bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
microRNA expression signatures and parallels between monocyte subsets and atherosclerotic plaque in humans
Authors: Denecke Bernd , Rostalsky André , Hristov Mihail , Koeppel Thomas A. , Bidzhekov Kiril , Gan Lin , Zernecke Alma , Weber Christian
Published: February 2012

Small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged to play critical roles in cardiovascular biology. Monocytes critically drive atherosclerotic lesion formation, and can be subdivided into a classical and non-classical subset. Here we scrutinised the miRNA signature of human classical and non-classical monocytes, and compared miRNA expression profiles of atherosclerotic plaques from human carotid arteries and healthy arteries. We identified miRNAs to be differentially regulated with a two-fold or higher difference between classical and non-classical monocyte subsets. Moreover, comparing miRNA expression in atherosclerotic plaques compared to healthy arteries, we observed several miRNAs to be aberrantly expressed, with the majority of miRNAs displaying a two-fold or higher increase in plaques and only few miRNAs being decreased. To elucidate similarities in miRNA signatures between monocyte subsets and atherosclerotic plaque, expression of miRNAs highly abundant in monocytes and plaque tissues were compared. Several miRNAs were found in atherosclerotic plaques but not in healthy vessels or either monocyte subset. However, we could identify miRNAs co-expressed in plaque tissue and classical monocytes (miR-99b, miR-152), or non-classical monocytes (miR-422a), or in both monocytes subsets. We thus unravelled candidate miRNAs, which may facilitate our understanding of monocyte recruitment and fate during atherosclerosis, and may serve as therapeutic targets for treating inflammatory vascular diseases.

Note: The editorial process for this article was fully handled by Prof. G. Y. H. Lip, Editor-in-Chief.
The use of rivaroxaban for short- and long-term treatment of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Cohen Alexander , Dobromirski Mark
Published: February 2012

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major healthcare concern and affects more than 1.6 million individuals each year worldwide. Long-term complications include recurrent VTE, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and post-thrombotic syndrome. Rivaroxaban is an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor that has advantages over traditional VTE therapies, including minimal drug and food interactions and no requirement for routine coagulation monitoring. It is currently approved for VTE prevention in adult patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacement surgery. This review evaluates the potential clinical implications of the multicentre, randomised EINSTEIN studies (EINSTEIN DVT and EINSTEIN EXT), which investigated rivaroxaban for the treatment and prevention of recurrent VTE. In EINSTEIN DVT, rivaroxaban was non-inferior to the standard of care (enoxaparin plus a vitamin K antagonist) for recurrent VTE in patients with acute deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) without pulmonary embolism (PE). In EINSTEIN EXT, extended-duration rivaroxaban had superior efficacy to placebo in patients with confirmed DVT or PE who had received 6–12 months of prior VTE treatment. Rivaroxaban was associated with an acceptable safety profile in both studies. The net clinical benefit (efficacy and safety end-points combined) of rivaroxaban was significantly greater than its comparators. The EINSTEIN studies are the first demonstration that a single drug - rivaroxaban - can be effective for both the initial treatment of DVT and prevention of recurrent VTE. Moreover, the simple, once-daily oral administration of rivaroxaban could potentially improve adherence to extended-duration VTE treatment compared with the current standard of care in individuals with confirmed DVT or PE.
Circulating Vascular Growth Factors and Central Hemodynamic Load in the Community
Authors: Zachariah Justin P. , Xanthakis Vanessa , Larson Martin G. , Vita Joseph A. , Sullivan Lisa M. , Smith Holly M. , Safa Radwan , Peng Xuyang , Hamburg Naomi , Levy Daniel , Sawyer Douglas B. , Mitchell Gary F. , Vasan Ramachandran S.
Published: February 2012

Mean and pulsatile components of hemodynamic load are related to cardiovascular disease. Vascular growth factors play a fundamental role in vascular remodeling. The links between growth factors and hemodynamic load components are not well described. In 3496 participants from the Framingham Heart Study third generation cohort (mean age: 40±9 years; 52% women), we related 4 tonometry-derived measures of central arterial load (carotid femoral pulse wave velocity and forward pressure wave, mean arterial pressure, and the global reflection coefficient) to circulating concentrations of angiopoietin 2, its soluble receptor; vascular endothelial growth factor, its soluble receptor; hepatocyte growth factor; insulin-like growth factor 1; and its binding protein 3. Using multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for standard cardiovascular risk factors, serum insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations were negatively associated with carotid femoral pulse wave velocity, mean arterial pressure, and reflection coefficient (
P
≤0.01 for all), whereas serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were positively associated with carotid femoral pulse wave velocity and mean arterial pressure (
P
<0.04). Serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and soluble angiopoietin 2 receptor levels were positively related to mean arterial pressure and to forward pressure wave, respectively (
P
<0.05). In our cross-sectional study of a large community-based sample, circulating vascular growth factor levels were related to measures of mean and pulsatile hemodynamic load in a pattern consistent with the known physiological effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor.
Angiotensin II–Dependent Hypertension Requires Cyclooxygenase 1–Derived Prostaglandin E
2
and EP
1
Receptor Signaling in the Subfornical Organ of the Brain
Authors: Cao Xian , Peterson Jeffrey R. , Wang Gang , Anrather Josef , Young Colin N. , Guruju Mallikarjuna R. , Burmeister Melissa A. , Iadecola Costantino , Davisson Robin L.
Published: February 2012

