioral capabilities matter?
Authors: Mukherjee Debmalya , Lahiri Somnath , Mukherjee Deepraj , Billing Tejinder K.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research framework that identifies crucial leadership capabilities pertaining to the different lifecycle stages of a virtual team (VT). More specifically, the framework seeks to identify and explain the role of social, cognitive, and behavioral capabilities as important determinants of effective VT leadership and success.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides an overview of literature on VT leadership, categorizes leadership capabilities, and relates the capabilities to various stages of VT life‐cycle. A research analysis is undertaken to depict the proposed relationships.

Findings

The propositions demonstrate that for effective VT leadership to happen it is important to understand the specific set of capabilities that contributes to successful management of a particular VT stage.

Social implications

VT leaders' application of appropriate capabilities may result in the development of greater levels of tolerance toward cultural, temporal and geographic diversity that exists among VT members and leaders. Such tolerance may actually help improve worker satisfaction, cohesiveness among team members, and promote better work‐life balance – outcomes that are beneficial to society. In addition, more effective and successful VT leadership will lead to better VT performance and organizational success – suggesting positive social impact.

Originality/value

Research relating to VT leadership has been limited. With the usage of VTs predicted to gain more importance in the future there is a greater need to understand how specific leadership capabilities contribute to the successful management and development of VTs. This study fills the void in the extant literature by exploring the specific leadership capabilities and by analyzing their relative influence and relationships with VT lifecycle stages.
Dynamic effects of business cycles on business relationships
Authors: Alajoutsijärvi Kimmo , Mainela Tuija , Ulkuniemi Pauliina , Montell Emma
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to identify the effects of business cycles on industrial business‐to‐business relationships within extremely volatile industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an in‐depth case study on Outotec plc, a leading provider of technologies for the mining and metal industries.

Findings

The study identifies the changes in a business relationship during a business cycle as the dominance between the parties and the cooperative and the competitive nature of the relationship alternate.

Practical implications

The study identifies ways to smooth the effects of business cycles in extremely volatile industries from the viewpoint of a project‐based technology provider.

Originality/value

While a significant amount of macroeconomic research on cycles and a few studies on industry‐specific business cycles can be found, this study is a rare example of company‐specific research on surviving business cycles.
Towards a new paradigm in experiential learning: lessons learned from kindergarten
Authors: Fourcade François , Go Nicolas
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare two radically different approaches of experiential learning, enabling four usually missing dimensions in experiential learning to be revealed.

Design/methodology/approach

The data in this paper are drawn from a five‐year action research involving more than 70 students and another action research run in kindergartens for more than ten years.

Findings

To reveal the power of experiential learning – the authors name it complex experiential learning – one needs to be compliant with four principles: the conditions for the experience to emerge comes from the participants themselves; the multiplicity principle; the dual epistemological authenticity principle; and the complexity principle.

Research limitations/implications

It would be valuable to gather longitudinal data to explore how the perspective of participants on the impact of these four principles varies over time.

Practical implications

Any experiential workshop, run under the rules of the four discovered principles, reveals a higher learning outcome.

Originality/value

Limited research on experiential learning research properly addresses the question of how which type of experience will be the most likely to produce expected learning effects.
Are theatre and business links relevant? A conceptual paper and a case study
Authors: Lesavre Laurent
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine why theatre‐business links are relevant to management. The focus is on two types of links: using theatre techniques as a training method for managers, and using corporate theatre as a change management tool. The paper seeks to share an experience and tries to explicate the processes involved in order to explain the success of these two kinds of courses, both training theatre and corporate theatre (specifically, action theatre in this case).

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study. Theatre has been taught for ten years at the Grenoble Graduate School of Business under the author's responsibility, and also the corporate theatre method is taught to initial students and to continuing training managers. This paper is based on those teaching experiences. To explain the relevance of both of theatre as a training tool and corporate theatre as a management tool, the author relates to both theories of body memory from neuroscientists and to the catharsis phenomenon.

Findings

The goal was to make hypotheses from the above theories which explain the process that takes place inside the manager undergoing training and to open further research.