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived prostanoids have long been implicated in blood pressure (BP) regulation. Recently prostaglandin E
2
(PGE
2
) and its receptor EP
1
(EP
1
R) have emerged as key players in angiotensin II (Ang II)–dependent hypertension (HTN) and related end-organ damage. However, the enzymatic source of PGE
2,
that is, COX-1 or COX-2, and its site(s) of action are not known. The subfornical organ (SFO) is a key forebrain region that mediates systemic Ang II–dependent HTN via reactive oxygen species (ROS). We tested the hypothesis that cross-talk between PGE
2
/EP
1
R and ROS signaling in the SFO is required for Ang II HTN. Radiotelemetric assessment of blood pressure revealed that HTN induced by infusion of systemic “slow-pressor” doses of Ang II was abolished in mice with null mutations in EP
1
R or COX-1 but not COX-2. Slow-pressor Ang II–evoked HTN and ROS formation in the SFO were prevented when the EP
1
R antagonist SC-51089 was infused directly into brains of wild-type mice, and Ang-II-induced ROS production was blunted in cells dissociated from SFO of EP
1
R
−/−
and COX-1
−/−
but not COX-2
−/−
mice. In addition, slow-pressor Ang II infusion caused a ≈3-fold increase in PGE
2
levels in the SFO but not in other brain regions. Finally, genetic reconstitution of EP
1
R selectively in the SFO of EP
1
R-null mice was sufficient to rescue slow-pressor Ang II–elicited HTN and ROS formation in the SFO of this model. Thus, COX 1–derived PGE
2
signaling through EP
1
R in the SFO is required for the ROS-mediated HTN induced by systemic infusion of Ang II and suggests that EP
1
R in the SFO may provide a novel target for antihypertensive therapy.
American Scholars: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Joseph Smith, John Brown, and the Springs of Intellectual Schism
Authors: Carton Evan
Published: February 2012

The essay examines Ralph Waldo Emerson, Joseph Smith, and John Brown as shapers and representatives of America's common, though riven, culture of intellectual life–charismatic thinkers and actors who spoke to their society's need for general explanatory ideas in idioms that continue to bespeak our nation's deepest commonalities and deepest fractures.
Velocity Error for Coherent Doppler Lidar with Pulse Accumulation*
Authors: Frehlich Rod
Published: February 2012

The random estimation or instrument error of coherent Doppler lidar velocity estimates with pulse accumulation (multiple lidar shots per velocity estimate) is determined with computer simulations for general conditions. The sampling errors for overlaid lidar tracks and tropospheric wind field conditions are also calculated for space-based operation. These results permit useful engineering analysis based on the total observation error of the velocity measurements.
Securing a Place at the Table
Authors: Collins Kathleen M. T. , Onwuegbuzie Anthony J. , Johnson R. Burke
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this article is to recommend legitimation criteria pertinent for conducting mixed research. First, a discussion of mixed research as a distinctive methodology is presented, and challenges unique to mixed research are outlined. Second, an overview of quality criteria published in the mixed research literature is summarized. Third, the authors extend the discussion of quality criteria by introducing what we call the Holistic and Synergistic Legitimation Research Process, whereby emphasis on philosophical clarity and dialogue with values/perspectives of multiple communities of practice play continuous, iterative, holistic, and synergistic roles in the legitimation process. In so doing, the authors hope to clarify criteria that are important in terms of legitimating inferences drawn throughout a study, and, at the inquiry’s conclusion, to provide a perspective for guiding researchers’ evaluations of the quality of their research findings, inferences, and applications.
GPS as a Method for Assessing Spatial and Temporal Use Distributions of Nature-Based Tourists
Authors: Hallo Jeffrey C. , Beeco J. Adam , Goetcheus Cari , McGee John , McGehee Nancy Gard , Norman William C.
Published: February 2012