Research limitations/implications

Main limitations come from the lack of established empirical and relevant measures of the effects of such theatre processes on participants’ management abilities and from the lack of tools to measure the long‐term effects of theatre.

Practical implications

The most important implication is that practitioners could make more relevant use of such techniques when designing training sessions or utilizing corporate theatre interventions.

Social implications

Social implications come from how the “human” face of theatre can help the personal development of managers, improving or changing their views on the world and other people.

Originality/value

Although theatre and business links are more than 20 years old, nobody has previously tried to understand the inner processes involved.
Emotional learning: managerial development by corporate volunteering
Authors: Bartsch Gabriele
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Using the program Blickwechsel (“Perspective Change”) as an example, the purpose of this paper is to describe how businesses can combine societal engagement with internal managerial development, and outline what potential for skill development exists.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiences and transfer ideas of two Blickwechsel® participants, drawn from follow‐up coachings and semi‐structured interviews, are used for the evaluation of the programme and are elaborated in two case studies.

Findings

The case studies show that the combination of experience and professionally‐guided reflection are most effective for gaining new insights and being motivated to try new approaches within one's own leadership role.

Originality/value

The two case studies are originally elaborated for this paper in order to outline the benefits of Blickwechsel as an experiential learning approach.
Use of Balanced Experiential Inquiry to build ethical strength in the workplace
Authors: Sekerka Leslie E. , Godwin Lindsey N. , Charnigo Richard
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Managers’ willingness to proceed with right action can be diminished by the need for approval and feeling the negative emotions that often accompany ethical challenges. This paper seeks to describe Balanced Experiential Inquiry (BEI), a learning activity designed to help managers develop sustained moral performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using their past experiences for reflective learning, managers engage in BEI to understand what promotes and curtails their ability to respond to ethical issues.

Findings

A field study showed that managers engaging in BEI perceived less need for praise from others and experienced a reduction in negative emotions.

Research limitations/implications

Future research evaluating BEI should use a control group, diverse sample, and a longitudinal design that tracks outcomes over time.

Practical implications

Application of BEI is a promising mechanism to help organizations bolster managers’ internal desires to stay on an ethical decision‐making path.

Originality/value

The paper shows that shared reflection and dialogue are needed to help foster responsibility and build ethical strength in organizational settings.
Experiential learning and management education
Authors: Bevan David , Kipka Claudia
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The main purpose of the article is to contextualise the potential contribution that experiential learning may offer to those engaged in academic and professional management development, pedagogy and education. It has consequences for a range of applications in this field from curriculum design and teaching to individual/personal development and the recruitment and retention of talent in professional and commercial organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The article suggests an original, conceptual framework for experiential learning that draws on both scholarly and experimental management.

Findings

While under‐represented in the scholarly pedagogy of management this article precedes a demonstration of an evidently powerful if methodologically challenging articles on a powerful approach to management development.

Research limitations/implications

This article limits and delimits experiential learning theory and practice. It offers a framework for an empirical mapping of this important area of management practice which is currently under‐represented in academic writing and practice.

Practical implications

This article suggests an array of interdisciplinary applications for the principles of experiential learning.

Originality/value

This paper suggests an original context for our initial EABIS Experiential Learning symposium and the articles that came from it.
CSFs along ERP life‐cycle in SMEs: a field study
Authors: Shaul Levi , Tauber Doron
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a consensus from previous research and develop a comprehensive success model for enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation in small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) that incorporates additional empirical observation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study clusters 94 critical success factors (CSFs), already identified by other researchers, into 15 categories using validity, reliability, principal component and multicollinearity analyses. This study applies a stakeholder perspective, taking into consideration both users, developers, managers, suppliers and consultants.

Findings

It seems that different categories and different sub‐factors affect an ERP project according to its phase in the life cycle and that each category and each phase of an ERP project focuses on different success factors. Executive attention should be focused on the relevant categories and sub‐factors accordingly.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents' experience relates to small and medium‐sized enterprises operating in the local market. Differences in the scope of implementation, organizational, technological and environmental characteristics were not taken into consideration. Finally, this study did not distinguish between different levels of ERP system usage.