Traditional methods of collecting spatial and temporal use data are burdensome to both tourists and researchers, and they often lack needed accuracy. This article examines emergent GPS technology and its application to tracking nature-based tourists. Two applications of GPS presented here demonstrate the usefulness and functionality of GPS for tracking nature-based tourists in most natural recreation environments and in open, complex systems. This study finds that GPS offers advantages over traditional methods for tracking visitors, including more reliable, accurate, and precise data. GPS makes measuring and understanding visitor use patterns even more valuable since actual movements can be investigated instead of reported movements. Also, the accuracy and detail of GPS-collected data allow for analyses and investigations not otherwise possible. Visitor-based GPS surveys represent a useful and potentially powerful tool to help better plan, manage, and monitor nature-based tourists.
Dynamic model of NC rotary table in angle measurements with time series
Authors: Chen Ziran , Liu Xiaokang , Peng Donglin , Zheng Yong , Chen Xihou , Zheng Fangyan
Published: February 2012

In this study, a dynamic model of absolute time grating, a novel kind of displacement sensor, is established in order to apply the absolute time grating sensor, instead of the optical grating sensor, as an angle encoder to the full closed-loop numerical control (NC) rotary table. Time series analysis is employed in the dynamic model, and given the series of past measured angles, therefore, the dynamic model can be used to forecast the next future measured angle. As a result, the original absolute signal sampled in equal time intervals of an absolute time grating sensor can be transformed into continuous incremental pulses for a full closed-loop NC rotary table. When the current angle is deduced, the latest measured angle of the time series is interpolated as standard quantity to compensate for the last forecast error. In this way, the forecast error can be corrected between neighboring sampling periods, and cumulative errors can be eliminated. The forecasting accuracy of incremental pulses for the time grating sensor can reach ±3″ which validates the dynamic model in improving the performance of the time grating displacement sensor in dynamic measurement.
Relationship Between Leadership Styles and Value Systems
Authors: Agrawal Tanu , Krishnan Venkat R.
Published: February 2012

The relationship between a person's values and his or her task and relations oriented leadership styles was examined in this study. Values were measured both independently of each other and in the form of a value system using the ipsative, rank-order design. Findings indicate that high-task leaders give greater importance to the value of achievement than low-task leaders, and high-relations leaders give greater importance to the values of benevolence and security as compared to low-relations leaders.
World Class Marketers Deliver Value – Innovatively
Authors: Agrawal Mohan Lal
Published: February 2012

The article lays out the meaning of world class marketing and various ways through which a company can attain this goal.
Ecotourism in North East India – A Marketing Alternative in the Next Millennium
Authors: Sharma Nripendra N
Published: February 2012

The paper argues that North East India is rich in ecotourism resources but is lacking in infrastructure and a strategic outlook. The small share of the region in the tourism market is disproportionate to its potential. It is high time that North East India learns from experiences all over the world and aims at sustainable development of tourism as a marketing solution. The North East has a negative reputation, but ecotourism can provide a silver lining. The paper argues that the ecotourism model is ideal for North East India.
Charismatic Leadership and Self-Efficacy: Importance of Role Clarity
Authors: Nandal Vasudha , Krishnan Venkat R.
Published: February 2012

This study explored the relationship between charismatic leadership and followers' self-efficacy and role clarity. Charismatic leadership was taken as comprising five factors—strategic vision and articulation, sensitivity to the environment, sensitivity to member's needs, personal risk, and unconventional behaviour. Role clarity was measured as a lack of role ambiguity and role conflict. Results indicated no relationship between charisma and self-efficacy. Three of the five factors of charismatic leadership were however positively related to lack of role ambiguity, which in turn was positively related to self-efficacy.
Occupational Stress Among Working Women in Emergency Services
Authors: Rani D Lakshmi , Mishra P K
Published: February 2012

This study included 144 doctors and nurses from two age groups (more than 35 years and less than 35 years) from two categories (general and neuro sciences), from 9 hospitals. They were administered the Organizational Role Stress Scale (Dr. Udai Pareek, 1983) along with another data sheet. The results reveal that profession has a major effect on the experience of occupational role stress. Of the ten types of ORS, it has an important effect on eight of them, viz., role expectations conflict, role erosion, role overload, role isolation, personal inadequacy, self role distance, role ambiguity, role inadequacy. Inter role distance is one type which does not seem to be affected by any of the three variables studied either alone or in combination with one another. Nurses seemed to be more stressed than doctors on the whole.
Transition to E-Commerce in India
Authors: Joseph P T
Published: February 2012

The potential for e-commerce is enormous in India, owing to the rapid growth of the number of internet users. The huge savings in time and money by both buyers and sellers is the principal advantage. What are the stages through which a bricks and mortar company must go to start e-trading? What are the problems to be faced? What is the role of government? These are some of the questions answered.
Job Commitment of Women Executives
Authors: Maini Vandna
Published: February 2012