Practical implications

The paper provides practical guidelines as to which categories and sub‐factors need to be considered and how one should manage them along the ERP life‐cycle. The paper elaborates, strengthens and illustrates insights, delivered within the research, for readers in a summarized and informative manner. The authors describe several major potential failures and these potential failures are discussed for the planning phase, widely cited as a very important phase that is often unacknowledged, along with preventive and corrective measures executed by organizations. In addition, it compares and contrasts the results with larger enterprise implementation reported by literature.

Originality/value

The paper presents an empirical study that delivers an additional empirical observation through the construction of consensus from previous research.
Security risks in service offshoring and outsourcing
Authors: Nassimbeni Guido , Sartor Marco , Dus Daiana
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Service outsourcing/offshoring represents an increasing phenomenon. Several factors (e.g. cost reduction, flexibility, access to new technologies and skills, access to new markets, focus on core activities) motivate the location of (IT or business) processes abroad and/or out of the companies' boundaries. This choice determines also relevant risks. Knowledge and data protection constitutes one of the most relevant issues in service outsourcing/offshoring because it can strongly affect the success of these projects. The purpose of this paper is to propose an assessment framework that highlights the main risks of offshoring and outsourcing projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the model developed by Monczka et al. (2005), this work proposes a FMEA assessment framework that highlights the main risks of offshoring and outsourcing projects, their causes, effects and some possible (preventing/correcting) actions. The proposed framework has been implemented and tested in a multinational company for a long time involved in service offshoring/outsourcing projects.

Findings

Adopting a failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) approach, the study describes the main possible failures, their causes, effects and possible (preventive and corrective) actions, along all of the phases of typical outsourcing/offshoring projects.

Originality/value

The paper develops an assessment framework able to identify the security risk profile of companies engaged in outsourcing/offshoring projects by considering the technical, legal and managerial aspects jointly; and detecting the causes of possible security failures and the related preventive and corrective actions.
The pivotal roles of corporate environment responsibility
Authors: Tien‐Shang Lee Les
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test competing models of the different causal relationships regarding the motivations for corporate environmental responsibility, the adoption of environmental product policies and the related enhancement of environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mail survey and employs structural equation modeling to test the different relationships among the constructs examined. By testing the fitness of the competing model models, the appropriate relationships are identified.

Findings

The environmental performance is directly influenced by instrumental motives and political motives, which have indirect effects on environmental performance through corporate environmental responsibility. These also reveal that instrumental motives have marginal effects on both corporate environmental responsibility and environmental performance, and the marginal effects of political motives on environmental performance are also clearly shown. Notably, the results reveal that the corporate environmental responsibly is a pivot in these cause‐effect relationships.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study provides researchers and policy makers with a framework to study environmental responsibility in different business environments, it did not undertake a deeper analysis to better understand business and organizational cultures and business environments regarding the implementation of an environmentally oriented policy. Furthermore, the model was only tested with survey data from Taiwan, although some of samples operate internationally.

Practical implications

From the perspective of a practical business context, practitioners should implement corporate responsibility policies that are specifically related to their political environments. For example, when doing businesses in Taiwan, the political motives involved in environmental protection will be the key to success when undertaking policies related to corporate environmental responsibility.

Originality/value

The results of this research indicate that there is an indirect heavy loading of corporate environmental responsibility on environmental performance. Therefore, corporate environmental responsibility is the pivotal factor in firms' adoption of environmentally oriented policies.
Strategy, strategic management accounting and performance: a configurational analysis
Authors: Cadez Simon , Guilding Chris
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of different configurational archetypes of strategy and strategic management accounting and to appraise how management accounting's horizontal and vertical alignment with strategy can facilitate performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deploys a holistic configurational approach to examine the relationship between strategy, strategic management accounting, and performance. Configurations are derived empirically, using an inductive approach, from a sample of 109 manufacturing companies.

Findings

The observed configurations (i.e. “analytics”, “blue‐chips”, “first movers”, “domestic protectors”, “laggards and socialism relics”) constitute varying levels of performance and varying degrees of fit. Support is provided for the equifinality proposition that different strategic and structural alternatives are associated with similar performance levels. Equivocal support is provided for the configurational proposition that internally consistent configurations are associated with higher performance.