In the last few years, the number of women holding executive positions in India has greatly increased. The question that arises is how much commitment they have to their work in the face of their responsibilities to husband, home and children. A study made of 325 women executives in Ludhiana and Chandigarh revealed a significant relationship between marital status, salary drawn, age, work experience and job commitment. In many of these factors, the attitudes of the women were hardly different from those of men — a considerable change from the situation that previously prevailed both in India and the West.
Preferred Leadership Styles and Influence Tactics
Authors: Sinha Jai B.P. , Gupta Parvinder
Published: February 2012

Two hundred nine MBA (Masters in Business Administration) students of a management institute rated their leadership styles and influence tactics as a part of their classroom exercise. The findings indicated that they preferred to adopt nurturant-task (NT) and participative styles more frequently than transformational style. Authoritarian style of leadership was least likely to be adopted by them. The first three styles were positively correlated suggesting the possibility that they have in their repertoire the potential to evoke, in varying degrees, all the styles of leadership. Rational persuasion and empowering were most likely to be used as influence tactics, followed by personal appeal and consultation, reward for performance, use of authority, and so on. Although leadership styles were meaningfully related to influence tactics, there were enough overlaps to suggest that leaders may flexibly use different styles and influence tactics depending possibly on the contingencies of different situations.
Developing a Performance-Oriented Climate
Authors: Uthayasuriyan Dr K.
Published: February 2012

The perception of employees about the various characteristics of their organization is known as Organizational Climate (OC). It may be related to their leaders, peers, job etc. It is considered to be important because of its purported relationship with other organizational phenomena. The present study attempts to analyze the perceptions of OC by employees of an organization, and to identify the variations in their perception among different groups. Also, to find out the link between perception of climate and job performance, by conceptualizing climate as an independent variable. The sample was chosen from a well-established organization in Tamil Nadu. A specially designed questionnaire was adopted to analyze the employees' perception of the climate. The findings of the study suggest that the climate of the organization is moderate. Also, all the dimensions of OC did not receive the same amount of attention. It also reveals that there exists a positive, significant relationship between OC and job performance.
Managing Stress Through Progressive Relaxation Therapy
Authors: Srivastava Nivedita , Pattanayak Biswajeet
Published: February 2012

The present paper intends to study the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on executives with coronary heart disease. The main objectives of the study were to compare the job stress level, coping strategies and personality type of public sector senior executives with and without CHD. The Sample for the study consisted of 70 senior executives from B.H.E.L, Bhopal. To have a comparative study of the variables, matched group design was opted. The findings reveal that there is significant difference in the stress levels, coping strategies and personality type among executives with and without CHD. Executives with CHD had more job stress, ineffective coping strategies and type A personality in comparison to the executives without CHD. Further, the practice of progressive muscle relaxation brings significant reduction in the stress levels of CHD patients.
Reporting Financial Performance Through Internet
Authors: Raman R. , Gurdip Singh , Mahesh Joshi
Published: February 2012

The analysis of results of preset study shows that not more than half of the sample firm is providing mandatory and voluntary information. Power and steel sector is providing financial information to greater extent in comparison to other sectors. Balance sheet and profit and loss account have been provided in majority of cases and only few companies are providing director's report. No company is providing auditor's report. Only one fourth of the companies having web sites are providing voluntary disclosures. Most of the companies have emphasized on installing information about company profile, company history etc. and are not giving any relevant information from user's point of view. Results show that Indian companies have started using Internet as a media for reporting corporate financial performance. Though the percentage of companies giving information for investor's use is not very high but there are chances of increasing trend in Indian corporate sector. The percentage of Indian companies reporting financial performance via Internet is low in comparison to other advanced countries but it is going to gain importance in the recent future. Thus, it can be suggested that greater stress should be given on providing up to date financial information. An attempt should be made to include auditor's report while presenting information on web sites. Awareness should be created among various users for reporting financial performance through web. Launching separate web sites for all companies coming under same group should provide detailed and requisite financial information. Last, but not the least, users perception should be kept in mind while providing financial disclosures.
Child Labour: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Authors: Padhi P.K.
Published: February 2012

“I am the child,

All the world waits for my coming.

All the earth watches with interest to see what I shall become.

Civilization hangs in the balance.

For what I am, the world of tomorrow will be.

I am the child.

You hold in your hand my destiny.

You determine, largely, whether I shall succeed or fail,

Give me, I pray you, these things that make for happiness.

Train me, I beg you, that I may be a blessing to the world”.

-Mamie Gene Cole

Child is the future father and mother, future worker and future citizen of every country, either developed, under developed or developing. The future progress and prosperity of any country depends upon quality and talents of the young children. They are the property of the country and need special care and protection when they become healthy and efficient adults. Well developed children of today, educationally or physically, mean efficient and responsible citizens of tomorrow. Therefore, the problem of child labour in India and the need to protect their rights and status is a very important issue and deserves more attention and consideration by one and all. It is not only the problem of the individual members of society and industry but also of the whole nation. The issue of child labour should be considered as a part of the general problem of human welfare.
Technology and Organization Control: A Study of Plant Tissue Culture Industry
Authors: Reddy C. Raghava , Haribabu E.
Published: February 2012

Advancements in production technologies not only enabled increased productivity and efficiency but also facilitated better control over production process and workers. The present paper attempts to study the impact of plant biotechnological interventions vis-à-vis control over production process and workers in the plant tissue culture industrial units engaged in the production of horticultural plantlets. In a comparative study of six plant tissue culture industries and conventional nurseries it was observed that plant tissue culture technology facilitates better control over work through scheduling of tasks and regimentation of work. Routinization of work process helped the managers to close supervision and evaluation of workers' performance.
Emerging Need for New Breed of Entrepreneurs in India
Authors: Reddy N.R.K.
Published: February 2012

Winds of Liberalisation blowing across the globe ushered in sweeping changes in every facet of business. Opening up of world economies brought in new opportunities in business. Collapse of command economies, volatile and violent change in business environment caused by quick obsolescence of technology posed new challenges in business. In order to face the fierce competition companies started restructuring their organisations by adapting new technologies to achieve higher productivity and competitiveness.

The emergency of new economy brought in structural change in the organisations and its very functioning. This paper discussed the emerging need for new breed of entrepreneurs in the light of change and how emerging change becomes vital in the organisations for success and also discusses the impact of socio-economic and political environment of business and how the environment breeds new class of entrepreneurs.
Perception of Behavioural Influence Tactics by the Middle Managers – An Exploratory Study
Authors: Srivastava Shoami
Published: February 2012

This paper reports the preferences of behavioural influence tactics by one hundred eighty middle managers belonging to three organizations. The results revealed that the use of authority, assertiveness and logical reasoning dimensions were significantly preferred more by the middle managers of private sector productive compared to public sector productive and service sector organizations. The middle managers of public sector productive organization were highest and the managers of private sector productive organization were the lowest on the choice of ethnic identity tactic. Results further revealed the middle managers across the three types of organizations rated intimidation as the least and assertiveness as maximum used tactics.
A Study on Organizational Effectiveness in Textile Mills at Coimbatore
Authors: Priyadarshini R. Rani Geetha
Published: February 2012

Effective organizations are vital for current turbulent business scenario. Organizations being purposive entities are established and managed so that certain needs of the stakeholders can be satisfied. Success or failure of an organization in satisfying these needs therefore would determine whether the organization would survive and prosper or stagnate and die. The Textile Industry in India has seen a complete cycle going through the peak as well as its downturn. Coimbatore having a significant place in this field has been also traveling through the same effect. This was the prime concern of the researcher to analyze the effectiveness of organizations in the textile industry. Private and public owned textile mills listed in SIMA were analyzed for various facets of effectiveness of organizations and compared for the variations in terms of the factors and examined for the reasons for the same.
Do Promises Really Win Compliances in Purchasing Decision-Making?
Authors: Su Che-Jen
Published: February 2012

The author follows interpersonal viewpoint and focus on promises as an influence strategy used in buying centers. Responses in Taiwan are collected and used from a survey of 208 purchase decisions in a LISREL model linking source/target characteristics, the manifest influence, and the choice of promises. Support is found for hypothetically positive effects of the reward power and the source's personal reason to influence on the utilization of promises. By contrast, the source's organizational level and the target's dependence on the source showed no impact on this influence tactic. The use of promises appears ineffective in changing a target's behaviors and opinions in buying centers. The target's dependence on the source, however, is found to be the leading role in winning compliances in buying centers. As predicted, our results demonstrated the positive relationship between the target's status and personal motives to exercise influence strategies. Counter to our expectations, the target's status appeared to increase slightly the likelihood of promises in the process of purchasing decision-making, and this factor, together with reward power, were believed to be the leading roles of forming promises by statistics. On the basis of these findings, the author identifies implications for the impact that structural changes within dyadic relationship can have on the choice of promises.
HR Metrics: HR Six Sigma in Indian Organizations
Authors: Bhatnagar Jyotsna , Pandey Ashish
Published: February 2012

Intangible soft processes of HR are possible to measure through HR Six-sigma, which pulls the HR function closer to strategic alignment with organizational goals. The current study explores the application of six-sigma to the HR function. The study also aims at process mapping the HR Six-sigma process in two multinational service organizations. Pattern matching and literal replication as a method of analysis has been used. Implications of the process and lessons for the service industry are discussed, with implication for Indian managers and Strategic HRM literature.
The Emerging Trends and Practices of HRM
Authors: Mohan A. Chandra , Kumar G. Rajesh
Published: February 2012

Now-a-day, business organizations are developing very rapidly based on the changing political strategies and market trends. Particularly after globalization, business organizations are facing highly competitive strength and demands due to economic, political, social and technological changes. The uncertainty in the environment and increase of competition have made business organizations to think along new ways of managing business. In order to make organizations more effective, work is restructured like the well-known concepts, QWL (Quality of Work Life), JIT (Just In Time), TQM (Total Quality Management), Team work and Cellular Products. These are introduced continuously based on the changing market trends with a view to fast delivering the goods and for better quality of products/services at convenient and competitive prices.