Research limitations/implications

The variables examined do not fully capture the complexity of pertinent configurations. Limitations revolve around application of the cluster analytical technique and its reliance on researcher judgement.

Practical implications

The study's most important message concerns the manner in which it highlights the fallibility of assuming a singular relationship between strategic choices and management accounting system design. While prior research has tended to offer fragmented and unidirectional management accounting prescriptions, the authors raise the notion of how key variables can interact to create an effective organization.

Originality/value

The paper breaks new ground by showing that multiple designs of strategy and strategic management accounting may be equally effective in a particular context. This finding challenges much traditional contingency‐based modelling in management accounting.
Information technology‐enabled quality performance: an exploratory study
Authors: Perez‐Arostegui María N. , Benitez‐Amado Jose , Tamayo‐Torres Javier
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of information technology (IT) competence – composed of IT infrastructure, IT technical and managerial knowledge and the integration of IT strategy with firm strategy – on quality performance. Since, according to the resource‐based view, IT alone is not able to sustain a competitive advantage, the moderating effect of leadership practice on this relationship must be analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

A proposed research model is tested using survey data from a sample of 230 leading Spanish firms. Multiple regression analysis was performed with SPSS package.

Findings

The main findings show that: the existence of an IT competence will have a partial impact on improvement in quality performance; IT technical knowledge in itself does not influence the determination of improvement in quality performance – rather, one needs complementarity with leadership; and the impact of IT dimensions on quality performance will be greater in the presence of leadership practice.

Practical implications

Managers must be aware that the impact of IT on competitive advantage need not be direct; it can have influence through complementarity with other organizational capabilities.

Originality/value

The paper reinforces the need to explore in greater depth the relationship between IT and quality management. This appears to be one of the first papers to simultaneously explore relationships between IT, leadership and quality performance. The paper provides insights on the processes by which IT resources interact with other organizational resources, a topic that has received little attention to date.
Longitudinal study of digital marketing strategies targeting Millennials
Authors: Taken Smith Katherine
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine which digital marketing strategies are preferred by Millennials and are effective in influencing their behavior. There is potential growth and value in using digital marketing aimed at Millennials, but the marketing strategies must be perceived positively by this online generation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected over a three‐year period (2009 to 2011) by surveying Millennials at a prominent southwest US university.

Findings

Results indicate that Millennials have a definite preference for certain forms of online advertising. There are digital marketing strategies that are considerably more effective in grabbing the attention of Millennials, motivating repeat visits to a web site, and encouraging Millennials to write online reviews.

Practical implications

By taking into consideration the preferences of Millennials, the effectiveness of online communications and digital marketing aimed at this market segment can be increased. Recommendations are made regarding types of online advertising to use, how companies should design their web sites, how to motivate repeat visits to web sites, and how to encourage Millennials to write online reviews. Millennials are reading and being influenced by online reviews.

Originality/value

Even though online advertising is the fastest growing advertising medium, only a small percentage of total advertising expenditures are currently being devoted to the internet. There is potential growth and value in using digital marketing aimed at Millennials, but the marketing strategies must be perceived positively by this generation.
The emergence of marketing in Millennial new ventures
Authors: Lingelbach David , Patino Anthony , Pitta Dennis A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework, based in entrepreneurship theory, which explains how marketing emerges in startups founded by members of the Millennial generation.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a literature review, from which propositions are derived, an earlier process model of organizational speciation is adapted to marketing by Millennial entrepreneurs.

Findings

A four‐stage cycle model of entrepreneurial marketing by Millennials is developed, consisting of enabling through resource scarcity, bonding through social media, new product introduction through incremental stealth, and replicating through variation, selection, and retention.

Research limitations/implications

Model development would be enhanced through empirical data.

Practical implications

Marketers in entrepreneurial firms founded by Millennials can follow a few simple rules to enhance market penetration. Resource scarcity is something to be sought, not avoided. A thoughtful social media strategy can accelerate new product introduction: stealthiness and its close relation small size should be embraced; avoid getting too big too quickly; use furtiveness to drive social media‐based bonding.