Today, business organizations are restructuring and rethinking with various emerging trends and practices to look at current market trend and moving towards work intensification and flexibility which are ultimately affected by the employer and employee relationship. Temporary and contract jobs, and casual and part-time jobs are the common practice of new management styles. The new trends and practices will ultimately be useful to organizations for decreasing or increasing workforce in order to introduce changes. At the same time, the trend has changed the old concept of permanent employment up to retirement and long time employee and employer relationship. Even some of the advanced countries like USA, and Japan are unable to continue their popular permanent life-time employment due to new trends and practices. Many of the studies have also concluded that temporary employees are increased in many countries.

Most of the organizations are providing training programmes for the employees in different levels for the purpose of increasing job knowledge to make them more effective, more productive and multi-skilled. Companies, like Port Trusts (Visakhapatanam unit) which had almost 10000 employees few years ago, recently have about 5000 employees only. Most of the business organizations are planning for right-sizing or down-sizing. In order to make more effective and productive based organizations on the trends and practices in the competitive market, now-a-days, business organizations are planning to practice outsourcing recruitment system, job responsibility sharing, employee referral system, flexible pay structure, flexible time management technique, contract and leasing employees, tele-commuting techniques, etc. All these new trends and practices are highly appreciated and result oriented.
Mentors in Indian Mythology
Authors: Nachimuthu P.
Published: February 2012

Mentoring is the widely discussed topic in the business world of today. But this mentoring had its origin in India, thousands of years ago, in the form of Guru-Shisya relationship or the ‘Gurukul’ system of education of India. Mentoring is a relationship, which gives people the opportunity to share their professional and personal skills and experiences, and to grow and develop in the process. Since it is generally presumed that the concept and practice of mentoring originated from that country and this country, this article tries to bring out the truth that the practice of Mentoring had its root in India. This article therefore starts with mentioning about various types of gurus, benefits and negative experiences in mentoring and lists out prominent Mentor-Protégés (Guru-Shisyas) mentioned in the Indian mythology and through that tries to explain the importance of the mentor/guru for everyone in all facets of life.
Entrepreneurial Marketing in West Bengal: A Study on Arambagh Hatcheries Limited
Authors: Maiti Sajal Kumar
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this article is to examine the concept of Entrepreneurial Marketing. This concept needs a marketer to be innovative, risk-taking and proactive in performing managerial responsibility. It entails six core dimensions that have been identified and explored in the article. Its advantages and potential deserve its bright prospects. Resource leveraging and entrepreneurial marketing relationship has been adequately and appropriately highlighted. Conclusions have been drawn pointing out the need for more researches in this area for its potential to develop competitive advantage on sustainable basis. The results of a study on Arambagh Hatcheries Limited, a poultry firm in West Bengal, seem to be an entrepreneurial marketer, have been shared.
HR and the Bottom-Line: The Impact of High Performance Work Systems
Authors: Varma Arup , Pichler Shaun , Simpson Patricia
Published: February 2012

In recent times, several researchers have concerned themselves with the impact of human resource activities on an organization's bottom-line. In this connection, it has been argued that implementing high performance work systems (HPWSs) in the organization would help organizations achieve significantly improved levels of operational and financial performance through optimal utilization of human resources. This empirical study tests these assertions, and results confirm that, indeed, HR practices can have a significant impact on the bottom-line.
Strategic Developmental Organisations and Bureaucratic Psyche: A Need for Creating Participatory Culture
Authors: Rishi Patul
Published: February 2012

State supported socio-economic development has been a notable feature of many third world countries. The major investment goes in the nation building industrialisation, infrastructure development and development of human resources through specially created and funded strategic developmental organisations which assume the responsibility for the growth and development of the domain in which they function. They clearly have a developmental mission but have moderate to high resource dependence on government. So, in spite of the mission requiring participatory modes of operation, they are trapped in the bureaucratic jungle loosing their real spirit and identity. They may be a weapon against poverty, inequity and backwardness but their functional effectiveness is dependent on their ability to tackle bureaucratic red tapism and, at the same time, obtaining the required resources from the government machinery. Based on this background, the article attempts to analyse the psyche of Indian administrators and reasoning for their resistance to adopt Participative Approach for the effectiveness of strategic developmental organisations. It is suggested that there is a need to fill the gap between Indian bureaucratic psychology and Participative Management Approach. Only then the intended results in the form of high individual, organisational and social effectiveness can be obtained for the successful functioning of strategic developmental organisations.
Dispute Handling Capability: Morphology and Modalities — Development of a Model
Authors: Rai Himanshu
Published: February 2012

Dispute handling capability is a critical resource in society given that disputes are an ever present reality in social, economic and political activity spheres. Over the years, there has been a surfeit of scholarly endeavour in the social sciences and in applied fields of research in understanding the morphology and substance of disputes. The main contribution of the current study to this genre of research would be to examine one important aspect of this area of research — dispute handling capability.

The study has been carried out in the discovery mode and is an exploratory study since repeated literature searches before, during and after this study have yielded little information about this construct, although there is considerable work on disputes and dispute resolution. The study to conceptualize Dispute Handling Capability and propose its modalities, took a 3-phase approach. In Phase 1, relevant studies were scanned to gain some insights into the concept of dispute handling capability. Subsequently, in Phase 2, the study analysed 30 incidents from the Mahabharata. Incidents of disputes were outlined, described, analysed, and insights were drawn from them to further sharpen the understanding of the phenomenon and to generate items for its measurement. Armed with sharper understanding of dispute handling capability, in Phase 3, an interview checklist, was created and a connection was made with subjects through exploratory interviews.

The study has identified the Morphology of Dispute Handling Capability (DHC) in terms of five dimensions — Artfulness, Diplomacy, Detachedness, Fair Mindedness and Sagacity. Further the study also tried to capture the modalities of DHC in terms of its correlates. The study suggests that socio-economic correlates in terms of age, work experience, gender, marital status, number of children, caste, education, family income, and personality type could be correlated with DHC. Among organizational correlates, organizational culture, presence of union, product type, organizational profile and organizational workforce profile could be correlated with DHC. Dispute Handling Training is also expected to be correlated with DHC. These correlates would help in understanding DHC modalities in the social and organizational spheres.

The study is a pioneering endeavour to examine the concept of dispute handling capability (DHC) and to identify the socio-economic and organizational correlates of DHC. From the practitioner's point of view, the study will help in diagnosing DHC of individuals, which can form the basis of mentoring and coaching programmes designed to develop these capabilities in executives.
Blemish Manager's Destructive Game
Authors: Krishnankutty K.V. , Santhosh V.A.
Published: February 2012

Blemish, a mark of imperfection by dictionary meaning is a game played psychologically which has its source from much petty dissension in everyday life of human beings. As like any other psychological game this also leads the person through a series of complementary ulterior transactions to a well-defined predictable outcome. A manager who acts as a key person in organisational development is often seen blaming his subordinates and coworkers thereby leading them to a disengaged status. Manager's such behavior is attributed to various theories in OB. This article critically analyses those theories and introduces the concept of Blemish for the reader to create an understanding of it and identify the real gimmick behind such a behavior.
Role of Infrastructure Services on the Economic Development of India
Authors: Singh Shailender , Batra G. S. , Singh Gajendra
Published: February 2012

The importance of infrastructure for sustained economic development is well recognized. High transaction costs arising from inadequate and inefficient infrastructure can prevent the economy from realising its full growth potential regardless of the progress on other fronts. Physical infrastructure covering transportation, power and communication through its backward and forward linkages facilitates growth, social infrastructure including water supply, sanitation, sewage disposal, education and health, which are in the nature of primary services and has a direct impact on the quality of life. The performance of infrastructure is largely a reflection of the performance of the economy. Infrastructure industries are measured by six key infrastructure and core industries (i.e., electricity, crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, steel and cement). In this paper, the overall growth and performance of infrastructure services has been examined in depth on the basis of the different parameters such as trends in growth of physical output in infrastructure sectors, telecommunications, power, ports, railways, civil aviation, and post so as to examine whether there is a negative or positive association between infrastructure development and India's economic growth.
Entrepreneurship: A Perspective and Strategic Dimensions
Authors: Prasad Lakshman
Published: February 2012

This article deals with many pertinent facets of the entrepreneurial community stressing that ‘entrepreneur’ is yet to be fully defined in the emerging outlook of business and non-business sectors combined, together with a common denominator of innovation. How to sow entrepreneurship in the Indian context, inculcate entrepreneurial culture and bridge sub-regional imbalances on this score are the highlights of this article. It revisits entrepreneurship while strategising for managing small businesses through appropriate technology option, resource mobilization, planning initiatives and gearing up with market realities.