Originality/value

Previous theoretical models at the marketing/entrepreneurship interface have not focused on the unique characteristics of Millennial‐led new ventures. This study develops the most comprehensive model of entrepreneurial marketing by Millennials to date.
Identifying Millennials' key influencers from early childhood: insights into current consumer preferences
Authors: Young Amy M. , Hinesly Mary D.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a methodological approach to understanding key influencers of Millennials and other generational cohorts. The approach identifies adults' implicit consumer preferences based on their early childhood cultural experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws from research in the area of generational studies, implicit psychological processing, and consumer preferences to propose a method of identifying and confirming key influencers of generational cohorts' implicit preferences.

Findings

A more complete understanding of Millennials and other generational cohorts can be gleaned by complementing current methodological approaches with the one proposed in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

As preliminary research has just begun using this model, additional research is needed to confirm the theoretical work and association between early childhood influencers and actual purchasing behaviors.

Practical implications

The identification of early childhood influencers can be used by businesses for their current marketing strategies with Millennials and other generational cohorts or for product development/updates in anticipation of cohorts “aging into” target markets.

Originality/value

The approach proposed in this paper is innovative in its integration of generational cohort analysis with empirical approaches to measuring implicit consumer preferences.
How do they do it? Understanding back office efficiency savings made by English councils
Authors: Chester Buxton Rosamund , Radnor Zoe
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the back office efficiency savings made by English councils during the 2004 Spending Review (SR04) period in order to consider the relationship between service delivery, audit and inspection and, efficiency programmes in local government. It considers three research questions: the use of secondary data, the relationship between efficiency savings and contextual factors, and the influence of audit and inspection in delivering efficient public services.

Design/methodology/approach

Through statistical analysis the paper discusses the secondary analysis of publicly available sets of administrative data about local councils in England. These datasets are the annual efficiency statements (AES) taken from records made by each council. The paper discusses through the analysis of the AES the degree of efficiency savings and service improvements in English councils and whether efficiency savings are influenced by internal or external contextual factors.

Findings

The paper illustrates that secondary data is a useful source of data, but finds that although councils have achieved the efficiency savings set there is no relationship with the contextual factors. The paper considers the influence of audit and inspection, suggesting that the focus has been on meeting the target rather than local needs.

Originality/value

This paper aims to contribute to the debate regarding the use of performance indicators, audit and inspection and efficiency achievement within local government. The paper starts to explore the implication in the UK where, after a decade of use, the influence of these is reducing dramatically.
Assessment of quality of prenatal care in Shahid Beheshti Medical Science University Centers
Authors: Simbar Masoumeh , Nahidi Fatemeh , Dolatian Mahrokh , Akbarzadeh Alireza
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Improving hospital service access and mothers' care are said to be the best approaches for decreasing maternal mortality. This study aims to evaluate prenatal care (PNC) and suggest ways to improve hospital and health center maternity services.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a cross‐sectional descriptive study to evaluate prenatal care services in three domains: service structure; care process; and outcomes. Using non‐randomized quota sampling, 600 PNC clients were assessed in 12 pre‐natal clinics. Two checklists were used to assess facilities and care process and a questionnaire to assess client satisfaction. Validity and reliability were assessed and confirmed.

Findings

Six hundred subjects, averaging 29.3 (±9.4) weeks pregnancy, were included. Assessing different care processes demonstrated the following compliance to standards: counseling process 55.5 per cent (±21.2); history‐taking 48.71 per cent (±11.4); vital signs assessment 53.4 per cent (±10.6); general examination 30.2 per cent (±13.3); obstetrical examination 91.8 per cent (±27); blood tests 93.8 per cent (±21.9); urinary tests 86.9 per cent (±26.3); clients' education about peri‐natal‐risk 39.7 per cent (±27.1). Results showed that 0.54 per cent (±13.1) of clients were satisfied with care processes.

Research limitations/implications

Clients and providers were informed about the study's evaluation processes, which may have affected the results.

Practical implications

Study method and results can be used to improve PNC services.

Originality/value

This is the first time a study has focused on Iranian PNC structures, processes and outcomes.