“The entrepreneurs sustain the world. In their careers, there is little of optimizing calculation, nothing of delicate balance of markets. They overthrow establishments rather than establish equilibria. They are the heroes of economic life”.

George Gilder (‘The Spirit of Enterprise’)
Systematic Knowledge Management Approach: A Requisite for Growth and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Sharma Kapil , Mishra P. N.
Published: February 2012

Organizations face a number of complex challenges. Growth and competitive advantage has become strategic perquisites for any organization. Need for developing information and knowledge structures is becoming increasingly important in order to achieve a sustained growth in today's competitive environment. We, in this paper, have briefly reviewed the increased interest in more explicitly valuing intangible assets and have explored the strengths and weakness of the current approaches of Intellectual Capital (IC) and Balanced Score Card (BSC). The paper contends that overemphasis on developing and leveraging intangible assets, is nonproductive and incorrect. All organizational assets financial, tangible and intangible must be managed as an integrated system if the value of intangible assets is to be fully ascertained. A new approach, Systematic Knowledge Management (SKM) that visualizes and harmonizes the organizational factors and dynamic interactions involved in effectively and efficiently managing all assets, has been proposed.
Effectiveness of Human Resource Information System: A Study in National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
Authors: Mohanty Madhuchhanda , Tripathy Santosh Kumar
Published: February 2012

Successful human resource management requires mastery of a tremendous amount of well-organized information. An information system is required to communicate effectively with the environment, while, the information system, in some form or the other, has been in existence. It is only recently that the formal Human Resources Information System (HRIS) using IT (Information Technology) is being implemented. Most of the studies made on HRIS are descriptive, non-specific and generic in nature and far from empirical bases while, the HRIS scenario in India has largely remained unexplored. No in-depth study has so far ever been attempted on a single large organization. It is in this backdrop that the present study has been undertaken to fill this vital gap in the existing research. This paper is an attempt to study the effectiveness of HRIS of a large organization like NALCO.
Needs and Expectations of the Internal Customers from the Knowledge Management System
Authors: Verma Sanjeev , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Rajput Ritesh
Published: February 2012

In recent years knowledge management has been widely used to manage tacit and explicit knowledge of organizational systems. It has been well documented that organizations with higher information flow and knowledge sharing are more efficient and productive. An organization built on such well developed networks also produce measurable business results like faster learning, quicker response to client needs, and better problem-solving. This paper aims to study existing knowledge practices, the use of Knowledge Management (KM) as a strategic tool and the factors affecting the use of KM in the Indian service industry. The overall objectives of the research are to describe needs and expectations of internal customers from knowledge management system.
Benchmarking on HR Scorecard in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Shankari L. , Suja S.
Published: February 2012

The hospitality industry in India has earned a good name and carved its niche internationally on account of the world class accommodation services provided by the Indian hotels. The credit of this skyrocketing growth goes to the emergence of Indian hotel chains and the entrance of global players thereof. The competition has ensured quality fast and efficient service and professional approach at the most reasonable costs. These Indian hotel chains have spread their branches in the major tourist destinations in India as well as abroad. This feature has not only increased the tourist traffic but also offered the existing tourists varied and nice accommodation options. One of the leading Indian hotel chains is Taj Group of hotels, Oberoi Group of Hotels, ITC Welcomgroup Hotels and Leela Hotels.

The present study was to analyze the performance of strategic business units of Taj Group of Hotels. An analysis of HR Scorecard of these SBUs (Luxury, Business and Leisure) were done, with specific reference to financial perspectives. The purpose of HR scorecard on financial perspective is to Maximize Human Capital and minimize HR Costs. This was calculated with the help of financial ratios and the conclusions were drawn. The same analysis was also done for competitors (Oberoi and Leela). Based on the findings, the company's performance was benchmarked with that of the competitors.
Marketing to Indian Rural Women: Challenge, Opportunity and Strategy
Authors: Kar Sudhanshu Sekhar , Kumar Dhananjay
Published: February 2012

“The future lies with those companies who see the poor as their customers.”

C. K. Prahalad

There was a time when a rural consumer used to travel longer distance to consume particular branded goods and services. Only selected consumers consumed branded goods and services. But due to globalization the scenario has been changed. Now a customer is king and due to the economy, he/she prefers branded goods and services which give more value. Before globalization only big companies were able to capture the rural market to establish their brands and services. But in the present scenario the rural market is very critical for every marketer whether FMGG, IT or automobile brands. Women are the world's most powerful consumers. They are big spender, when we are talking about household items, corporate purchasing, or small business. This is not happening only in the urban but also in rural market. In the past, men used to take the decision to purchase any goods or services but now scenario has changed and mostly decisions are taken by rural women. The rural women are very sensitive and careful regarding their purchasing process. So marketers must know the perception and mindset of the rural women for survival of their products in the rural market.